Support for the 400 and 19AWE original celebrating Northwest Ohio is provided by the University of Toledo, preparing graduate who contribute to our workforce, advancing research that addresses our region's challenges and caring for our community through the region's only academic medical center.

We are the University of Toledo.

Work spring.

Work spring helps businesse and clients with HR expertise, workforce training, employee wellness solutions, and personalized support to help make work life easier, workplaces healthier, and teams stronger.

Learn more at work.

Spring Tada!

Now in its 56th year of delivering public transportation to Lucas County and Rossford through its fixed route service, Tata Move Paratransit and Tata Flex on demand.

More@tata.com.

Destination Toledo discove something new in the glass City with local favorites, upcomin events, dining and things to do.

It's easy to plan your time in 419 at Visit Lido.

And now the 490 with Gretchen De Backer, Matt Killam and Kevin Mullin all.

Welcome into the 419 on GT.

I'm Kevin.

Mullin, Gretchen.

Becker and Matt Killeen.

I should say, welcome back.

To the 419 as we are back live with new shows here for season two, and it is going to be bigger and better than ever.

Unbelievable.

Yes I did.

I'm extremely excited.

A little nervous, right?

We're kind of moving on up, if you will.

The new studio, a ton of work from our great production team and just an unbelievable partnership and lucky to be here.

We've got a lot of stuff to talk about.

A lot of things have happened since we've been gone, so it's great to be here and it's great to see the two of you in these seats.

I feel a little bit like, you know, as a kid, you know, the you're sort of surprised when your parents say something like, you know, about, you know, like a compliment behavior o something you're doing and like, so that's kind of a surprise, right?

And you hear it and you're like, oh, I when somebody compliments the show, I'm like, oh, I'm glad you like it.

Right?

Like there's a bit of almost like imposter syndrome that I don't expect people to like it.

But then like when your parent then go out of the way to say, like, tell other parents, like, oh, you should see how good my kid is, right?

We want to do more of this.

That's how I feel with season two, is that I was grateful that GT was kind through season one, but the fact that they actually wanted to bring us back for season two is a little bit surprising, sure, but I'm so excited to be here.

Very excited.

There's a lot of great things that we've got in store, some new things we're goin to be doing through season two.

But the core piece of what I think makes this show great is going to be the central piece of this, which is inviting great people in our region on to celebrate the work they do and things that they're doing to make our region better.

So we're going to kick that off with Adam, the new CEO here at GT.

And then we will also hav Doctor Holloway, the president of the University of Toledo.

As for the first show.

Yeah I think a little bit of context for how the show started.

It was actually it's three years old, right?

The three of us got together to do a podcast in your office, Kevin.

And in full candor, it was almost exactly a replica of Smart List, which is a nationally syndicated podcast where three friend get together in the alternate, bringing on their surprise guest.

And the match of that show is similar to ours.

Although, of course, these are real famous people and we are not, and they're also talented in that.

It's also divergent from wha we bring to the table, but it's.

Not exactly the same thing, not.

Exactly the same.

But we do bring our brought our guests on under one binding concept, right, was that we all brought on someone who thought was doing something positive for our community, or something that we were proud of, or potentially something that people hadn't heard of.

So that was sort of the impetu of the show from the beginning.

It is morphed into what I'm really proud to say.

A vector for other voices w e is known for, you know, five, six, almost seven decades, if not more for telling Toledo stories.

And we give the opportunity to tell stories today.

So great to be here and excited to be able to do that again.

And we heard a. Lot that maybe we would run out of guests or stories.

Yeah.

Or people to talk to.

After 130 episodes, the first season.

No problems.

People, people, plenty.

Plenty of opportunities to talk to great people.

We had over 350 guests us in season one.

We should try to break that record here in season.

Two today.

That's right.

Yeah.

Buckle up.

GT it's going to be a wild ride.

You know, you talk about, you know, some of the differences between us and the podcast Smart List that were inspired by.

But I think an interesting parallel that I that when I talk to people about the show and I hear their feedback on the show, I think is important is, you know, you know, smart talking to celebrities, but it's celebritie talking to celebrities, right?

So there's this relation to they understand that lived experience.

I think what I hear from people and what I'm proud of with this show is that, you know, each of us are also invested in and live in this community.

That's right.

And I and I will say, at least for you guys, are doing great things to make our community a better place.

And so having more peopl come on and tell those stories, I think that's part of what makes this great.

All right.

So let's kick things off.

And maybe no better way for us to start season two than the way we ended season one.

When we come back and just have the break, we'll be joine by the CEO of GT, Doctor Adam.

We'll be right back on the 419.

To me, community means connecting to others.

I'm Donnie Miller and welcome to the point.

I love you.

Yes, yes.

We are community.

Committed to education.

Discover new ideas, dive into.

Exciting subject, and engage with the world around you.

I would send them personally a t shirt.

Crim doesn't pay in the old West End.

Pass it on.

That's how we cleaned up the neighborhood.

Vision loss for people is not the end of the story.

It's the next chapter.

WD Public Media invites you to get out and play day.

The four.

Hundred and 19:07 a.m.

on YouTube, 3 p.m.. On FM 91.

And 6 p.m.

on GT e connects.

It's the 419 powered by W GT.

WTE.

Where you come to watch, listen and learn.

Families explore Lucas County from A to Z. Apples to zebras w GT is creating short videos for every letter of the alphabet, each one featurin an iconic Lucas County landmark.

Learn the ABCs and explore the places that make our region special.

Visit.

Zebras to see the latest videos in the serie or check them out on the GT app.

Watch for apples, zebra events for families and teachers made possible by the Boar of Lucas County Commissioners.

Welcome back into the 419.

When we wrapped.

Up.

