And now the 419 with Gretchen DeBakker.

Matt Killam.

And Kevin Mullin.

Welcome in to the 419 powered by WGTE, presented by Whetro Wealth Management.

I'm Kevin mullen, Gretchen Debacker, and Matt Killam.

It is a toledo.com community calendar Thursday, where we take a look at top five events in the area coming up for this weekend.

And, we've got, I don't know, I can't say a friend of the show because it's her first time on the show, but.

Yeah, but a friend kind of in life.

Yeah.

A friend in verse for life.

Yeah.

Yeah.

No need to practice fees.

Yeah.

That's right.

Andi Roman from Imagination Station is going to join us.

Talk about King Tut.

And did I hear you say that?

She's going to quizzes.

Yes.

I've been advised that they will be giving us, Laura.

Ellie, not Lori.

Andy will be giving us a quiz about Egypt.

Are you talking to an honoring Kenny today?

Yes, I am, I was.

Yes.

Good morning.

Yeah, the all black.

Yes.

Yeah, a sad anniversary.

I wanted to be able to wear my necklace that I got in Egypt.

Matt, do you remember in school when only one of the students would be aware of the test?

And then just.

And knew and so could study no one.

And may I have the questions and have studied and done the research and maybe visited.

Yeah.

Egypt.

Yeah.

Like, you know, this past summer.

So, you know, this would be great.

It's going to be really good for you and I a live quiz.

No problem.

We have.

This is not my strong suit to begin with.

Yeah.

What was your school fees?

I don't I don't know that I had one.

Okay.

No, I enjoy math.

I did like math.

Okay.

But I was when I was in college, it was anything in my major in communications, video production, things like that.

I was all in on.

I got a 4.0, and my year, I did not get a 4.0 in college, so all the science stuff was just bad.

I took I tell my my kids laugh at me, I tell em I, I should be a botanist.

I took botany twice.

Because you flunked it twice.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

No, I switched my major.

Yeah, but I wouldn't have to take statistics after trying it.

I did like, well, at the.

There's a, John Mulaney, or need gassy classic beat on this, but I promise you, I long had this routine because I tested into, oh, 70 math.

Which is a rarity because the first, thing isn't even a number.

It's a letter.

And all.

We did it.

My memory is we took the change out of our pocket and counted it.

And it taught you how to tell time.

Yeah, I do five.

What was money and what was button?

You.

You're saying that, like, normally it's like math 100.

That's right.

You were in math oh seven with it.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

Not even in the nines.

Yeah.

That's right.

Oh my goodness.

Amazing.

Yeah.

No, I, I made the mistake of, when I fail the class, ideally you take that class again, but my thought was like well I attended half the classes last semester.

If I magically attend the different half this semester, I will of attended all of them.

Not another half to make it full.

Just a different half.

A different half I got.

I do remember though, the math, because if you're married, they're like whenever you said, oh, I have to use my calculator, they're like, we're not gonna be able to have a computer with you all the time.

Yeah.

And boy, have the times change.

Yeah, we have to think I'm not at all.

That's right.

Yeah.

You just said go your way through all you stuff to be completely stupid.

Yeah.

And then, so Andy's going to be on the show, talk about cool things that are happening.

Imagination station.

And then also, we're going to get you some data device.

Yeah.

Me personally.

Yeah.

I've got a lot of questions.

Okay.

About Gretchen.

You two are no longer dating.

I assume.

I, I don't know that I need database.

I feel like my wife would not want me to get dating anybody, I don't know.

Yeah, yeah, she called it yet again.

It's like, play the field.

Please, God.

See what else is out there.

Goodness gracious.

There's no chance I do better than no chance.

That's true.

That's interesting.

Do movie.

All right.

We got an exciting show for you here.

We're to take a look at our toledo.com top five events.

When we come back here on the 419, powered by Wjct, presented by Retro Wealth Management.

Support for the 419 comes from Whetro Wealth Management, where we understand that your financial path is personal.

Advisory services are offered through capital investment advisory services LLC, securities offered through Capital Investment Group member Finra, SIPC.

More information at whetroadvisors.com The 419, powered by WGTE is made possible in part by supporters like you.

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Introducing The Local Thread, a community news series uniting voices and storytellers from across the region in partnership with La Prensa, the Toledo Free Press, the Sojourner Truth, Toledo Public Schools, and veteran journalist Jerry Anderson.

The Local Thread brings you stories and conversations that connect our community.

Here at weeknights at seven on FM 91, with early access on podcast platforms each morning, the local thread only on WGTE.

Welcome back into the 419.

We are joined now by Andi Norman.

I every time I want to and and here's the I want to say Andy Roman but I don't Andy Norman.

Yeah correct.

Because I, I know you know as Roman right.

I don't even I don't even know this.

Were you originally Norman.

No no no no no Andy Norman is a completely separate, separate person.

I used to get quoted Andy Norman.

She would get quoted Andy Roman.

Yeah.

Worked for two separate organizations, but there was another individual.

This wasn't.

Yeah, I mean, that Roman tie.

Yeah, yeah, we'll give you that.

Unfortunately she passed.

Yeah, I have I didn't kill him all the time.

Kill him?

Yes.

Yeah.

The events.

Tim Lee, man, you know, you've made it my my first job in radio.

I was trying to get in, trying to get hired at what was then Clear Channel, okay?

And sending in resumes.

I was the announcer for the Mud Hens at the time, so I felt like I had a pretty good shot of getting hired to do something on air and couldn't get in, couldn't get a call or anything.

And I remember calling the station and, I was like, you know what?

I know who I need to talk to.

I'm just going to ask for them, like I supposed to talk to them.

So I was like, hey, Kevin Mullen, can I talk to Bill Michaels?

And they passed me on to Bill Michaels, and Bill's like, hey, Kevin, how's it going?

Like excited to hear from me?

And we're talking.

Yeah.

The conversation lasted a couple of minutes.

