Now the 490 with Gretchen de Bakker might kill them.

And Kevin Mullin from.

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

I'm Kevin mullen, Gretchen.

Becker.

Match on.

It is wellness Wednesday presented by our friends at work.

Spring.

We've got a jam packed show.

We've got, the hot dog people are here.

That's right.

Lindsey Bond from Tony Pacos is going to be joining us.

Lauren Caulkins from work.

Spring will be back on the program.

I think this is second or third.

Time for third.

Okay.

All right.

I was gonna say, if we can't, if we're at four, we gotta be careful what happens next week.

Because we do not have the budget for five timers club.

The five time judge for timers, jacket and or rope.

Right.

We haven't decided.

What we have it.

Yeah, we've.

Got we got to figure that out for season two.

Our designers are working on it.

Okay.

Really good.

Yeah.

Who are who are who is our designer?

No.

That can't tell you.

Yes, Neil can't tell.

I can't tell you.

That's right.

I've never met.

I can't tell you.

Yeah.

And then, Lori Hauser from imagination Station is going to be on, talking about all the great things they've got going on and coming up this summer.

So that'll be a lot of fun.

We have guys.

It's like a week and a half left in season one.

You can't.

And then we are as a show.

Yeah.

We're on vacation.

That's right.

Joe is advocating need us?

Yeah, they call it.

Oh, interesting.

That's that's TV lingo.

I love it.

I don't I don't think that's right.

Yeah, it is right.

Yep.

Yeah.

Hiatus is not a good thing though.

It is not.

I don't know where we are.

We're going into final.

Yeah.

We're going to stay France.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's not ready there.

Do you guys, so when the show is over, you guys have any vacations planned?

Well, I know that Gretchen does, because, when the two of you were out, I had to hear incessantly about a trip to Morocco.

So from Ronda?

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, that's not till September.

Oh, gosh.

Well, I'm going to New York in July.

Okay.

See some shows I know that'll surprise Matt.

Yeah.

And then August, going for a long weekend in Chicago because my niece is in a show.

What show she did there on there.

If she's.

TVA.

Oh, wow.

You give her some.

Notes, give.

Her some notes.

The little I know she's at home.

I know this before, but your favorite show of all time is one either scene and or perform.

I'm going to say Guys and dolls.

Okay.

Maybe it's not Hamilton.

You know, that's an old standby.

Of course.

Never heard of it.

So many Chorus Line.

I mean, I love so many.

So, so many.

And what are you seeing while you're there.

In New York?

We're seeing actually seeing Laurie Metcalf and Nathan Lane and death of a salesman.

Okay.

And then we're going to buy.

My brother just saw it, said, it's amazing.

I can't wait.

I Laura, I'm like a huge Laurie Metcalf fan.

And then we're just going to buy whatever ticket.

Yeah.

How about that?

Yep.

She was just in the final season of hacks.

She was just in that show with, Jason Love.

I mean, what's that guy's name from Schitt's Creek?

I don't think we can say that on the show, actually.

Or not, the spelling Creek.

Creek is a word you can't say creek.

Yeah, that's.

Right, it's been from a regional, but.

It's Schitt's Creek.

Yeah.

Very good.

Interesting background.

The other guy.

Yeah.

So, anyway.

What are you doing, Kevin?

You guys just went away for a week.

We did.

We were in Nashville.

Between your surgeries.

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

That's the only place that they would perform the surgeries and.

It says that.

Yeah, yeah.

When you want to get something removed and then reattached.

To the body.

Yeah.

No, no.

And then, we do, we do northern Michigan.

So Danny's parents live, up there.

So we're going to be nice, like Luzerne area near Atlanta.

Not Georgia.

Okay.

I saw Matt get confused instantly.

Yeah.

And then, my brother is got a place, near Lake Michigan.

And so it be on the, the west side, you know, the state later the summer.

In northern Michigan is a fabulous stop.

It is also nice to have everything you could possibly want within a 15 minute drive.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, it's it's great.

So we love it up there.

Excited to do that Matt.

No plans.

You know.

You know what with the metro parks in Toledo, you know, need a vacation?

Yeah.

Thank you.

That's right.

That's what I said.

That's right.

Yeah.

And that's what they said.

So, you know, they prefer me to vague vacation.

Actually.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Not to shun.

Yeah.

Oh we're good.

But at the same.

They want to do.

On a hiatus.

That's right.

For sweeps.

Yeah, yeah.

Nailed it.

All right.

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

Good friend Lauren Calkins, from work.

Spring is joined at going to join us.

Okay.

It's the 419 powered by wget.

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Advisory services are offered through Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC, securities offered through Capital Investment Group member Finra and SIPC.

More information at Retro advisors.com.

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

Thank you.

Welcome back into the 419 powered by GT.

It's Wellness Wednesday, presented by our friends at Work spring.

Lauren Caulkins joins us.

Welcome back to the program.

Thank you.

Thanks again for having me.

As anyone recognize you on the street from being on the program.

Oh, all the time.

It's like throngs of people, right?

I'm it's it's crazy.

How do you.

Deal with the paparazzi?

It's been rough.

Yeah.

I I'll tell you, but I'm.

I'm managing.

So thank you guys so much.

You can get some relief up in Petoskey with your family.

You know, when you can.

Relaxing in a couple weeks.

I just started where they're going.

Oh, no, I just revealed it.

That's right.

Crap.

You're so good at this, Gretchen.

I know.

Sorry about that.

Want to give out her home address?

Two.

And let the time be 1 billion rand.

Staggered social security number.

We were talking about, vacations.

I feel like this is a good segue way for somebody who actually knows how important it is to take respite in the traditional sense.

For someone who's a tactician on wellness, what are the things you prescribe to you for a good vacation?

Oh, that's a great question for me.

As we've said, a lot, a whole lot of nothing.

I love a whole lot of nothing.

Yeah.

And then when that gets old, I do like to do some adventurous things.

So if you're into what we talked mini golf, you know, if you've got kids.

Yes.

That's something.

