And now the 419 with Gretchen DeBacker Matt Killum And Kevin Mullan ah.

Welcome to the 419, powered by W and presented by Whetro Wealth Management.

I'm Kevin Mullan Gretchen DeBacker, Matt Killum.

It is our toledo.com community calendar driven by TARTA Best day of the week.

Best day of the week.

What day of the week is a Thursday?

That's right.

We will take a look at some of the top events in the region.

Just ways you can get out and enjoy northwest Ohio.

Celebrate, some of the great things that are happening.

And every week this feels like, just a really unique kind of curated list of different types of things.

So you've got, you know, opportunities to get outside, enjoy nature, enjoy people, enjoy art, music, food.

It's always a little bit everything.

Geographically, I think really across the region, stuf for families, stuff for families to get away from their other parts of their family.

And as somebody who, I feel like it kind of generally has a finger on the pulse of what's going on based on my employment, as there are things in here that I've either forgotten, or that I had absolutely no idea.

Recurring It's pretty cool.

That's right.

All right.

You want to dive into it?

Let's see.

What are this week's top five?

Gretchen's.

Oh, no.

So, first things first.

Tonight at the Toledo Zoo, Darius Rucker and concert sale tickets available.

Head on out to that.

Matt.

You're going to that.

I am actually performing.

I play, the tambourine behind Darius.

I was one of the last people rejected from, his previous act, which, basically.

You not allowed to mention that?

Yeah.

Yeah, he does that.

He does not like to be referred to as Hootie.

Oh, right.

Now you've done it Yeah.

No, I've done it.

So you made the posters.

I wasn't Blowfish.

Yeah, I had the costume and everything.

Is that the same thing as a f?

What's that little thing your girls girls have, like, cycle?

What is it?

Lice?

No.

That little animal.

I thought it was a building.

Oh, yeah.

Little boo boo.

No.

Not whatever.

No, no, no.

Axolotl.

Axolotl.

Oh, yes.

Yeah, yeah.

Wagon wheel, we talked about this has a little connection.

No, the song Wagon Wheel, Darius Rucke purchased off of a band called, Old Crow Medicine Show.

Yeah, that's a great name.

The writer, of that song is, ketch Seacor.

How are you writing this information?

He's from.

He's from Toledo.

I went to it, went to Miami Valley Country day school.

Small world.

Yeah.

Party in the park again.

This coming.

I mean, there's a lot of renegade brothers.

Yeah.

You guys feel like.

I feel like you guys have a really close.

Yeah, yeah.

Keep going.

Party in the park.

80s weekend Friday night at Promenade Park.

Whether it's supposed to be awesome tomorrow.

Supposed to be really nice.

Also, we have the Denny Schaefer disco party.

This is a longstanding Toledo institution.

Denny Schaefer has been doing this for a long time.

To support, a veteran outreach organization.

Henryville Par 8 to 12, also on Friday night.

This is a I mean, I feel like this is like quintessential Toledo.

Yes.

Toledo event and the the I mean, Denny was I mean, he's still a radio legend, right?

But like, as a kid, he was like the guy.

Yeah, right.

And leveraged his celebrity.

Yeah, yeah.

Leveraged his celebrity, to improve the community.

It's still a very well content.

Oh, it's it's it's crazy how many years this has been going on.

Oh my gosh, 100.

Yeah.

Yeah.

At least 250 years for this country.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

But, I'm very excited about the Toledo Rep's performance of Fiddler on the roof this weekend.

It's actually the next two weekends, this entire weekend through June 21st at the Toledo Rep.

A local, organization hasn't put on this musical in some time.

One of my faves.

You performed in.

I wasn't in high school.

So, get our Mustafa the Dead.

No, that's Lion King.

Oh, no.

No, I was curious how they got a similar storyline.

Yeah.

That's right.

Yeah, yeah.

And then that music is not Phil Collins.

No it's not.

Yeah.

The town.

No.

Yeah.

I'll tell you what.

One thing we do on the show, would you learn.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That has said many times that we have a lot of musical content on.

Yeah.

There's someone there is.

Yeah.

I mean, if we're, if we're gonna put the categories of like, like we'r going to the Venn diagram.

Yes.

Of our niche areas.

Right.

So Gretchen, you an I have musical theater, right?

Matt you and I have, musical theater.

Atlantic.

Yeah.

And friends.

Yeah.

Wait a minute.

That was a drive by.

We talk.

We talk significantly more about musical theater than we do sports by design, theater, new audience.

Okay, somebody has to.

If I read me, it's the weekend that's so many of our friends and neighbors have been looking forward to.

It's the old West End festival and the King Rama parade.

We're excited that today we have this year as King and Queen that will be joining us later in the show to talk all about the parade, but the old Western festival that you have, the house show, you have food trucks, you have performances, you have porch concert all throughout the neighborhood.

You have the, the sale on Saturday morning.

It's just a jam packed weekend of the old West End neighborhood.

It really doe kick off the summer in Toledo.

So that is this weekend, June 6th and seventh.

It's such a I mean, such a cool neighborhood.

And so much culture to it and that you're you're kind of torn on it as a resident.

Yeah.

I would like to I mean, I move out, I desperately love the two peopl that will be joining us today.

And I love, a lot of peopl that live in the neighborhood.

I wish I was out of town.

Yeah, you know what?

It's.

I never thought about that perspective of, like, the folks who live there.

They like.

