Now the 490 with Gretchen de Bakker might kill them.

And Kevin Mullin.

Com.

Welcome back to the 419, powered by GT and presented by Retro Wealth Management.

I'm Kevin mullen.

Gretchen de Becker.

Matt killam.

We're going to take a look at our toledo.com community calendar driven by Tada, some of the best events across northwest Ohio.

And we've got a jam packed show, as well a lot of great things going on.

I do have to ask a question, Gretchen.

All right.

Sir, I feel like, Well, you you were gone.

Yeah.

You missed some shows.

Yes.

Your general area got tidied up.

Yes.

And now you're back.

And you brought all of the mess back with all.

Of this stuff?

Was never tidied up.

It's still here.

Okay.

I have a lip gloss, regular lip gloss, lipstick, chapstick, and then some.

A pen and notes, and then every single piece of paper from the show we've ever done.

So why do you.

Why do you need access to all of those papers in this particular show?

I'm not gonna.

Know what we did on Friday, May 22nd.

Mystery guest I don't know, it's just down.

This is.

This is.

The worst.

Okay?

These are the worst.

No.

Yeah.

No, I just, I like paper, okay.

Yeah.

All right.

Old school.

Spoken like someone who's had a massive head trauma.

That's right.

I like I like lamp.

Doctor Durant, it's a little public schools.

Is going to be with us today.

We also have Roy Cherry from the Epilepsy Center is going to be back.

They've got one of the top five events, across northwest Ohio.

Practically.

Golf is Friday night.

Some changes to that event.

We'll talk about kind of exciting for them.

And then, All right, let's do it.

Let's dive in.

Let's take a look.

What are.

Gretchen's.

Well.

Sorry.

Toledo.com community calendar driven by.

Tired of what's going on.

Right.

Well, the first thing up is actually was actually last night, so don't go there.

But it's paddle and groove.

It's a series of events, though.

It's a super cool event.

Yes.

You can paddle up into, people on a barge playing live music and you sit in the water, hang out with friends.

This one that was last night is already past, obviously, but the next one is July 15th.

And then there's also 1st August 5th.

So definitely a cool event.

I'm selfishly, I am thrilled, to have, more activation of our riverfront.

This was, brought to you, by a dear friend, who is, equal parts, music lunatic, and conservation lunatic.

But it's really well served.

These are really.

These are popular right off the rip, which doesn't happen by accident.

And this.

We could not think of a better way to activate this space.

So the Metroparks is certainly proud of this.

Yeah.

Rob Crane and Black Swan Conservancy, I mean, they do incredible work.

Yes, they do in.

Their, in their day jobs.

And this is, you know, a really cool way for them to support their mission, but also for Rob to do the stuff that he loves and he's passionate about.

Have we have we had him on the show.

What do you think we have.

No.

That is that is shocking to me.

All right.

We'll have to solve that one.

All right.

So again before today's Thursday.

So you've missed the Wednesday night.

One next one is July 15th and another 1st August 5th.

Fifth.

The second event is practically golf again.

We're going to talk to Mr.

Cooper here shortly.

I'm sorry.

Mr.

Terry here shortly about, the Epilepsy Center and their event, but that's Friday, June 26th, in Promenade Park, so we'll pass that a little bit quickly.

Friday, June 26th, is also party in the Park.

Okay.

June 27th, Saturday, June 27th, in Springfield Township.

We had our friends, on from Springfield Township to talk about this, but they're doing their freedom celebration the weekend before July 4th.

Including Ignite the Night.

They have several bands, including Arctic Clam and not Fast Enough, a whole day of activities ending, culminating in the fireworks.

And that's out in Springfield Township.

Should be very cool.

Nice.

And then finally, we have Toledo Festival of the Arts.

This is an event at a little botanical garden.

It's supposed to be nice and warm this weekend.

So this is Saturday, June 27th and Sunday, June 28th.

This is put on by the Toledo Artist Club over at TBG.

There is, an entrance fee.

You can go to their website or twitter.com to get more information about that.

175 artists will be on hand, selling their wares.

Yep.

Pretty cool.

Yeah.

People ask me what my favorite season is, and I describe it, by apparel that my favorite season is sweatshirt and shorts.

Absolutely.

That is I. Think that's we all agree on that.

Finally, we agree on something.

Yeah.

Matt, you wear sweatshirt shorts?

Yeah.

I don't own a pair of shorts.

And you guys are all the benefactors of that.

True.

Yeah.

You want to be able to wear this season 100%?

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Okay.

Yeah.

Long sleeved jeans.

These are my summer jeans.

Yeah, you're my summer J. Also, occasionally in my sleep jeans.

Each one of these events.

Our friends at target can get you there.

For more information on all of these, you can check out toledo.com.

We're gonna take a break.

When we come back, we'll, dive into some exciting things happening in our region.

Talk to some great people making a difference.

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Thank you.

Welcome back into the 419 powered by CTE.

We're joined now by the CEO and superintendent of Toledo Public Schools, Doctor Romulus Durant.

Doctor, welcome to the 419.

No.

Hey, I appreciate you having me.

Yeah, I'm all about that for one nine to much.

I appreciate you bringing me.

I can't I can't believe, this is season three for us.

Our first one.

But I can't believe this is the first time, we're getting you here.

So grateful.

Certainly appreciate the work you do.

I'm curious.

I mean, in your role.

I think we all have a vision of what summer looks like for a teacher and what summer looks like for a student.

What a summer look like for the superintendent.

Well, the training out where you're at, and, you know, whether you're preparing for the next year or you're preparing and and this is to say, you have a levy on the ballot, you're campaigning, but for the most part, summer is is really getting set up for August.

You know, just like I tell people, kids are coming when we end up, whether you're ready or not, they're coming in.

And so you better do your due diligence and making sure the buildings are where they need to be.

If you're opening up a new facility or repurposing or transitioning care to different locations, all the communications, all the withdrawal, enrollment and all the other things, etc.

need to be employees.

