MK83 - Shane Basse - Defense Contractor in Iraq & Afghanistan Discusses Mexican Cartels

Shane Basse is a self-proclaimed adventurer.  He spent several years working as a soldier and department of defense contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan.   

At an early age, he had developed a dedicated interest in experiencing as much of the world as possible, inspired by the stories of Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus.  

Following a series of risky endeavors, including close calls with bombs and a run-in with a Mexican drug cartel, he was awarded a Veteran's disability benefit that made it possible to travel indefinitely.  With the burden of work behind him, he set out to discover a more peaceful life, backpacking South America on a quest that led to a life-changing experience with Ayahuasca.  

The incredible effect of the Ayahuasca caused a newly acquired interest in a range of spiritual traditions, eventually taking him all over Asia, where he practiced Buddhism for four years in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Nepal.  

Shane currently resides in an off-grid farm he built in the Nepalese Himalayas, where he lives in isolation.  

MK81 - Jason Conley - 30 Years in Prison: Overcoming Substance Abuse and Recovery Journey

Jason Conley is a person heavily involved in the Portland recovery community. He is a college student, father, thinker, activist, mentor, and lover of people. He’s overcome extensive prison sentences, substance abuse, a traumatic childhood, and many other personal struggles. He demonstrates the power of the human spirit in overcoming a plethora of obstacles that most will never have to face. 

MK80 - Aaron Draplin - Draplin Design Co. Owner Talks Graphic Design for Rock Bands

Aaron James Draplin of the Draplin Design Co. lives and works in Portland, Oregon. He makes stuff for rock bands, comedians, restaurants, sporting goods and leftie politicians. He’s traveled the world telling his story, with over 470 speaking fiascos under his belt. He co-created Field Notes with Jim Coudal, and their memo books are sold worldwide. His seven Skillshare classes are raging along, teaching design enthusiasts of all ages. He recently released his first two typefaces on ddcfonts.com. His first book titled “Pretty Much Everything” came out on May 17, 2016 on Abrams Books, which incredibly, is in its twelfth printing. The roster of DDC Merch is up to 300 products and growing! You’ll find those goodies at DDC merch tables from coast to coast or in the DDC online shop.

draplin.com

fieldnotesbrand.com

ddcfonts.com

ddcbook.com

MK79 - Megan Diana - Piano. Push. Play. Founder Talks Life in Music & Musician Journey

Megan Diana McGeorge. 

Founder and Director of Piano. Push. Play.  

Piano. Push. Play. started in 2012 with one piano on one street corner. It now celebrates ten years of rescuing pianos, letting local artists revamp them into new masterpieces, and placing them in and around our fair city of Portland, Oregon where everyone is invited to play them.  

Not only do these street pianos make it easier for pianists and musicians of all kinds to share their talents with us all, we believe these instruments are community-making machines. Strangers find reasons to interact over the discovery of a beautiful piano on a street corner – not an everyday occurrence! – and share moments that bring extra magic to your average stroll in… name your favorite Portland park.  

Megan continues to do this work every year because it illuminates myriad lessons on what it means to be a good musician, human, and community-minded entrepreneur.  

When not helping others make music, she is making music herself under the name Megan Diana, and pioneering a new genre of music called Dream, Country, Disco where she employs vintage keyboards, echo-y pedal steel, drum grooves, and her beloved french horn.  

Piano. Push. Play.

http://www.pianopushplay.org

https://www.instagram.com/pianopushplay/

Megan Diana

https://www.instagram.com/hellomegandiana/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3jtb4SRwzhhMRYd6wqNuxu

https://megandiana.bandcamp.com/  

MK75 - Neil Bradley - Software Engineer & Arcade Expert Discusses Classic Arcade Games

Neil Bradley is a Portland native self proclaimed geek, (largely) self-taught computer software and electronics engineer, co-owner of the Ground Kontrol classic arcade and bar, and amateur music producer.

He spent his formative years as a hobbyist working with early home computers, such as the Apple ][+ and TRS-80 computers, and later turned that into a 25 year career as an engineer at Intel. As a young kid, he grew up in the early days of video games.

Neil later took his love of video games and all things electronic to the next level - he, along with several others, purchased Ground Kontrol, a classic arcade (at the time) and helped turn it in to a classi arcade and bar - Ground Kontrol - located in downtown Portland, Oregon @ 115 NW 5th avenue. He now works with and trains its technicians to maintain old school video games and pinball machines.