But, I do like to kayak.

I like to be out on the water.

I want a boat.

I want to do all the water sports things.

But, seeing nature in its finest.

I want to see mountains.

I want to see hills.

I want to see things that I don't typically see in my day to day.

That's my perfect face.

Yes.

So whatever brings you peace than just has you floating on air?

I think that's the perfect.

What's the strategy for moms in particular?

You know, you talk about going to a cottage or going to the lake, but mom doesn't get the vacation time the way other members of the family might.

Right.

So you've got to do the cooler and the picking and the thing.

Accurate and sexist.

It's also very accurate.

What are extra strategies for moms that are, you know, and dads, I guess we'll see.

How much Benadryl can you give your family.

Yeah.

What are some things that they can you can do to make sure that you're actually getting a rest?

Gretchen, thank you for seeing me here first.

Sure.

Yes.

Number two, I'm a planner.

I plan in advance, so I don't want to leave anything to chance.

That's why I'm the last one out the door.

Everyone complains like, let's go.

I'm like, all right, but if you want sunscreen, I'm your gal.

Yeah.

Dad's not your guest.

Yeah.

I'm here.

Yeah.

Dad will do all the fun things.

You know, it's a synergy, right?

For a for the mom stuff.

Yeah.

I want everybody to be fed.

I need everybody have clean clothes.

Did you bring shoes?

You know, I gotta, you know, make that.

I'm sorry.

This standards.

I just fell asleep.

That sounded.

That's like torture.

Everyone knows that stuff.

Just shows up.

Yeah.

You love.

It.

Thank you so much.

That's really nice.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Could I let a little bit of echo?

I think I could, yeah, I think we could find a happy palette.

I don't want to put you on the spot, but we.

We were talking a little bit before when the show began, about the fact that we are both fairly open to anything.

As long as we want to be the deciders.

Yeah.

Is there anything that is the lowest on the list, like, okay, I guess I'll do this.

Oh gosh.

And same for.

Tom.

I think I used to be more adventurous.

Yeah, sure.

And maybe it's just, you know, being a mom and it's more safety and I'm like, no one get hurt.

Everybody have fun, but don't get hurt.

I go to urgent care on my.

Yeah, yeah.

Fill in the blank.

Right.

Like we only have this.

I have PTO for this week.

Let's make it, make it that.

Make it work.

Yeah, let's make it work.

So what.

You two, you're both, all kidding aside, you're both pretty down to do.

Kind of whatever.

But are there a couple things that or, thing that, like work?

I guess we'll do this.

The the kids.

So the kids love, like, when we stay in a hotel, we try to find a hotel with a pool.

Like, they love to play in the hotel pool, and they want to spend the entire vacation in the hotel pool.

And I'm like, I don't want to.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, right.

Yeah.

No, but I want to be involved.

Usually like a dome of humidity and.

Yeah, every day.

That's right.

That's exactly right.

I'm like, no, I'll pass on that.

Yeah.

But that's but it's tough because it's like because it's vacation.

And so you want to like we tell our kids like, when we were in Nashville, it's my daughter's birthday.

And so, like we told her, like, this is effectively a yes day for you.

Anything you ask going to say yes.

And so then.

You'll stay a yes day because.

Well, I'm hearing it's a baby day.

It's a yes stay as long as the things you ask for are things we would otherwise say yes.

Do.

Like that?

Sounds fine.

We already had planned because.

Because, like, you know, for smart today, obviously yesterday.

Let's go buy a pony.

And it's like, oh right.

Oh yeah.

No, because that.

Level there's levels to go.

Sure.

Right.

I am curious from a vacation.

So when I was early in my career, I took pride in the fact that I never used my vacation.

Yeah, that.

I always left.

Some left, some back, like I was, you know, I was a better employee because of that.

Because you're.

Showing up.

That's right.

Is is that, you know, I mean, I that is probably a sign of severe mental illness that we can get into on another show.

But where do you where do employers fall with that?

How does work spring.

You know, support employers and employees in, in making sure that we're using our vacation time.

Yeah, that's a great question.

I think that's very important.

I think we all see the value in a vacation.

It's not like just a nice to have.

It's a it is a need to have because we need time to refresh and get back to a state where we're feeling like, okay, we can be our best selves and so can that be accomplished with one week for the year?

Probably not.

That's nice to have.

But it's finding different ways to incorporate it all all throughout.

So, if you can do Summer Fridays and if you can have times where you can be more flexible with your schedule, that's a more realistic, way to do things, I think, rather than like, hey, take your one vacation.

Then when you get back, don't think about it again right here.

Yeah.

That's nice.

Also, just when you're out, you're out.

You know, I think, I agree, I think having our phones on us and, constantly being able to be contacted, you're still quietly working even if you're not like, oh, I'm not working right now.

I'm on PTO.

Just having that, ability to be contacted feels a little not so refreshing.

So depending on your position in your industry, right, if you can fully disconnect, I highly recommend it.

I just connected from this show months ago.

Yeah.

That's a when is.

There any I and maybe we've always been like this, but is there any research or even, I guess, commentary about when we became this sort of creature?

And I think the old adage is it takes me three days on a vacation to, to get a similarly two vacation.

And then by the time you get to that, you're leaving again.

Yeah.

You're like, oh, this is great.

I mean, is this some sort of like drone or worker bee syndrome?

When did we get so hell bent on this?

Because I, I'm fortunate.

And I can just speak for myself, to enjoy what I do for a living and feel very fortunate.

Right.

But, boy, to your point, Lauren, you have one week out of the year.

What?

So let's say it's actually seven days, which includes a weekend, which you are usually not working anyway.

So we're talking about five days, and it takes three of it for you to decompress.

And then you're putting the kids back in, or coming down from whatever substance Gretchen's, put into her body.

Right?

Because she's got some real, real problems.

But when when do we become this grinding society?

Well, that's a funny thing to bring up.

I mean, I think, American work culture is a little bit different than where it is the rest of the world, too.

So, we are grind culture.

We have been for a long time.