And every building have a calendar because it's all being cleaned from every floor, every square footage, every death get moved, every table with moved.

And so all these things go on.

We have a great facility, operators in our district.

They take pride.

And when you come in, you can see your face off the floor.

Without that shine into that winter.

Saw it hit and that that's where ever get the best of them.

Also, you've done a significant amount work modernizing a lot of the buildings to cut down on the cost of maintenance as well.

And that is not an easy thing to do.

I mean, two of my two schools have been bulldozed.

I'm sure that's just a coincidence.

But they've been replaced, by modern facilities.

It must be more easy to do, just as you're saying.

Yeah.

You know, part of the, building for success program in the early 2000, pretty much all the buildings of that in a handful were rebuilt.

And then others were, renovate it.

So my, all my model way high school and Scott, which had been, voted as the most beautiful high schools in the state of Ohio.

Absolutely.

Just with its historic beauty and everything else.

But, so there were some preservations of schools, but at the same time, renovation to the west.

Or I should say new buildings as well.

So, yeah.

You've coming off a tough, school year, a lot of announcements of, school closings and other things.

You know, there's a million questions we could talk about.

What I often wonder and I'm sure you'll be more delicate about it, but is there is there a reason you think the Ohio legislature has a disdain for public education in cities?

Well, I mean, it's an agenda.

And obviously, you know, as you've been watching the movement from the early 2000, they've been progressively moving toward that.

And whether it was the report card and how to identify and label certain schools, and then moved into saying, we'll create a voucher system to give people options and then and moved into now all out for, you know, 100% vouchers.

And one of the things I've always said is that I'm all about competition.

I'm a former athlete.

University of Toledo, go rocket.

And and so, my thing is let's compete.

Yeah.

But at the same time, let's have an even playing field.

Don't change the playing field.

Don't change to field goal post.

Don't change to end zone.

Create the same.

You evaluate us valuing everyone.

Show everyone score.

Put it all out to be transparent, not only just academic, financially and all the other aspect.

So in other words, when you see hearing certain places close, whether it's universities and others and like, oh, where is the financial crisis in our case, we are allowed to hey, this is where we're at.

At the end of the day, this is what cut from us.

So when you talk about a $24 million cut over a biennial budget, I tell people, do you understand what the equivalent to that that is?

All our high schools are equal.

$24 million or 22 elementaries would equal $24 million and reduction that it's the significance of that number.

And so, teaming up with our union leaders and others and really making tough decisions.

Because the reality is, when you're dealing with a five year forecast, 3 to 5 year forecast, you had to make changes now or it becomes that number, right.

When people see that big number.

Oh my goodness, that big number.

Well that's what it is if you wait.

Right.

But if you cut now if this amount and it compounded here.

So let me say that I'm trying to, at the end of five years get to 100.

Made our cut.

If I make 20 million cut here it turns into 40 right?

50 8000 if you do it here.

But if I wait until I get in that picture, you hear what you're making on how to meet our cut.

And so these are the things that, we got out fairly quickly and set forth, but, it's a tough task and swallow, particularly when you've got to file your forecast expecting dollars and then have it pulled from you.

It's tough to deal with.

And at the risk of throwing you too big of a softball here, I mean, these these cuts are also very personal for you, too, because you're a kid, right?

Right.

So it's not you're not somebody coming in from out of town that's going.

All right.

Well, hey, this this is just a building.

This is just a name.

This is just a place where kids go to learn.

They're going to go somewhere different now.

I mean, you know, and it felt the stories.

Well, that's exactly it.

One, just knowing all the building coming up from neighborhood.

So obviously being on the East side, being that one of our building there is Navarre and knowing the history of Navarre and knew the coaches that were there who coached to my father, who was at Birmingham at the time and at the same time understand the reduction, because I'm a very personalized person and getting to know people within the district, obviously their employees were impacted.

I helped recruit or engage in conversations with the you can imagine the emotional pain of dealing with that, particularly one of the individuals with my mentors, you know, child.

So, you know, a person who had mentored me since high school, all we happened to present day get to know that it and the day their child was on the chopping block because the the reductions that the district had to make.

And so those are the hardest thing as a superintendent, because when you are very approachable and in building relationships with individuals, you deal with that same pain on the other end, when things happen, how.

Would you recommend sorry, Matt, what would you recommend to people, TPS families or other other people that you're talking to that want to stop this or or effectuate some kind of change?

What who are you recommending they talk to?

What?

What do they.

Want?

It all comes down to voting.

Yeah.

And then they you really need to understand the agenda that is placed and how they're progressing and moving.

And at the same time, putting people in play, putting people in power who can make decisions that ultimately is advocating for what you believe.

I mean, if you say doctor and I'm all about choice and I believe what you're saying, I want to even playing field, I want to end on to be that, what did I need to hold my elected official accountable to say, this is what we're saying.

We need to be heard when your vote speaks, politicians move.

But when you're doing nothing or you're just going with the flow at in the day, they're going to continue to put that agenda on whatever it looks like, what ends up happening at the end.

But I think many individuals really need to understand what the agendas are, and they go about placing their vote.

I will say that you are a rare bird in this way, not based on your arm size, because we're like Trump.

We're we're like, we're like twins.

And I can.

Barely tell the difference.

That's right.

To make me get that a lot.

I'm not sure why you're laughing.

That's true.

But you are both at every graduation.

But your office is historically littered with data.

If you don't mind, I want to talk about the data, which I know that you know, like the back of your hand.

The cost per student.

TPS is what?

And how do you get this data?

Well, it comes down to 6200, which deviates a little bit in essence of what we collect compared to many times a private school child would collect.

But at the roll some we use certain numbers in essence to allocate per pupil.

We use 6200 at the same time if you're understanding the financial gain.

So I tell people, look, it's not about being a superintendent, but you need to be a CEO of understanding operations and understanding what potential revenue can come, as well as an entrepreneur to be able to create comms up to new identities.

