Presenting Traci Wulterkens! She is a local artist and pet photographer. On mic today, we talked about world travels, her art origins, and starting a podcast about the stigmas around mental illness.

Guest Links:

• Synthesized Pet Photography
• Traci’s Instagram
• Traci’s Facebook

Local Places Mentioned in This Episode:

• Cave Point - Door Country

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David Kalsow 0:00

Today's episode is sponsored by synthesized pet photography, capturing beautiful memories with your furry family members. To learn more visit synth. photography.com. That's a s y n th photography.com. On to the show.

Traci Wulterkens 0:17

Tonight fried food. I hope you like cheese. And we're like, well, we're from a place that does a lot of cheese.

David Kalsow 0:24

I'm David Kalsow. And you're listening to APC Presents Bri showcase independent podcasters from Northeast Wisconsin. Today I'm joined by Traci Wulterkens. That last name might sound familiar, Tracy is a local artist and pet photographer. She is also the wife and the travel buddy of Eric Wulterkens. Our co founder, Tracy and I discussed their world travels from her perspective and her plans for a podcast about D stigmatizing mental illness. I'm pleased to present Tracy Walter hips

David Kalsow 1:07

thank you so much for joining me on the podcast. How are you today?

Traci Wulterkens 1:10

I'm wonderful. How are you?

David Kalsow 1:11

Great. You know the sun is shining for the first time in like months.

Traci Wulterkens 1:17

It's amazing.

David Kalsow 1:18

So for the most of the people that may not know you, Traci Wulterkens. Can you paint us a little bit of a picture of your story, like who you are how you sort of landed in Northeast Wisconsin?

Traci Wulterkens 1:31

All right. Well, I actually grew up in Northeast Wisconsin. Both my parents are from here. So I grew up right across town and Appleton, so I did not move very far. I lived in Canada for a very short time with my husband, Eric, but then we bought this house. So I have lived in Appleton all of my life. I went to school in Appleton and then I went to to your college in Menasha and then went to UW Oshkosh. So very, very local stuck it here. I just don't get here and just worked here. You know, I didn't I did not leave. Honestly

David Kalsow 2:13

know about you and Eric are a little bit of world travelers. So yeah, you will have listened to that episode with Eric already. You'll know that Tracy was long on those trips, too.

Traci Wulterkens 2:23

Yeah. Yeah. Not all of his trips, unfortunately. Because some of them he went on, either before he met me or when we were first dating and I had no money to my name. But yeah, we we do a lot of traveling. Unfortunately. Last year, we had a lot of trips planned. And we had to cancel them. I remember Ray, hopefully we're gonna get to go on some fairly soon, though.

David Kalsow 2:47

Yeah, I remember us talking about you go into Vietnam. Yeah, beforehand. And then it was like, the COVID thing is like, we're not sure about it. We might get stuck there. So I think we'll just stay stay home. I was like, oh, shoot, that sucks. And then it came here. Oh, shoot. Yeah, this sucks.

Traci Wulterkens 3:04

Yeah, little did we know, we just, we just thought we get stuck there. And you know, didn't really think it would blossom into quite what it did. Got stuck here instead. I know, I kind of wish we would have gotten stuck over there, quite honestly.

David Kalsow 3:20

Lindsay and I are looking at doing a trip to Mexico. And we're looking at some of the regulations. And it's like, if you get test positive, they will keep you there for two weeks on their dime. I'm like, Huh? Do I get a positive here and then just go down there and swap it like the movies? I gotta stay here. All inclusive, right? Yeah, I'm sure exclude you to the room only.

Traci Wulterkens 3:49

Yeah, but you have a beautiful view. Think about it. Yeah. Unless you're

David Kalsow 3:53

stuck on the inside. Or something. I don't know. They probably don't have bad views down there. Better food honestly. delivered to your room and no extra expense. Yeah. I mean,

Traci Wulterkens 4:03

and if you could do it during winter, now,

David Kalsow 4:10

you're working that Snowbird game, right.

Traci Wulterkens 4:13

Yeah, I have issues with the winter here. So you know, I plan this stuff out.

David Kalsow 4:19

So you like the warmer travelers than

Traci Wulterkens 4:22

I do? I do. You know, I'm definitely okay with fall when it's actually fall. Yeah, I feel like we have like, maybe a day of fall. Yeah, honestly, if I can put on a sweatshirt. I'm okay with that. I also really love the beach. But, you know, I can take maybe a week of winter. And then I've had it so. So I'm kind of just saying, you know, get me out of here.