They love it.

It's.

I'm a rare bird.

It's like Saint Patrick's Day around here.

No one can see that you're in the house.

Everyone's an old West End resident for the weekend.

Yeah.

That's right.

And literally we're all going to be there all week now.

Have you two signed up for the little Lucas County Public Library summer read, which started this week?

I have in my way, which is by not that right.

So the builds there's like five there's like five different ways that you can sign up.

Yes.

And Matt has chosen to fix the 661.

Yeah.

That's right I'm going to be reading the Darius Rucker at night various time.

That's right.

I, I play the tambourine as he's asleep.

I think bedtime stories with Darius Rucker would be a really good band name.

Downtime with Darius?

Yeah, we call it downtime.

He's a cuddler, Darius.

He's actually shredded.

I mean, you guys have seen him You've mentioned several times.

Well I have the poster above my bed.

So.

So we me to see if we add to the Venn diagram, musical theater, athletics and Matt talking about men's physique.

Yes.

Yep.

Men's physique actually beats the other two that I prescribed in a magazine called Men's Physique.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

It also doesn' require a lot of reading.

Yeah.

Oh, I make it myself.

I cut pictures, all right.

We've got a jam packed show today.

That's our show.

The.com community calendar driven by today.

Of course, our friends at target can get you to eac and every one of these events.

Every single one, jam packed show, tailored dungeon, sad snacks.

And a little police officer is going to be here.

If you don't know what's that?

Snacks is.

I'm excited for yo to learn, really cool project.

And then turn the page.

It's our king and quee from the old West End festival will wrap up the show All right, let's take a break.

When we come back, we'l kick off this edition of the 419 with Tailor Dungeon on the 419, powered by GT.

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

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Thank you.

Welcome back into the 419 powered by GT.

We're joined now by Taylor Dungeon with Sad snacks and the Toledo Police Department.

Taylor, thank you so much for joining us.

My pleasure.

Happy birthday.

Happy birthday.

What a way to start your birthday.

It's the best way to start my birthday.

You know, the birthday song is from Fiddler on the roof.

I've never seen Fiddler on the roof, neither.

Okay.

Yeah.

How about.

Thank you?

Were you ever in any theater?

Acting?

Stage performing?

Absolutely not.

Did you play any sports growing up?

Yes.

Okay.

You can join this band.

Okay.

Yeah.

All right.

Welcome to the bright side.

That's if you had to pick one at the theater performance to be in.

Even with the limited knowledge it sounds like you may have.

What would that be?

Which one has the most crying?

All of them, I think.

Oh, boy.

Which one has the most crying?

Yeah.

Isn't anything bad.

It's a shame.

Is, this cry?

You cry in French, though, isn't it?

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah I can't this is contrasting.

So we're going to we're going to get into sad snacks.

But, I knew of you before you and I had actually met.

But it's.

Yeah, it's a it's a long.

But I've been, I think lik the story of as a, as a fellow recovering journalists, your story fascinates me.

So you were a, writer for the Blade?

Yes.

That's why I had to.

I got to Toledo is because the blade hired me as their crime reporter.

What is this year's 2026?

Yep.

I came here in 2011.

Came from, I was in Lorain, for nine months at my first newspaper job out of college, Lorain in the spring, am I right?

But, am I allowed to sa that it's the armpit of America?

Yes.

You okay?

I think you just did.

Lorain in the rain.

Yeah.

It was.

Yeah.

Toledo.

20 steps up.

Yeah.

So.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

15 years ago, I moved here for the job at the blade.

Did you know that the crime beat was going to be what you were doing?

Yes.

And that's why I wanted to to take that job.

I was like a night cop reporter in Lorain, and I mostly covered county fairs and, like, you know, stuff like that.

The most intense crime I think I covered in Lorain was like an assault with a ham sandwich.

Those are dangerous.

Well, we'll talk to.

We'll talk to Morgan Brogan about, assault with ham sandwiches.

Sandwiches make the best weapon, you know?

Yeah.

Not the probably the angry goat, right?

Yeah.

Angry.

But, yeah, that goat cheese over in the ice.

Yeah, yeah.

So my eyes are more.

So.

Come in.

So come to Toledo.

Where are you from originally?

Wadsworth, Ohio.

Oh, Wadsworth in the spring?

Yeah.

Less of an arm, but not is.

It is about 45 minutes south of Cleveland, so it's just like a little tiny, like Cleveland.

Akron suburb.

Yeah.

I have to tell you I've never heard of Wadsworth.

No one.

Yeah, well, I went to Kent, so I know a lot of friends that live in the round.

Yeah, yeah, you're there for a month.

I'm impressed that you remember.

Do it again.

I did, so then what was it that dre you to being a crime reporter?

It just sounded chaotic and fun.

I didn't know that's what I wanted to do.

I, for the longest time in college, thought I wanted to be a war correspondent leg.

And then I realized I am not worldly enough.

I am not political enough.

And that's a lot of informatio to remember, and I just can't.

And it could also maybe be and also maybe dangerous.

I mean like, yeah, and super competitive and like I was like pretty decent at my job.

But I don't know that I was like war correspondent, good at my job.

I think you were very good at your job.

That's how we met also.

But I do think you missed.

I don't know if you're a news buff, and you certainly shouldn't feel obligated to respond to this, but we are like doing the wars right now.

Yeah you could beat up all the time.

We've won seven wars in the last month.