So when you see the magnet schools and their inventions, the nexus of creating saying that don't exist, putting school at the airport, putting a school at the Metro Park and Botanical garden, put a school of at them at the hospital.

All these things made a whole lot of sense, which to me made Grove internship placement.

I mean, now our kids are being hired at 16 years of age because industry sees them, right?

And said, well, let's try and especially the money.

You just those kid and so those you they make a real difference.

And so really when you look at the numbers, one of the aspects in order for a district to bring new money, is theater going to come through taxes or being, creative and creating opportunity to bring students.

And so the magnet schools have done just that, which brought $4.6 million to the district where kids outside the district, they came from a private they came from out of state, they came from out of the country.

They came from out of a charter.

And so when they're in career tech, it's a definitely 6200 now turns into 8500.

Our magnet schools are 100% career tech.

I mean, every child comes in at 85% to where they left at 62.

But it brings in new revenue for the district.

And so that's kind of the essence of what we're using and what that ROI is when we create a school.

So Scott Park is a big piece of that when you look at all the other aspect.

But what we did was created a roadmap as well as a success plan.

If they take a look at our magnet, they are now one of the highest performing in Northwest Ohio and was one of the highest performing within the state, being five star rated at the same time being ranked by Net magazine and the top five, each one of.

Them after a tough school year.

What what what is something that you're most proud of from last school year?

And what is a big thing or an announcement or program that you're really excited to launch for next school year?

Well, I'm very excited.

You know, for the staff, understand that that's a tough year to go through.

Yes, sir.

Not knowing what to expect.

At the same time, you know, hey, what are going to be some of the reduction am I impacted by those reduction?

And what the school building did was put together to say, listen, that's any day we're going to bind and continue to work and move towards what we're trying to do at the building.

And we can't be listening in.

And that sense of one, what we have said on social media or to trying to, you know, predict what's going to happen.

Let's do first thing first.

And that's the result of what our kids and so many of them work together, continued on having a great school year.

And so we're just, excited just about, you know, how our staff responded, how well they work together and all they've done.

This is for the importance of dealing with and working with our kids.

What what do you what do you hope is the headline from next school year.

Next year is that to continue to advance itself into next data transformation, that transformation is what we had to do was create, a buzz to create a brand within the district.

So when you saw what we were able to do with every time we created a new school, it created new opportunity, it created momentum.

And so now we're saying, now you see the best practices here.

We are now going back to the comprehensive to you saying best practices.

We're adding seventh and eighth to the paradigm, because if you put seventh through 12th grade, kids learn and get industry certification.

They get more opportunity to get college credit.

Many more graduate with an associate degree if things change at the university level, which means they're now, providing 60 credit hour bachelor degree, we all had the most bachelor degree in graduates than any other than Northwest Ohio.

We already had that one associate, which is 60 credit hours or more.

So we're waiting on that because that in the day we're speaking and saying that, look, we're not about college prep, we're about college graduates, and that's what we're creating.

Every profession has college credit tied to its rigor.

Let me tell you the problem with Toledo in Norfolk flower.

Just in general, we put trade here, we put academics here.

But I thought what we did was merge the two, because we began to challenge that mindset to say and IBEW takes more rigorous mathematics.

Tell me how that's not college credit.

Let's look at the rigor.

What you get three credit hours, doctor.

And then before you know it, by the time we got done with the course of study, even in our construction academy looking to come on board, nec 27 is that it'll have no less than 24 credit.

College credit.

Really just by going through a construction academy because that is college rigor.

The trade related education programs at TPS have are outstanding and the facilities are amazing.

What those kids are able to participate in and and learn is really smart.

I have a question.

The from the as the head of state, which you are, you are the face of bullying, right?

So if there are test scores of people don't believe should are where they should be, it's your fault if there are is a weekend of violence.

It's the school system failing.

My question is this.

You are not new to this game.

You've been around a long time.

I've never known you to not have the same energy level that you brought here this morning.

My curiosity on a on a personal level is how what keeps you going in this capacity?

You have dealt with a year that we've talked about that was not a result of strategic error or a lack of hitting a goal from a fundraising standpoint to some degree, or largely, this was thrust upon you.

You still get out of bed.

You still just did 13 graduations.

I'm curious as to the routine to get up and say, I'm going to duke it out another day here.

I know a little bit up, from your upbringing, but you're your own man now for sure.

For a long run.

Not enough standing on the shoulders of a dad who was a disciplinarian.

Know?

But it's still every day.

What?

What is the grind look like?

And when are you going to wear out?

Well, again and again.

You know, this shows me the break.

Know it goes back again.

It does go back to my father at some point.

I believe that that I've been built with it.

Okay.

You know, so when you say that understanding that when I was raised, these are things that I had to be on top of.

So when you ask me a question, Prime example, my father says, who were you guys playing on Friday?

If I didn't know the time?

The location, when it when we were up to play, he said, I would serious we're not going to the game if we got on the court or on the field and playing for out of place, and I didn't move them where they need to be.

It was my responsibility.

If people lined up in the wrong formation, it was my responsibility and I would want to get chewed out at home.

Understand that with an accountability for other people's actions, which I get responsible for now.

And so when I say built for this, no matter what it is, at the end of the day, the buck stops with you.

And so people are going to correlate that to you, associate with you, or directly say that it's going to be you.

And I'm for all for to to take it on.

Yeah.

And so I tell people, look, I take the arrows for you to be able to do things that you want to be creative with and be able to move forward.

And so, but that's kind of the basis and really so I truly believe that.

And, you know, just being athletic in the background, but just having a father who held me accountable for everything.

Yeah, kind of raised me to understand that despite how minuscule or whatever it is, you as a leader are responsible and you take that on in full blast.

And so that's kind of been the basis of it.

All that I, I understand that, I guess, from what you're saying, but there is a mounting amount of things that you shoulder, at the risk of outing, part of your private life.