David Kalsow 4:49

Yeah, I totally get that. I love the first snowfall. And you're like wow, this is so pretty so great. Johnson.

Traci Wulterkens 4:57

It's like I'm glad I get to see this stuff. You know, not everybody It gets to see this beautiful snow and then it's like snow again.

David Kalsow 5:03

Or you go driving for the first time after a snow. All right, no one else has driven in snow for a year. Yeah, there's like four accidents. I gotta, I gotta slow down a little bit. Yeah. And I don't want us down. So, I mean, I love the snow activities. Yeah, but I'm a I don't own a snowmobile, and I've never downhill skiing in my life. So it's like, oh, those will be fun. But I usually just reading in my room during the winter,

Traci Wulterkens 5:32

you know, I've always thought it would be really fun to snowboard. The problem is, is that my body it runs so cold, that I don't think that I would be able to actually stay warm enough to snowboard, I would have to find like, the thickest mittens and put like five of them on just to be able to snowboard. So I don't think I'd be able to make what if

David Kalsow 5:56

we got you a Michelin Man suit? The big puppy all the way down? That would actually

Traci Wulterkens 6:01

be great for if I fell. Yeah. So no, I knew a purpose. I like it.

David Kalsow 6:06

Fantastic. So what? What warmer places have you been to? What's your favorite warm place that you've been to? Let's say that narrows it down a little bit.

Traci Wulterkens 6:16

I would say carta haina. Colombia, Cartagena, Colombia. Yeah. Now, I will say when we were there, it was not ideal time, because we did not look at the temperature. We were looking at the other place in Colombia that we were going to Yeah, so when we were there, it was about 90 degrees with like, 90% humidity, so my ankles were swelling. So I mean, and you could be outside for about five minutes, and the sweat would be dripping off of you. And you're just like, okay, you know, get me a drink. Get me somewhere. You know, with air conditioning.

David Kalsow 6:53

It's not fine. A little bit of shade. It's like, right. Oh, yeah,

Traci Wulterkens 6:55

this was sweating. Yeah, it was horrible. But I mean, if we could go there, where it's just a little bit cooler, or just a little bit humidity, less humidity. I would love it. You know, I have moved there certain times of the year. You know, split my time between there and our our other favorite place in Colombia, because it was a great mother place. Tropical, cool vibe.

David Kalsow 7:22

Oh, yeah. You would international snowboard. Snowbird if you could?

Traci Wulterkens 7:26

Oh, definitely. Definitely. Yeah.

David Kalsow 7:29

What are some of your favorite experiences in Colombia? I think I saw a few of the pictures online. Yeah. It was a mud bath and a volcano.

Traci Wulterkens 7:38

Yeah, yeah, it was a volcano. Um, you climb up the stairs to it. I cannot remember for the life of me how deep they said it was but you go in. And the mud was actually so thick that you're literally just floating in it. So although the whole thing was all mud, you know, you're just you're just floating in you know, nothing is holding you up except for the mud. And then we got the guy actually gave us massages in the mud bath. So I mean, you get out. And then you have to walk to the the water and then these women washed you off. I mean, it was so cool. And they're like, oh, this, this takes years off of your life. You look much so much younger. Thank you. Like, yes, I feel younger. Good.

David Kalsow 8:24

Did you walk on the mud? Was it like,

Traci Wulterkens 8:26

No, you could. But you could do. Like, you know, if you'd lay on your back. You're just kind of like, oh, yeah, loading. You know, if your few ever took swim classes when you were young, and they're like, you know, float on the water. You know? You don't even have to try. You're just flowing man. Yeah.

David Kalsow 8:43

But did you have any like quicksand. Like, oh my gosh, I'm gonna sink into this kind of a thigh.

Traci Wulterkens 8:47

You know, I didn't I think some people did. I was just very trusting. I was like, oh, yeah, this is gonna be so cool. Because I saw the people in front of me. And I was like, oh, yeah, they're having no problems. I'm,

David Kalsow 8:58

I'm the first one. But you were like, Okay, now I've seen someone else do it. Yeah. Well,

Traci Wulterkens 9:03

we had to wait in line. So I mean, I couldn't be the first one and unfortunately, but I would have been

David Kalsow 9:09

would have been like to say any history or is there like a tradition behind it? Or is it just like, This is good for you?

Traci Wulterkens 9:16

You know, I? They might have told us some history. Yeah, but I don't really

David Kalsow 9:23

sit in a volcano for an hour.

Traci Wulterkens 9:26

Yeah. So yeah, I don't I don't really know much history behind it or anything. Yeah.