That's past that.

So what what what is a big case that from from your days there at the blade that you remember covering.

Is there one that you like.

It was one of the ongoing stories.

One of the thing, one of the stories I think about the most often and I don't, and it could be a number of things.

It could be because it's like the first like, I want it.

I think it might be the first homicide I covered.

But it also is just an insane story.

This young boy, his name was Montel Taylor.

He was 16 or 17 at the time, but he was shot and killed not too far from his house in, like, central Toledo.

Like in the early morning while he was out, I believe, riding his bicycle.

And it turned out that his father had hired a hitman to kill Montel so he could collect on insurance money on Montel for life so that he could use that mone to bail out his older son from jail, who was awaiting trial for murder and dad never paid the hitman, so the hitman was out running his mouth about how he never got paid.

Dad kills the hitman, rolls him up in a rug, and leaves him in an abandoned house in North Toledo and Toledo, city like asbestos removal crew.

Who was going to.

They were going to get a demo of a house.

They found this guy rolled up in the rug and they ended up like it took years, but they ended up linking all these things together.

And it was.

And I interviewe the dad at the time and like I, I interviewed everybody.

Like I really went all in on that story because I kind of knew that there was something going on.

Yeah, yeah.

But that's like one of the things I think about most ofte because like, man, what a lot.

It's like something from a television show.

But yeah, you told me that was the plot of a movie.

I wouldn't believe, right?

I wouldn't believe it.

I would be like, that's so ridiculous.

I listen to a lot of true crime podcast.

And I was like, this would be a great time.

Where where is the line between crime reporter and actual detective?

It's thin.

I guess detectives have access to more information, you know, and, like, more direct access to people.

And they can compel people to speak to them, whereas I wish I could do that.

I know, right, like I couldn't, you know, so I'm just kind of like using my charm and happy demeanor to, I can see the limitations of that.

Yeah.

Hence why I left.

So then I talk to you abou so that you you leave the blade and become a police officer.

Yeah.

Like why?

You know, reverse.

Yeah.

I the most honest answer is that I got really sick of being broke all the time.

Yeah.

You know, like, I'm a single mom, I. My son was really young at the time.

I think he was a year, not even a year and a half when I started the academy.

And he's a giant kid.

Yeah.

Those clothes don't come cheap, and he needs them every ten minutes.

Yeah, every ten minutes.

And we play basketball.

So we need a new pair of basketball shoes every.

Every season.

Yeah, sure.

Oh, is he good?

We're.

We just get past that.

Yeah.

He's tall.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

We're good ther now.

He's he's all right.

Yeah.

All right.

I'm.

I'm hars because I'm mom, you know.

Yeah.

So he could do better a year.

An athlete.

That's generous.

Okay.

Yeah.

All right.

I played sports, all right?

I'm also tall.

It made you think that you could.

You know, I'm assuming you looked up what sort of physical requirements were needed for the academy.

What made you think, oh, yeah, I can do this.

And what did you have to do to get ready?

I was, at the time not so much anymore at the time.

Like, I was really, like, focused on, just like my fitness and overall health.

And I just even before I had considered ever like leaving journalism because I really thought that that was a profession I would die and like, be at my desk at like 80 years old, like really giving it to the man and like, dying of, like, stress or something.

But now you got this stress free job, and that's a little place I actually think this is less stress than people think.

That's crazy, but I do.

Yeah.

The the chief at the time used to tease me a lot, like, oh, when are you going to take the police test?

When you got it?

And I was like, ha ha, that's hilarious.

Chief Moten back then.

And I was like, never, obviously, because that would be insane.

And then my boss made me really mad one day, sitting at my desk and I said, screw this.

I, like, filled out my application right there.

Yeah.

So, is anyone in your life in police or fire or in public service in that way?

You know, what did your parents say when you said you were doing that?

My mom hung up on the on me.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, she didn't like it.

They're fine now.

Like it was worse that they had to walk back from the only phone in town to their homes after that hang up.

Oh.

Yes.

Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah.

All right.

So then fast forward, you know, many years later and you decide for another, that I'm not gonna call it career pivot.

Yeah, but you, you add a hot, the hobby becomes a business.

Yeah.

40 minutes of downtime.

You've applied yourself.

You decided to bake.

Okay.

Yeah, well, I was baking anyway.

But I was, and I was just take everything to work, so I was like, I'm bored or I'm irritated, or I'm going to rage bake or whatever, and I would just take all of the treats to work and then, I don't know, like a year and a half ago, one of my friends from work was like, hey, I, we, my family does a cookie exchange every Christmas.

Can I pay you to make cookies?

And I was like, yeah, dude.

And then when I did, I was like, why does everyone not pay me to make rice?

Is baking in your background?

Did you did your mom or dad do it, or is this something that you just fell into?

My, So my dad's mom.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's like I have pictures of, like, me in her kitchen.

Like, probably doing more sampling than helping.

Sure.

But, like I say, important role.

Yeah.

She was like.

I mean, my parents worked full time, and she really I don't want say she raised us because, like, you know, my parents were obviously around and stuff, but just all the time.

But yeah we spent a ton of time with Oma and she was always at our house, or we were at her house because she lived four minutes down the road an she was worth around the room.

Yeah, I could yeah.

No.

Why is the name of the grandmother's?

Why is the name of your, company or your your hobby o your passion called sad sacks?