Season one our final episode was actually maybe day on or maybe day negative, something with the CEO of w GT, Doctor Adam.

Now, several months later, you're still here, still smiling here.

This feels.

Like it was yesterday.

I was sitting here with you guys.

It's so good to have you on the program.

And he made us.

Yeah.

Well so I kind of said, put me out.

Yeah, yeah.

That's right.

Yeah How's it been going?

It's great.

You know, about three months in, guys.

You know, it's a little bit o the fire hose at the beginning.

But just over it and rolled up my sleeves.

Got going.

You know, obviously came from public education, transitioned over here to public media.

You know, we're fueled by the same things.

You know, we believe that a connected, educated, informed community is a stronger community.

So I kind of took that with m and just brought it over here.

And everything we do here at GT is about education.

So it felt so familiar to me as an educator, which was great learning the behind the scenes and getting to know the staff and all that has been a big priority for me these first three months.

Doing a lot of listening, a lot of learning.

Really trying to get feedback from our members, from the community, our partners, and definitely our folks here inside GT to, you know, really determine our why we're going to be.

Moving forward.

We know wha a nightmare the staff here is.

Yeah.

Yeah, right.

What have you found out?

You know, you have the expectations before you walk in a building.

You think, oh, it's going to be this way.

What have you found out that that is that that is exactly as you expected.

Or things that have surprised you, that you've learned the last 90 days?

You know, I've, I've worked with so many amazing people throughout my career and my 26 years in education.

And I walked in here and, you know, didn't know what to expect, really, from the staff.

I thought I kind of knew who did what.

And and I knew a few of the folks just from the community.

I was blown away at the staff at WTT.

Just blown away.

I spent time with each individual here.

I made it a priority to schedule time with every employee, not just the leadership level, but every employee here to get to know them, to learn about them, and to find out why they want to be here and why they believe public media is where they want to see their career go.

Why it matters.

Right.

And some of the responses were just so impressive.

I mean, the true heart that the people have here for what we do, the work we do, just blew me away.

And again, I've worked with a lot of great people over my career.

I'm working with just top notch individuals.

If you don't mind, Doctor Francesca, which now you make me call you.

That sounded weird.

You know, backing up just a bit.

I don't want to miss the opportunity to give people a little bit of context as to who you are, right?

You've had a pretty impressive career.

No doubt.

But there was a boy.

Then there was a young man, and there was a young adult.

So give me a little background.

You're a tweet.

Born and raised?

Yes.

We don't actually grew up right across the street from a South kid.

I went to Bowser High School, the old Bowser, which is now Beverly.

And so I feel like I'm back in my neighborhood where I grew up, like, running the streets like I did back.

It's just really.

It's a cool feeling.

So street lights come on, and he just instantly runs back to his.

I got to get home.

My mom would be.

Exactly.

Yeah.

No.

Grew up here.

Went to the University of Toledo, proud rocket graduate for my undergrad and my master's.

Yeah.

And then got my first teaching job in Slovenia schools.

It was the third grade teacher, got my master's in administration, became assistan principal, elementary principal.

For a while.

I'm not hijacked.

That's just for second, because I know a little bit about this, and I find it so charming.

You you are a relatively young parent, right?

Yeah.

And you delivered papers?

I did and taught.

Right.

Yeah.

So?

So that's funny.

Yeah, I think this is i everyone has to make ends meet.

Right, right.

But you talk about somebody who is humble and always willing to do whatever it is to make things happen, or, again, square off the ends you delivered.

Is this a truth?

Just make it work.

I mean, if you want something, you have to work for it.

That's how my mom raised me and my whole life.

And.

Yeah, I mean, it's a true story.

So when I was a teacher, my wife Kate, and I decided we had our first kid that we wanted her to stay home.

So, you know, we needed to bring in some more income to live the life we wanted.

So I delivered the blade.

Yeah.

In the morning, I shared the route with another teacher friend of mine in Sylvania, and we did the whole north side of Sylvania from downtown Sylvania, all the way out past Highland Meadows.

And we rotated days so we didn't have to do it every day.

And that was when the blade was being every day.

Right?

And so you had to get there at 430.

The stuff the papers load them up in boxes in your car, and then you drove around and you threw them, you know, to all the houses.

So it was about an hou and a half in the morning.

Sure.

And but it brought i some extra cash and got us the.

Do you want to explain t our list of what a newspaper is?

Yeah, I know.

They're rarely stays.

Right.

I know, yeah.

So.

But a good memory.

Move us forward again.

I know it didn't jump right into superintendent, but that I do want to talk a little bi about the complexity of that job or overseeing a giant ship to some degree.

Yeah.

So giant ship.

I mean, Sylvania schools.

I was superintendent there, worked my way up to that job.

Giant district, you know, tw high schools, three junior high, seven elementaries tons of kids, tons of families.

It was great.

And then about two years later, was asked to move over to Ottawa.

Hill took the opportunity to do that.

It transitione from a district, huge district with 12 buildings to a small district with two buildings.

But the magnitude was the same of the expectations and the community looking for what they wanted in a leader that was going to take them to even more success.

So, both were great experiences.

And that, I think, is an interesting way to describe your your current role.

Right.

A t e in public media in particular, is on the mantle of things that represent civilization.

And all hyperbole aside, I believe this to be one of them.

So this is a ship, that is important and has been run well and importantly for 75 years.

Almost.

Right.

So going on 70.

So those two experiences are relatively similar.

But you have to adapt.

You do.

Right.

So, talk to me a little bit about the legacy that you want to honor, and also the shoulders you're standing on to push us into the next millennia.

The opportunity I looked at with this, with this job was being able to educat beyond just a school district.

Yeah.