David Kalsow 9:32

Traci Wulterkens 9:50

a little girl. So it's like a dream come true for it.

Yeah, kind of. Yeah. Cuz I always liked white tigers. So I got to see baby white tigers. And I was like, oh, yeah, that's so cool.

She's my childhood little drawings coming. Yeah, exactly. That's awesome. Yeah, don't undersell it. Like there was huge tigers, like, babies.

Yeah, though. The first Tigers that we saw. They were huge. And the one was just laying there. And they're like, oh, go lay next to him. I'm like, Oh, okay. If you say it's safe. And but yeah, they bring them up since they're babies. So and they had they did have one there. That was like a newborn. But you had to pay like super extra. And I'm like, that'd be cool. But no,

that's like, I feel like the opposite approach in America. Yeah. Did you watch any of the Tiger King?

I did not. I you know, I

was better for your mental health.

That's what I thought, you know, I was tempted but I'm like, No, man, I'm not gonna get dragged into that.

Like they. What you learned in that is like they like the money is in the the baby cubs. And they don't even let you pet the big ones. And then they just keep breeding and breeding and breeding the baby cubs. And so I was like, Oh, is that I assume that's different. And they're like, oh, this natural for?

Honestly, I'm not sure how they do the breeding and all that there. Yeah, I couldn't tell you. Yeah, I wish I could.

back across to the different continents. Let's go back to Colombia. What was your favorite food in Colombia? What's the like the staple of Colombia.

They eat a lot of fried food there. So when we are in Carta, Hana, we did a food tour. Okay, and a lot of the food was fried food. And she's like, you know, I hope you like fried food. I hope you like cheese. And we're like, well, we're from a place that does a lot of cheese. So they did a rapise. And that was one of my favorite things. It's just basically like, corn flour, like fried corn flour. And they will a lot of times put cheese in it. And it's really, really good. Okay, but my favorite thing that I had to go back for after the food tour was and some people might think that this sounds really weird. And she's like, it sounds like a really weird combination, but it's really good. It is a guava and cream cheese stuffed pastry, but it's like it's kind of like the salty and sweet, savory sweet combination. And it was just so good. And

I can get behind that. I feel like pineapple and cottage cheese is a thing that they do over here. And like anything with cream cheese. Yeah, that's like a cheesecake almost was just a unique fruit. Yeah, I've

actually tried to make them at home. I don't make them as good. But I can pull it off well enough where I'm like, Okay, now I'm in Colombia.

I'm a part of the people now. Real culture back home.

That's exactly, exactly

Awesome. Sweet. So So what keeps you here in Wisconsin that if you love these world travelers, and you grew up here, like what the all these Colombia, Thailand, all these other places are sort of pulling you away? What keeps you here?

I would say two things. One is family. And two is Eric's business. No, because, you know, he can get people to take care of it when we are on vacation. So you know, we can go on maybe a two three week vacation, but he can't. Right now. You know, we have plans where eventually we are hoping to move to Columbia. Retirement Plan? Yeah. Our retirement plan kind of an early retirement. And he's kind of thinking about you know how he's going to have somebody work for him. But we don't have something in place as to actual jobs, you know, somewhere else. And And honestly, the thing is, he really likes what he does. Yeah. So let him do his thing. For now. Yep. make our money. And we'll just go on our vacations, you know, soak up the world. And who knows, maybe we'll find somewhere else that we actually want to live instead of Columbia.

Yeah. And you know, Wisconsin is the best place in between.

Yeah, exactly. I mean, and part of me would say that I want to move down south. Yeah. You know, until by

90 degree heat at 90%. Humidity.

Yeah, exactly. But our family's here. Yeah. So usually is a big time for him. And that that's the thing. So let's say with the family of as long as we can. Yeah, I mean,

and I think you have picked a great place to grow up in so I'm not really friendly. So

I do really like it here. I mean, other than the winters that are getting a lot harder on me,

you pick anywhere in Wisconsin, though, it's like, oh, yeah, definitely. Definitely. It's

just the cold gets harder and harder every year, I think, honestly.

But there's like I talked to Eric about this, too, that like we have a very vibrant food community here that we like, you go to Oshkosh, and there's some good, there's some decent restaurants there. But like really are the next level of like being like a Chicago level or something. I feel like we have some good, like Chicago level restaurants here. Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I think and I think the thing is, we're surrounded by a couple of really great areas. So you know, we're kind of just a hop, skip, jumping away from other areas. So we're not too far. From a good eat.

Yes. For sure. Like Door County is an hour away, and you get some really good pizza places.

Oh, definitely.