I because I am sad and I eat when I'm sad and but I think I'm a well-adjusted, sad person, you know, like, there's a lot to be sad about in the world.

You know, I look like.

Because that's actually crying right now.

Yeah, yeah.

So let me show you my senior pictures.

You want to be sad?

No.

So?

So it's jus that it's just a play on that.

Yeah.

You know, like like it applies, I think, to people in a lot of different ways.

Like emotional eating or like, because the tagline is Happy snacks for sad people.

Because the truth is like, what are the snacks I don't like?

The snacks are not sad.

Like there is nothing ever sad about snacks.

Your tears in them.

Yeah, right.

Well, yeah.

It's far to now.

Yeah, yeah.

There's no tears in them.

100% here for me.

So.

So I'm just so interested in, like, the logistics of your day, I don't know, I, you know, I know fireworks like 24 on, 48 off.

I don't know if you have that same schedule, but like, if you're doing your shift and you come home and do it, are you doing this on your off days?

Is is a constant evolving bac and forth between the two jobs?

There is, my couch and I really miss each other.

Yeah.

It's so right now I'm on a day shift schedule on Monday through Friday, which is great.

Yeah, but normall I work third shift, so 10 p.m.

to 6 a.m., and then I, you know, come home, sleep for a couple hours, wake up, and then it's a bake on till I go back to work.

Basically kidding me.

So taking over my life.

But I mean, I like it and it's a lot of fun.

What's your specialty?

People love oatmeal cream pies.

Make those a lot of delicious cinnamon rolls of many variety.

Yeah, yeah.

Apple cinnamon roll and just regular cinnamon rolls.

They're so good.

They're so fluffy.

What's the what's the goal here?

I mean, are you still selling these?

Where are you selling them?

They are mostly, at my house.

So it's a self-serve honor system snack stand.

I just had, like, a brand, I think said people are going to steal from you.

The only one who still for me is my son and my son.

Yeah, okay.

But that I know of.

I think some like social media things and stuff about you being at events and like having tables.

And so you're starting to do that more too.

Yeah.

So I've done like last year I did Old West End for.

Yes.

My children enjoyed that thoroughly.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's right.

I think I did see you guys there.

And I've done a number of like, pop ups.

I'm doing another one, in a couple weeks, down in to say anything.

Yeah.

Over near Owens.

Over near there.

And then, I also have a partnership with brew over on speaker at that plaza.

And so, I get stuff.

Yeah, I bake stuff for them.

What is your largest baking misfire?

Oh, my God.

I've dropped so many trays of, like, fully baked things.

Yes.

I also, I'm really.

I lik people have specialties, right?

Like I'm not a cake decorator.

By mean it is, I hate it.

I'm not good at it.

And maybe I hate it because I'm not good at it.

But one of my best friend asked me to make a cake for her son's birthday.

And God love her.

Yeah, because thank God she's like my best friend.

It was not good.

Yeah, but just the decorating.

Yeah, yeah.

After he got done, he or she got done crying.

What did you do?

She said, don't worry about it.

I'm going to order him a cookie cake.

It was.

It was supposed to be like a tractor because they, like, out of front one.

He's like a country.

Yeah.

Country one.

We get it.

Yeah.

Okay.

Okay.

Sorry.

It was supposed to be like a tractor.

Like plowing, like the wheat field.

That seems pretty complicated.

Yeah, it probably wasn't, but the.

I'll.

I'll have to send you a picture.

Yeah, yeah, I will post to that.

I mean, it's do you have a, a dream of having your own place at some point.

Like what do you, what do you think about this.

Or is this something that like it's an it's a box and I like it in a, in a box.

I kind of like where we're at.

Mylan would really like for us to get a cookie truck or like a cookie van, like to, to go mobile.

But that's that's his dream.

He does say that when I die, he's going to take over.

So that's sweet, you know.

Can he bake.

No.

Yeah.

He's it doesn't help you now.

No.

Yeah, sure.

Every time I, we think yeah it's one of the big events.

It's, it's, you know, me being inclusive.

Yes.

Yeah.

Yeah.

He every time I ask like hey do you want to help or you want to like try to learn.

He's like no.

And then but then like when I'm like in like the depths of like my busiest moments and like on the verge of, like, punching myself in the face.

He'll be like, can you, can I help you?

And I'm like, you can help by leaving.

Yeah.

Like you can get out.

Yeah.

So that's what I say to them.

Yes.

And if people want more information on sad snacks, where can I find it?

By.

The easiest way to follow me is going to be on Facebook.

I post there the most often.

So sad snacks on Facebook.

But we do have a website.

Sad snacks dot shop.

We're on Instagram and TikTok.

We do all the things becaus you have to do all the things.

Yeah, this is incredible.

I'll tell yo one of my favorites in the area and region.

For a myriad of reasons.

It's so good to have you on.

Thank you so much for coming in.

And happy birthday.

Yeah.

Happy birthday.

I made your cake.

It's a tractor.

I wore my crown.

Yeah.

We take a break.

When we come back, we'll, we'l continue our conversation here.

I Thursday edition of the 419.

To me, community means connecting to others.

I'm Danny Miller, and welcome to the point I love.

Yes, yes, we are community committed to education.

Discover new ideas, div into exciting subject and engage with the world around you.

I would send them personally a t shirt crime doesn't Pa in the Old West and pass it on.

That's how we cleaned up the neighborhood.

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It's the next chapter that public media invites you to get out and play.