And so when you reach the point of exhaustion and then you're going on vacation, that would probably explain, I think, right.

Why where it's like, okay, I just need three days of no decisions, like we said, you know, because, because I'm constantly in the grind.

So again, I will keep going back to just trying to put, little bits of, of that all throughout your years, but you don't get to the place where you're like, I'm utterly exhausted.

I can't even enjoy my vacation because I'm just so, you know, I just need to be catatonic in this place.

Else other things that employers can do to help foster that.

Yeah, that's that's exactly right.

I think, you know, creating that culture where it's okay to take a break when you need to take a break, grind.

Great.

Let's get it done.

But also know your limits and know if you're going to crash out.

You're probably not going to come back your best selves because you're going to be thinking, how do I get out of this?

Like, that's not a good position to be in, right?

So if you're like me and you come back from vacation, you're like, all right, what do I need to do to buy that vacation house to do that every vacation?

Yeah.

I can live here.

Yeah, I'm going to go to the lake.

And that just going to be my life now.

You know, I think that's normal.

I think we all, you know, do a little bit of that.

But if it's like, okay, I need to make a massive change, then that's probably a point of reflection of like if I'm reaching that point every time, I better take a yeah, a good hard look at what I'm doing on my day to day life.

I don't get this time back.

So let's find a little balance.

I just I'm also curious if the transitions into the fact that we are becoming like a fabulous culture.

Meaning like I the idea of living in a lake sounds like prison to me, although I do enjoy the experience.

And as much as you and I joked before starting about wanting to do nothing, that isn't actually true.

But.

You do.

That because you don't.

Actually.

I was talking to Lauren.

But but my but yeah, I say that, but once I start doing nothing, I'm like, oh my gosh, this is purgatory.

But I don't actually have a hobby to fall back on.

Because my hobbies are work.

Yeah, right.

Which, again, I, I'm honored to do what I do, but that that is an interesting.

I think, commentary to the Netflix.

The lake or death.

Right, right, right.

I, you know, I think it's I'm very similar that I, I think.

You have a. Zillion hobbies.

Yeah.

But me.

Yeah.

No, I mean, no, I think they're all work.

Yeah.

And so like, but for me, it's like, oh I'm going to go like I go from one job to another job and I enjoy it.

Right.

But I announce sports.

That's.

Yeah, but yeah.

Hobby that pays.

I've got a podcast.

It's a hobby that pays.

You guys got paid.

This is a hobby that's.

You know, but I but I think that's a really valid point of it comes back to that idea of when you go on vacation and you're like, this is all I want to do, and I don't want to go back, right.

Maybe a time to sort of think about what are we doing back in our in our 9 to 5 that has us wanting to avoid it so much or that has us wanting to make some, some major significant change for me from like my vacation strategy is and I try to do this year round is to just make sure people understand sort of my communication rules.

So when you email me, it means get back to me when you can.

Yeah.

When you text me, it means get back to me as soon as you can.

And when you call me, it means I need you right now.

And so that's sort of my vacation.

I Vitek, I tell them.

That's right.

I, you know, I call them.

Yeah.

Right.

But we had that conversation before I leave to say, hey, I'm heading out if you need me.

Got it.

Yeah.

You know, if you if you if you got.

Hey, I need to get this off my plate.

Yeah.

And it needs to be on Kevin's when he gets back into the office.

Great.

Email me.

If you need a response today, text me.

Yeah.

If you need me right this moment, call me and I will answer my phone.

It sounds like the usual boundary question that we've been talking about.

Almost, without exception.

Setting it.

Up in advance.

What you expect, what you.

You're setting up.

Internally in your own ears, right?

I think is the first step of that.

Definitely.

Yeah.

I mean, the expectations, if we can't expect others to be my readers either.

So is it like, are we putting this on our employer, our our teammates, or is it like we've never even said it?

You know, if they knew, you know, that they could, contact us.

And we'd actually prefer that because we'd rather deal with the fire now than have it lingering.

And then we got to come back and we can enjoy the rest of our.

I mean, everybody's different, right?

So and again, depending on your position.

So yeah say it if first know it for yourself and then say it.

So yeah that's a, that's great.

I love that you've worked a lot with our next guest, Lindsay Bond from Tony Pecos about their with their wellness program and what they've done.

What would you what would you say that they've done?

Right.

And.

And what is it.

As a. Model for other people that that are, that are trying to put these programs in place?

Yeah.

Well, they're great organization.

Lindsay's wonderful.

They've got great leadership, and they take their, well, the well-being of their employees seriously.

So they've been in our program for a long time.

They were, gone for a little while.

They've come back and they are very committed.

Their CEO has actually given himself, the position of chief wellness officer as well, too.

I mean, they take it very seriously.

And it's not just semantics.

They are offering onsite biometric screening events.

You know, they're involved in our comprehensive wellness program, but they do the things to support their employees from, you know, a Maslow's hierarchy of needs standpoint.

And it's like, you know, if you want your employees to come and show up and be the best that they can be for your organization, support them as humans, you know, and I think that's something that they take very seriously and that they recognize as being such an interesting thing, too, because they have such a variety of employees.

I'm assuming that manufacturing, they have retail, they have food service.

And then also sort of catering and things to so how how do they what is your opinion on how they implement that across so many different types of employees?

Yeah, that's a great example of, you know, all the different organizations that we work with.

They're not always, you know, Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 writing at a desk.

You know, there's they have all sorts of employees.

So meeting them, where they're at.

So, you know, we'll offer an onsite biometric screening event when folks are onsite, they're also offering, you know, a lab option.

So if it's like, well, you can't show up the day of their, you know, more remote or their schedule is a little bit different, go to the lab when it makes sense for you.

So trying to give them that flexibility in those options to make it easy, making the the healthy choice, the easy choice, as we've talked about that many times, they're definitely trying to keep that at the forefront.

Things that we talk about, you know, vacation, wellness programs, all of that.

I like that question, Gretchen, because the reality is that that many employers, you've got very different, tranches of employees, right, that you'll have an executive team that gets a different level of vacation than the, you know, frontline staff, first time employees.