So, you know, from 8000 students to a thousand in Ottawa Hills now, hundreds of thousands in all of northwest Ohio, stretching up to an arbor over to Sandusky, the Indian border, and now down past Lima, getting to educate and be a part of a team that gets to educate through public media.

A population like that was just an unbelievable opportunity.

Why is it, you know, when you were here the last time, a 90 days or so ago, one of the things that needed to be addressed was that was the funding issue.

There had been a lot of federal cuts to public media, unfortunately, and so local stations across the countr were having to try to figure out what the heck they were going to do.

And there's no more paper routes.

There's no money, maybe.

Yeah.

To go.

Do you really do hyper local to do have a local focus for their listening area?

Why why was that decision made and what are some of the commitments that are ongoing that that the station.

Yeah, the funding cut was a big challenge.

I mean, that was a $1.2 million cut to our budget.

Federal funding for public media has been eliminated across the country.

Many stations had to close.

We are we were sayin that's not going to happen here.

We're going to stay alive.

And I will credit the team that was here before me because a lot of work was done the year prior to me arriving to keep us going and to make sure that we could do the things that we want to do, that local focus stretch.

And that was, you know, a decision made because we felt like we needed to get back to our roots.

And honestly, we've been hearing it from the community that they want that more.

I think there's so much noise coming from media at the national level, and even the state level, that peopl just want to turn that noise off and think about where they live, work and play.

Right.

And so they want they want t talk about their hometown.

Yes.

And to do tha we have to have local partners.

So you have to have sponsor support and you have to have listener support, which anybody that's a long tim listener of public media knows that that's during a season that we do that.

But even our show, we have to have local partners and local institutions that can support us, and we have some exciting developments.

And that.

On that front, this year, for this season, you want to talk a little.

Bit about.

So that is obviously the way we do business around here, you know, is partnerships and membership.

And that's how we bring in our funding.

And so we are super excited.

One of the big pieces that when I came to the table and too this position, was to really use a lot of my connections throughout the community and being involved in the community for so many years to say, hey, who are we not talking to?

Who do we need at the table?

There's a lot of great partners already.

There's a lot of people out there we weren't partnering with yet.

So one of those that we went right, right to and looked at as someon that just had to be a partner at public media and really wanted them to partner with this show because of the message and the things that you guys do in your mission.

And we're so thankful to have a presenting sponsorship partnershi with the University of Toledo.

Very exciting.

And it couldn't be more proud as a UT grad.

Yes, I have a son who plays football there.

Yeah, my daughter graduated from there.

My wife graduated from there.

So kind of proud myself, but just proud for GT to have the the university that's for Toledo being the university that's.

And you've been a literal cheerleader for the University of Toledo for many years.

Yes.

I heard that might come up.

In your college career.

You were a University of Toledo.

I was for.

Three years.

It was.

Was was your.

What was.

I was kind of like I was the guy at.

The base.

I didn't do a lot of the tumbling.

I had to do some of it.

But I was the guy that through the girls, taught hi all that kind.

Of stuff today.

Otherwise you wouldn't.

You know.

Having me surgeries.

Yeah.

I think it was great.

When you think about thi partnership with the university, the thing that that, that I'm most excited about, most impressed with is that this wasn't, and I want to make sure that this comes out the right way.

Right.

But this wasn't Adam saying, you know, who's got to get big bank accoun that could give us some money.

You literally said, what are the storie that we want to tell and who's somebody that we can drive value for, right.

And so when you think about that partnership, it really was looking at what do we have to give.

Exactly.

Before we talked about what do we have to get.

And I think that's that's what makes this work.

Right.

And there's so many incredible stories that are happening there on Bancroft and birthed from the campus university all over the world.

And I'm so excite that we'll have the opportunity to tell so many of those stories through this program and through this partnership.

And what a great resource they have, from utility health to the main campus, all the the resources there that can help inform our community of things that are happening, you know, just from their staff and their students.

And, and they're, you know, the supporters of the University of Toledo.

So, yeah, supe excited for both organizations, not only for us, but what we can do to help support them and to get those stories out.

Let's, you know I know a big thing for you was, you know, Simon Sinek book start with why you've been talking to the staff, helping the discover their why, developing a collective why for w GT I don't expect you to have the the full fina you know, cemented answer yet.

But as you lean into that 90 days in what what is what is your why?

You know for me, everything my Y is about education.

It's being able to educate.

That's what I've been passionate about my whole life, from when I was a kid and helping my mom set up her classroom until it'll public schools to teach you my own classroom, leading school districts, and now leading a public media that's based on education.

So that Y for me is all about educating the community and doing that through unique ways.

Again, the community is stronger when they're informed and and connected.

Right.

And so that that's really the Y that's coming out of us discovering our collective.

Why is being able to b that resource here in northwest Ohio in the 419, to be able to do that with accuracy?

The people who will trust what they hear coming out of our station, those are a lot of the things we're talking about right now is we're developing tha collective y, and we're close.

We're doing a staff wide read of the book.

I think we're on chapter 13.

Maybe we're almost to the end.

We're getting to where we're defining tha why it's going to lead us then into a strategic planning process that's going to kick off in November, that's going to go for about 5 or 6 months, where we're using that collective Y to design our strategic plan, coming out with probably 3 to 4 pillars that we're going to really move forward with.

And then kicking into the 75th anniversary, we're going to celebrate 75 years.

But why?

We have over ones attention, we're going to b talking about the next 75 years and the strategic plan rolling out, and the goals we want to achieve.

Yes, that's a good transition into the question I wanted to close with.

If, you know, if people cribbed your LinkedIn for a eulogy, you know, at the end of your career here at GTA, what would mark success or how woul you want to be remembered here?

You know, I, I think that we, I, we were able to affect all generations that we were to educate at all different levels.