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Where you come to watch, listen and learn.

To.

Welcome back into the 419.

The old West End Festival is this weekend, and one of the highlights of the parade is the King and queen.

The.

All right, the royalty.

I think that's what a king and queen is.

Yeah.

You're so helpful.

Yeah.

Queen Sandra and King Wamba.

Yep.

And we have this year's royalty.

Yeah.

Joining us here on the show.

Welcome, Morgan and Matt.

What?

What how did this happen to you?

Yes, yes, that's a great question.

We don't actually know.

Are you nominated or what?

I'm embarrassed to say I do not know the process for which you are.

Coronated.

Yes.

So you have to live in the neighborhood.

And, the preservatio committee collects nominations and then they vote.

So it's like a survivor style vote that everyone, you know closes there.

You have two hands up performed feats of strength or anything to try to get it.

Or is it just I think we all know that joke was coming, but it did.

It did and it still takes a long time to ever get out.

Yeah.

So.

I'm sorry.

Tune in tomorro to the end of Gretchen's comic.

This is a short question.

This isn't Festivus.

No.

Yes.

And thankfully, no.

We just had to you know, pledge our allegiance.

Blood oath.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

That's right.

Yeah, I figured, well in full candor, I love you both.

So there's no shot to me that, others do, although I want to be your favorite.

But I do know a little bit at the risk of putting you on the spot, you are communit oriented people and not givers and great friends.

But you're not.

You don't love a lot of attention so this must be very exciting.

And also a little bit of, Oh, God.

You're looking at me and you're.

Yes, you're absolutely right.

Yeah.

I don't, when we got up.

What?

We got a phone call from our friend Holly, who's on the parade committee, which, was a delightful call because she's like, you guys are the king queen of the festival this year.

And we're like, what are you.

Why?

What does that mean?

First of all, I was like, what does that mean?

Where do I need to go?

And how often do I need to be out?

Like kissing babies and shaking hands and.

Yeah, there's a couple commitments.

But, I mean, what we do every day, we like to do it.

Yeah.

So for people to be like hey, you're doing a great job.

I like positive affirmation.

So that sounds cool.

Certainly a nod to how adored you both are.

But again, I think part of the thing that is the earnest charm of you both is that, although yo were on stage quite literally, you don't enjoy having the spotlight necessarily on you as individuals.

So I can really stand a mixed bag.

How long have you been in the neighborhood?

2012.

Yeah.

So we got married in 2012.

We rented a house.

Virginia, if you're familiar with the neighborhood, and then we bopped around to a couple houses and finally found our forever home.

And, a lot of, like, that's not really where we live, but, Yeah, yeah, if you don't already know, that's good for the address and everything.

And I still don't like that backdoor.

It's terrible.

Yeah.

Yeah.

But, So, yeah, since we've been married, we've been in the neighborhood when, we decided that we love Toledo.

We wanted route in and the other states where we wanted to do it.

And you guys just started, dating, about a year or so ago, right?

Yes.

Yeah.

Pretty new.

Yeah.

Pretty neat.

What?

What have you guys found tha you love about the neighborhood?

The houses ar great, but really, the community and the people make it home.

So having that French front porch community where, like, neighbors get to know each other and you can walk down the street and, like, just ask everybody how their day is going and really just get to know each other.

Sometimes they're a little too loud and then we just hang out in the backyard.

Yeah, I'm I mean, I wa taking the trash out yesterday.

I come off a really long day of, metro parks, like paddling and stuff.

It was really fun.

But I'm like, in a swimsuit in a thank you t shirt, and my hair is all whatever.

And I'm pulling the garbage cans out and the kids across there like, hey, are you the king of the festival this year?

And I was like, yeah, like, congratulations.

And I was like, that's really nice.

I was like, I just want to, like, run back to my house right now because of, like, looking the way I was looking.

But yeah, people are really friendly and, yeah, I also think, like it's, it's, you know, people like to say like, keep it a little weird.

Yeah.

And the other person i very weird and like that it is.

Speaking of things, you plug in the community, you have a multitude of talents.

But one of them, that you have in community is a birds, Birds Eye circus.

Tell me about that.

Yeah.

So we are co-owners of Bird's Eye View Circus.

We took ownership back in 2022.

It's been around since 2012.

But we are creating a third space for people who want to explore creativity and, the physicality behind, doing these feats of strength, if you will.

So it's an opportunity for people to have a, physical class where they can get strong, but also they stretch their brai and hopefully meet some friends.

You use the term third space.

And I know we've talked about, that a few different times on the show, but if people aren't familia with that concept, what what is and what is the third space and why is that important sure thing to you, for you'r really good at talking them.

So, in a good way, right?

So, pleas don't fight on the show, guys.

Sorry.

It's the first one.

This is the this is going to end is going to be separate, separate.

Pretty separate.

Yeah.

We're going to just like it'll be a race at the beginning.

That's what my parents did.

Thanks, guys.

Sorry.

It's okay.

S back to your question, though.

I think it's space a third spaces.

You know, you work and you live in your house.

But like a lot of people do have a place where they can go outside of those two places.

So the third space is somewhere like it's refined community where you feel welcome.

Could be a coffee shop.

We like to call it the circus.

It's also a cool place.

Morgan talked about, like, feats of strength.

Stretch your brain, but also play.

I think as adults, we forget to play.

And if you ever come t my class, it's certainly goofy.