Where is the quiet time?

Where where is the unplug?

I mean, are you a terrible driver?

Let me tell you what.

So people don't realize, you know, so, again, I'm very big into health.

Yeah.

You and I both broke.

I can see it's like, look at it in a mirror.

Well, you know, it's so I go through an a stringent.

Not only just my dieting, but therapy.

Okay.

I do, you know, every night I'm either pink.

They're noise therapy.

Brown noise therapy.

Depending on what it is, I don't have red light therapy every other day at the same time, I'll have Copeland, a code red or heat therapy.

Throughout that.

I do ozone therapy as well.

PRP therapy, I mean, throughout my week, if multiple different degrees of therapy, just to be in a state of mind that I am today.

Yeah.

So when I tell people when LeBron James bends $101.5 million on his health.

Yeah.

At in data, that's his big bang to all of us, right?

You mean when you say, doctor?

Man, you've always got energy.

You're always happy because that in a day I'm in control about how I take care of myself.

Kevin.

The red light therapy experience in Thailand.

Is that the same?

Same thing?

Very similar.

Same exact.

Very similar.

No.

We you.

Right.

Certainly.

No one's wishing you to leave.

TPS, but when you think about next steps, I mean, do you think about running for mayor in 2028?

Do you think about, do you think I'm sorry, 2029.

Do you think about Congress?

Do you think about just retirement and being able to do cold plunges all day?

Like what?

What what do you think about in terms of.

Like write a letter to the next day?

Oh.

Honestly, you're Robert Siegel.

Yes.

That's it.

Yeah.

That's it.

With all that we figured out, you gotta make it.

All those comments on the blade page.

Got it.

You know what, my my main focus.

And that one of the things, again, when I talk about upbringing is never to be distractive about what's before you.

Yeah.

And these kids are just that.

And so my main goal and objective is to be able to look back and have people say, because what I'll do is I'll get like what I would consider somewhat of a compliment.

But then on the other side, meaning when they say, man, doctor, and where were you at when I was in school?

Because my life would be different.

And so when I hear that the compliment.

Yeah, but the same time, what they're telling me is that if these opportunities would here, I probably would be a different person and a different pathway.

And so the whole notion of myself at that and today, every child has a pathway.

And our job is to be able provide, you know, resources, identify what your interest are, get you what's in that position, and at the same time get you on your way to when you're a graduate, you're moving right into it.

And so these are the things that we continue to provide.

I mean, that, you know, we have five on airplanes.

When you talk about even in our natural science, most people get shocked that we have a crocodilian program.

We have one of the largest crocodiles in captivity.

How do those kids get prepared for being able to work with a reptile of that magnitude?

If you don't expose them to that?

Having the right people who are certified with no pathway come into exposed kid to opportunities, bring industry to them.

Truly set kids up to when we talk about college and career ready.

Truly kid being ready for moving to the next step of what they want to do with their life.

We're talking with Doctor Durant, which little public schools.

I mean, much of what you said, it's comes back to the budgeting as well, right?

Like when you make those decisions in somebody's life, right?

You interact with somebody in pre-K, you get them ready for kindergarten.

That compounds in a positive way.

If they're not ready compounds in a negative way.

You make the decisions that way, way in advance.

It always seems insane when we do this with someone of doctor and stature, but here we go.

Buckle up.

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

Come on.

That I'm gonna ask you for rapid fire questions here.

Okay.

Gretchen going to ask you to describe Toledo in one word, and then you and Matt or the nine best things in Toledo.

All right.

Okay, here we go.

Are you.

It's a pop quiz.

As the teacher would say.

Yeah.

That's right.

And we are grading you, are you more of a morning person or a night person?

A little bit of both.

Yeah, a little bit of.

What's your favorite color.

A black.

What's the kindest thing you have seen?

Working with kids.

What's the most ridiculous thing your parents ever did to embarrass you?

Oh, boy.

My parents have been doing very.

Besides just existing.

Oh.

You know what?

I can't think of anything that they have done to embarrass me.

Everything they've done to try to improve and prove for myself.

So, I can't think of anything.

Okay.

What's the one word you would use to describe the city of Toledo?

Hard working.

Okay.

All right.

You and me for nine.

You ready?

Yeah.

All right.

Start nine of your favorite things about the city and or region.

One.

Obvious.

You're standing here, Metro Park.

Thank you.

To the east.

Side.

Yes.

Three go rockets.

University of Toledo, all day, every day.

For TPF.

All right.

Level five to.

Zoo.

Yeah.

Thick to library.

Yeah.

Seven to art museum.

Yep.

Eight.

Botanical garden.

All right.

Nine.

I would say Imagination Station.

That's nine.

What's your favorite restaurant in Toledo?

Favorite restaurant?

Who you just you just told you?

He doesn't eat food.

What does it say?

Asian restaurant bibibop.

There you go.

Okay, but I can customize my own bowl.

Right?

So I. Love it.

I heard cold Stone.

Yeah.

Okay.

You'll never see this man in a cold stone.

No.

No chance.

Yeah.

I never times I've heard him say my body is a temple.

Yeah.

And I'm like, I'm minus two.

Yeah, I will do the shape.

Right.

That's it.

That's what I'm working on.

Yeah, yeah.

Thank you so.

Much.

So much.

I appreciate the energy and positivity you bring to to what you do.

Have a good summer.

Yeah, definitely.

Yep.

All summer.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Take it.

Take a vacation.

Yeah, yeah, we'll work on it.

Okay.

Yeah.

I love it.

Doctor Durant.

Which little public schools.

Thank you so much for joining us.

We'll take a break.

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Practically, golf is coming back to downtown Toledo.

Benefiting the Epilepsy Center.

We're joined by Roy Cherry and Jen Cox from the Epilepsy Center.

Thank you so much for being here.

Appreciate being here.

Good to be.

Here.