Sure.

And he goes, wait, who is this?

Yeah, I said, It's Kevin Mullen.

And he goes, oh, they tell me, who is this?

They told me it was Kevin Milliken.

Oh, and I was like, first of all, the fact that you take his call and not mine.

Every time I see Kevin Milligan's post on my feed, I think, why did Kevin love like that?

Yeah, I confused all the time.

Yeah, we've doing that.

We're doing it again.

Yeah.

We are far too comfortable, far too fast.

Your name is Laurie Hauser and would say yes.

Yeah, yeah.

Laura, let me tell you something.

You look great.

Oh, well thank you.

Yeah.

80.

What's your role at Imagination Station?

I am the marketing director.

And what is the Imagination Station?

You know, you can use your imagination to come up with all sorts of amazing things to do there that come imagination that puts us out there to use it.

Are you in the minds?

Who is?

I forgot my white gloves.

Yeah, well, I heard you were going to go kind of the Egyptian.

I just had my Egyptian necklace.

So see that?

That's.

It's very lovely.

Thank you.

So you are veteran not only of marketing, working for mud hands and other locations, but you're also a veteran of television and radio show notes.

Yeah.

What's what's your tip?

If, assuming you've listened to Don't Wear White, okay.

It's up in the air.

I see.

Yeah, I get it correct.

You guys.

Look you look lovely.

Thank you.

So one of the things that we're excited about, one of the events that's coming up at imagination Station, you guys bring in some rotating exhibits.

And there's a big one that's opening this weekend.

It's one of our top five events of the weekend, weekly dotcom.

So we thought we'd have you come on and talk a little bit more about it.

Okay, so what's it called?

It's called Hidden Commons something.

That's right.

I wanted to hear you say.

Yeah.

You know how I think the hardest thing about this exhibit is saying the title.

Yes.

Gretchen scheduled a struggle with the Lego one.

Yeah.

So in fairness, this is not the show for that.

The Lego exhibit, this is a big year was amazing.

Legos.

King Tut, which I'm going to do it.

Yeah.

And you also have Star Wars.

We do.

So it's a huge year.

It's a huge year.

We have unofficial galaxies coming in May.

Yeah.

Oh yeah.

All right.

So yes, two common treasures, from Of a Pharaoh is opening on Friday and we're so excited.

Yeah.

It's a beautiful exhibit.

It's a little bit different than, Lego.

You know, where there was a bit of 200,000 Legos that you can create?

Amazing things.

This one has a set of snakes.

Yeah.

That's right.

This one's filled with, you know, different dating.

Yeah.

126 replica artifacts.

Oh, wow.

And they're.

It's just really cool.

It's divided into five areas, and you can basically the first area is like, you see what Howard Carter saw when he walked down into the tomb and saw it?

Totally.

That's cool.

Yeah.

There it was just amazing.

And then let me ask you sort of a nerdy question.

These things we have the luxury is Lucas County residents and a far reaching, range and just that of in terms of your visitor trip.

But they don't just happen, right?

A van doesn't just pull up and, hey, next weekend, do you guys want us to put these things out?

How do you plan this?

What is the, what is the market for?

These traveling houses function for money team meetings.

Have you had to get ready?

Oh, we have a lot of team meetings.

We we think about what would interest the community.

Sure.

You know, sometimes it's pop culture, but there's always a, education factor to it, because that's what Imagination Station is.

It's fun, it's hands on.

And then there's also the learning aspect, you know, there's education guides that teachers can use with all of our exhibits.

So it's going to be really fun to see the things that the kids pull out of King Tut, because it truly is there.

The things that he was buried with.

Yeah.

How do you know what's out there?

We have a team that investigates, looks into, the different areas.

I mean, it runs everything from, like, magic to nature.

Yeah.

You know, what's the wackiest thing that you decided not to bring?

Do you have one that sticks out?

You're like, this is a weird thing.

We're not doing.

That's a hard question.

I think Lori would have a better answer for that.

Well, she was too good to come on the show.

Yeah.

So you're stuck with me?

Yeah.

She's a self-absorbed monster.

You heard your first thoughts on its surface.

I mean this to me, this sounds like an exhibit that I would expect to see at the art museum, not an imagination station.

What what makes this, a fit for you guys?

Because it.

And maybe it's just the fact it's King Tut that I just assume, like, this is like.

Well, I think it will bring a new audience to Imagination Station.

Everyone always thinks of us as just a kids, science center, but it's really for everyone.

There was a couple in, over the weekend and she posted on TikTok.

Her.

Her boyfriend riding the bike.

Yeah.

And I mean, it got 8 million views.

You're kidding me.

Yeah.

So, I mean, the fun is for everyone.

So I'm hoping that King Tut draws in everyone and just kind of brings that atmosphere and then lets them travel into the science center to really relive what they live.

When Steve Martin performing at the opening this weekend.

Oh I wish oh, I get a signal.

So I'm, you know, we hired Matt instead.

That's right.

To dress up like Steve.

Poor man, Steve Martin.

That's right.

Poor man's everything.

But I will tell you that, the Imagination Station is near and dear to me.

Not just because of my love for Laurie and you.

My mo mo, who is six, imagination is her destination if asked.

Yes.

It's not, our beloved park system or wonderful museum or the zoo.

It is the Imagination Station.

Every other weekend.

That is where she would go if if asked.

And so I've just stopped asking.

Yeah, well, and we found, like, taking our kids, like, I mean, one my wife and I have as much fun as they do.

Yeah.

We love it.

And at every stage of their development, it's a different level of fun.

And so it's like, you know, when they were really little, we'd go and they'd play with certain activities and engage.

And it was like, you know, the bright colors and sure that fascinated them.

Yeah.

And now we can actually, like, start getting into more of, like science based, like, intelligent things.

Yeah.

There's in, I'm going to get the room because that'll stop abruptly.

Yeah.

That's right.

No no no.

There definitely like start to peek.