We're constantly laughing.

We're safe.

That's our number one goal.

But if you can walk away, you know, maybe you're having not such a great day.

And maybe your day is not as bad when you walk on my class.

That's a win for me.

So when I do one of the types of classes I know, I mean, like, and I think about circus and I think about myself participating in any of those activities.

There is not a single one that I think I'm physically ready for.

And you'd be right.

Yeah.

But yeah, to Kevin's question, in case people are unaware the the circus is and does what?

Yeah.

So we are a, so we are three part, like kind of, business of a circus.

We, teach classes.

We can get hired and come to, like, a gig and, like, stil or set up the rig or whatever.

And I can explain these a little bit further.

And then we're also like a performance, like theater performance troupe.

So, working our way backwards, we write and perform our own original shows.

We just did two years of Krampus, like a dark circus tale.

Our one of our co-owners, Rene and her partner, Steve, scored music to the show.

So everything is original.

Which is really amazing.

Is amazing.

And then, you know, for gigs and stuff, we work with a lot of, organizations around Toledo.

They bring us out to there, you know, just like a little pizzazz to their, event.

And watch the mouth.

This is, Sorry.

Can can you just flip the pizzazz?

Actually, again, I'm embarrassed.

Yeah.

Before you, Yeah.

So hopefully I'm getting some color into these cheeks because I'm pretty.

Anyways.

White here.

So the, you know, so we're gigging, and so stilt walking, bringing out the rig.

And so the rig is what we'l have our aerial apparatuses on.

And so we also teac all of the things that you see.

So that includes trapeze, which is just like a static, dance trapeze.

So think about two ropes and a bar, and you hang from that bar.

And then Morganti to silks, which is a flowy, ribbon type, fabric that hangs from the ceiling.

If you take that rabbit, fabric, turn it upside down.

There's a loop in the bottom.

It's called sling.

You can sit in.

It's kind of like a hammoc that you put in your backyard.

And then the, the other main one.

But we also have a bunc of other things.

It's like lira.

So it's a big giant circle that's metal.

And you can sit in that spin.

And we also teach juggling and, balance.

And it is a beautiful thing to watch.

And both you and it's a beautiful thing in al extent of the definition of it may ask with how busy you are, I'm always the term people are creative is so vast.

Now, if you own a cell phone, you can be a creative.

But you are truly creative is where are the ideas of the performances born?

Are you?

Are you in the shower?

Are you driving?

Are you at work?

I mean, it's an interesting juxtaposition to, you know, writing a song lyric, which in itself is a feat that I don't have an understanding of, but there is an aerial component of this which you're quite literall having to conceive of something that is secondary to how you are walking through your day.

So how do you where does the where do this?

Where do these visions come from?

Kind of all the above.

So it could be, when I'm driving.

That's my best thinking space that I've seen you drive.

I can tell that it is something else.

Must be going on in that car.

Yeah.

Makes sense.

So I love thinking about, like, if this circus apparatus of this fabric draping down is like the starting open board of a puzzle, how am I going to put pieces together to form a picture that I want to convey to the world?

So a lot of times I'm using it to tell a story.

Yeah.

What's the story that I want to tell based on the emotions that I'm feeling?

Yeah.

And do I want to just like, vibe and create something what might be considered like a beautiful piece?

Or am I feeling, a bit more like a gargoyle?

And I want to just, you know, and embrace that and tell that story.

Yeah.

So it really can depend, we can take inspiration from nature around us.

One of my favorite acts I co-owner, Rene did, and she was just, embracing the wind.

And it was all about this moving active wind piece.

But really from all the things around us, we made that with us obviously today.

But I have seen Rene perform, she is an exceptional talent.

What makes people good at this?

They have a willingness to get outside their comfort zone.

Sure.

Because if you have that, well, there's going to be a way.

Yeah.

My oldest student I've ever had was 78 years old, and she's not going to come i and do a pull up, but so she's.

Willing to try like there's a place for them, and just with any, any inklin of wanting to do something like.

We can make that happen.

You work with what you got.

We're talking with Morgan Sapp going.

Matt Miller, you are the king and queen of the old West End festival this weekend.

One of the signatures of this is the apparel.

I know you guys are still working on that, but is there a piece of your, your wardrobe for this weeken that that you can share a crown?

I got a big, sparkly giant as you should be excited about.

Yeah.

I cannot find a crown big enough for this head.

Yeah we'll figure it out.

Yeah, sure.

Yeah.

But, yeah, Crown shopping's hard.

I don't know if you ever been crowned champion.

Yeah, have I ever.

Yeah, I know right?

Yeah.

There's not, like a Crown store in town and the town is a lesser floor.

They have the Burger King.

Oh my gosh, you know.

Yeah.

I've been.

Where were you two weeks ago?

Yeah, at Burger King.

So do you make the have to make the float that you guys are on and do the design and everything of that we do.

And actually with circus, we already have a float.

Because we put a portable rig that we can suspend somebody from on a trailer and drive around.

So we have that, that we're going to decorate.

People are welcome to be around it and walk with us.

And our whole community is invited to join us, too.

Yeah.

That's awesome.

All right.

But before we get befor we get into this, I will cheat.

Okay.

But I want to cheat this thing quickly.

I get the great pleasure of, Well, my word is that you're as being friends with these two, but as Metroparks, colleague, at the risk of making Morgan feel untouchable, one of the best things that happened as a byproduct of Covid is we got Morgan from another fine institution.