Before we dive into what is practically golf and we should talk about that event, I think, you know, we were having a conversation before the show.

Help us understand what is.

What is epilepsy, sir.

Yeah, I mean, epilepsy affects probably 2% or more of the population here in the United States and really is a there's a lot of different types of epilepsy that people can have.

And it's it's when the brain misfires in some fashion.

And sometimes it could be a full on seizure that most people are very calm, you know, they're used to seeing.

And that's where really the whole brain is, is misfiring.

And then there's other ones that are really small.

There's absence seizures were they can be just a staring space and looking like they're daydreaming.

We get that in kids a lot and then they think they're just daydreaming.

But it could be something more.

If it happens a lot and they're heart, they, you know, snap them out of it.

And then other ones that are just partial seizures where they land have a weird tic in their hand or something like that.

But it's really just kind of a misfiring of the brain.

And thankfully, about at least two thirds of them can be, managed with medications, which is nice, but that leaves that third that people just can't get it under control.

And there's a lot of other things that people can go through and try to try to do to, to help them.

Yeah.

What are some of that you guys do to support families and individuals with epilepsy here in northwest Ohio?

We have a variety of different things that we are able to do.

We have a person on staff who actually is a community resource thing.

So she will go out and talk to groups and people meet with them, provide a seizure, first aid training.

She also is just a resource.

If they if they're not sure of something, she will help them try and figure it out.

Direct them to doctors.

She has a background of doing, working in a doctor's office with it.

So she so she's been a very good resource for that and has really been able to connect with a lot of people in the community just to get it out there that we're here.

What is a message?

Just briefly, if people haven't gone through the training, if they see someone having a seizure at the grocery store, what are people's what is the you're supposed to do other than calling 911 if that's what they're supposed to do?

Get them on the floor somewhere safe on their side.

Don't put anything in their mouth.

Okay.

Common misconception.

Yeah.

But that's the biggest thing.

To make sure they're safe, make sure they're protected, and, you know, just watch them.

Really, until until, you know.

They might not have a pillow, but if you have a, like, a sweatshirt or something to protect their head, put it underneath it when they're laying on, when they're laying down and clear the area, like she said.

And, yeah, I mean, it's not really that hard.

I mean, for, you know, for a seizure, first aid.

But like she said, there's a lot of misconceptions.

Yeah, yeah.

So let's put something in the mouth.

But I. And let's.

See that can of that can hurt them more than that.

Yeah absolutely.

I think it's interesting I mean, some of this, you know, the state the obvious is awareness.

No, young people, my mother, had a seizure.

She is in her 70s when she had a seizure, when she was very young.

And that cast her into, special ed and then and sort of the stigma.

She had the good fortune of being a bit of a manufacturing brat.

So she then moved, but, you know, part of what you're building, and I'm.

I know that you're aware of this is, taking away the stigma, saying this affects X amount of people.

And this is a thing.

It's a it's a it's a misfiring, you know, and it is alarming, right?

It's it's a scary thing to witness.

But it does occur.

So the I don't want to take the, the courage out of the work here.

I'm talking about not just on shows like this, but just in general.

In the event I think we're about to walk in and talk to you, makes it more out there, right?

Yeah.

Golf is fun, right?

But having you people be out there and I've gotten the good fortune and meet your staff, They're approachable.

They want to talk about it.

And say, this is going to happen.

And you've heard a bunch of things.

It's always remarkable to me that everyone is able to regurgitate the falsehood.

Right?

They're going to swallow.

They're telling you I said it by no means a medical professional, but that is in my head, right?

Necessarily, as opposed to the positive thing for the.

So you mentioned, Jen.

Exactly.

When we think about so you've got practically golf coming up this weekend.

There's an opportunity.

There's a corporate tournament during the day, but there's an opportunity for the general public to, to participate.

Let's let's start with the why.

Right.

So yeah.

Why are you guys doing this?

What are the dollars that you're going to raise this weekend?

What are they supporting?

Yeah, I mean, so I say this all the time, all the money that we raise states right here in northwest Ohio.

So it's so we're not affiliated with a national organization.

So all the money stays right here.

And it helps us put on these programs.

We have a family camp that comes up in August that's for individuals or families with that are affected by epilepsy.

And it's a weekend long camp and they come for free.

We have medication assistance programs where if they have a, a gap in their coverage of insurance and they're there and they're they need to get their anti-seizure medications, they can call us up and we can work with a pharmacy to make sure they get their anti-seizure medication.

So it's very important that they stay on those so they don't have a breakthrough seizure.

We have a couple of other programs where we allow travel vouchers.

Through Tada.

We do, some, protective equipment.

Funding for individuals with epilepsy.

And it also helps, you know, with Janet, like she said, our outreach specialist, helping her do the things that she can do in the community.

So while that money is very helpful for us to keep our our mission of improving the lives of people affected by epilepsy.

We're talking with Roy Cherry and Jen Cox from the Epilepsy Center, practically golf tees off this weekend, Friday afternoon that I've been working on it all week.

Tell me what what is practically golf or what are people going to see when they come out?

We know that's one thing, but.

I appreciate the icon and it's.

Stupid.

Kevin is what he's trying to know.

Yeah.

What I can tell you tell the show's winding.

Yeah, yeah.

All right, well, that's the 400.

Thank you.

Yeah, yeah.

No, I mean, Kevin, you've been, Yeah.

I mean, you've been important to the BGT in the past, for sure.

You helped us really, kick it off downtown a number of years ago when we moved here from, one location that it was at two here downtown on Huron Street.

And now we're taking another step for a permanent park.

And so this will be a new experience for us, but we're still downtown and, you know, 18 holes of miniature golf that are uniquely built, built by, you know, local builders.

I mean, a career did, like, about five holes.

It's awesome.

We actually.

Have a new one coming this.

Year.

Oh, we have a new one, a new hall coming this year.

So that's exciting.

One.

The first new one we've had in years.

But but it's it's just a really fun event.