Luckily they've got their moms right.

Yeah.

Otherwise yeah.

They chat about it about fourth grade.

Speaking of bright colors, I can't help it with this midnight theme to Gretchen's outfit is absolutely apropos.

We we get into, like, a whole, like, physics, like Olympics, basically with the family, with different activities and different things to say, like, all right, who can get, I don't know, one of these spinning things with the metal.

And I was like, who can get their wheel to spin the longest and who can balance the most on this?

And it's like those kind of things are fun.

And so I, I remember having the conversation with Laurie, on the podcast about how it's Toledo Science Center, right.

And really thinking about that.

This isn't just a a destination, but it's truly a space for all of Toledo.

And you guys got to become the the science experts for all of us.

And the really cool thing is, and I didn't even realize this, before I started working there is we have a whole team of people that do outreach.

We have it's our program team.

They are educators.

They are so intelligent.

And they go out and they, go into neighborhoods in classrooms that don't always get to come to the science center.

And they're bringing our tinkering vans into the communities and introducing concepts and learning in a way that goes, And it could be as simple as learning how to use a drill.

You know, where kids may not ever be able to learn that I might come to that.

And I mean, they're learning circuit boards and sewing and all sorts of different things, and it's just so cool.

And I was like, I never realized the lengths that we go to.

I mean, we were in three states last year delivering programing to, you know, so when you're talking about Toledo Science, center, it's Toledo regions.

You also have the fabulous new KeyBank theater, which is an amazing facility, movie theater.

How what do you do to incorporate that space into exhibits like the King Tut?

So, Oh, we're doing so.

So first, every day we show 3D films, education films, and they all come with education guides.

So teachers, when they're signing up for it, they can look up and do some training before they come to give their students quizzes, like I'm going to do with you guys.

But, so, but then we also do just regular movies.

We do community conversations.

So we're, we're using that as a platform for in other ways.

And we're going to be showing a night at the museum.

So fun.

So I'm on the 20th of February.

Yeah.

And we're going to do a flashlight tour of the exhibit first.

So it's going to be dark and we're going to have flashlights and we're going to be doing guided tours teaching them about what they're seeing.

And it's a great idea.

Yeah.

So when is that February 20th of you ready to make sure you get that in the calendar?

When when does this exhibit open?

It opens Friday.

Awesome.

So do we want to.

Do you want to start the quiz?

Sure.

Oh.

No peeking.

Yes.

No.

I realized what I was looking at, so I will not be answering the first question.

But you don't know what the first question is.

Number nine.

So, how's the reading going?

Is the readings going to look more of a sign?

Okay, so since we since all right, since you already know the question number one, what age did he become?

Pharaoh?

Did King Tut become 39 years old?

Nine years old?

And how many years did he rule?

Ten.

Wow.

All right, you just keep going.

Let us know.

Yeah, I love it.

I, I was just in Egypt.

Always in Egypt for sure.

And I travel nerd and we went to the king.

Is that saw the saw the the tomb.

Yeah.

Okay.

So that was the question.

Where was King Tut buried?

The valley of Fremont, Ohio.

And then what, for $200?

Oh, what is his tomb number?

Oh, I don't know that.

Six.

Seven.

19.

Done.

KV 62 I was close.

Yeah, that's my second only off by JV five.

Yeah.

So how many rooms did, King Tut have in this tomb?

You were there.

I would say some of them are blocked off.

I'm going to say 715.

Yeah, there were 22.

There were four for him.

So he wasn't considered.

Major King.

Well, don't say that now.

So, I mean, we know the most about him, but most kings had over 100 chambers and he had four.

It's very okay.

Incredibly impressive.

When you when you go there, it's like it's a mountain.

And they with their hands and small, you know, tools just dug in and made Foley square rooms like under these these mountains.

It was it's amazing.

Yeah.

I want to cut you off because I've, that was an interesting, the any case in question, the, and this might be unfair put you on the s But why do we know the most about King Tut?

Because Howard Carter, he, searched for this tomb for five years and was about ready to give up.

Asked.

He was working with an England English financer, and they gave him extended him a year.

Like the next day he found the tomb and it was intact.

It was the most intact tomb in that head that very world famous King Tut, gold, solid gold head of that was a part of his tomb was.

And it was just this was in 1925 ish.

Yes.

23.

It was just became a worldwide story, became wildly famous even though he was a king, a kid, a kid wasn't that.

He wasn't.

It didn't do that much for Egypt during his reign.

But this is why he's the most famous.

I mean, I'm just thinking about my own children.

Like my ten year old.

There's no chance he could rule like so.

You know, the show is.

Yeah, but.

But the eight year old.

Yeah.

Watch out.

Yeah.

All right.

You can do it now.

Yeah yeah yeah Myles could.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

He if when he learns about King Tut I don't know that I want to take in because he's going to be like oh wait a second.

Yeah.

He's like I can start setting laws.

Yeah yeah.

So nine this talk to me more about this public execution.

Yeah.

All right.

My goodness.

People want if they want more information about oh you have more questions.

That's okay.

Then I'll do it.

This.

Let's run more rapid fire.

Let's do it.

I want that to get one right.

How long is the show?

Sorry.

How many total number of artifacts are you having in the exhibit or exhibits were found?

Oh, that were found.

And that we have in the exhibit 125 seven.

All right.

We have 126 in the exhibit and over 5000 were found in the tomb.

It took our, Carter ten years to catalog everything for Mrs.

Carter.

Can you imagine what a drag.

Amazing.

All right.

Thank you.

So much.

If people want more information on this exhibit, where can they find it?

Imagination station toledo.org.

Fantastic.

Thank you so much.

Imagining such an incredible place.

I mean, again, I think we all have our own memories there.

Being able to go.

I love going to, like, special events there as well, which is cool when you get a chance to get invited later.

So I love shopping for hours.

You want to hang out with us when we come back or talk about hanging out with you.