You'll have, you know, warehouse staff, you'll have, you know, professional staff that, you know, all have sort of different sets.

So trying to create a wellness program that that meets people where they are balances what they need.

Is that something that you guys can kind of help folks navigate or translate a program, you know, think about as a as a company grows?

Yeah.

Like, all right.

Hey, this worked fine when this program worked great when there was 12 of us.

Now there's 200.

What now?

Yeah, absolutely.

It's not one size fits all.

So, you know, we've heard us talk before about our comprehensive program.

It's comprehensive because it has to be, you can't just have a program and stick it into one organization and think you can pick that up and stick it into another organization as well, too.

So doing things like a culture audit where literally you're getting a pulse check right from the employees of, hey, how does how well does your employer support you on any of these levels under that health and wellness umbrella?

Let's hear from the people.

Right.

I'm also curious, how do you, how do you track trends in terms of, you know, I guess I'll take the one that's maybe freshest in the most on people's minds.

You know, the remote working, and its effect on in office culture or things of that variety.

How long does it take to get the data back?

What that has done positively and or negatively to an office culture.

Oh, we already know.

I mean, there's there's pros and cons of it, right?

Like, we can be more productive when we're remote in many senses.

And just being able to, to grind, as we've talked about and get to get the work done.

But you do need to maintain a connected team.

We already know the data is there, that when you have a connected team who is involved, with one another and you're not just another number on the employee roster, that your synergy is, exponential.

So, like, for instance, we'll do intentional coffee time.

Every Wednesday we've got our wellness huddle on for our team and 15 minutes.

And it's just 15 minutes of the entire week where we've, you know, we have employees all over the state of Ohio.

We need 15 minutes to disconnect.

So we're not even talking business.

We're not talking what's next on the agenda saying, hi, how are you?

How has your week been?

What's going on?

And even if you're not in the mood to have a big dialog that morning, you're not.

Amongst one another.

You're just amongst one another.

And isn't that the same?

Like family?

You're sitting down eating breakfast together.

It's the same kind of, idea.

So you're remaining connected and you're being very intentional about it.

Because otherwise it just falls off the table so easily when you're, we're not, you know, giving it its focus.

Lauren, thank you so much.

If you want more information on work spring, where can I find it?

Yep.

Work spring dawg, as always.

Definitely.

Please reach out.

We'd love to talk to any organization who's looking to put, the health and well-being of their employees.

Higher priority right now.

Thank you.

Enjoy your vacation.

It is undisclosed location.

Undisclosed time.

Heck.

All right, we'll be right back on the 419 powered by.

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Where you come to watch, listen and learn.

Welcome back into the 419 powered by GT e it's Wellness Wednesday, presented by our friends at Work Spring.

We are joined by our good friend and first time on the new show.

I know.

I'm so excited.

I've been.

Trying to try to get on for our.

Last month and we just.

Had to get you.

In.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Yeah.

Not while you're scheduled, but it's.

Better late than never.

On the off chance that people aren't familiar with Imagination Station.

Why don't you tell us how do you describe Imagination Station to other people?

Imagination station is a place that you can get lost, in discovery.

It's for kids of all ages.

I think that sometimes adults always want to hold their kids jackets and not experience the bike or, do one of the exhibits that are in the building.

So it's a wonderful family experience that inspires lifelong learning.

First of all, they can hold their own jackets.

They can.

They're old enough.

I think so too.

So that's that's the first thing.

So one of the reasons that we wa to talk to you and we do, in fact, want to talk to you, Laurie Hauser here is about summertime.

You know, obviously kids are out of school.

There's so many things that parents want to do to occupy their kids, to make sure they're still learning over the summer and having fun.

So what's going on at the Magic Imagination Station this summer for kids?

I think it's a really, good comment about the summer slide.

You want to call it whatever you want?

I know that you have some great sides to.

Yeah, I think that there are lots of ways families can utilize the science center.

I mean, we have summer camp rolling right now, so we do, like eight weeks of camp.

Each week is a different theme.

New kids coming in.

That's Monday through Friday, and it's still fun with learning that they would be able to do along with, if any Star Wars fans are there.

We have the traveling exhibit that is there all summer long, and then every week you'll see a series of different special events that will pop up.

That will still inspire curiosity.

The hands on learning.

We did a lot with stamping recently.

With, As in stamps.

As in metal stamping that you actually get to cast one.

You could cast your own hand solo.

Is this my crowd?

You and.

Oh, I said time.

But on.

Yeah, yeah, I was gonna say yes.

It's an s. Yeah.

So, Solo.

Yeah.

So what is the let let's break this up a little bit because there's so much going on.

What is the Star Wars fans know it's Han Solo.

Right Han.

Solo thank you.

Okay.

Mr.

Show is in process.

Okay.

Yeah, it's a different a different guy.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So what are you.

And so let's do this connection.

The exhibit is of artifacts from the different films that you would be able to come in.

It's the largest private collection and coming in.

So it has everything from some of the newer shows, but also the classic films and going through.

And you can see it through different, periods or different planets, wherever it was staged and doing that.

So there's scenes in there.

And if you're a big fan of the show, you'll love the exhibit.

This is someone's private something.

They try to put it all together, that travel and that we can take it from their home.

Okay.

They put it together for, awaren They know we have this.

They do know we like Laura.

I. I don't want to use.

The full name since not everybody's sure we have it, but yes, they know we have these.

Just wait until they're on vacation.

Yes, we just.

Get new pieces and the collection, and doing that.

But you could.

Be any character in any of the films.

Who would you be.

In the Star Wars series?

No.

And splash!

Yes.

Star Wars, I thought would be topical.

Well, of course you want to be Princess Leia.

I mean, she's pretty hardcore.

I mean, you have to bucket.

It's a bucket.

Yeah, a testament to your back here.

You guys.

Yeah.

Who are you?

Peggy.

I would be, obviously.

You're all thinking, hon, and you'd be right.