You know, the corporate tournament helps to raise a lot of the money.

But, you know, we have a lot of open play that happens after the corporate tournament from five until 10:00 that night.

Yeah.

Park park's going on.

Yes.

Okay.

If someone coming down to party in the park and they happen upon it, can they participate in the golf?

Yeah.

That night?

Yeah.

They just come right up and, and, and play.

I mean, there'll be a small fee outside of that.

You know, it's a great, great opportunity for our friends and family to come down and, And what's your handicap?

And that.

Yeah.

You know, I do.

Okay.

Yeah.

Cutting is the area where.

I tend to do better with.

So do you feel pressure to be better at putting as a result of this?

I never really thought about it that way, but.

Yeah.

Don't apply.

Pressure.

Don't does out.

I'm not as competitive about it as he is.

Yeah, sure.

That's.

I'm not sure the fun there is a funny little story about that is her husband always comes down and helps and participates and volunteers and he's always, you know, him and I always competing against each other.

Try to get a hold of one on every hall.

Okay.

And he uses a kid putter.

Those little, little pink or blue?

Little pink and blue, you know.

And he loved that putter so much.

He actually took it.

And he's uses an actual golf course.

My granny pulls that out and that's his putter.

I mean look if it.

If it were in center.

Yeah.

Where specifically in any park will you be located.

So the kind of at the top on when does that son summit.

Summit Street.

Yeah.

Summit Street right there at the top.

There's a little grass here.

Yes.

Where the big screen is I think right there.

Okay.

In that circular.

Yeah.

Oh yeah.

Yeah.

It'll be right there.

So it'll be, it'll be a really good time.

I think it'll be great environment.

What's your favorite for both of you?

What's your favorite hole?

My favorite hole.

Probably I like the, the, was the Cleveland Cliffs ship, I guess is really cool.

The baseball diamond is pretty cool.

Yeah, I like that one.

I like the cow.

Oh.

You got to put underneath all of the cow.

Guys.

It's a live cow.

No.

Not anymore.

That's got to go in the order.

That's a the.

So the the the event is great.

Very fun.

But talk to you about the future of the Epilepsy Center, right.

The, the work simultaneously changes and also doesn't change, to both of you, looking toward the end of your career here, let's say that you finish up with the epilepsy Center.

What do you want to have accomplished?

If you could say or do anything?

Oh, that's a pretty, heavy question, really.

Let's just skip it.

What's your favorite color?

No, that's that's.

No, it's, I think, you know, we do so much for people with epilepsy.

We sure do.

So much for people with developmental disabilities.

So, we provide residential care, we provide day programing, we provide transportation, we provide representative services.

Am I missing anything?

And we do.

I think that's the bulk of it do quite a bit.

And, funding is harder and harder with Medicaid as they tighten it up.

And we know there's a lot, a lot of scrutiny about Medicaid payments.

And so we work with that association down in Columbus.

That really helps.

Push the the issues and make sure that they understand that, you know, this is the only funding source that these individuals get through Medicaid.

There's no private pay, there's no Medicare, there's no insurance, really.

And so it's really important for that.

So for us to to diversify some of our revenues, I think is important.

And one of the reasons, one of the things that we're diversifying our revenue for is doing with the, half ability, which is our brewing, LLC that we are combining with, and Grady Center and lot of industries.

So I'm super excited about that.

To three nonprofits.

We're working with Tim McKee and Steve King, both of the directors of those two agencies, and creating a, inclusive working environment for people, developmental disabilities that could also, really diversify our revenues and help fund our agencies a little more.

So we're less dependent on Medicaid.

I'm sure there's a lot of we're a little bit tight and time and there's a million of them, I'm sure.

But to you, is there a specific moment or a specific story that puts wind in your sails?

I mean, work is work, no matter how gratifying it is.

But is there someone, a client or partner in particular that you're proud of?

There is one from a long time ago, actually, before I worked here, I worked for the county board.

This is how I got.

So I'll say this epilepsy center, because a lot of my people I worked with were there.

One of those individuals struggled a lot, was receiving services.

And she's since moved on to, parenting.

Very well.

Yeah.

Child graduated.

She's graduated.

She's gone on to, you know, get a job and things like that.

So seeing the success that people that we as, like the provider or the county boards can do together to help people to see better.

More recently we had a client pass away, but just the connection with the family and making sure those connections are still there.

People, just because we're helping them day to day, making sure their families are still involved and parts of their life, and just seeing that, them come together when when we lost her was pretty sad.

But yeah, very, very nice to see wonderful.

Practically golf benefiting the epilepsy center is this weekend.

Give me one more time.

More details.

When does open place start and end and where people find it?

So this Friday, the 26th, Promenade Park, open play starts around 5:00, and ends around 10:00.

Give me a website.

Epilepsy center.org.

Yep.

You can see all the information there.

And it's Friday night only be there or be square there.

I'm super excited about it.

I take my kids out there every year.

We have so much preciate that.

Yeah.

We are not nearly as good at it as Roy is.

Your child's putter.

Maybe that's.

Maybe I have been doing it for 17 years, so.

Yeah.

Okay.

And it's country night.

So you can do it in cowboy boots.

Oh, you know what?

You know what I've never tried putting in cowboy boots.

I could be I must be a golfer.

Yeah, if only I'd work.

Yes, it just probably it.

Yeah, that's that's all right.

I kind of get more information on this and other great events happening this weekend@toledo.com.

Of course, part of our toledo.com community calendar driven by our friends at target.

We'll take a break.

We'll be right back on the 419.

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Welcome back into the 419 powered by DWG.

There's so many great things happening, not just this weekend, but all summer long.

And our friends at wget have got some new programing up their sleeves.

Welcome back to the program Mickey Miller, host of Morning Classics here on.

Thank you so much for joining us.

It's always a. Joy.

It's your second second time on the program.

Yes.

The first was when I first arrived and y'all were wonderful to welcome me.

Yeah.