Yeah, we'll talk about the toledo.com top five events of the weekend.

Just one of which is King Tut's Treasures of the Pharaohs tomb.

Did I get that right?

What?

Tutankhamen?

Sure.

I'm not going to say that you're not okay.

It's the 419 to be right back.

To me, community means connecting to others.

I'm Dani Miller and welcome to the Point.

I lost it yesterday.

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Where you come to watch, listen and learn.

Welcome back into the 419.

It's time for our toledo.com top five events of the weekend, driven by.

Tada!

What do we got?

What's what's on the docket for top of the list?

Top of the list.

We've just been discussing the Tutankhamun exhibition opening, which is very difficult to say that sentence to say, beginning this Friday, January 30th.

Indy.

How long is that running?

It will be here for three months.

Okay.

And we've already given the website imagination Station toledo.org toledo.org.

Okay.

The second event also happening in downtown Toledo this weekend is the 2026 Toledo Auto Show.

Also starting Friday are January 30th until February.

Gretchen, this is one of your faves.

It is my one of my favorite.

Yeah.

Tell me a little bit about what you like the most about it.

I like the dancing.

Yeah.

Show tunes.

Yeah.

Have you ever been to the auto show?

I think I went with my dad once.

Yeah, but no, I have not.

So it's a it's a cool event.

I maybe my favorite part of the auto show isn't even actually, like, really the auto show itself.

They do the Toledo auto dealers, have an event.

It's their Toledo Auto show charity gala, and the auto dealers United for kids raises money for different nonprofits in the area.

Connecting kids to meals.

Who, you know, Wendy's been on the show is exceptional.

It's fantastic.

Great organization.

They're one of the beneficiaries of several, this year benefiting from that event.

I just think those kind of things, like when we do this, it's very Toledo.

Right.

So we get a chance to show off some of the cool vehicles, get a chance to promote, you know, some great local owned businesses with the different car dealerships and then also a chance to say, you know, let's also, support our community and give back to kids.

So, that's a that's a cool piece of that.

Of course, one way of supporting that is attending, the other sporting the auto show this weekend, and that's at the convention center.

The other, the third event is called Black Box Live.

This is at, the new, Live Arts Toledo, location, near the Stranahan, adjacent to the Stranahan Theater, upstairs in the second floor, there's the Bob Bell studio, and they're having this series of smaller musicians.

Artists perform there, and it's sort of like, almost like a bar cafe type vibe with small tables and chairs.

There's an amazing, beautiful $250,000 piano that was donated to Live Arts Toledo.

And, Black Bock is a, American pianist and composer.

And so he'll be playing the piano as part of his performance is supposed to be very good.

So we can get more information about that at Live Arts toledo.com.

Also, that, event is sponsored by, UMS and ends the Bob Bell Theater.

That's the, like the lower stage.

Yes.

And it's like a fully lit, perfectly acoustically sound room.

It's a very cool space.

And they have bar and, like, food, snacks and stuff you can get.

It's an incredible space.

Is incredible.

Yeah, it really is.

The third one is the battle of the for 75 UT women's basketball against Bowling Green on Saturday, January 31st.

I believe it's at 2:00.

So that should be exciting.

What's the what's the take?

Kevin, do we think we're going to.

It is not at 2:00.

It sounds like.

I don't think that's right.

Okay, well, I think it's at 5:00.

Yeah.

Because the men play, the men play it.

I think the men play it, too.

Okay.

Women play five.

Maybe the men play at noon.

I should have this all figured out.

What, a show.

You know what?

Yeah, I'll have this all day, but.

Yeah.

So.

So, look, the the men's team, just had an incredibly exciting game against that team down south.

One with a late, three by Leroy Blade.

Junior freshman.

To go up by one.

Ended up kind of holding on for the win.

The last eight seconds.

Pretty incredible game.

Exciting.

Near full, near full capacity.

The women's games are always fun because I've said, if you go to it, I will say Todd Kowalczyk, the men's coach, doing a really good job of engaging the students in those games this year, more so than any year I've been, a part of the program.

But if you, on a normal day go to a men's game, in a women's game and close your eyes, you'd swear there's twice as many people at the women's games.

And and sometimes there are, because the fans are incredible.

But.

Yeah, absolutely.

But they are rabid and it is awesome.

So it's a really cool atmosphere.

My family loves going to the women's games.

And, you know, Toledo is certainly having a rebuilding year.

Trying to find their find their way.

As Jenny continues to kind of like, build the pieces of her team, last year she really was coaching really Trisha's team into her style.

This is the first chance of her taking steps into her own.

But it takes it takes time to get that.

But they work.

They play hard.

And and she's great.

All bets are off in a rivalry game, so it doesn't matter, you know, if one of the teams is, you know, 20 and.

Oh, and the other ones own 20.

When they play each other in, in the Toledo big game, it's anybody's anybody's game.

Oh it's a great matchup.

It is.

And it's a very great atmosphere for that.

That came in particular if you want to spend all day Saturday doing sports things and we do which you might some people might Saturday night is the Toledo Walleye bonefish night.

Just taking a quick glance at their it's I have no idea what that means.

So Toledo Walleye is, explain it to me.

Yeah.

I didn't know that.

Yeah, I did know that.

I don't know what a bonefish is, Matt.

I bonefish is the only type of fish they fish for them in Florida is my memory of this.

But that's all I got in Europe.

You're a walleye hockey fan.

Hi.

Yes.

What?

My guess is it's just a really cool jersey.

Yes.

Skeleton.

That's what I was going to say.

If you look at the website, they have mugs, t shirts, hats, all with this, like cool.

And it's black.

It's a black jersey.

Jersey.

I could always fan favorite.

Yeah, for sure.

You're already ready for it.

So Saturday, January 31st in the evening again, this is, you know, when the walleye do their specialty jerseys, they auction them off after the game, for charity.

That that event in and of itself is really cool.

Absolutely.