Are there any other thing? Like? What's your favorite attraction in this area of Northeast?

Yeah. Honestly, I would. I would definitely say Door County. I really like going to check out cave point. Love that. I've taken pictures of their like every season. Yeah, you know, you go and see the ice and then you can see it when it's nice weather. And I think that's one of my favorite places to go.

Yeah, because that's really good. The the geysers with the water coming off of the off the lake and then shoots up. Those are really cool. Yeah. So you mentioned photography. So you are an artist, photographer. How did you get into art?

So honestly, you know, it's kind of funny. I was thinking about this just the other day how I got into it. So you won't remember this? Because I'm older than you.

I just turned 26 this week. Oh, when I turned

38 and march 2? Yeah, just a decade. So back in the day, the newspapers used to have these like little instructions. It was about like maybe four to six boxes of like, how to draw something. And they'd be like, how to draw like Fred Flintstone. Like, oh, first, circle first, then you draw an oval. And they be like little things like that. And

yes, I'm sorry, I'm making weird faces, because I remember. Yeah, so that's a DV growing up. So like, my grandparents getting the Sunday comics from them was one of the highlights. Exactly what you're talking about?

Yeah. So I used to start drawing those. And then my parents were just like, I can't believe how she's just getting it dead on. So then they started getting me drawing books, you know, that were basically the same thing, you know, okay, you know, step by step. And then I just would do any kind of drawing and painting that I could get my hands on, I would start for Christmas, getting all these art sites. And then I just knew, you know, I was gonna do art. So I went to ash Kosh for graphic design. But then I realized that it's sort of not fit my brain, because graphic design is very straight lines. And to the grid. Yeah. And I'm very impressionistic, which for anybody who listening, if you don't know what impressionistic is, it's Monet's water lilies. It's like splashes of color and an eye cannot fit in a box. So then I was like, Okay, I can't do this.

It's more of like the feeling of the thing while also seeing the thing, right. Yeah.

Right. So then I switched my major to studio art. No, which is just basically any kind of art man.

Like painted art. Yep. anymore. That art?

Yeah. So I, you know, and I was like, you know, I might not get a job with this. But I'm gonna enjoy my time here. I'm gonna soak up what I can and I'm gonna learn and I learned a lot and I can apply a lot of what I learned to my life. Yeah. And, and, obviously, I took a couple photography classes and now I turn that into a job well, or business I guess, because it's not a job because I like doing it. So.Yes, and that's the joy,

What exactly is that business?

So it is pet photography. So I'll kind of tell you how I started it. So the idea for it. Yeah, it was super random, I guess. I mean, not random, but it just the way it came to me. So I, we've always had cats, you know, and the cats we have now are not the cats that we had when I had this idea. I

know you've rotated through cats.

We've rotated through cats since man, unfortunately. Yeah. Hey, it happens.

Yeah, they're there.

I mean, they were older. And now we have young ones. So

they're always good companions. The whole life.

So I but I was always taking pictures of our cats. And, and I just got really, really good at it. Yeah. And then I was like, Man, there could be something in in this. Yeah. And then I took a picture of one of our cats for his first birthday. And I know to some people, that sounds incredibly cheesy. But if your cats or dogs or any kind of animal or like your children, you'll realize that that's totally awesome.

Yeah, I mean, we're there for you there.

We celebrate things around this house. We celebrated our cats third birthday a couple weekends ago. I mean, that's all we do. And

you you and Eric don't have any kids. So are your kids.

Exactly, exactly. So I took a picture for one of our cast birthdays. And then shortly after that, he passed away. And it was an amazing picture. And he was so hard to take a picture off to so hard like, and I learned a lot from taking his picture. Yeah, I thought he'd be so easy to take picture of because he's such a sweet cat. He was so hard to take a picture

of, you know, does not look anywhere near the camera. He wouldn't

he wouldn't sit still. And and, you know, so for like from him. I learned a lot. Yeah. But then I really started thinking I'm like, oh my god, what if I hadn't taken that picture? You know, and so then I started thinking like, Okay, I gotta get this out for people. Yeah, so, you know, that's why I kind of started this business. Like, I really need to take photos for other people so that they can get those memories up on the wall for sure. You know, because what if they have, you know, a cat, or a dog or, or someone that they, you know, had just brought home? Or you know, it's their first birthday? Or it's like, oh, no, you know, this loved one that we're gonna lose pretty soon. Yeah, we want to make sure that that we don't lose those memories.

Right. So yeah, especially if you don't like having quality pictures. Yeah, it's all iPhone pictures. It's because I love the iPhone photographers out there and make some great pictures with them. But like, I think that experience of you knowing how to get the attention of the

Yes, huge, because I've learned a lot, man. Yeah.