We have not yet been invited onto your show.

I can't imagine.

Which is a good decision on your.

Part.

Here's the thing.

We have a new, Monday requests and shout outs.

So in the mornings, if you want, if you have somebody special, you're trying to play a song, too.

Yeah.

You can always have your voice on that.

Okay.

I'm done.

I like how you were like a you could call in and leave a voicemail.

You surely can't wait.

Yeah I can.

Yeah.

So tell me, what does the summer hat doctor Duran's, superintendent of public schools.

We talked about what summer looks like for him.

What does the summer look like for for Mickey Miller?

Absolutely.

We are looking forward to some new programing in the evenings.

We'll have a summer radio festival.

So a few more pieces with, finding your new favorite local artist.

Can be local, national, global.

Just some folks and friends across genres that it's a space for discovery.

It's going to be fun.

So what is your space for discov I know we talked a little bit about when you first came on, but, you know, you have an infectious, energy and spirit, which certainly translates over the airwaves.

But where do you go to explore?

I mean, your job is this.

So there's a amount of it that you would want to disconnect theoretically, but this is quite literally wired into your DNA.

So you don't want a break from necessarily where do you go to explore or kind of scratch your own itch?

Oh, not to be such a nerd, but the library.

Yeah.

I, was actually speaking with someone recently, so I studied psychology and, well, struggle in here.

I love, just getting lost in the stacks.

I think that the more algorithms and it's.

There are so much convenient about the way that we ingest media, but making space to flex those muscles and practice.

You know, this was a piece that I heard.

What else might I like?

What is the threshold for comfort in this style?

What else has this artist, played?

You know, going in the stacks and just getting lost and finding something weird new.

I'm curious.

That's how we got Kevin.

I'm curious.

You know, that when people are tasting something, it's a palette you have, I presume.

I can see you have an ear for this, but, the ear for it, it it.

I can't imagine it's always registered for the first time.

So do you purposely revisit things that, you know they're done by people you like?

Or, do you, do you happen to cross them or what?

What is the strategy behind really visiting or sinking your teeth into a piece or genre that you want to know more about or immerse yourself in?

I think making sure I'm budgeting my time and attention so often if I'm using, if I'm exploring in a record store or at the library stacks or something like that, I might take the first thing that I heard, and it's best to try to sit with an artist's album or something that they intended for a longer set.

But we don't always have time, and you don't have to put that on yourself.

So I have my lists of, like, start here's I might have enjoyed something, and then I have a long list of people I want to listen to.

Yeah.

And, you know, we usually will do like dinner or game night and just put a new album on and.

I love it.

Yeah.

I mean, you said that, you know, this this new program is across all genres and when I think of FM 91, I don't think about all genres, right.

I think, you know, heavily on classical music.

A why is why is why is that important to explore more than just classical music?

And, and where does this fit into some of the other programing and things that we've got going on?

Sure.

Well, I mean, and we have, fantastic shows like our Jazz Spectrum and, Electronic currents, Red string Radio, our.

But finding spaces for curiosity, especially in classical music, more and more artists are not limiting themselves to one genre in how they write operas and how they write, electronic music or things for symphonies.

And just having that space where you can explore with curiosity and not feel like you have to have a given.

Rubric.

Are you still surprised?

Yeah.

Oh, always.

If you're not surprised, you're not looking hard enough.

Talk to me about the last time that you had a bit of an moment or something that let your hair back.

I do love the historical side.

So this this show won't have as much, historical, but, my research at Bgsu was interested in, how we teach and talk about screaming.

So if you think about like, gospel squall or rock n roll, different things that, there's a little bit of grit to the voice and you want to find ways to do it healthfully and and be long term.

But, Screamin Jay Hawkins Constipation Blues.

Yeah, it was shocking and fantastic.

I there is this show purposely always is on the positive, but I am frequently curious, are there things that are wildly popular or in this case, that you just don't get what you don't hear?

We talked about our own, and I can't remember the guest as we were talking about movies or maybe it music as well, that things that people just adore and, you know, it's art, so it doesn't it's not a 100% stamp of approval for all people.

By design.

Right.

It's meant to be consumed and then, talked about and and debated to some degree.

But is there something that is widely adored that you're like, I just don't get this.

Many have, specific fan following, so I don't necessarily want to put myself.

Oh, well, it's just, you know, that, I'm a Chiefs fan from birth, so there's a few different, like, fandoms that I'm like.

Now.

I'm maybe Swiffer Lite, but I'm not.

Okay.

No.

Swiftie.

Yeah.

I think that in general, if you lean into whatever might feel like a guilty pleasure, if you have any shame or if you have any, suppositions about your social capital based on music.

Yeah.

Then you're using someone else's rubric.

And I think just making space to be curious and, like, I grew up in a, bluegrass and country house and unfashionable musician and for many reasons, after 2001, there's some, feelings around country music in academic spaces.

And I still I love Jody Machina.

I like I'll put some things on and I'm still.

Yeah.

So popping.

Around.

All right.

There's I think there's you think about like, we talk about discovery and discovery.

New artist I think about trying to, like, set that scene right.

What is that?

You know, if you're at home and wanting to explore an album, I mean, what is what does that look like?

Right.

We I Wriddhiman lights is there.

Yeah.

A glass of wine.

Is it like what.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I think especially to I'm, I'm very fortunate to have friends who I enjoy talking about these things with them.

We don't always need to make it a whole conversation because that can feel stifling and academic.

But just space to pass the word around, you know, we'll do, we have Settlers of Catan day or night.

So you get some Indian food and you get you play a game and pass the discord around.

Then set your.

Grade.

And that way you find new things that.

Goes out to you.

Emily Ellis, that is absolutely fun.

But yeah, finding, you know, just for yourself and also with other friends and not making it about having a published opinion, I think stay off the internet if you can.

That's just good blanket advice period.