Andy, do you have any have you ever bid on or won any of the specialty jerseys?

Yes I won, well, Greg won.

My husband won, Thor when they did, Thor's and, we did the raffle.

They always do a raffle.

And, whoever wins, it gets to pick the first jersey.

Whoever.

Oh, that's neat.

I think you were doing the the bidding that day.

I was, I was and and the golden ticket.

The golden ticket Greg got and he picked Brandon Hawkins jersey.

Yeah.

That's awesome.

The golden ticket was a fun.

So I kind of learned this at auctions, a few years ago where it's a raffle and the raffle winner gets to basically steal an auction item.

And I mean, the walleye almost doubled the amount of money they were able to raise for charities.

By doing this and you just for people.

That's right.

That's exactly right.

It's they get aggressive.

Yeah.

They do.

The auctions can get heated, as can the games themselves.

But I think it's interesting to me.

I mean, again, we talk about the difference between fan bases, right.

You know, you work for the money hand and walleye for a number of years.

And the fan base of the money hands of the fan base of the walleye, or to different levels of connection to the game and the team and the and the people.

I also think it's the type of game, you know, baseball is a different a different type of game than hockey.

And there's just such passion.

And for both it's just shown differently.

And I think the support is there.

I mean, Toledo loves its mud and it's just as much as it loves its walleye.

It's just louder at the walleye.

The kids games inside the Huntington Center are painful.

Yeah, yeah, because there's at a Mud Hens game.

So delightful.

Well, sure sure.

No no they they're it's it's the energy is great.

But it's the nice thing about the kids game at about is that this the spring outside just goes into.

That's the science of into the universe.

Yeah.

And at the honey center, it comes right back down off that.

Sure.

Yeah.

So, speaking of the universe, yeah, most importantly, we do love you any.

But you did bring us gifts.

Well, only if you got the trivia question right.

So there for me.

Yeah.

That's right, that's right.

We move on to that.

I did want to say, in case we got any information incorrect or you want more information about any of these, you can go to toledo.com for that full listing.

And every single one of them.

Tada will get you there.

That's right.

So you can check out their roots, to, to find your way to any of these great events across northwest Ohio now.

And these are the gifts that we demand, okay.

That we require.

Yes.

Some might say, I don't wanna come on, hit anybody while I do it.

There we go.

We, 3D printed this.

You're kidding me.

This is a lightsaber.

It's, Imagination Station special.

And, to help promote our exhibit.

That's coming after two uncommon, unofficial galaxies.

And it's, as you can imagine, all Star Wars.

It's so cool.

Really cool.

I'm so excited.

So.

Yes.

So that is for you.

Thank you.

Yeah.

I love, Star Wars.

Do you have a preface between Star Wars or Star Trek?

Oh, Star wars.

Okay.

All right.

Yeah.

Okay, then.

Me too.

I've never seen it.

You've never seen any of them?

How cold was it when you grew up in Russia?

Same.

Same.

Awesome.

Never watched Star Wars.

Yeah, I have seen bits and pieces of it.

I get some kind of exhibit, though.

I get some of the references.

Just because of pop culture.

Right.

But I have never watched any of the star Wars movies start to finish, and he doesn't have to give you a private showing or something.

Are you going to are you going to show the movie?

We're gonna well, you know, there are nine.

And so not in my book.

How many are there in your book?

303.

You don't have the prequels.

No I don't okay.

Three or 4 or 5 and seven.

That's right, that's right, that's right.

Yeah yeah yeah, yeah.

It's 4 or 5 and six.

Yes.

To answer your question, I'm sure we're going to show at least one, if not a trilogy.

So that will be exciting.

Yeah.

I love it, you guys.

Well, no, I oh, good on the big screen.

I mean, that's I it's so different.

You want to sell Star Wars?

These two.

Yeah.

No no no, I was the most popular thing it's ever happened.

My sole reason for not watching it, like, it just sort of like happened at one point.

And then my brother is a huge star.

It was.

It was a huge Star Wars fan.

And it really annoyed him that I hadn't.

So this is that this is a family thing.

It was out of spite.

So now I, I'm fully committed that I'm going to watch at some point with my kids.

This would be a perfect time to go through the exhibit and then, you know, come to a movie.

I love it.

I love it.

Let's do the quiz.

Oh, that's right, it's time for Gretchen's wacky quiz.

I'm not going to ask you for rapid fire questions.

Gretchen's going to ask you for your favorite thing in the region, and then Matt's going to ask you to describe Toledo in exactly nine words.

We'll do it together.

Don't worry.

All right, I'll kill you.

What?

Which reality show do you think you could win if you participated?

Survivor.

Really?

Okay, I think she did.

She did, she did.

I repelled, okay, I'd probably give no, what would be what would be the worst flavor of ice cream?

Licorice.

Black licorice.

Agreed?

Agreed.

It's a good answer.

What's one goal you'd like to accomplish during your lifetime?

Be on the show box check.

Yes.

Box checked.

Killing it.

Your favorite childhood memory.

Oh, I'm accepting that last one is the answer, by the way.

Yes.

Okay, just moving on Christmas mornings.

Yeah, I love it.

God bless you.

What's your number one?

Most favorite thing or best thing about Toledo or the region that we live on the water.

Okay, I heard you say parks here.

All right.

Nice words.

Oh, nine words, and it's nine words.

I live by the water.

I'm going to give you three for that.

So we're almost home.

How'd you get three out of live by the water.

By the water?

Because articles don't count.

Okay, the people I've heard you say that before.

You love the people.

I do love the people.

All right?

I love the people of your imagination station.

I'm gonna give it to you for that.

Yeah.

Three more.

I just think living in the Midwest and.

Oh, that's not nice.

She just said you got to do it.

Yeah.

Living in the Midwest, along the water, where the people.

Where we have great people and a good life.

Love it.

That's nine.

I can't that's my count as nine.

It's a minimum of nine.

