Fill To Capacity (Where Heart, Grit and Irreverent Humor Collide)
Podcast for people too stubborn to quit and too creative not to make a difference!Join visual artist Pat Benincasa in conversation with a riveting roster of guests to uncover extraordinary stories of everyday people. Listen as they share their quirky wisdom, unlikely adventures, and poignant life lessons! Fasten your emotional seatbelt for this journey of heart, humor and grit!
Episodes
88 episodes
The Intersection of Climate Change, Immigration and Hope
In this riveting episode, Laura Danielson, a seasoned immigration lawyer, confronts the global crisis of climate refugees. She reveals how climate change is forcibly displacing millions, exposing critical weaknesses in current immigration...
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Episode 87
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40:27
Stardom, Struggle and Stolen Slippers: The Legacy of Judy Garland
In this deeply moving episode, we journey into the life and legacy of Judy Garland. As Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, she traveled a road of uncertainty and danger, yet held fast to her core self. Joined by Judy Garland Museum’s Founding Director...
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Episode 86
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37:31
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Heroes Behind Your Ballot, Who Are They?
Journey into the heart of democracy with Michelle Witte, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, as she reveals how this powerful engine of civic engagement shapes our future. From its suffrage movement roots—championed b...
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Episode 85
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53:18
Cosmic High-Fives: Coincidence & Synchronicity
Ever had a day when the universe seemed to be playing cosmic peek-a-boo? Buckle up, buttercup! Sophia Demas is here to spill the celestial tea on those "no way!" moments that are actually the universe's way of saying, "Psst, over here!"S...
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Episode 84
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46:29
19 Countries, One Home: A Story of Cultural Exchange
Ever wonder how opening your home to strangers from across the globe could change your life? Join Marlis Lambson as she shares 9 years of hosting international students, transforming her home into an eclectic hub of cultures, creativity, and de...
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Episode 83
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53:58
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One Dam At A Time: When Rivers Run Free
Discover how removing dams isn't just about freeing water—it's about liberating the very soul of our landscapes. Journey with Marty Holtgren, a visionary fisheries biologist and social scientist, as he delves into the revolutionary world of riv...
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Episode 82
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42:17
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Bold Strokes: The Art & Heart of Taylor Rae Hillestad
What does Boy George, Anthony Edwards and a beloved grandfather have to do with a young artist’s creative journey? Find out in this captivating episode with Taylor Rae Hillestad, a dynamic artist and graphic designer who blends vibrant colors a...
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Episode 81
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35:39
The Butterfly Effect: Making Butterfly Magic
Jump into the enchanting world of monarch butterflies—nature's neon nomads! In this episode, Professor Emilie Snell-Rood from University of Minnesota explores the captivating and fragile world of monarch butterflies.Tackling the critical...
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Episode 80
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41:49
From Firefighting To Forests: A Wild Woodland Journey
Discover the secrets of revolutionary forest management with Brian Huberty, a seasoned expert whose career spans from firefighting to pioneering digital mapping systems that monitor our planet’s landscapes.Brian unpacks how the Minnesota...
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Episode 79
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43:31
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Dementia and the Long Goodbye: Care & Coping
In this riveting episode, Jennifer Awinda, shatters myths about dementia and aging. As a senior living and dementia practitioner, she shares moving stories of her grandparent’s battles with dementia that brought her to this work. Jennifer...
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Episode 78
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36:41
Menagerie of Mischief: Who Rescues Who?
How do unexpected friends become our greatest healers? Join Emily Couture, known to squirrel enthusiasts as Emily Gordon, where home for her is a bustling hub of both indoor and outdoor animal adventures, capturing hearts and sparking ...
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Episode 77
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32:52
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Beyond the ER: The Wisdom Quest
In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Laura Gabayan, a leader in ER medicine and wisdom research at UCLA, shares insights from her groundbreaking book "Common Wisdom." Born to Kurdish immigrants and having faced numerous life challenges hersel...