Our Educational services department does a great job working with preschool and young children in the area.

Our classical music listening listeners love the things that we d and the mixes we put together, and then nationally that we bring PBS and NPR forward, educate all types of folks, all levels.

And I think I would want to make sure that everyone from a young, you know, kiddo to a senior citizen felt informed and connected by GT.

I'm not going to put yo on the spot and make you a list.

All of them.

But, you know, obviously you're proud of the work that that happens here.

We've been so impressed with the staff.

You talked about the very beginning of this interview, how great those people are.

But that's not just something that we feel on the inside.

It is being recognized by industry peers.

And this is an award winning team.

Yeah.

Talk to me about some of those awards, some of the hardware that you guys have brought home just in the last 90 days.

The word we received.

Yeah.

You guys get what this is?

Kevin's.

Yeah.

I'm like, wait a minute.

Oh, wow.

Oh, that old thing, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, multiple Touchstone Awards.

We also won some national awards for some of our documentary work.

And some of the awards.

What I'm most proud of, of there's some of the shows and things that just got started.

That's right.

I mean, that maybe just had one season or was in a pilot and it's already winning an award, and we haven't even kicked off the official season of it.

So that means a lot.

And it I think what it means is there's some great things happening not only on air, but behind the scenes here to make that happen.

Our production team is top notch and the work they do, the teamwork that they show, they really come together.

They're back.

They're doing it right now making sure that this show goes so well.

They're all in and you can see that.

And so when those awards come home I'm just so proud for them.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well thank you for you partnership with us.

You got it.

Look forward to our partnershi with the University of Toledo.

Excited for season two, guys.

Yes.

Yeah.

So we're going to take a break.

When we come back, we'll be joined by the head of the University of Toledo.

Doctor Holloway will join us.

We'll talk about this partnership.

But also just last week he had his state of the university address.

So we'll get an update from him on some of the great things that are happening and great things that are coming to the University of Toledo.

We'll be right back on the 419.

It's time for season.

Two of The Local Thread, a community serie uniting voices and storytellers from across the region in partnership with Toledo, Lucas Count Public Library, Toledo History Museum and powered AI Toledo Free Press and La Prensa.

The local thread brings you stories and conversations that connect our community.

Listen to it weeknights at 7 p.m.

on FME 91, with early access on podcast platforms every morning.

It's season two of The Local thread only on GT.

Every day.

When you.

Left with us, you learned with us.

We made sure your childhood was special memories that could only be provided by PBS.

For generations, we've given you programs that made a difference.

Programs that entertain, informed and inspired.

And today is no different.

This is WG Public Media in Toledo.

It's where you belong.

Welcome back into the 419 on W GT.

We are joined now by the president of the University of Toledo, Doctor Holloway.

Doctor, thank you so much for being with us.

Glad to be here.

Thanks so much.

We we're so excited about this partnership.

I thin maybe let's let's start there.

And then I want to kind of work backwards.

But you know when we're talking with doctor and talking about you know, one of his first days here thinking abou who are the folks that that we, we really want to and need to be partners with.

And the University of Toledo is obviously a logical place to be.

There's so many incredible stories.

We know why from our side.

This is a good partnership, but I'm interested in hearing from your perspective.

Why in the world would you want to associate university with this sho of all the things you could do?

Well.

I think we'd want to associate with this show because it's got amazing hosts and you have amazing guests.

So I'll just say that.

But no, you know, so one of the things that's important about the University of Toledo is that we were founded to support this place.

We were founded to support this city, this region, this community.

And so it's part of our mission, really, to look for those way where we can use what we have, the assets we have and our core asset is expertise.

We have people who know things.

We have people who study deepl the most fundamental questions of the universe.

We have people who develop an execute the most important life saving care that you can get in a hospital system.

Our mission really is to help share that expertise.

What was really exciting about this partnership is it really leans into the idea that we should engage with our partners, engage with this community.

This is a great opportunity, I think, for us to support.

You know, I think Adam Adam said that his segment is a great opportunity, really to help a community be informed and that that strengthens the community.

This is a way that we can help accomplish that kind of strengthening.

If you have an extensive background in all manner of things, but certainly one of them is research.

So I'm curious.

And it isn't just this role, but when you come in and do the learning, do the listening, which is certainly something I'm sure that that you will say is an important part of it.

But how do you get how do you do an autopsy on an institution when you enter it for some reason, potentially unfairly?

Higher education is sort of stereotyped, is having an overwhelming amount of complexity to it, and it is wrought with human beings.

So that self that is the outlier, that is always a challenge.

But when you're going to a new school or potentiall considering going into school, what are the steps to learning what it is and then thusly what it maybe should be?

Sure.

And Matt, let's start with the autopsy.

Wrong word.

Right?

No autopsy.

Needed here.

Yeah.

We got a vibrant and growing institution.

But, you know, when I, when I first looked at coming to the University of Toledo, what?

You know, there were things I was looking for in a university.

And so I wanted to kind of look and see if those things were in place here.

I very much wanted to find a university that was about its place.

And the University of Toledo i about Toledo in northwest Ohio.

We're rooted here.

It doesn't mean we don't spread our branches wider.

We have students from all over the country.

All over the world.

That's that's a part of our mission.

That's great.

But we always think about, okay, how are the things we do impact northwest Ohio and this region?

You know, southeast Michigan, northeast Indiana that's that's who we're about.

So I was looking for that kind of place.

One of the things that I do is I'm a higher education history geek.

So who isn't right?

Yeah, sure.

Yeah.

I'll bet you wake up every day and.

Read the histor of the University of Minnesota.

Well, that's what.

I could read.

You know, those are the best.

But but that's but that's, frankly one of the geeky things I do is.

And and so I read the history of the university.