Yeah.

It's like a Star Wars nine.

Yeah.

That's right, that's right, that's exactly right.

That's right.

I would never be able to do Colbert because man he counts about does that problem solved itself.

Yeah.

They have people making those answers up.

Yeah.

So do you think really I think so.

You think I don't know I mean, Andy has her own producer.

That's true.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's, who do you think came up with all the King tech questions?

She's in bed today.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you so much.

You're so welcome.

Thank you.

Let's give it again one more time.

If people interested in more information on the King Tut exhibit or the upcoming Star Wars exhibit, or just in general, all the great things happen in it's Imagination Station toledo.org.

It's a beautiful website, so come and play on the website and then come play at the, the science center.

And there's great things happening.

Every day.

But certainly this weekend, a lot of different opportunities to get out, enjoy the region.

You know, we talked about it with Kelly, on the show this week.

You know, be a tourist in your own town.

And so get around Toledo and enjoy some of the cool things that are happening.

And it seems to be at least 30 degrees this weekend.

I mean, that's going to be a heatwave.

Yeah, I feel travel.

You're going to see people won't even need a coat.

Yeah.

You'll see people in shorts and a t shirt.

That's not a public service announcement.

Everyone just does not.

We don't do the weather on this.

You have to worry about that.

And so, of course, all of those events and more available@toledo.com, we check out our top five events of the weekend.

And, all of those events, driven by Tarter.

We appreciate their support of this program.

A chance for us to highlight, great things happening in the area, especially the work that Andy and the team at Imagine Imagination Station are doing.

If you missed any portion of our conversation with Andy, you get three opportunities every single day to enjoy it.

7:00 Am on YouTube channel, 3 p.m.

on FM 91 and 6 p.m., and connects channel 30.4.

When we come back, we are talking with the Kell two collective.

They've got an upcoming dating event and friend finding and friend finding event, which really this is really just all about helping Gretchen find friends.

So, let's see what happens.

That's right.

It's the 419.

We'll be right back.

Support for the 419 comes from Whetro Wealth Management, where we understand that your financial path is personal.

Advisory services are offered through capital investment advisory services LLC, securities offered through Capital Investment Group member Finra, SIPC.

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Welcome back into the 419.

We're talking about cool things to do in our area.

We just went through our top five, toledo.com top five events of the weekend driven by Tada.

And now we're talking with, some new friends of the program, the Kel Squared Collective.

Kelsey and Kelly, thank you for joining us.

How did you guys meet?

We met at Toledo Metro Toastmasters about a year and a half ago, October ish or so.

That's not too long.

What is the Toastmasters?

It is an international organization that specializes in leadership, competence, training and public speaking.

It's been around for about two 100 years.

I know a very long time.

A long time.

There are multiple chapters within the Toledo area.

We are Toledo Metro.

So of course if you are interested we would want you to come to our chapter in particular we meet on Fridays.

We meet on Fridays at 8 a.m.

to about 915, the first and third Fridays of each month.

And I then go ahead and say, and eliminating UMS and others is a big thing for Toastmasters.

And I know that Matt loves to pick on Gretchen.

What what advice do you have for us?

Because I know when I listen back to the podcast, like, I my default breath is and, yeah, so I know it happens.

What what's some advice for making those go away?

I mean, when we're in meetings, we have the, counter.

So that's what stops me is, you know, someone's there with a little dinger.

Ding, ding.

Every time you have an, similar word.

Yeah, my filler word is so.

And that's where I lead in.

You call it the fact that it's a filler word.

So what is the training to just to not have the filler word?

You could have the pause.

Correct.

There's there's actually power in the pause.

Okay, I love it.

Are you too naturally outgoing or is this something you had to sort of build into your coaching to?

I would say we're both naturally outgoing, but we're introverts at the same time.

Walk me through that.

Okay, so we definitely get our energy from being at home, getting, you know, having our hibernation.

However, we are both two very bubbly, outgoing girls that, you know, we like to have fun.

Yeah.

All right.

And so you sort of bonded or started talking about what you describe as the friendship recession.

And wanted to do something about that in the Toledo area.

So what?

Tell us a little bit about what the squared collective is and what what you're trying to do.

And I want to know what the what is the friendship recession like.

What is that.

So there is a there's a trend that at one point in time people said that there are there are statistics shown that 3% of individuals did not have a close friend that has increased actually to 12%.

So there is a recession that is happening.

And there's also another close friend probably I would think somebody that you can call, you can confide in somebody that whether it's a work colleague everybody has friends for different purposes as well.

Yes.

So there is a there's a menacing effect happening with that.

And in addition it says that there this friendship recession, this loneliness epidemic that we're having, it's the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarets a day.

That's what's happening right now.

So it's attributed to technology, technology, Covid.

What else?

A lack of a third place.

Sure.

Yes.

So we actually met at a third place, which has been a salvation for the both of us.

I would say.

Absolutely.

So a third place could be, the gym Metropark, some place where other people are.

Yes.

You interact with that you it could be your church.

It could be at your school.

And so it's it's really interesting as we see the decline of institutions and, and memberships and clubs, I mean, every board that I'm on talks about the fact, how can we get new members, how can we get people reengage, how can we get people back to coming to do stuff in person and thinking that this is important?

And so we're seeing that now and down to an individual basis with people.

It sounds like.

Absolutely.

I mean, I've seen so many means I don't know about you all.

I'm just going to stay home and stay in my bed.

Sure.

Yeah.

It's so prevalent and so common.

So we want to reverse that trend.

What's the plan?

Yeah.

So talk to us about the Kale Squared Collective.

What is that.

What is that doing.

Yes it's other than being a cool name I'm.

Thank you.

It started as a wild idea.

I think as many things do my backgrounds in marketing.

I have my own web design business, and Kelly and I, as friends.

She proposed to do a singles night out of nowhere.

And here we are.

So you have one planned.

Is there a date in mind?

No pun intended.