As a classically trained pianist, Neil combined his love of music and computers and switched his focus to music production, and currently has a private studio with a wide collection of synthesizers and classic audio equipment and offers his views on personal tastes in music and the music industry in general.

groundkontrol.com

MK73 - Mark Gamba - Oregon Representative Talks Political Climate and Government Structure

Mark Gamba is the Mayor of Milwaukie, Oregon.  He serves on the executive committee of the Metropolitan Mayors Consortium and is past Chair of Metropolitan Policy Advisory Committee.  He has worked with a variety of organizations, committees and task forces on issues ranging from Climate Change, Affordable Housing and equitable multi-modal transportation.

He ran for city council 10 years ago after experiencing climate change first hand as a National Geographic Photographer.  He tries to walk his talk and is currently living in a small apartment and travels around the region on an electric bike.  He is an outspoken advocate for increased and electrified transit.  He led his city through a visioning process that resulted in a vision that starts: “In 2040, Milwaukie is a flourishing city that is entirely equitable, delightfully livable, and completely sustainable”.  He also led the city in creating the largest active transportation infrastructure project in the history of the city and one of the strongest Climate Action plans in the state.

www.markgamba.com

www.markgambaphoto.com

https://www.facebook.com/mark.gamba/

https://twitter.com/mark_gamba

MK72 - Brandon LaPier - Psychic-empath & healer discussing the paranormal & connections to Creator

Brandon LaPier is a psychic-empath, mystic, and healer. He has had mystical, paranormal, and et experiences his whole life. Brandon's many experiences throughout his life led him to discover and understand his gifts and ultimately his personal connection to Creator. Brandon's greatest wish is to help empower others to unlock this personal connection within themselves so that we can create a better world together. You can book contact him & book a session here: www.BrandonLaPier.com

MK71 - Michelle Harris - Conflict Resolution & Restorative Justice education with Freed Minds

Michelle Harris is a Masters student in the Conflict Resolution program at PSU. She is graduating this Spring with an MS for her work in the field of Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices in Education. Michelle holds several positions at PSU including helping to develop the PSU Rebound program through her thesis project work with PSU Higher Education in Prison Program, as well as other on campus departments, Students Leadership positions, and her position as a Coordinating Director of the Freed Minds student group. 


The Mission of Freed Minds (previously known as the Justice Impacted Student Group) is to provide a framework for supporting a community of scholars wishing to counter the adverse impacts of mass-incarceration with the empowerment of knowledge and inclusion. This Mission will be approached by providing support, advocacy, identification & navigation of resources, and a community centered on the empowerment of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals through access and attainment of education.


After graduation, Michelle will begin her doctorate work pursuing an Educational Doctorate Degree with the plan of continuing her work helping others access higher education in an equitable and affordable way. In addition to her work, Michelle is a mom, partner, and community volunteer. 




Michelle Harris,

Peer Support Specialist, PSU Rebound

PSURebound@pdx.edu

https://www.pdx.edu/liberal-arts-sciences/higher-education-prison



Graduate Student Ambassador

Graduate Admissions

gradschool@pdx.edu

503-725-8410 | (800) 547-8887 ext. 58410

The Graduate School | Portland State University



Coordinating Director of Operations

Freed Minds Student Group

FreedMinds@pdx.edu



ASPSU Senator; Legislative Affairs Committee, Academic Affairs Committee

Graduate Student, Conflict Resolutions

Restorative Justice / Restorative Practices

Leadership Fellow, Student Sustainability Center

Intern, The PSU Landing at FUMC, Student Leaders for Service

Student Community Engagement Center Advisory Board, Vice-Chair  

Portland State University 



Peace and Justice Studies Association, Mini-Grant Program Co-Coordinator

https://www.peacejusticestudies.org/

MK68 - Dr. James Johnson - Neuropsychologist discusses career of clinical training & spiritual studies

Dr. Johnson is a retired neuropsychologist with 40 years of experience. He has paired his clinical training with spiritual studies. He continues challenging himself with training in self awareness.  He has been married for 48 years and has three adult children. He is soon to become a grandpa.

In this episode, James and Maxwell discuss brain trauma, changes in psychology over time, evidence based treatment, political correctness, ethics, trauma triggers, safety, being passionate about helping people, helping people find resources in their brain, repressed memories, physical trust, reading body language, understanding facial emotion, developing rapport, stuck pathology, personality disorders, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, hypnosis, traveling through your internal defense system, and mind chatter.

MK67 - Bryan Kim & Zave Forster - Social & housing justice for the homeless community

Bryan Kim is a 34-year-old Yellow American revolutionary from Shingle Springs, CA. He is the co-founder and Financial Director of the People's Housing Project, a grassroots organization that provides emergency shelters and support services like trash/needle pickup and toilets to houseless camps in Portland. He also serves as the Political Director for Decriminalize Nature Portland, an organization dedicated to decriminalizing the cultivation and personal ceremonial use of psychedelic plants and fungi for mental health and spiritual growth. 