Yes, I'm sure the the cats are going crazy. Use cat nap at all.

No, I don't want although I think that I've heard is like, Yeah, I do actually want to experiment sometime and try it out like with my cats and see, you know, because maybe I'll offer that up some time. If it works. Am I okay?

Have you done any odd pets yet? Or exotic pets?

The most exotic ones that I've done is a ferret. Oh, it's not super exotic. But it's, you know, not the average pet of her. And that was my first photo shoot. I was like, Cool. I'm shooting like six ferrets for my first shoot. This is

six. Oh, man, did you get any good shots of all of them at the same time? Or?

He just wanted one of them? Oh, at a time. Yeah. He didn't want to like pay for any extra time. So he was literally like, taking them each occasion. He's like, Here you go. Okay, you got the shot here. And I'm like, Can I check? I got the shop. You think you got it? You got it.

I get the feeling that you're not valuing me and

my time. Yeah. Well, he was a Groupon customer. So yeah. The couponers Yeah, I'm not saying that all group honors are like that, because I used to do Groupon. But he was he was one of the Groupon. You know,

sucker for a good deal.

Yeah.

But anyways, what's been your favorite experience with doing a business? Because I mean, you've just been doing art and I guess for Yeah, up until that

Well, honestly, there's really Gosh, a couple of things. Honestly. One, the fact is that I can take something that I love and make money off of it, too. I really like the fact that both me and my husband are in business. So we can talk business to each other. It's kind of fun.

You know, any dinner date can be an expense. Actually.

Don't test us. We've done

business on this one, expense it. I've done that. But

yeah, I was gonna say no joke. That sounds exactly like something Eric said before. Quickly talk books.

You're an entrepreneur, you got to make it work. Yeah. But it's

really, it's really fun also, just to be in that entrepreneur community. Because you really realize how tight knit that community is. And you learn so much from other entrepreneurs, and it's just so great. And it's like, oh, my gosh, I just figured out something super big that I can do, and that you can, you know, apply to my business. And then then all of a sudden, you realize something that you can apply it not even to the business, but just to life. Yeah, it's just great. Do you have an example of one of those things? Oh, man, you put me on the spot. I honestly don't know. Okay. Honestly, when you leave, I'll be like, Man, that's what I should have said. But right there. But no, they're there. They're seriously have I, but offhand, I can't

Yeah, the entrepreneurial. I mean, I've talked to a couple other people about this area, like they're just, they're so giving of information time, lessons that they've learned already. And so it's like, you're starting a business, but you're so not alone? Yeah.

I think really, that's, that's probably the biggest thing that you can take out of it. It just in general, is that, that you know, what, you may fail at one thing, but, you know, you're gonna succeed at 10 other things. And so you can take that apart, you know, in terms of your business, but then you can also put that way back in your life to be like, Okay, you look, I might not have done this right this time. But you know, I can take this back. And I can just go try harder. And because I failed, doesn't mean that I actually failed, right? You know, I'm growing as long as I'm growing. I can succeed.

Yeah, it's not preventing you from making changes for the future. Right?

It's exactly, yeah.

Awesome.I think that's a good segue point to talk about a new thing. You're doing podcasting. Right after the break. Welcome to the Podcast Fast Class, this is checking number that I that's German for three, you know, Oktoberfest and all this week, you should be releasing your very first episode. So I'm here to offer some encouragement. And to keep in the October theme, you might think starting a podcast is scary. Maybe the idea of planning and voicing heaps of your ideas for the world to hear. Makes you shiver in your boots. But what I'll say to you is don't overthink it. No one's perfect podcast is their best. Take it one week at a time. Learn each week and grow as you go. You can absolutely do this. And you're invited to our party, go to apple podcast.com for community support, and more. Link in the notes back to the show.

Fantastic. So you're venturing into podcasting now. Yeah, you're you're married Derek. And Eric is obviously started the the Appleton Podcast Co-op with me. So you know, you have that voice of podcasting, always at your dinners and everything like that. But what what pulls you in to actually want to be on a podcast and start your own?

Oh, gosh, you know, honestly, I think it's just really important to have a voice out there. So I think it'd be fun. Yeah. I mean, hey, why not? You know, and I think so. You know, when when Eric approached me with the idea for his podcast, I thought, yeah, that'd be great. You know, and then I came up with an idea. And I thought, well, this could be silly, but why not? You know, if I just want to play around with it, and if it works, it works. And if nobody listens to it, then I just did it. Yeah. So at least you did something. Yeah. Right. Exactly. So no harm no foul.