They were liquidating their programmatic team.

And you're one of the best things that's happened to our little burg.

And bringing, it's instance here, and bringing that along with us is added, another element to not just being with, children and community, which, of course, is something we're proud of.

You're exceptional at that.

But an excellent visua artist, too, and has a real life for, the storytelling tha we're trying to give to others.

So thank you both for your day jobs as well.

I'd be remiss if we didn't sa also, our fourth owner, Chloe, if we talked about Rene, but I want to mention Chloe.

Chloe's awesome.

She comes in with, like, a big theater background.

That helps a lot.

So.

All right, buckle up.

It's now time for Gretchen switching careers.

I'm gonna ask for reparation questions.

Gretchen is going to have you describe Toledo in one word.

And you'll both work with Matt to list the nine best things in Toledo.

Question number one.

What's your favorite way to waste time online?

Remember the FCC regulations?

This is this is rapid fire.

Yeah.

I like to go on Instagram and watch dance videos.

Love it.

Say you do dance videos on their mats.

Videos.

Oh, that's not a visual I needed to today.

What do you thin about more than anything else?

Sleep.

Honestly?

Yeah, I love it.

The best food?

Yeah.

Sleep.

Sleep and food.

What's the best thing you've ever eaten from a restaurant?

I like, saag paneer.

ALU Gobi from south of India.

Okay, we'll go with that.

All right.

So much good food.

How many times a da do you lose your keys or phone?

Never.

Rarely.

What is the one word each of you get?

One word you would use to describe the city of Toled or the region.

Can I go first?

Since I've we talked about this before, I say resilience.

Toledo was always bouncing back, pushing forward.

It's amazing.

Downtown is it's incredible what's happened the last even eight years downtown.

For me at home, like, we really decided to commit to this area.

And we found our people and our community, and it's just embraces home.

Okay.

All right.

Our guys are going to d nine of these together, right?

Fire away.

Best things about the city and or region.

Bird's eye view circus.

Yep.

Absolutely.

The old West End.

Yep.

All right.

Metroparks Toledo.

You got.

I'll shoot.

You just mentioned two places where you eat.

What are they starve?

India?

Yep.

Toledo.

Time to time.

I love, the dial up shop.

And I like woman on business.

Absolutely.

And the original stop shop?

Yep.

Hemi Toledo a little bit.

Yeah.

One left the library.

Got a nice look at that.

That was quick.

Morgan and Matt, congratulations on a well-deserved honor.

Enjoyed this weekend.

And then just stay in your house for about three weeks to just cover you guys.

That's right.

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Welcome back to the 419 powered by wget.

We're joined now by Brad Creswell.

We gt FM 91 celebrating just recently.

About a month ago celebrate its 50th anniversary in Toledo.

Yeah.

And we had a nice party for everybody.

And we had, a lot of recognition on the air and off the ai about our 50th anniversary.

Why?

Why does that matter?

Right.

I mean, it's I mean, obviously, 50 is a milestone in any accomplishment.

But when you think about the role that FM 91 plays in Toledo, why is it important that it's been around for 50 years?

Well, I mean, it has changed over those 50 years a little bit, but it's still valuable to the community and we're shifting with the community, you know, and what we offer.

So that's a great thing as far as we're concerned.

It has value.

It's definitely something that is worth saying.

You know, we've been here for 50 years.

We want to be here for the future.

And as the government has taken a tack that they are not offering the same amount of money that we used to have.

You know, we have to shape our reshape ourselves and view it as an opportunity to, to get ahead and to be thriving on the radio and TV.

50 years doesn't happe by accident, to Kevin's point.

We've asked this for a number of our guests, almost indiscriminate of what their widget is.

When you think about deliverin the radio, day in and day out, who do you think about delivering it to?

Who are the people on the other end of the.

Well, you know, the average is that we speak to one person.

Yeah, right.

And so that's what we're doing.

We we're trying to get out the message of the fact that we are here to stay.

You know, we're we're going to be here the day after tomorrow, but we need your help in order to to stay there.

So the listeners and viewer are the people that provide the, dollars for us to continue, and we hope to continue.

Do you know any of the history of FM 91?

Kind of what why why did it get started?

And.

Well, I can't tell you why it was starte other than the fact that people there was a like minded group of people who believed that, FM was the way to go.

Eventually they started with PBS and with, you know, it's kind of the history of the whole situation is kind of similar to the history of, programs, like All Things Considered.

And radio programs that we think of now is NPR.

Yeah.

So that's where we are.

How will FM.

We just had deal, on earlier this week talking about the WB, G2, merger, if you will.

How is the how is that going to affect everybody?

What if it is it doesn't affect the radio side of things.

Yeah.

That is just as simply a TV situation.

And with PBS going away, WB, you you were stepping up to the plate and offering, you know, an alternative.

So what?

Sounds familiar?

House.

Working.

The sounds of whatever I'm binge watching at the time.

Yeah.

Tell me what' what's got you hooked right now.

What do you.

Yeah.

Are you a true crime guy, o are you a documentary like the.

How much Gilmore Girls have you watched?

Yeah, I like the true crime stuff.

Yeah.

I'm watching, Good Girls Guide to Murder right now.

Yes, that's on my, list.

There's a list?

Yeah, I have a whole list.

But, I can't remember from day to day what I've seen or wha I haven't, so I have to go back.

