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Mustard Girl
Monday, January 11 2010
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Mustard Seed Dreams
Jennifer Connor
What's
life like for an entrepreneur in today's economy? Dick Gordon speaks to
a businesswoman known as "The Mustard Girl". Jennifer Connor paid her
way through the University of Wisconsin, but not working at the school
cafeteria. She sold cowbells with the school mascot, Bucky the Badger,
at football and hockey games, and made a bundle. Then she hit on
something even bigger.
Like many students in Madison, she
loved the hamburgers at a local joint called Stillwaters, but she liked
the old-fashioned mustard on the tables even more. Rendell's Mustard
was made in small batches in David Rendall's Wisconsin cellar. When
Jennifer heard that Mr. Rendell was ready to retire and wanted to sell
his recipes, the art history major tracked him down and begged him to
let her take over. Jennifer tells Dick Gordon about her bumpy ride from
college kid to entrepreneur - and the divine sign she received just
when she needed it.
- Learn more about Mustard Girl
Finding Photos
Dennis Reed
Dennis
Reed was an amateur photographer in Los Angeles 30 years ago, when he
stumbled on the work of a group of Japanese art photographers from the
1920's and 30's. At the time their work was widely published, but when
World War II broke out, the men were sent to internment camps and had
to leave their photographs behind - stored, hidden or abandoned.Â
With the instincts and determination of a private investigator, Dennis located a handful of survivors, and the families of others. He's now mounted an exhibition of their work.
Playing for the Troops
Friday, January 08 2010
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Playing for the Troops
David Lowery
David Lowery is more comfortable on a stage than in a combat zone. But the lead singer of the rock band Cracker left comfort behind recently to play for the troops serving in Iraq. The singer is personally against the war. But one of his songs, Yalla Yalla, became a hit with soldiers. Dick Gordon finds out how a left leaning musician ended up playing his music for the troops in Iraq.
- See pictures of the band in Iraq
- Learn more about Cracker
- See the YouTube video for Yalla Yalla
Dressing the King
Gene Doucette
Elvis would have been 75 years old today. And even though it's been more than 30 years since he died, worldwide celebrations are being held and Elvis mania seems as big as ever. Gene Doucette was a young designer specializing in embroidery back in 1972 when he got a call that would change his life: he was asked to help design jumpsuits for Elvis Presley's live concerts. Gene talks to Dick about what it was like creating the elaborate costumes that are nearly as memorable as the songs.Â
- See some of Gene's costumes
- A number of Elvis tunes and Love Me Tender by Harchol for the album Hanan Harchol Guitar Collection
Living a Dream
Thursday, January 07 2010
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Living a dream
Elden Nelson
Elden Nelson started a popular cycling blog called Fat Cyclist a few years back - it was funny and personal. When his wife was battling breast cancer, he knew he either had to stop blogging, or write about the experience. His wife encouraged him to write, knowing that sharing their story would help him cope.
As a fan of the Tour de France legend and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, Elden also reached out to the LiveStrong Foundation for support. Impressed by their response, he harnessed the energy of thousands of his readers to raise money for LiveStrong and another charity, World Bicycle Relief. In 2009, Elden and Team Fatty raised over a million dollars. Elden talks to Dick Gordon about losing his wife, how he's managed to raise so much money to fight cancer, and his recent ride with Lance and Team Radio Shack.Â
- Read Elden's blog
- Learn more about LiveStrong and World Bicycle Relief
First Apple
Ching Yeung Russell
Ching Yeung Russell is a writer. Her breakthrough book is called "First Apple." It tells the story of a young girl in China who's never tasted an apple, and sets her mind to do just that. It's pretty close to a true story about her own upbringing.
Ching grew up in mainland China with her grandparents. In seventh grade while working in the rice fields she decided she wanted to become a writer. But there was one problem: her family needed her to be a factory worker. Ching tells Dick how winning a writing contest changed her family's expectation of her and about the joy of publishing her first book in English. Ching's latest book is entitled "Tofu Quilt."
- Find out more about Ching's first novel "First Apple"
- Find out more about "Tofu Quilt"
Meeting Steinbeck
Wednesday, January 06 2010
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Meeting Steinbeck
Phil Tobin
As rough economic times continue in this new year, many are looking back at the hard times America has faced before. Phil Tobin was just 6 years old when he left Maine with his father and uncle to find work in California during the Great Depression. They ended up picking cotton to make ends meet, and it was on that farm Phil met a man he knew only as John. Phil says John had a kind heart, a fancy tar paper shack, and was always writing in a large notebook that captured young Phil's attention with its pages sticking out every which way "like porcupine quills."
Years later, Phil flipped through "The Grapes of Wrath," saw his family's name on one of the pages, and realized that the man he knew as John was most likely the Pulitzer Prize winning author John Steinbeck. Phil talks with Dick Gordon about the lessons he learned growing up in the Depression, and how he finally got up the courage to relive those harsh memories by reading "The Grapes of Wrath."