Where did it come from?

How was it founded?

Why?

What has happened to the university over time?

That, for me was an important part o of the learning about the place.

And you're right about higher education is in some ways a ridiculously complex enterprise.

Because, you know, what are we?

We are a place of learning and education.

We're a plac for the delivery of health care.

We're in athletics venue and and, you know, provider of athletics and competition.

We run a hotel system called dormitories.

We run restaurants called Food Service.

So you take all those things and you put them together in one, one institution.

That is a complex organization.

Right.

So we're 6000 employees doing all of those different things, amazing people.

But it is a complex organization.

So we're talking about Doctor James Holloway, the president of the University of Toledo here on the 419.

You know, you talk about, the history of the University of Toledo.

Last week, you had your state of the university address and and you.

Talked about did you go to.

To give it?

Oh, to.

Give it.

But I'm.

Pretty sure is at that university hall.

But we'll.

Check if you.

Were in the beautiful dorm.

And theater.

But you were talking about and I want to give you a chance to address, but you talked a little bit about the the early foundations and the the purpose of the university as created by Jesup Scott.

Talk to me about kind of what you've learned through that discovery process, both through your own reading and through talking with folks on and off campus.

What what was the original purpose for the University of Toledo?

And at its core, what does that purpose need to be, or how does that change here in 2026 into 2027?

Yeah I often talk about our purpose, our promise and our pride and our, our, our prid is about the amazing work we do.

Our promise is to always remember that we were founded here in Toledo and Northwest Ohio, and to always remember that.

But our purpose from our founding, Joseph Scott founded the university because he wanted to create an institution of learning that would suppor and grow the city in the region.

That was that was his purpose in founding it.

And he thought that education of young people to help them further their own lives, further their careers, was wa an important means to do that.

And that's been part o our purpose since the beginning, where university focused on the professional success of our students after they graduate.

And I think that's a through line.

Our very first college at the University of Toledo, Pharmacy as a professional school.

So we were founded always with that notion of we are here to make sure that students learn, learn broadly have a learn critical thinking.

But also we never take our eyes off.

We want to help them b successful after they graduate.

And again, I think that follow from the very founding in 1872 to today.

I'm sure you have.

You've had the opportunit to meet with our mayor.

Mayor, there's two things tha strike me that that you share.

One is maybe a nerdy, reliance on history.

I'm certainly Not going to get the gift now.

I'm sure that he has share with you some some history fact.

I would be interested to know if there's anything new that he told you about the city, but also and probably more importantly, the growth of the city of Toledo.

The mayor's announced a number of different initiatives in terms of increasing population or maintaining the population of the city of Toledo.

That was the original purpose of the University of Toledo.

What do you see as the relationship between the city and the university and ways that that, that that goal can be achieved.

So.

Proudly nerdy?

I don't.

Yes.

Don't mind.

That comparison at all.

I think you're right in that that comparison between Wade caps and myself.

So so I think a fun fact he shared with me is that the Toledo, Ohio and Toledo, Spain firs sister city relationship ever.

I think that's pretty cool.

Nobody knows that outside the region.

We ought to get that out there somehow.

You know, I think those goals of, for example, growing the population, I thin that's a really important goal.

What I think, what I think about is a university is how do I support making that happen?

What economic development is, is part of what we do.

We have talente people, entrepreneurial people.

Some of them start companies.

But even when we don't, we support the industries that are in the region right through the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub.

We're a key part of that and provide expertise to all these glass companies, for example.

That economic growth, that's what's going to bring people to the region.

And so our economic growth mission, I think, is a part of supportin that, that goal for the mayor, which I don't thin is just the mayor's goal.

Right.

I think that's the.

Goal of.

Of many people in the region.

If you are a physicist, wired into how you walked through the.

About to ask me a physics question.

Absolutely not.

Yes.

Why did I get a D in your general opinion?

You didn't study?

Yeah.

No.

I wish I could say that was the case.

It's a deficient intellectual quotient was my problem.

But but this is a serious question, and I know that you're humble, so I don't know that you're not going to dismiss this, bu I feel like in our interactions, which I've been very fortunate to share your company in several settings.

But when I think of science and a university, you know, there are there's so much human in it.

Right.

So I don't necessarily correlate somebody who is traditionally linear in thinking or a scientific in thinking and mathematical to having the skill to be able to pull off, galvanizing a team, galvanizing a community.

People for a long time refer to the university, negatively to some degree, certainly as the university in Toled as opposed to of Toledo.

Right?

I grew up across the street for it.

Both my parents were graduates, so it is part of my life.

But you fear to be sort of a unique bird, sir.

So how are you capable of being charming?

A galvanize of a team, but also understand a linear approach that those appears to be.

Those are unique talents to have in one individual.

So what makes it good at this?

I guess as well?

I know I, I appreciate the question.

I think.

You wrote each of us, right.

If my team.

Wrote that, but I did.

I did not know.

You know, I think one of the things that I've done throughout my life is really study very broadly and make sur that I get a lot of experiences.

And so I was fortunate to grow up in Thailand, lived there for five years and I was a kid, moved to a farm in the middle of nowhere in Oklahoma.

That's the officia name of the town, I think.

Yeah.

But but, you know, those kinds of experiences.

And I spent a year studying in England, worked at a German research lab for a for a while.

Those kinds of experiences, putting yourself in different places that challenge you, I think, helped develop you in a number of of ways, help develop your ability to work with other people.

So I think those are important.

I actually think there's a lot of power in reading history.

So yes, I do share that.

And so I read actuall a fair number of histories about time when, when great leaders had to rise beyond themselves t address a challenging situation.

I think that's a good wa to learn some of these skills.

So, so in my mind, the way you develo the skills you're referring to is through learning.