And no, what's the what's the idea for the podcast

for my podcast itself? Okay. So my podcast itself, that that I'm coming out with, I have

installed on the word brainstorming,

right. It is going to be about the stigmas that are out there for people with mental health issues such as bipolar depression and other such forums, I'm not going to keep it just the bipolar and depression. But those are the ones that I know, most of, you know, I've had people that have told me that I should kind of be quiet about such things, I shouldn't tell people that I have them. And, you know, I've kind of thought that I've been quiet about it for too long. And generally, when I tell people that I have these issues, I actually get a pretty good reception. Or, you know, if I do tell people, I tell them for a reason, in the sense of like, Hey, I'm opening up to you so that you can open up to me in the future if you want to. And that's why I want to make this podcast partially to debunk any myths that are out there, you know, like, Oh, she's just crazy. Or, you know, if you're bipolar, you're either one way or another. You're just super, super crazy, cuz I've seen it portrayed on TV shows, like so bad before.

And just like that instant, huge flip of right. Like, rage monster. Right. Right.

Right. And I mean, there's, I'm sure there's some people who have had that in the past before. But you know, I just want to, like, tell people like, hey, most the time, I'm a okay, you know, but, you know, so I just kind of want to, like, debunk some myths out there. And just be like, you know, if you need to talk, you know, there's outlets and I'm here. And, you know, you shouldn't be afraid to actually open up. Yeah, because that's

sounds like you're, you're giving encouragement, it sounds like this is really close to your heart.

Yeah. Yeah. Because, you know, for a while, I know, I just felt like I shouldn't open up about it. And then I'm like, You know what, I don't care how many people don't want to be my friends. Like, if they don't feel comfortable, or they feel like she's doing it to be to get attention. I promise you, this is not the way I would do.

Too much easier ways to get

thick. But, uh, so yeah, I kind of just want to do it, because it's kind of a passion project, you know, and I have ideas for episodes, and I err, soon to be my co host. Oh, that's gonna be kind of fun. We were recently on a road trip. And we were kind of like, figuring out how that's gonna work. So, um, I think it's gonna come out sooner than than later. Like figuring out you know, what, how to make it a little sustainable. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. So I want to record, you know, more episodes than not because I have bad days. So,

right. Yeah. Anticipating that and knowing yourself. Yeah,

exactly. So I want to make sure I have a plethora of episodes out there. So that, you know, I can at least keep putting them out and all that. So I think that's

an awesome project. I think the thankfully, like mental health has come to the forefront of society. So I think that I think having a voice, a local voice, especially as like, oh, that person is living here, or that person is I can relate to that story in particular, right. Sometimes people just need to hear it in that one other voice. Yeah, get make something click to make a change.

Exactly. Exactly. Yeah, yeah. And I think this year really is kind of a year that people need to hear it more, because I think more people are suffering than ever, just because of everything going on. And some people don't want to admit it, because they don't want to admit that maybe they're weak. And that doesn't make you weak. I think some people just feel weak. Yeah, if they feel depressed, or hopeless, or

no, because they're not living up to society's standard of what achievement looks like, or whatever. But, you know, there's like my, I have some family members who have had had her walk through their depression journey and stuff like that. And it's like, sometimes just waking up and getting out of bed is a huge accomplishment for that day or for that season of their life. So it's like, their days. Yeah, I think saying that out loud. And right now sometimes reading that can make a difference. But I think hearing level I love podcasting is like the warmth in someone's voice. Yeah. Is you can sort of hear the authenticity of of something more so than reading it. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Yeah. Are you gonna do any guests or people have anything like that?

Yeah, yeah, I definitely. Well, I know for sure. One episode I'm going to have have it actually be from like Eric's point of view. Oh, even though he's gonna be my co host. He is going to be you know, telling his side of it. Right. You know what it's like to live with me. And then I'm hoping to have either one or both of my parents on. You know what it was like for them to have some and be like, oh, man, our daughter is not normal. Yeah, exactly, exactly. They're They're hugely supportive. And and then I'm going to see if I can find some other people. You know, I know some people, but I don't you know whether they'd be able to,

you can tell me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like it's just like sort of a diary of a Audio Diary of your experience. Yeah. Yeah. Kind of. Yeah. So you're also working on another podcast as well. Also with Eric Yes, but a totally different topic.