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Episode 76
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41:12
Purpose Over Peril: Roadmap for Teen Mental Wellness
In this gripping episode, Dr. Scott Kolbaba, a renowned physician, and author, takes us on a profound journey into the heart of teen mental health. With his work in an adolescent psych unit and personal experiences as a father of seven, Dr. Kol...
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Episode 75
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44:26
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Two Moms, One Mission: Inclusive Fashion For All
In this episode, Joanne DiCamillo and Nikki Puzzo, founders of befree, an innovative adaptive clothing line designed for people with limited mobility share their unstoppable journey! Inspired by Nikki’s daughter Stella’s post-surgery n...
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Episode 74
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34:50
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Extreme Terrain: Inner Maps & Northern Resilience
In this episode, Paul Gaines, talks of the wild beauty and daunting challenges of Alaska's mental health scene. In candid conversation, Paul recounts his work at the College of Visual Arts (St. Paul. MN) to becoming a Behavioral Health Director...
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Episode 73
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39:28
Designing A Life: From Galway to Gondolas
Orna O’Reilly, accomplished interior designer shares her journey from Ireland to thrilling days in South Africa, where she queued 5 hours to vote for Nelson Mandela to perilous times dodging danger in Mozambique. Once back in Ireland, ...
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Episode 72
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37:40
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Calm In A Crisis- First of the First Responders
“ Never seen but always heard!” Jump headfirst into the high-stakes world of 911 dispatch with Marlis X with who navigates rapid-fire decisions and vital communications. Discover the daily work of emergency dispatch, where multitask...
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Episode 71
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53:05
Memory Keepers: Honoring The Forgotten
In this episode, Natalie Zett shares a riveting narrative where she goes from storyteller to conduit for the voices that time almost silenced. She scours ethnic and neighborhood newspapers, offering an intimate look into the lives of immigrant ...
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Episode 70
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47:11
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iNunca Es Tarde Para Bailar!
El baile no es solo movimiento al ritmo de la música; es la celebración de Liz Pimentel-Gopal de la identidad cultural y la autoreinvención. Desde las vibrantes calles de México hasta el foco de la NBA, la historia de Liz es un vívido bis de...
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Episode 69
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43:35
Never Too Late To Dance!
Dance isn't just movement to music; it's Liz Pimentel-Gopal's celebration of cultural identity and self-reinvention. From Mexico's vibrant streets to the NBA's spotlight, Liz's story is a vivid encore of life at 55+. This episode traces her ...
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Episode 68
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43:07
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Nothing IS Etched in Stone?
Objects that anchor us - do you have one? I’ve journeyed with an etched stone for 20+ years. It's been a silent guide through change, a puzzle in constancy, and a testament to life's irony.
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Episode 67
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2:16
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From Bench to Community- Sparking Change Through Connection
Explore the wisdom, humor, and focus of strategic change-making with Shaun Floerke. As a judge, he shaped innovative specialty courts and programs fostering family unity within the legal system, but at the helm of the Duluth Superior Area Commu...
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Episode 66
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41:34
Reclaiming Self: A Holistic Journey with Cancer
When Alice Grasset faced breast cancer at 40, her world was upended, leaving a corporate career to co-found the Yapura Wellness Center in North Carolina. This personal and professional collision led to the creation of 'Sparkles of Grace' – a ho...
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Episode 65
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31:47
Writing Sci-Fi At Sea – A World Building Adventure
In this episode, we set sail on a voyage into the heart of storytelling and sea-bound living with Liz Shipton, an indie author who has carved out a life that's as unconventional as it is inspiring. Living with her boyfriend Trevor, and their do...
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40:26
Kris Frykman: Melding Materials & Emotions in Art
Explore the power of creativity in self-discovery and healing with Kris Frykman, an acclaimed artist, educator, and art therapist. In this engaging podcast, Kris unveils how art therapy goes beyond aesthetics, becoming a vital tool for self-exp...
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Episode 63
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41:17