Yes.

Now we do have a date.

It is February 14th, inside the five Sylvania fifth floor.

Technically second.

So there are just stairs.

No elevator unfortunately.

And tickets.

Can I go into that?

We can just get to.

Where can people find out about the ticket?

Okay.

Ticket taylor.com or the pin?

Okay.

And so what's the what what can people expect when they go to the event?

Fantastic.

Curated event by Kelsey.

Yes.

The.

So there will be conversation starters around the room that are meant to spark interest.

And then individuals.

We have an MC for the night.

His name is VC.

The MC oh VC is great even though VC.

Yes.

How do you know?

Because he's the best MC in town.

Agreed.

And he's paid me to say that.

Yeah.

Okay.

I mean, the name alone.

So, give us some, tips.

This is not something that is easy for most public speaking.

We can put we can have a whole show about that.

Right?

I think the old adage is, you'd rather be in the coffin than do the eulogy at a funeral.

So that is a staggering percentage of people that are fearful of public speaking.

But yes, just general interaction right now not want to propose that the apocalypse is upon us from a civilization standpoint.

But there's got to be some things that the two of you know, to pass on to others in terms of not necessarily dating, but just interaction.

What are a few things that people should be conscious of or maybe think of if you're meeting a person for the first time or at a networking event, what are the things that you think that people should sort of tune into or be better at?

A couple things that I've we've actually discussed recently.

One, lean into how you feel with it too.

But tell me about what does that mean?

If you're nervous, be nervous.

Yeah.

If you need to take a second to breathe and think about what you're going to say next, take a second and breathe.

Yeah.

You know, then you don't have to rush in and get all anxious about what's going to happen.

And the best thing is that I know what I'm going to say right now, but you guys don't know what I'm going to say.

So just remember that whatever's in your head, whatever insecurities you may have, there's probably likely everyone in the room has the same thing.

They're just thinking, you know, different thoughts.

So I'm gonna push back.

You know, there's no one ever that has as many insecurities in their heads as I do.

I have actually a little small plaque.

I have the most insecurities in northwest Ohio.

I sure, I don't know, I that's a place I think we could go.

I could go, but round around.

Yeah.

All right.

Matt is ironically proud of that, which I think.

Yeah, actually just deflated.

So I had to turn the flag back in.

Yeah, yeah.

But please keep going.

I do think this is helpful.

I don't where where was I, I mean, just, I mean, the event is taking place on Valentine's Day.

This is not a dating specific event.

Not necessarily mean it can be.

We will have wristbands available so people can differentiate.

We want you to be able to dress the way that you want to dress, and be able to arrive the way that you want to.

So we will have two.

So is my filler word, by the way.

We will have two wristbands available.

One is purple and one is pink.

Purple is more so you are available to date.

You're interested in that capacity.

Pink is you're taken.

You're maybe wanting to lean into the friendship.

Sure.

All right.

Are you each other's concern?

How many times a day do you two talk?

Oh my gosh.

As soon as we wake up to when we go to bed.

Yeah, sure.

Yeah.

Love it.

Yes.

Yeah.

We became fast friends.

We did not know each other.

Our lives circled the last 20, 30 years.

We just met at the Toastmasters, like I said, a year and a half ago.

And it was who you were.

We were definitely.

Yes, definitely.

Are you both Toledo natives?

Yes.

Where'd you grow up?

I grew up in Sylvania and I grew up in West Toledo.

Okay.

Meadow Vale area.

Yeah, sure.

All right.

What are the worst date you've ever been on?

Just to categorize Kelly.

Just just gave up on that.

Yeah.

The list.

Yeah.

Do you have one?

I believe I'm trying to think.

And my dates don't necessarily go terrible because I think I can talk my way.

Yeah, that.

I don't know if I've ever had a date where I just kind of.

Nope.

Date of it.

But I definitely have no doubt shortly afterwards.

Certainly.

All right.

You know, also good advice for other.

Yeah.

What I mean, are there any common threads to I mean, say there's no real bad dates, but like any common threads to those dates where you're like, that's a nope.

Or quite the opposite, where it's like list.

Yeah, I don't know what the list is.

Well, you're I'm, I'm probably I'm probably on you represent it.

Oh that's that's big right there.

Yeah.

That's what Kevin I bring you the show.

Yeah.

These are mostly do not I just I guess I think you know outside of coming to your event meeting somebody, what what advice do you have for somebody that's, that's trying to you know, they're maybe they're new to town.

Maybe their life has cycled.

And so they're kind of looking to create a new version of themselves.

They're trying to build friends.

They're trying to, you know, establish a new relationship.

What advice do you have for somebody to get started in that path?

I would say therapy is immensely helpful.

Sure.

I had a period of my life where my life was very much out in the open.

I received a cancer diagnosis when I was 29 years old.

Goodness gracious.

Yes.

And it fundamentally changed everything for me.

And with it came a lot of people coming and all sides.

And then eventually, when I did come back here, I was out in Arizona when it happened.

Okay.

So when I came back here, I realized how much I had changed and then realized that I was quite socially anxious of all things.

Yeah, I became very socially anxious, and it took a couple of years of therapy to work through everything and sort of, I would say, reinvent myself in that regard.

Toastmasters was my foray into I want to be a better public speaker.

I want to be able to carry a good message.

Another piece of advice I would give.

On a side note, record yourself talking to just yourself.

I know that sounds terrible.

It's fantastic.

It's a little awkward.

But I but I say practice, practice, practice.

Yeah, that's what that's what makes it perfect.

But yeah, for an individual who is trying to reinvent themselves in that regard, lean into the things that make you you like the hobbies that you love and you grew up with, or maybe that you even lost in time.

Sure.

Yes.

Get crafty if you want to.

I mean, just anything that lights you up inside because that light will shine and people will gravitate to it.

So that being said, what are two of your hobbies or something that you're into that people might not know?

Event planning okay.

All right.