No, I would be probably one of the Ewoks.

Okay.

Yeah.

Not like the.

Mean Ewok whose name is.

Like, a background.

Do you think it's legit?

It's, like, gives it, what would you be?

No, I have no idea.

Seeing the films.

Yeah.

Me neither.

That's why I. Just think we've seen Russia.

Never seen.

Is it.

Cold in Russia, you guys.

For.

That's right.

No.

No, no.

It's a for MTV.

Yeah.

I have seen pieces of them.

I get most of the cultural references.

I know the characters, but I've never seen start to.

Have to go with.

Think about any kind of like the show.

The good Morning, comrades.

You know, I could come back and make them just watch.

Yeah, yes I do.

I do think they still holds up.

Like, if you were to start the movies today and watch them, would they still.

Hold up.

The first ones?

Maybe?

Yes.

My favorites, Empire Strikes Back, but I think that I would.

You do them in order of release or order of timeline.

That's a that's a really deep question.

I'm not that far in as a fan.

No, but I think that I would if you go in order of the storytelling, it's all the new ones come first and then that, special effects and everything are so much different in 1977 or 1981 than they are currently today.

But I think the special effects do hold up.

And there's something to be said for the fact that these are either puppets or people in costume, as opposed to here deleted.

And, Laurie, I know that you have named, your dog Jar Jar after your favorite character.

Judge our banks.

Your words, you compare Drug Jar Binks to Michael Corleone in Godfather two.

Do you still stand by that?

Absolutely, absolutely.

Hands down.

Yeah, hands down, I do.

Are you going to.

Show Godfather themed exhibit?

And that's really that happening?

Okay, I don't see that happening.

It's just a bunch of horse heads.

No, I don't see that happening.

I got no.

Nope.

Not a bunch.

No, it's just one more.

I really do need more than one.

I mean, but no more.

So we had you on the podcast.

Yes.

And talked about some of this, but I am curious if folks did not see that interview.

I'm always interested in how you come up with these exhibits.

Where did they where did these ideas come from?

Dreams, nightmares at night, I know, I mean, I think that we are blessed with a great group of team members that actually, if they're going to see other museums, things that are popular interests, exhibits that are traveling or just ideas that we have developed.

I mean, we were chatting.

So if you've done the Pinewood derby before, it's a big thing within Boy Scouts.

We have the nerdy derby that is there so we can.

What is that?

It is this weekend.

Oh, wow.

Friday.

I think it kicks off on Friday.

Okay.

It's where we have a track, but it has.

You put a nerd.

On the.

Track and.

No, there's no downtown Toledo.

They will build it, but they will build their own car out of anything that we have.

We have foam, we have weights, we have wood.

They can put it together.

They built it on site.

On site.

Wow.

And then they can use our track with it.

But it is not a straight shot down for speed.

You might want to be the slowest, car or the fastest car, but the idea is about discovery building it, creating at your own and seeing what would happen.

Hence the nerdy derby.

I have to tell you, one of the things I would think would be the most challenging is, as thrilling and as exciting as science is, it is the same meaning that if you have this is a borrowed statement.

But if you threw out all science books, and restarted civilization again, the science books would come back exactly the same, because the scientific method would discover that this is this is true.

The challenge for the Imagination Station is continuing to make these principles new and exciting, right?

Not just for the kids or the people who come in, but for yourselves.

I mean, you've been there for 20 plus years, right?

And, having to, like, literally and metaphorically reinvent the wheel, to get your energy going.

That can't be easy.

I think it's like you have different stages of learners, too.

I mean, if you're waiting on this, a 5 to 7 year olds, if you're talking with third and fourth graders, if you're doing something for adults, there's lots of different ways that you could, tackle a topic.

And we've done the science of mixology.

We have the nerdy derby, but then we have, you know, super splatter science.

So it's all still teaching different principles of science, but different platforms, different understanding, different learning levels and how you actually would do that.

I've had this conversation with Metro Parks before about kind of how they balance their mission.

I mean, they're a kind of conservation agency.

So the reality is, and I've said, this is my words, not theirs.

When they put a, skating rink on land that is to some extent the opposite of their mission because they're not conserving that land, but they want to make sure they engage with it.

Imagination Station has a similar thing with both learning and fun.

Right, to be together.

Is there intentionality with you guys on on where that balance is to say like, hey, this has got to be, you know, it's got to be 80% learning and 20% fun, or is it 80% fun and 20% like.

It's a give and take?

I wouldn't say there's a specific mathematical equation or scientific that 5050 or how we would do it.

There's not.

But that is a big debate.

I mean, you really want them to have fun with it or something that's going to pull them in and not be bored or walk away.

You want them to do it because then they are also learning at the exact same time.

So, you know, it is that pool of how you get them engaged to talk about a specific topic, and there might be different ways you pull it.

In one of the super speaking at Metroparks, one of the super cool new things about the capacity Riverwalk is that Imagination Station is a core tenant on the Riverwalk.

So what kind of things do you do think, or is your team working on to engage with folks that are going to be down there on the Riverwalk?

You know, I've been at the science center, 20 plus years.

I started when I was 15, which was amazing.

Yeah.

But I'm.

Not sure science define how.

Much we've seen downtown evolve even from there, from it.

Everything that happened with even promenade Park, that development, renovations on Summit Street.

And now what we're seeing on both sides of the river through the Riverwalk and the Metro parks downtown, the heads downtown.

I mean, it's been a series of stages over that time period, but the idea that you can walk all the way around now is so really kind of cool with that.

How much of that is.

Evolution and how much of that is creation?

I'm just saying that that's a show.

But it's wonderful.

I mean, all different people utilizing it, runners and running by and seeing something different that they hadn't seen before or families after a visit can take their kids down and be right on the water as well.

I think another thing that, it's probably not commonly thought of because it is truly boring, but you oversee a giant building, right?

In it's not.

It's the former port side of the square.

Footage of that facility.

Is over 100,000ft.

That's massive right in you.