It's purposeful learning.

And, you know, if it's if if it's successful for me, that's for others to judge.

But I am purposeful in trying to develop those skills.

There' so many people in our community that, just like Matt referred to who graduate from the university as I did the the law school.

Live in the neighborhood I walk on on campus multiple times a week, go to basketball games, you know, homecoming parties, that kind of stuff.

What's the ask of the university for residents like me who interact in the university that way, certainly want it to be successful.

What else can we do?

What else can we as peopl with that level of interaction with the university due to support what it is you're trying to get accomplished?

Well, you specifically never mentioning that again that aren't moving.

Yeah, yeah, it could be anyone.

Does that be Gretchen does that.

Don't feel it.

I think one of the mos important things and I ask alums this all the time.

Please talk about the University of Toledo.

Tell young people who are thinking about college that the University of Toledo is an amazing place that transformed your life.

I think that is so important.

It's so important that that we get the word out that the University of Toledo is an amazing institution.

You know, I think one of our biggest challenges over the last decade, and we actually have data to show this is just a lack of visibility.

And so, you know, when I talked to to some of our alums and they say, oh, you know, I wish the university had more students there.

And where did your kids go?

Well, they went, Michigan and Stanford and.

Well, that's there's a lovely schools.

But did you encourage them to at least consider the University of Toledo?

I think that's super important.

Talk about the university.

Talk about the amazing thing that happened there, the health care, the research, the learning opportunities.

I, I think that's the easiest ask, but it's a very powerful result when a lot of voices other than, than me and folks at the university say, hey, that's a really good place.

Yeah, we're talking with Doctor James Holloway, the president of the University of Toledo.

We're going to take a break.

When we come back, I want to talk about where the university is headed.

Right.

The beauty of a a rocket on a launch pad is it's getting ready to do big things.

And I know, as you shared in your state of the university address last week, there's some things that that you're publicly saying, this is where we're going.

And you're and you're planting the flag and saying, we're going to do it together.

Let's shar what that is when we come back on the other side of the break.

We'll be right back with Doctor James Holloway on the 419.

W. GT public Media' Educational Services Department provide outstanding programs, services and resources to enhance learning outcomes for students, educators, and learners of all ages.

WGS Educational Services Department teaches parents, caregivers, and educators how to utilize educational media, children's literature and engaging activities to help prepare young children for a happy, healthy, and bright future.

From PBS kid programing specifically designed to support the development and creativity of young children.

To individualize lesson plans, standards aligned curriculum, professional development classes, community events and famil fun movie nights right here at.

Our Educational Services Department shares the tools you need for you and your little ones to feel like you belong.

E public media where you belong.

Welcome back into the 419.

We're talking with Doctor James Holloway, the president of the University of Toledo, the University for Toledo.

There's all this conversation, having grown up in Toledo.

You know, it's been to you.

It's been you t it's you, Toledo.

Gretchen said, you know what can what can we do?

Maybe the first question is when we're talking about it.

What is the name?

That's probably important.

Well.

Formally it's the University of Toledo.

However, in our in our branding, we use the term you Toledo.

You know, sometime nice to have a shortened version of your name.

And so you to Lido is is utterly is it.

If you've got to have a name not you t not to not.

We have other names in the past two but you University of Toledo.

But in a short form you Toledo.

At the risk of asking you to go back and rehash all of your stat of the university address was, I'm sure people can find at the university's website if they want to see the whole thing.

But you through some, some challenges ou there to the community and said, this is where we're headed and we will get there.

Why don't you share a little bit about your your vision and your goals for utilities?

Yeah.

Happy to.

And so we've just launched our strategic plan.

And the strategic plan is called growing for Toledo.

This purposely framed around growing growing means delivering more educational opportunity.

It means delivering more patient care.

It means doing more research and helping to drive the economy of the region and the nation.

So it's really about a growth mindset.

And so as part of that, we we've got a whole set of metrics behind that strategic plan.

But the three kind of to line ones that that capture it are that by the fall of 2031 census, our stretch goal is 16,000 students on campus.

We're just over 14,000 right now.

It's to reach $100 million in research expenditures.

We're about 76 million right now, and it's to have 140,000 patients seeking primary care in our health system.

Onward.

About 100,000 right now.

So it's really kind of aimed around the there's are the simplest top level, like, hey, something in the education space, something in the research space, something in the, health care space.

Numbers that kind of capture where we're trying to go.

And then the plan has a whole set of strategies and tactics to do that.

We organize those into five pillars.

And those pillars are realize the utility of advantage.

Drive a research and innovation.

Grow for a healthy Toledo, engage our partners.

And we're here engaging our partners and optimize our institutional systems.

I want to talk about the first one a little bit.

I was.

Going to ask you, Toledo Advantage is really the statement that when a student graduate from the University of Toledo, we want them to have no just a degree, but an advantage.

And one of the advantage we think we can uniquely provide is every student, every major, is going to have some kind of experience based learning opportunity.

I'll give an example.

Students in our communications and media program, they're going to have operated the camera.

They're goin to have been talent on the show.

They're going to have produced a show.

They're going to have actual experience, and we can deliver that through our partnership with ESPN.

We already know our students are already key elements of the ESPN team that broadcasts our football and basketball teams games.

We've got the Rocket News Network, which is actually a class base news show that our students do.

And they they do, they do it all.

So we want every studen to have that kind of experience.

Because it's going to create an opportunity for them to develop the wisdom that comes not from listening to me lecture as interesting and nerdy as I am, but from doing.

And so the way I think of it is when that student goes for their job after graduation, That means you have to stop talking.

No, that's not not not happening.

I'm not.

I'm not sure I. No, that means that when that student graduates, I want their resume to look like someone going after their second o third job, not their first job.