Yeah.

Always have.

You always been that way?

Are you highly organized?

Is everything in your house, your scheduling?

Everything?

Yeah.

Yeah, I've technically been event planning since I was 14.

Just because I drew.

I threw some pretty big rangers.

The four years of high school.

It was the party.

Where do you go to high school?

Northview.

Yeah.

There you go.

When your parents are out of town.

Obviously it wasn't my parents.

So you know someone else's house.

Even better.

So I just organized it and.

Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah, sure.

The statute of limitations says like that's right, that's right.

Yeah.

There we go.

That's a big Sylvania.

Anyway.

Sorry.

Yeah, exactly.

How about you?

I enjoy collecting vinyl records.

Yeah.

All right.

I have about, 150 to 201 point.

I had about 400 when I was out in Arizona.

Sure.

So what's your most recent pick up that you're just about a Norwegian copy of Marcos Vias self-titled album.

That was going to be my guess.

Last of one.

So, yeah, that was the one.

What are you doing to get the word out about this event on the 14th?

How if if someone's mom or aunt or friend is seeing this and they have someone that they think should go, what should you tell them?

How can they how can they send someone to your event you can go to on Instagram, call to Co that is us.

We have all the information there.

We are all of our Facebook.

We're over ticket Taylor event pin.

There's I mean we're kind of all over everything.

Yeah we've just been posting and who's going to be harder to get there.

Men or women man.

Men.

Why is that?

Men make the decision later to purchase the tickets.

From what I've researched and what I understand, and the current trend of how tickets are being purchased at the moment, there are more women that have purchased tickets than men.

So they will be the harder ones.

And I was going to say we were recently on Eric Chase's podcast, and we will be featured in the blade around 5.0.

Cool.

That's great for it.

That'll get some guys on there because a good guy in front of the show.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Wonderful.

Yes I mean if there's somebody so we talked about you know you you know where people can buy information.

But if there's somebody in your life I think this would be a good thing for them to go to.

How do you broach that conversation with somebody?

If you're talking about Gretchen, you just say, hey, loser videos.

I sponsored this segment, right, to buy Gretchen's mom.

Here's some life advice.

Yeah, that's great question, though.

If you want to nudge a buddy, what's a great way to broach that subject or or go with them or because, I mean, I feel like there's there's some folks that like, I think about in my own life that it's like, you know, something's happened, something changed.

They were in a long term relationship, that that went sour divorce or whatever.

And it's like, all right, you're at this stage.

I feel like it might be time for you to, like, get back out there.

How do you how do you appropriately nudge somebody without it being like, hey, loser, I because that's not that's not the case.

Well, yeah.

You're brilliant, you're resilient and you're amazing.

So just know that.

I mean, I could go through the whole bravery, but.

Well, we will say that for another time.

But it does take being brilliant, resilient, amazing, valuable, extraordinarily real and just you to practice bravery and bravery when you step outside of your comfort zone, that's when life gets exciting.

That would be my biggest.

Hey, come on, do it.

And you won't be pressured to do speed dating.

You're not going to be pressured into talking to a person that you don't really want to talk to.

However, we will have these.

We say, okay everybody, if you would, if you would like to get out of the conversation, you can, you know, this is your cue.

Yes, absolutely.

Sometimes getting out of it is it's our battle.

And we really want to be able to approach everybody who comes.

It's really important that nobody feels alone in that, because you could go somewhere and then you could be by yourself.

And that's really that's not a good feeling next time.

Night.

Yeah, right.

One more time.

More information.

On Kell Squared Collective.

Where can they find it?

On Instagram at Cal to Co Facebook Cal to Co as well.

Follow us there and hopefully we will see you at the event.

You can also go to Event Pin to reserve your ticket.

Awesome awesome Kelsey Kelly thank you so much.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

So do venture.

Best of luck on Valentine's Day with that event.

We appreciate you being here, joining us to talk about it.

When we come back, we'll wrap up this Thursday edition of the 419.

We'll be right back.

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Welcome back into the 419 powered by presented by Retro Wealth Management.

We have entirely too much fun.

The show and today is no exception.

We got we were having so much fun with Cal Squared Collective.

Yeah, that we did not even get a chance to to force them to give us gifts.

They did anyway.

They did.

Kelly and Kelsey brought us this light that we'll put on our bookshelf.

We might not be able to see it that well, it's a heart shaped light.

And then they brought us awesome matchbooks that are branded that, say, sparking conversations and keeping parties lit.

That was just the first procession of gifts.

We got lightsabers, from the imagination and some other trinkets.

Trinkets, that we can't wait to fill shelves with.

So we only allowed guests to come out if they come bearing gifts.

Yeah, it's we've we've had we've had a lot of folks on this show.

But they don't ever make it to air if they didn't bring it to get that.

That's right.

We're a 100th episode.

Yeah.

All right, 17 of made it.

I will tell you.

You can.

We're filming a little bit early today.

And you can tell.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

I really enjoyed, conversation.

Obviously, we're dancing.

Cool things happening at Imagination Station.

Very unique event.

Yeah.

Coming there with the King Tut exhibit.

So excited about that.

We'll get the kids out there.

And, I'm gonna have to go back and rewatch this episode so I can learn the things that I still don't know.

Sure about King tut, if you missed any portion of the conversation today.

Yeah.

Three different opportunities to find it.

YouTube, YouTube channel at 7:00 Am on FM 91 and Toledo, O'Brien, Defiance and Lima at £0.03 pm and at 6 p.m.

on channel 30.4.

We appreciate you being part of our toledo.com community calendar driven by Tata today, and now we hope you'll join us tomorrow where we've got a surprise guest.

And Matt, it's your surprise guest.

Any hint.

No pressure no no hints.

All right.

It's the 419 powered by GT, presented by Retro Wealth Management.

We'll see you tomorrow.

The 419, powered by WGTE is made possible in part by supporters like you.

Thank you.

Oh.