Thanks to your leadership and the partnership with KeyBank and many, many others, you've made an addition on.

You have a, an Imax theater, which is thrill But there is a lot to do.

You're making elephant toothpaste.

And you're also.

Not in theater.

We all do.

That.

Right?

Well, they would really get mad, but they would.

But, you know, you're.

Overseeing a giant space as well.

So it's interesting to me to be thinking about blowing things up, as well as the caretaking of a building.

That is.

How old are you still?

Well, the building was originally built in 1984.

Okay.

So, and it was built for Port side.

We renovated it and we have been in it since 1997, as a science center.

But it's very difficult, managing a structure because you have people that say that their favorite things the bike was that our high water cycle was custom built for that space, and designed for it.

It's a one of a kind experience.

But you want to keep those things.

But what you want to renovate, what you need to keep fresh, putting on the theater is a wonderful addition is a new way of storytelling.

It's a new way of experiencing things.

But some could argue that it's not as hands on as some of the other things that we have, but it still is an immersive new way of learning as well.

So I. Think to Kevin's point about getting them in, what do you who cares.

The different ways that you can engage with someone, you're engaging with them, period.

And they're learning.

I think those are valuable.

I think.

About where.

They're going.

All the time.

Right?

I mean, but we've never we've never taken our kids into the theater.

Not yet.

Not yet.

That's right.

I mean, but but all the things that we do, I mean, it's my kids love, they love to go back and revisit their favorites.

Right.

And it's not any it's not a different than going to the zoo.

And they want to go check in on their favorite animals.

Right.

But these exhibits and watching them discover them at different ages, right.

It changes.

And there's different if you come on on a Sunday afternoon.

But then if you are coming as a school visit, there's curriculum that we've created that aligned to standards that are free for teachers to utilize for pre and post visits.

There's videos, there's take home activities, but it's all layered so you can stagger your own experience.

You mentioned other museums.

I mean, are there, other folks around the country that you benchmarked against or, you know.

Down the path?

Well, we're not I don't say.

I was going to say other, museums in our area.

The, the.

The joke here, and this is timely, with Lauren's visit is we spent almost entire vacation talking about the Henry Ford Museum and the lovely.

Facility.

Lectured to by Lauren.

So we just partnered with them, actually, for our invention convention, which was in northwest Ohio, that we hosted that.

So that was really great.

But to your point is, yes, we look at all different other type of science centers, art museums, natural history centers, all of them, because they also have different exhibits or a way that they're doing their own storytelling and education.

And you can, share with them.

One time we did a partnership with Toledo Museum of Art and the Science Center, and it was on Star Wars, years ago.

But we had a different exhibit, and they had some architecture of, the models from the flights and things like that that were in Star Wars.

So it's nice you can blend those in.

I mean, this sincerely, not a joke, but it is.

There have been a significant change, or a noticeable change in how museums live and work, over the 20 years.

Generations are people, or people's attention spans shorter or.

Yes.

Yes, yeah.

I can tell by the fact that you're, interrupting my questions that you.

Can acknowledge we.

Do this well together.

Often.

But that has to be part of the the thinking, right?

As you're talking about reconstruction, or revamping, like, we know kids these days or whatever, it's different.

It's sometimes I think that some museums will intentionally not have technology involved.

They will want no screens in the exhibit.

They might want all hands on in doing that.

There's a couple reasons with that.

You're how you're engaging.

It's also difficult to stay up to date with technology.

It's constantly changing.

If you have a full tech exhibit, how you would do that.

So there's a balance of technology, versus simple tools that are out and get to build something with your own hands and how you actually would do it instead of watching something being done.

Interesting.

We're talking about Lori Hauser with Imagination Station.

We're gonna take a break when we come back.

You guys have got some cool upcoming events we want to talk about.

I know Gretchen, is involved in at least one of those.

At least.

At least one.

So we'll take a break.

We'll be right back.

Okay.

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Welcome back into the 419 Powered By.

We're talking with Lori Houser from Imagination Station.

You guys have got some some cool things coming up this summer.

And also, before we get into saying some of the no.

I'm afraid.

Who.

Who do you think is at the imagine station more me or you?

You.

It's pretty cool.

Yeah, yeah.

At minimum, I am there, three weekends out of the month.

So I heard the question now, so I did not hear that.

I didn't understand the question of who's there more I thought you were asking who has more imagination?

Oh, man.

I was surprised how quickly she picked you.

I mean, location on site.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think that's probably him.

But is it just curious?

They're smart girls.

You know what's cool in town?

I didn't know where to go.

So do you find that they're learning something or seeing something new every weekend?

Or do they like to go back to the same stuff?

It is it is both.

And so they like the tried and true things.

Ruby does like to shop at the grocery store for what I would describe is just a cruel amount of time to her.

Merciless.

Yeah, yeah.

She likes to wring the stuff out, and then put it back and.

But it's such a good little grocery store down there.

Yeah, but they like all the things.

Monroe is just a probably a half an inch too short to do the bike, but we go getting there every time.

Yep.

She's getting there.

And they.

Like the water play.

Part.

Yeah.

No, I was gonna answer your question.

The one thing that they really like is.

And this isn't, I'm not prompted to say this.

One of my favorite things is going to the gift shop.

Because.

Thank you.

You can buy stuff, like, anywhere, right?

And there certainly are nice stuffed animals there, but the stuff that we take home from the Imagination Station, is really fun for them to play with.

So we were just there this last Sunday for Father's Day because my wish, and we got this crystal making thing, that was not only fun and visually appealing, but it does take a while to do, which I think is nice for them, as opposed to like constantly scrolling through something or having things that are, you know, 32nd intervals, like Monroe, who seven has to sit down, there's some instructions involved.

She has to create it or, or perform the thing and then wait and then revisit it.

And then she's not talking to you this whole time.

Well, that is true.

That's a gift for.

Her, right?

That's right.

Yeah.

She's just drinking whatever fluid comes out of that thing.

But the gift shop is it.

Is a shop that.

It's making.

That doesn't happen by accident.