Well, and I so I teach music and I recently I'll have, a teenager getting into more jazz standards and she'll have a comparative listening assignment of, you know, here's a tune.

Find three people who do you like.

Why?

And I was so impressed that she had a hard time avoiding the comment section before she developed her opinion.

And I think that that's consistent across the board, but especially for younger folks, just like she I think she said, she felt Frank Sinatra was serving a nothing burger.

And it made my heart so happy.

Because what?

You know, why not?

That's how she feels.

Have an opinion?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So building more of those spaces for yourself is great.

What are some of the.

You got local artists that you're going to be featuring on your program?

Who are some of the local artists that that you've discovered that you're really impressed with?

Well, gosh, I have a full list in the office.

Yes.

Gosh.

Golly gee, I was actually just working on I think we'll start with some more and and flick, lovely string duo, R.L.

Kessler quartet.

If you're on the jazz side, there's I will make sure we've gone through the full list often in these classical evening spaces.

We don't have a ton for, vocal music.

Okay.

We might have some, but, you know, it's it's also, I think folks will forget to try things without voice.

If it's, again, that can be a threshold for a lot of folks where they get into new music or, contemporary stuff.

And I love voice as much as the next person.

But music aside, what is another, art form that you wish that you were gifted at?

That maybe you're not.

Oh, I can't, draw or paint, and I love, I adore, I, such respect for painters and and turning, Yeah, a canvas and and a pile of things.

You don't expect to go together into something.

Like the painting and sip parties.

Like with any into it, though.

Are great, right?

I mean, I, I think everybody drink.

From the paint.

Cup.

Everybody for.

Yourself.

Feeling that's a that it depends on how the painting goes.

Yeah.

But everybody can leave those feeling like they're, they're an artist.

But I'm with you.

I am like, I cannot draw and I wish I could.

I've tried.

Matt is a phenomenal artist.

I see based on based on his doodles.

Yeah.

He's very talented.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Yep, yep.

It's all the lead paint everything.

Me.

But I mean, to that point though, having it's it takes a certain level of bravery and it's a muscle to flex to be an amateur at something.

And folks forget, you know.

Yeah.

Where does, Yeah.

surely your own person and you have to put opinion out there to some degree or at least taste.

Where does that sort of bravery come from?

And that please don't be humble.

Bravery is my word.

So.

Okay, lean into that.

Where does that great professors.

Okay.

I have been fortunate, when I studied voice, I wanted to be a music history major, and they said, oh, honey, that's that's kind of a specific thing, so you can.

But that's a rough road.

Michael Budds at University of Missouri was famous for, any anyone who had him will know he would stand in the back, the door propped open in the big lecture hall, Marlboro Reds shouting, Mozart isn't on trial here you are.

And and those kinds of things.

And making space to be to be curious and understand where you line up with a tradition.

What what is your time?

You know, you're three months in, Bish three, almost four months in here at, what's what's your time been like?

The blast team is great.

Everybody's so lovely to work with.

And, we're just finding ways and digging in with the folks and stories around us.

I mean, you probably don't find yourself the odd man out anywhere, but it is also nice to be around your ilk, right?

You get to talk about people who want to talk about what you want to talk about and, theoretically want to explore.

So, this is a building, right?

But it's but it does.

I would hope and think that to some degree that the top has come off it because you're able to to have the license to do what you want to do and teach and spread something that you live and breathe and want others to do the same.

It's I'm really lucky.

It's a joy.

It's a great team.

Well, we're lucky to have it.

Yeah.

Morning classics.

Yeah.

Monday, Friday, 9:00 am.

And then the new program starts when it airs when.

So it will be weeknights at seven.

Summer Radio Festival I love it.

Awesome.

Mickey Miller, thank you so much for joining us.

Thanks, y'all.

We'll take a break.

We'll be right back.

We'll wrap up this Thursday edition of the 419 powered by.

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Welcome back to the 419 powered by GT.

As we wrap up, a Thursday edition took a look at our toledo.com community calendar driven by.

Tada!

Some great events.

Yeah, paddling groove was last night, so you missed the first one.

But there's still.

Two other opportunities.

July 15th.

August 5th.

Next opportunities.

I think you probably learn more about that, Black Swamp Conservancy's.

Auto website, that the bands are really curated.

At the risk of being redundant.

Steve knows music.

And that is a big deal.

Yeah, well, you think about, I mean, the conversation we just had with Mickey Miller about discovering new artists and kind of creating a space for you to find this, Rob Crane with Black Swamp Conservancy is so good at this, and, he's got, his kind of tentacles in the music scene outside of northwest Ohio bringing great artists in.

And so if you're looking for someone to guide you down the waters to discover new music.

Rob's the guy to do it.

Practically golf Friday.

Great conversation with Roy and Jen from the Epilepsy Center.

Great.

Great event.

Mini golf downtown at party in the Park.

Of course.

It's country night for party in the Park.

So, local music.

A great chance to celebrate downtown and be in the beauty of, all of that development.

The freedom celebration Saturday.

We had the folks from Springfield Township on.

Yep.

A couple of weeks ago, talking about this great event.

Ignite the night is happening.

Arctic Clam is playing not fast enough.

That is Saturday.

Of course, you can find more information on this and all the events.

It's a little.com.

And last and certainly not least, Saturday and Sunday Toledo Festival of the Arts at Botanical Garden.

Weather is going to be great.

I haven't looked, but I can promise that.

Yeah, that's a safe.

Yep.

Safe bet to make.

Huge thanks to Doctor Romulus Durrant for joining us on the program.

Roy Cherry, Jen Cox from the Epilepsy Center.

And, of course, Mickey Miller from here at Wget.

Thanks to you for joining us as well.

If you missed any part of the show, you can catch it at 7 a.m.

on YouTube, 3 p.m.

on Friday, 1 or 6 p.m.

on Connect Channel 30.4, of course online 20 473 65 at August the 4th one nine.

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

Thanks for nothing, Gretchen.

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

Thank you.