Yes. Yes. Correct. So that one is going to be called after you sign the dotted line. And this was the brainchild of Eric So he's been wanting to do this one for a while. So this one is actually going to be his navy stories. And he's got some good stories. That's all I can tell you. Some of them are are serious, you know, and you're just gonna be like, oh, man, and Scott some really funny ones, though. Some really funny ones. And I can't wait for those to come out. And I know he said he's got some that I haven't heard before. Oh, you know, and I think we're gonna get working on that pretty soon. I know he's got you know, scripts and we kind of did some practice ones but then that's kind of taken a backseat because he started doing the mock him off. Yeah, with Gavin. So now we got to, you know, wrangle them up and say, Okay, now we got to get this started podcast

we're working on right now. Do your business and the power we make.

Exactly so. So but I think he's feeling more comfortable with editing and everything. So now I think we're gonna get started on that pretty soon, because I'm pretty excited about that one, because I love hearing his navy stories. And it's, it's funny, because I think a lot of people are so used to hearing you know, the great military stories like who rah rah, you know, yeah, my time in the military and

the Hollywood Americanized John Wayne's? Yeah, I had a brothers every other like, super Oh, jury, America,

you know, and when I met him, all of a sudden, I was like, oh, okay, so that's what it's like, you know, and like he hates when people come up to him and thank for service. He's like, I hate that the stupid. He's like, I sat on a ship. Yeah. And so, like, I know, he was like, when we were starting with the podcast, he's like, so for anybody who is really into the military. You might not like this podcast.

Yeah, I think he brings a a realistic viewpoint of like, what's the average person in a military position?

Right. It is. It's very, very eye opening. It's, it's intriguing. You know, and I think, I think there's, there's really two sides to the military. You know, you got those people who have those rose colored glasses on and our thing, I think this is the greatest thing ever, you know, and then you have him and like, and I know, my brother, I think at first when he joined the Navy felt felt like okay, so good thing. And then he's like, oh, gosh, so now he can sit and talk with with Eric Apollo, the same types of things. I'm like, Yeah, well, we told you. And yes,

I think, for my experience with Eric, I think it's still there's, there's still a respect for the military and everything there. And he's, like, shoot, shoot down, right. In the military. I'm sure. Anyone who has qualms with it wants to I would love to see a restructuring of any kind. Because, yeah, their experiences with the report. And I mean, hopefully, it can help people to have a realistic expectation,

right. And that's, that's the main thing is he's just like, look, I'm I'm just telling you how it is, you know, so if you want to go in there, you know, this is what to expect. And yeah. And he told me, he's like, you know, I said, Is it what you expected? And he's like, I mean, technically, it's what they told me. Yeah. But it just was not great. You know, but without the Navy. I don't know if we'd be traveling the way we are. Because I don't know if he'd have the appreciation for all the different places. It's possible that that would have happened. But I don't know.

The Navy was sort of his first dabbling in those. Yep. foreign cultures.

Yeah. Because he was in Asia. Yeah. So he knows how cool Asia is. And I know one of his favorite places was Thailand. So we're in Thailand. So you know, exactly.

You can be thankful for something and still say that that's

definitely, definitely. I mean, I've had some bad experiences. And I'm like, well, it was a good thing that happened, but

now I know Yeah,

exactly, exactly.

So you're you're doing a podcast with your spouse. So you're basically co host. What's it like doing a podcast with your spouse?

Honestly, it's fun, man. We have fun when we do it. It really? I mean,

you crack open the light brandy that you got sitting over here. Yeah,

no, that is honestly status for Gavin when he comes over. That's the Milwaukee mafia. Yeah, yeah, that is he actually in one of the upcoming episodes, you'll hear and be like, Man, I wish I had some brandy. So that's specifically up here for him?

Hmm. Are there any challenges that come with working with a spouse on a podcast versus like a business partner or just like a co host in general that you may not live with?

You know, that's a really good question. Because honestly, I really like working with him for the fact that we know what each other's thinking, Oh, yeah. You know, because the only bad thing that I could probably think of is that because we both know what each other's talking about, sometimes, is that I could say, oh, you know what I mean? Or I could say something really vague or something random? And then he'd be like, oh, yeah, of course, for sure. And then all of a sudden, we'd listen to her like, nobody's gonna know what that means.

The visual image in your head, my head is that is both the same, but you know, that third person, it's like, you're listening, why? What are they talking about?

But otherwise, we get along so well, and it's easy to just sort of figure out the next up. So it goes, you know, are always together for the most part, except for when he you know, leaves for work during the day. And we just, we just get each other. We work together really well, which I think is awesome. I love it. So

cool. Yeah, that's I think it's awesome that you're able to identify that and be like, Oh, we're an inside joke right now. Yeah. How do you how do you overcome that? Have you found any ways that are like, Okay, we need to explain this without getting overcomplicate?