Since his start with climate justice at Greenpeace in 2011, Bryan has been a leader and organizer for social and housing justice. In 2013, he founded Moderate Majority Foundation, which gave grants to veterans in San Diego on the edge of homelessness to keep them in their housing, and for which he served as Executive Director for 4 years. In 2018, he ran for Congress in CA-53 as an independent progressive. 


The work of his life is to elevate the consciousness of oppressed peoples in such a way that will result in them taking concrete action towards the end of their oppression. His political inspirations are Huey P. Newton and John Brown. His spiritual inspirations are Miyamoto Musashi and the historical Jesus. 


"In His House at Lake Merritt 

Dead Huey Waits, Dreaming"

In this episode, Bryan and Zave talk to Maxwell about houseless, homeless, peoples housing project, emergency shelters, shelter is a human right, mental health issues, hard to get identification, sweeps destroy important documents, city wastes money, handing out tents and sleeping bags, job interviews, high rate of queer youth, capitalist politics, Kaiser, Blue Cross, Phizer, Andrew Carnegie, banning the feeding of the homeless, and addiction support. 

MK66 - Jaime Mathis - Religious cult survivor & world traveler discussing her story & struggle

Jaime Mathis is a world-traveler, educator, yogini, childhood cancer survivor, mother, community advocate, and managed to successfully leave the religious cult she was raised in. She thrives in Milwaukie, Oregon and has written several books and tended many chickens. You can find out more about her work at: livingsoilinstitute.com

In this episode, Jaime and Maxwell discuss caraoke, Borat, Laura Linney, England, Windsor, Ozark, acting, life coach, who am I, the shadow, the big secret, nervous breakdown, Bangkok, Thailand, September 11th, Adventist, Walla Walla, childhood cancer, OHSU, Saturday Jesusland, interracial relationships, getting drunk for the first time, Ireland, backpacking Italy and Switzerland, and Princess Diana.

MK65 - Sasha Firpo - Portland based artist discussing gender & sexual identity

Sasha Firpo is a Portland, Oregon based artist and a graduate at Pacific Northwest College of Art. With their love of rpgs, Sasha has been immersed in loving single player narratives, pixel art, character driven stories, and fantasy since they were young. This hobby was enhanced by their love of 2D animated films and being the kind of kid who had their nose stuck in a book long enough to eat through their school libraries.

Storytelling is very important to Sasha, who hopes to dive into the well of their experiences to show the world their own stories. What Sasha dreams is to build experiences and journeys, whether their own, or in collaboration with others.

Website:

sashafirpo.com

Instagram:

@apidraws

Twitter:

@apidraws

In this episode, Sasha and Maxwell discuss gender, gender fluidity, LGBTQ+, aromanticism, asexuality, Meta, the Metaverse, and Little Big Burger.

MK63 - Sharon Kumara - Psychic Medium discusses near death experience, the metaphysical & paranormal

Sharon S. Kumara has a practice in the Portland, OR area as Psychic Medium, Hypnotherapist specializing in Past Life Therapy, Channel, Speaker, Teacher/Student, Spirit Rescuer, Paranormal Photographer & Investigator. She is the founder of The Kumara Academy of Transformation & Light Journeys Healing & Psychic Faire. Sharon consciously channels and works closely with Higher Plane Beings ever since her 2nd NDE in 2001. She has since been guided to utilize her gifts to help others heal & realize their true Self. Sharon teaches various online metaphysical classes & courses.

Websites:

https://www.sharonsananda.com

https://kumaraacademy.com

YouTube Channel @Ascension with Sharon S. Kumara.

https://www.youtube.com/c/sharonsananda

Email:

Sharonsananda@gmail.com

MK61 - Joaquin Tron - Flat Earth proponent & globe-skeptic truth seeker

Joaquin Tron is a husband and father, an avid truth seeker, critical thinker and a geocentric, globe-skeptic seeking to dispel the notion that flat earthers are falling off the edge. He enjoys cooking, hiking, and when parenthood permits, playing a little guitar.

In this episode, Joaquin and Maxwell discuss Flat Earth, Antarctica is the perimeter, military bases, don’t know where the land ends, the stars, Flat Earth Society, drilling into the earth, Mariana Trench, heliocentric model, earth is the center of the universe, Galileo, the sun is just above us, being taught the wrong thing from the beginning, constellations are predictable, eclipse cycles, and repeating patterns.