- Music in this story: Brother Can You Spare a Dime performed by Mark Hanson for the album Great American Songbook for Guitar
The Odd Vacation
Okay, we know it's the dead of winter. Many areas are stuck in the deep freeze. It's the perfect time to think about summer! Elvira and Joe Woodruff found the perfect summer rental. It was located at their favorite secluded spot on a lake in Maine. When they arrived to pay for the rental, the owner had a shot gun and strange "art" that made them uncomfortable. Elvira tells Dick how their decision to stay in the not-so-perfect rental property actually enhanced their relationship.Â
How Much Stuff is Enough?
Tuesday, January 05 2010
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HOW MUCH STUFF IS ENOUGH?
Pam Kruger and her daughters, Emily and Annie
This
is the time of year when many of us are just beginning to look at our
holiday credit card bills - and some of us are groaning more than
others. The Kruger family in New Jersey has changed their habits quite
a bit over the last couple of years. They live a typical American life,
but they gained a new perspective when Pam Kruger, the mom, decided to
try a house swap in France. When the family arrived at their home away
from home, they couldn't believe how sparse the French family's house
was. The trip to Southern France was the beginning of their family's
conversation about American consumerism, and how much stuff is too much
… just as those January sales offers come rolling in. Dick Gordon
speaks with Pam and her teenage daughter, Emily, about how they are
curbing the urge to acquire.
YOUR STORY: IBARIONEX PERELLO
Ibarionex Perello
Ibarionex Perello heard the program we aired last week, Shootout in New Buffalo.
That story involved a police intern and the mentor who changed his
life. Ibarionex wrote to tell us about someone who changed his life.
For him it was a man named Mike Cohen. Mike was a counselor at the Boys
Club of Hollywood during the late seventies. Mike loved photography and
restored the club's darkroom for the boys to use, then invited
photojournalists to come give classes. The darkroom became Ibarionex's
second home, and he grew up to become a successful photographer. Years
later he tried to track Mike down to thank him for his friendship and
support, but his mentor had passed away. Ibarionex found another way to
honor him - by making a photography book about the boys' club, which is
still serving kids in the neighborhood.  Â
One Public Option
Monday, January 04 2010
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one public option
Faith Coleman (Photo credit: Adam Alphin/CNN)
Faith Coleman is a nurse practitioner who doesn't have health insurance. Like many of her patients, her job does not offer an insurance option and she can't afford private insurance. Especially now: since Faith had kidney cancer, she is considered to have a pre-existing condition.
After her experience fighting cancer without insurance, Faith decided to open a free clinic offering premium treatment in Florida for anyone without health insurance who meets poverty guidelines. The Flager Country Free Clinic is still operating after five year of service. She talks to Dick Gordon about why her free clinic system works - and what models she sees for the national conversation about health care.
- Learn more about the Flager County Free Clinic
WHAT TO DO WITH THE TREE
Karen Warner
Okay, the holidays are over. Is your tree still up? Karen Warner loves Christmas. She remembers one year when she had an especially beautiful tree that sat in the bay window of her fabulous San Francisco apartment. Karen loved it so much, that she left it up too long - well into April. Embarrassed by what her landlords would think, and scared that they might not like the fire hazard aspect, Karen came up with an innovative plan to discard of her Christmas tree.
Shoot-Out in New Buffalo
Friday, January 01 2010
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SHOOT-OUT IN NEW BUFFALO
Ed Lyons (top), Barry Schroder (below)
In troubled economic times, landing a job as a police officer can look stable and lucrative. But 35 years ago, the small town of New Buffalo, Mich. was having a hard time attracting new police recruits. So they'd approach boys in high school, put them through a class, and make them cadets - police interns. Barry Schroder had just turned 18 when he joined up.
Barry got a uniform and a badge, and more often than not, chose to ride along with a smart, tough, but funny patrolman named Ed Lyons. One night Ed and Barry found themselves in the middle of a shootout with a motorcycle gang. That night prompted Barry to rethink his dreams of becoming a police officer, but his mentor and friend Ed helped him find another path. Years later, Barry got to return the favor to Ed. Barry talks with Dick Gordon about the man who had so much influence on his life. This story originally aired on September 17, 2009.
STARTING MY FAVORITE THINGS
Jackson Lee
Jackson Lee wrote in to tell his story. It's not just a story about learning to navigate a business in this economy: it's a story about learning to be a businessman. Jackson dropped out of college and became a bike messenger. He still has a day job as a bike mechanic. But in April, he took a gamble. He opened a vinyl record store in his hometown of Greensboro, N.C. The space also offers bike repairs in the back. Jackson talks with Dick about what he learned in his first few months of entrepreneurship. This story also originally aired on September 17, 2009.
- Music in this story: Rock and Roll performed by The Velvet Underground for the album Loaded.
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