That's the huge advantage.

We think that's key thing, by the way.

Very few universities in the country make that promise.

I actually only know of one of any size that makes that promise a private university in Massachusetts.

So we think that's going to b a really transformative for who we are, and the kind of student who comes here.

Do you think the experiences will be on campus experiences or local businesses would participate, accept students into their workplaces?

Everything.

All of the above.

Yeah.

That's great.

And so for, you know, our our engineering students already do three co-ops with local companies and frankly, national companies as well.

Our business students do a whole set of internships with local companies.

So it really is going to be a mix of on campus, but a lot of off campus.

And that you know, you're asking earlier, the research I did on the university, I also did research on the place before coming here.

One of the things that excited me about coming to Toled was that I knew we could do this kind of experience based education here because we have the industries, we have the companies and the CEOs I've met over the last year, they're all on board, right?

I mean, even even here, there's internship opportunities here at GT tha our students can participate in.

And that's another reaso that we like this partnership.

There's been to replace Gretchen immediately.

So we'll take a kid tonight.

You know.

I'm sorr we had a different host in mind.

I'm right here.

Right here.

Come on.

I mean, there's incredible challenges facing higher ed.

You know, I had the privilege and the challenge of working with Lourdes University through there wind down and through the closure of that university.

I do want to say, on behalf of the community and certainly the folks at Lourdes, you have been an incredible partner.

And day one, you showed up and sai to the students and the parents and the faculty and staff, the University of Toledo was here for you, and not just as an institution, but you personally were there and on calls and on campus and and there to support the institution.

So one.

Thank you for that.

But I guess, you know, facing all of those challenges and I and I know you talk about Toledo and the community, but like your history guy.

Right.

You're tracking the current trajectory of higher ed when you look at where it's going.

Why you.

Toledo.

Right.

Why why can we.

Why can we experience growth here while it's it's challenged and struggling everywhere.

Yeah.

So so first because we can do some things that are unique like experience based education for everyone.

So we can put some programs in place that you just can't find at other places.

That's important.

And we have the resources in this region to do that.

And we have an amazing place t which to draw students, right.

The city of Toledo has got s many amazing cultural amenities.

It's a great place to be.

And so that's that's another reason.

It's also important, frankly, that we're a good sized metropolitan university.

If you look across the country.

What are the universities that are growing?

They're kind of the large elite privates, the flagships and large metropolitan universities.

Those are the ones that are growing.

The the universities that are in real trouble for closing are generally the very small privates.

And, you know, Lord, it was a tragedy that Lourdes had to close.

We were very happy to help those students, but that's the size o university that is struggling.

What's the what's.

I'm sure you have so many priorities, so many concerns, so many things you're responsible for.

But what's the thing that wakes you up at 3 a.m.?

That.

That's the worry.

What's the.

It's my calling.

No.

It's my wife kicking me.

The middle of the night.

Worry the.

You know, you're right.

There are many, many things that we have to pay attention to.

Making sure that we do the work to get our name out there, to get the inquiries from students, get them to visit campus so that they enroll at the University of Toledo.

That's that's probably the most important driver, because as a as a higher education institution, the the way that we develop the resources to deliver on our mission students are key to that.

We exist for the students first and foremost.

All of our other missions onl exist because of the students.

You you mentioned you know, your wife kicking you.

And I don't know a whole lot about you personally.

You know, I, as the president, I don't want to use the term mascot.

Right.

But the reality is, you you have a certain persona, and you, you're always on, right?

There's no day off fo the president of a university.

But if you had a. Day.

If you if you had 15 minutes to yourself or an hour to.

Yourself, even in theory.

A weekend to yourself, wha what does relaxation look like?

And and what is downtime.

Look like.

For you?

I need more than 15 minutes, because my absolute favorite thing in the world to do is downhill skiing.

I just love it.

Okay.

And I learned in my 50s, which is crazy.

That is crazy.

Yeah.

My my my orthopedist says don't do that.

Yeah.

But it is so fun that I just absolutely love that.

Where's your favorite place to go?

Big sky Montana.

Yes.

Yeah.

Yes, sir.

Yeah, absolutely.

It's just a gorgeous, beautiful place.

When are we going to get down hill skiing at the Metro parks, Matt.

That's up to Dave Zink.

He's going to have announced later today.

I think.

It's up to plate tectonics because you got.

To.

Build a decent mountain.

Yeah.

We don't believe in plate tectonics.

Says stop, stop, play Titanic.

All right.

One of the signatures of our program as we like to put you on this, put you in the hot seat.

It's now time for Gretchen's wacky quiz.

First, I want.

To get it out.

You thought it wasn't going to come back?

I did.

I was.

Hoping for not to come back here.

The professor, I give the quizzes.

That's right, that's right.

This is a. We wouldn't understand your questions, so.

We're not smart enough for that.

But here we go for rapid fire questions.

Who would you want to be with if you were stuck on a deserted island?

Oh.

Very interesting.

Stuc on a deserted island.

My wife.

I was going to say.

You have to.

Say that.

Yep.

Well done sir.

What's something that makes you smile?

Oh, I'm going to work every morning.

If you could win any award, what would it be?

Oh, dear.

I'm a physics Nobel Prize in physics.

That would be sweet.

And this might be the same question, but we'll see.

If you were famous.

What would you be famous for?

Interesting.

I think I would like to be famous for running an amazing university.

To be honest, I'm in my dream job.

That's great.

What is the one word that you would use to describe the city of Toledo or the region?

Gritty.

All right, now the tough portion.

I need nine of your favorite things in the city and or region.

Okay.

The metro parks.

Thank you.

That was just pandering.

That's the show.

The Toledo Zoo.

Yes, sir.