It could just be stuff.

Right.

And it is why I appreciate it.

I think it's the bagels.

You can.

Yeah, it's it's a full circle.

Yeah.

But that's a big deal.

Just so when she becomes tall enough to ride the bike.

Yes, it is a big moment.

And we have pins that say, you know, I wrote this because there's lots of kids that revisit it and I call it like they're dating it.

I keep getting closer and closer to being able to do it, but, they're just this far away from it.

So sure, make it a big.

But she gets on it when she does it.

We're we're very close.

We're very close.

So if there's anything you can do to enter into that, like, with total disregard to her safety, to.

Here up really.

High in the air.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaking of which.

We'll put a picture of your prom, experience on our website.

Yeah.

But Kevin teed it up, and we had, Andy and Tim on at one point, earlier on in the year, and I was tense gently or gently.

Aware of.

It's been a big summer already.

You talked about what's already come through and all the other things we can look forward to visiting Imagination Station.

I mean, I mean, the exhibit is here for the Star Wars exhibit is here for only a couple more.

Well, July and August.

It will leave mid-August.

And kind of going out each weekend is a different event.

Going through it.

We have can do like, the science of fireworks to show how fireworks are made.

We'll have the nerdy derby, but I think we've got some things that are also for young kids.

And then things that are for adults.

And like, we flip it in our theater, too.

So there's films through the day that we show that are usually about 20 minutes in length.

They might take you to the bottom of the ocean swimming with dolphins.

There was a rescue dog, one that was my favorite.

Dog when I actually.

Saw them make me cry with that one.

And then we do these.

We call them like a community conversations.

Yeah, that happened in the theater, where we'll pick a certain film that will come in and showcase it, but also have a dialog and a conversation afterwards just to bring awareness and discussion on specific topics.

We've done it on human trafficking.

We've done it on water.

We've done it on what your zip code matters, but it's ideas of that.

It's also happening here in our community or people to connect with.

And we are showing a film, next Sunday, that is, dealing with a family.

It's a film that we'll do with a family kind of going through, showing their decades of courage, strength, resilience, fear, love, and how it's telling it over different decades of the family's evolution.

And it is dealing with a Palestine teen and their, struggles that they have come up with and then how their family responds to it.

So I think that it give you a great dialog, but also seeing that family's resilience and something that is happening today and then a discussion within afterwards with our very own with me.

You mentioned, the things that were the theater and we talked a little bit about how, installations come in, but from a theater perspective, have you shown something there that was particularly moving to you or like the best?

Seems like a silly way to ask it, but it is kind of at the root of what I'm asking.

I mean, it is, one thing to visit something on a screen.

It's something different to have this immersive experience that you offer and uniquely in our area.

But is there something that you kind of blew you away?

I mean, I think that your point is valid.

The theater is a little bit different.

It is custom built to be an immersive experience for the arc of the seats.

The number of seats are in there.

The screen.

It's in there, the speakers that are in there.

It's custom designed to make it a mind on body, on full immersive experience.

So anything that you would see in there will up the game.

So, in doing that, I think that when you see some of the films that go into nature or going, to the bottom and seeing Titanic, the videos are just breathtaking.

We can do 3D.

We've seen that on there.

I've also seen Top Gun.

On.

There, and when that takes off, that's kind cool too.

Yeah.

It's a the screen is the size of two killer whales.

Nose to tail, nose to tail to give you that idea of like when you're sitting in front of that.

So any film in there will be a different type of experience in itself.

And showcasing this film, it was, shown at Sundance, you know what, 2025?

And now to have it here, we're able to change it constantly with films.

So it's called all, all that's left of.

Me and the filmmaker is going to be there on Sunday, June 28th at 4:00, to be part of the panel and, and discuss the making of the film and the story of that family.

So it should be interesting.

I mean, workshop is you're involved in this.

So this question is for you is as much as Lori.

I mean, why is it important for somebody to, why why should somebody go do this?

Well, part of the reason that I'm involved is because the entire event is a fundraiser for Here Aid, which is an organization that I went on a mission trip on a couple of years ago to Jordan and to the Gaza area.

And so the the sales of the tickets and the sponsorships and things are to benefit that organization so they can continue their mission work.

Our good friend Rita mansour, our sister Rhonda, is an audiologist.

By training.

And she and other friends have gone to the to the Middle East and other places to do, hearing, support for kids and families that don't otherwise have access to modern, technology so that they can hear.

And they brought several kids here that needed to have the cochlear implants.

And, it's it's it's just a very interesting organization.

Talk about someone that we talk to so many times about someone that doesn't need to do these things right.

She could just go to work every day as an audiologist, but with other people that live in, I believe, Pennsylvania, that her partners in this whole thing, they go across the world and, and sit hearing aids and test kids and, and families, moms with with hearing devices so they can be involved in their world.

And work is amazing.

And anytime you've seen and seen a little clip of a video of a child who gets to hear for the first time that they have been doing work with and helping, it's just breathtaking.

It can bring tears to your eyes, like they just change somebody's moment.

So the idea that we'll be discussing that, I mean, I think we have a few people that have done, gone on the trip, over.

Rhonda will be there at the event, so you'll have a be able to ask questions, have a dialog with them.

How could I get involved?

What is the work that's being done?

But the film will also tell you a story of struggle and love and courage that we'll all be together.

And I think that will be.

I think that's a very powerful story, even today, to see how families can pull together, because that's what we all need, is that strength and resilience.

I can't remember who has asked you before, but you've been at a meditation session, a fair amount of years.

Is there a sound to the Imagination Station like, this is true in the restaurant business?

You know, that or probably many other industries.

There's a noise that the sad business makes when it's humming, if you will.

Yes.

What's the noise to you.

Of, you.

Know, the ball machine is a signature sound that I can hear all the time.

And when you don't hear noise coming, it's uncomfortable.

I mean, I get uncomfortable when I tell people.

What the ball machine is if they.

Don't.

And the ball machine is a giant.