Honestly, I think we're still just working that out. I'm like, oh, yeah, we we just had to explain this. Everybody else. So this is our thing.

Yeah. And now that, you know, you can call each other out

there. And that's the main thing, we just have to call each other out. But honestly, I think there's nobody else that I'd rather work with than him. So

yeah, have all of now you're doing two shows with him. So

yeah, yeah. I asked him like, you want to be my co host, you know, because, like, he's like, I think shows are better with CO hosts. Unless you're always gonna have a guest on there. So yeah, I'll be your co host. I'm like, Yeah, I agree. Because I don't think I'm always gonna have a guests.

Yeah, it helps to keep people's attention. Oh, totally switch. I

I definitely agree. You know, my favorite podcasts always have either two people or they have have, like, catchy music or have. They're always interviewing people, you know, and never it. It's got to be otherwise. Yeah, otherwise, I'm just like, I can't drive with this. Or I can't listen to this. I have too much going on in my head.

I can't. I mean, most and most podcasters aren't James Earl Jones or Tommy McGregor or something like that. There's like, oh, sultry.

But listen to this, and I don't care what you're saying.

The tone of that voice, not the content for that. So you you listen to a lot of podcasts?

I do. I do. Yeah. I mean, I, I sometimes fall behind. Like lately, I've been falling behind. But I pick it

driving as much. So it's when I listen to podcasts. Yeah, I'm driving mostly. So it's like, oh, I got a big queue. Yeah.

You know, it's funny when Eric and I are on the beach. We're the ones who listen to podcasts instead. Instead of music. It's it's really funny. But yeah, I go between in the car listening to music or podcasts. And then occasionally sitting at home I listen to a podcast depends on how much my brain is racing that day. What shows are in your queue? So I have Reply All that's one of my favorites. That's one of Eric's favorites too. So he is the one who got me on that man. I love that science versus that. I've listened to a few I mean, that one I feel like you know they do a topic and I'm just like, okay, I can trust the science on this man. Have you ever listened to cereal? Yes. Oh, love. Like whenever they come up with a new season. I'm just like, Oh, yes. Yes.

I I love that they broke open the narrative storytelling. I like real time narrative storytelling. I don't like the open ended endings

Well, I have a love hate, you know for that because yeah, I think in any kind of open ended, you know what the book or with that? I know it's But there was actually with like, the first season of that with Adnan. There was actually a documentary was either on Netflix or, or prime. Yeah, I want to say prime streaming that we watched was one of the streaming services that we have watches. And, and they had a it is, okay.

We're all in that same boat.

But they had one they had like a follow up on on that where, you know, he got like an appeal and all that. But unfortunately, he's still in jail. And it's like, so Oh, I still like I go back and forth. And I'm like, is he or isn't he guilty? Like you like I just, you know, and it's really cool, because Eric, and I listened to that together. And then we kept going back and forth like, Well, do you think he's guilty? Or don't you? And yeah, and he's just like, well, I don't know. I mean, given this, I think he could be and then but given this

puts you in the place of the juror, and it's like, well, yeah, you have all the information and make a decision. Yes. Just me in between you and friends. And I think there's a there's some fun in that and like, conversation, and

yeah. And I think that's the genius thing about that, that whole podcast, you know, and I think, I think really in any of the other seasons, too. She'd had a hint of that kind of thing. You know, and just really intriguing how smart and

yeah, the journalists that actually do great journals.

Yeah, yeah, it's so true. Yeah,

I think we covered everything. Is there anything else you want to add about podcasting about? I mean, I'm giving you an advert.

Cool. Well, thank you so much for joining me on the podcast.

Hey, thanks for having me.

I love that Tracy wants to share her voice for mental illness awareness. And great news. Tracy's podcast actually just launched as of last week, stigmas and open wounds released its very first episode. Please be sure to go follow the podcast wherever you are, and show Tracy some support. Next week. I'll drop that very first episode in the feed here for you to get a taste. So what's that thing that you want to give a voice to? Head on over to Appleton Podcast Co-op COMM For community support and resources to start your very own podcast. If you do, you could win some free pod gear. If you know someone in Northeast Wisconsin who likes podcasts, share this show with them. If you've made it this far, please rate and review the show on pod chaser or go hop on a plane to somewhere ask the flight attendant for all the napkins. Write your review on those napkins and tuck them into people's carry on. I'm David Kalsow, your neighborly podcast nerd and thanks for listening

Transcribed by https://otter.ai