The art museum?

Yes.

The University of Toledo?

Absolutely.

University hall.

Move that up to, You ca you can reorder my things here.

Yes, sir.

Let's see where I'm.

Where I'm in this downtown.

Downtown Johnny's?

Yes.

Oh.

You're downtown Johnny's guys.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's right.

No, I said that before.

You got.

For left arm first.

Fifth.

Third field.

Yep.

Love it.

A lot of fun.

The glass bowl?

Yes.

Class?

Yep.

Oh, let me think.

How many?

How many left?

Two left here.

A favorite restaurant.

A favorite restaurant.

I said downtown.

Yes, you did.

You did.

Come on.

What's a secret place that you've found that you feel like is undiscovered?

Other than.

Well, I thought it was downtown Johnny's.

And then everybody discovered me there.

That that.

Hasn't quite.

I thought you said Jimmy's.

No.

Yeah, that is just.

That hasn't quite worked out.

Oh.

Let's see.

So other favorite things in in in the area.

Oh.

Maumee Bay State Park.

I love that.

Yeah.

It' beautiful.

Absolutely gorgeous.

And the, it's sort of a repeat of the Metroparks, but I live near the Glass City.

The Riverwalk.

Yes, sir.

I love.

That place.

Love it, love it.

Doctor Holloway, thank you so much.

One of our requirements, there's really Gretchen's requirement for you to come on the show is that we require you to present us with a gift.

And we do that at the end.

Present is.

Makes it sound more fancy than it is.

Yes.

We'll just take it.

I do.

I don't have to do anything.

I do see there on the desk next to you.

You've brought something nice for us to add to us.

This was just going to be my hat towards.

Home in case it's raining.

I would love to present this to you.

That is so.

I think.

Gretchen should put it on.

I do too.

I don't think that's.

You must have seen her drive.

Careful there too.

I don't think I've seen it.

Kevin, you know.

No, there' no way I'm messing up this hair.

That's not going to happen.

Yeah, no, but I will say, for the folks that are joining us on TV or on video.

You'll see our set.

And our set is built to celebrate our guests, to celebrate our region.

And so we will proudly add this to our backdrop.

Doctor Holloway, thank you so much for being here, for th thank you for the partnership.

Thank you for your leadership.

I have the privilege of serving as the public address announcer for football and men's and women's basketball.

I often say I've got the best seat in the house, because when I get to, I ge the best seat to watch the game.

But more importantly, especially at football, I tell people my seats at the Glass Bowl, I get to see the community, and I get to see the support that our fans have for the student athletes.

It's such a pleasure to be a part of that, and we're so excited to be partnering with you here on the 419.

As well.

Thank you.

Thank you sir.

Appreciate it all.

We're going to take a break when we come back.

We will wrap up episode one of season two of the 419.

We'll be right back.

It's time for season tw of The Local Thread, a community series uniting voices and storytellers from across the region in partnership with Toledo, Lucas County Public Library, Toledo History Museum and powered AI Toledo Free Press and La Prensa.

The local thread brings you stories and conversations that connect our community.

Listen to it weeknights at 7 a.m.

on FME one, with early access on podcast platforms every morning.

It's season two of the Local thread only on GT.

Every day.

When you left with us.

You learned with us.

We made sure your childhood was special memories that could only be provided by PBS.

For generations, we've given you programs that made a difference.

Programs that entertain, informed and inspired.

And today is no different.

This is WG Public Media in Toledo.

It's where you belong.

Welcome back into the 419 as we wrap up episode one of season two.

Had a great conversation with Doctor Holloway, with the president of the University of Toledo and Doctor Adam, the CEO here at W GT, both incredibl leaders, incredible visionaries that are both projecting and leading growth in their respective institutions.

That was your favorite part of the show?

Well, I, I've met Doctor Holloway before.

I mean, obviously, we've.

Grown to know Adam even more a somebody who works here, right?

And not to beat us to death, but it sort of embodies the fact that this is going to be a true team effort here to make city that that we live in what we want it to be.

Doctor Holloway kindly gifted us a yellow University of Toledo football helmet.

Of course, Matt.

Is wearing it as if he's not.

I only wish that it also ha the Guardian cap on top of it, so it was even larger on your head.

Matt.

That's the only thing that would make this better.

It's available.

Yeah.

That's fantastic.

What?

As you know, again, we've we've taken a few months off.

We're coming back now.

Live getting back into the swing of things.

What are you guys most excited for here on season two?

I'm excited abou our new studio, which people may have heard at the top.

We talk about our new studio, but we have so many exciting guests, so many new things we're going to be doing on social media.

Encourage people to follow our social media pages.

More interaction with our audience.

So I think it's going to be great.

Might be helpful to remind the audience who we're looking for and how they connect to be on the show.

Yeah.

You can email us at 4198.org or we are on Instagram and Facebook, the 419.

And there are now even more ways to catch the 419.

Of course, we are now on channel 30.1 main channel.

We got upgraded a we make our way into season two.

We're so excite to be a part of your homes here on channel 30.1 5 p.m., Monda through Friday on W, GT, and WB.

You of course, we're also 3 p.m.

every single day on FM 91 and 6 p.m.

on sale 30.4.

You can also find us on the app.

Thank you so much for joining us.

We'll see you back here tomorrow for the 419.

Support for the 400 and 19AW GT original celebrating Northwest Ohio is provided by the University of Toledo, preparing graduate who contribute to our workforce, advancing research that addresses our region's challenges and caring for our community through the region's only academic medical center.

We are the University of Toledo.

Work.

Spring.

Work spring helps businesse and clients with HR expertise, workforce training, employee wellness solutions, and personalized support to help make work life easier, workplaces healthier, and teams stronger.

Learn more@green.org.