Gosh, it was a art installation that was done original 1997, where kids can create this, mazes with like, bowling pool balls, golf balls.

I mean, that's what.

Makes Rube Goldberg.

Goldberg is a really good way to describe it.

There's different points of entry where kids can interact with it, or you can stand back and watch it.

And, we've moved it a few times in the building.

Kids will come in, sometimes younger children.

That's the first thing that they will see.

But then the parents call that a visit and then they leave, you know, but it's staging that if they're in a stroller and they're smaller to getting into the full building.

But you see a lot of those installations in even at children's hospitals, because anybody can interact with it as well.

So yeah.

We're talking with Laurie Houser with imagination Station.

Lori, buckle up.

It's now time for.

Gretchen's wacky quiz.

Okay, I'm hope I'm ready.

It's the 4194 rapid fire questions.

Gretchen is going to ask you to describe Toledo in one word, and you at bat will list the nine best things in Toledo.

Okay.

Question number one I might choose my word.

Nope.

Okay, good.

We don't care.

Okay.

Did you fill in time?

Can you live without Wi-Fi?

No.

What's the weirdest item you keep by your bedside?

Yikes.

Oh, goodness.

FCC regulation.

Gosh, I the weirdest thing.

I have a back scratcher, and it has a little hand on it.

That is pretty weird.

Yep.

How do you like your steak cooked?

Medium.

So dumb.

Damn, it was a question.

Dumber.

The answer was dumb.

Yes, he does.

Oh, it's a very rare.

I like medium.

If you had to meet or got to meet any historical figure, who would it be?

Henry Ford.

I not have a topic.

I think Jackie Kennedy would be amazing.

Yes, Abe Lincoln would be amazing.

I don't recommend going to a show with him.

No, not.

A theater, not.

The 300 seat.

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

Inspiring.

Okay.

All right, let's do it.

Bob.

Camera nine of your favorite things.

You can't name nine ice cream places.

So it's on that list.

Yes, you can.

Nine favorite things handles is one.

Jesus.

I would say Wildwood Metroparks.

That's fine.

I was one I think the, farmers market.

Yeah, I love that.

Yes.

I love the mix.

Yes.

Annual event.

I like, Wildwood is close to my home.

Sure.

It's a bunch of times.

Wildwood.

That's right.

Okay.

Of course.

Imagination station.

Is.

Right on there.

That was a given.

Two more.

Oh, gosh.

Beirut is so.

Yeah.

What do you get to Beirut?

Well, it's just the.

I don't know what the dishes name.

I just it's the same thing.

One, I'm not a big fan of what you order, so, I do have.

One more.

Well, there's two handles.

Location.

True.

Both locations.

Yeah.

That's right, one.

Oh.

I appreciate that.

Wildwood made the list twice.

And so what.

I should say is that she, the neighborhood is really close.

I love that, the garden walk that they do.

Yeah.

I mean.

It's very pretty, but if you look in people's backyards.

We talked a little bit about vacations in our previous segment.

We don't have a lot of time.

But, dream vacation that you've been on or aspire to go on.

Well, I'm getting I will be leaving, going to.

Oh, wow.

So I'm very excited about that.

That's so very pretty.

If when you go on vacation, do you like to make a lot of plans or do you like to be, Carted around from cars at roads?

But.

I think it's a little bit of both.

I like to have some plans of, like, what you're going to go see, and then maybe a couple of lazy days and, resting and not planning to just discover some new things.

We talked about, you know, vacation and wellness programs.

As we wrap this up, I'm curious, as an employer, right, as the boss, how important is it to you that your team takes their vacation?

I think we design it that you we push you to take that vacation.

I think everybody's like, oh, I have to stay.

It's important to restart yourself or refresh, even if it is a state vacation or some long weekends however you want to take it.

We focus in, we do things called First Mondays, and then once a month we're doing like a team building or a team conversation that we do, and we try to do, impromptu things that would pop up because it is important to stay, refreshed and take the moments that you need.

How many people work at Imagination Station?

75?

Wow.

That's awesome.

Lori, people want more information on Imagination Station.

Where can they find our website?

Imagination Station toledo.org.

Awesome.

And, Gretchen, one more time.

The date for the June.

28th, 4:00 at the, KeyBank movie theater.

All right, there we go.

All right, we'll take a break.

We'll come back.

We'll wrap up this Wellness Wednesday edition of the 419.

Every day when you laugh with us.

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Welcome back into the 419 as we wrap up a Wellness Wednesday edition presented by our friends at work.

Spring.

Unfortunately, we're not able to have a conversation with, friends and Tony, but did have an extended conversation with Laurie Hauser.

Imagination station.

Yes.

She does.

Yeah, I mean, who there's the connection.

She's a strudel gal.

Yep.

Interesting.

Yeah.

Apple strudel.

I prefer the cherry, but.

That's just me.

Whoa.

All right.

Yeah, I like them both.

You do, I do.

Yep.

Equally together.

Those little squares mix them.

Yes.

So, I got this is.

This is a pleasant thing to say.

It is.

This is not as truly, But.

So, Father's Day.

Yeah.

So we always talk about moose and Poppy.

Yes.

And, grandma moose, makes strawberry jelly, and it's so good.

Yeah, it is so good.

And it's one of my favorite things.

And, Kevin, remind everyone who that is in case they are tuning in for the first time.

It is my wife's grandparents, and they are the nicest human beings.

They they watch every show, and I love them for that.

Yeah.

And, so she gave me a jar of her jelly, and I made a point of, like, calling the kids into the kitchen and saying that.

Grandma, who did you give this to?

This is a gift to.

To whom?

In our house.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I want to make sure that the kids know that they are not allowed to have any of it.

All of it is mine.

But that I left the house along with it.

No.

No, she said that she thinks I should share.

Well, of course she did.

Yeah, yeah, and I don't.

I think I wanted.

To be our guest on our final.

Show.

If you missed any part of the show today at 7 a.m.

on YouTube, 3 p.m.

on FM 91 or 6 p.m.

connect channel 30.4.

No jelly for you.

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