Sure.

Watch it again.

Just for bread.

I'm always curious.

You are certainly an expert.

In many things, but, Do you listen to the radio with a critical ear?

Always.

Or are you able to sort of disconnect, and just enjoy and take in?

No, I'm constantly, you know, in awe of wha we do on the radio, as you say.

And thank you.

And, it is definitely something that is, worth pursuing, in our view.

Yes, sir.

What was the question?

How did you how did you get it?

How did you get into radio?

Well, I was an opera singer for a while, 16 years.

And then I had a friend who invited me ont his overnight show in New York.

And so I did that for a while and I ended up, doing a good job so that when he was promoted, I took his place, and I just pretended that I knew how to do things.

Yeah So what are we doing here?

Yeah.

What are some of the, summer programing you're looking forward to on FM 91?

Well, we're having a summer music festival, which is all kinds of music, and it's, the brainchild of Eric Klinger, who is a great, program on FM 91 on one space.

He already has this raise during radio hour that he does.

And he's also going to be presenting music, in July, I believe, for the last week of June, heading into July, August, September, the three month of music festival, which will happen at 7:00 pm here on FM 91.

So, yeah, we're talkin with Brad Cresswell from FM 91.

We had the King and Queen of the old West End Festival, on in our previous segment, but FM 91 is going to be out at the festival this weekend as well.

What are you guys doing?

Well, we'll be there from 1 to 5:00 on Saturday.

Right.

And, we'll be talking to both, people that are involved with the West End and learn all about the West, and we'll talk to them.

We'll also play music.

So we've got a lot of stuff.

It planned for the festival, and Major League Baseball and the other tiers.

There is a walk up song that people get to choose as they're going up to the plate.

What is you what would be your walk up song?

And we'll sing it right now.

No, those are two questions.

Yeah.

That's right.

We got a lot of show to field.

Yeah, well, the first question my walk on music, I will say, is probably either the entrance of the Queen of Sheba or Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.

That's a swing, right?

Yeah.

There we go.

Yeah.

I mean, there's some differences different there now.

Yeah.

Why would you sing Call Me Baby and not the other one?

Well, it has lyrics, you know that that that does that does I, I know that, we have had the privilege of having you on the show before, but at the risk of going back into the annals of history, you were originally from where you were born in.

I was born in Joliet, Illinois, but I grew up in Moline.

Yes.

The bedroom community of, I'm curious, you know, this is an, a relatively unusual track.

But how quickly was identified that you had a world class voice?

An was that embraced by your folks?

Well, I sang in the boys choir when I was very young.

Yeah, like eight years ol at the Julene prison, for sure.

Yeah.

Yeah.

No, I was born there.

I don't know.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Right.

Yeah.

That's right.

Yeah.

So I definitely, Yeah, definitely want to go.

There was the question.

The question was when you, when you were young, you know, it is a little bit of an unusual track where you were identified, right away.

I was raised by my grandmother, and she was 100% behind me.

It's wonderful, you know, got me involved in stuff and bought a piano for me when I was seven.

Wow.

And, did a lot of stuff for me.

Yeah, yeah.

You helped us get this show.

Some legs and got it.

Got us started, six months or so ago and did some training for us.

I'd like to report back now, today, as we're about to wind down our first season, who would you say of the three of us, mostly, or largely comply with all FCC regulations?

Why is it me?

Don't ask questions you don't know nor want the answer to be.

I think we've done exceptionally well.

Yeah, I would agree.

Surprisingly, we've gotten better.

Yeah, I've been surprised by you.

Thank you.

I think you've done a great job.

Thank you.

That is surprising.

Griffin has done a good job.

Of what?

Not swearing.

Yes.

Yeah, but you thought, right?

I do think for the audience, we did go through extensive training and there was some concern too, but it was mostly directed at me.

And then Brian quickly identified the largest offende was going to be Gretchen.

Yes.

You know, and I think I only messed up one time.

No more.

Yes.

All right, Brad, give us one more time.

Details, for this weekend.

Oh.

Western festival People want to come out and see.

See you and see the team from F-M 91.

Well, we'll be at the old West Sand Festival early in the morning, but we're not getting on air until 1:00.

From 1 to 5.

They can listen to us live at the Western Festival.

On Saturday afternoon.

So you know what location, where, where we'll be.

I don't know exactly where we're going to be, but, you know you keep looking for to find us, you'll find them and you'll be interviewing artists and old West End residents.

And, you know, really, in capturing the story and the feel and the culture, of the old West End festival.

And I think that's when we talk about, WGS and FM 91 and, the commitment to local.

I love that you guys are going to be out there.

I think this is absolutely we've talked about, you know, for, for the longest time has been known for telling Toledo stories.

And we often talk about that i a way of stories from the past.

That's right.

But the reality is what we're doing no is telling stories of right now.

And there's incredibl people, Maureen and, I'm sorry.

Morgan and Matt, our two of them that, you know, are doing incredible things in the old West End community, and as such, are recognized as the Queen and king of the festival, and telling stories like that, that matters.

And I think that's why, that's wh FM 91 has made it to 50 years.

That's why I think we all hope FM 91 makes it to another 50 years.

Yep.

And, Brad, you will be working here in another 50 years.

To celebrate the hundredth.

Yeah.

That's the plan.

That's right.

If you say so.

It's definitely true.

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

Well, that's the theme of the show.

Yeah.

All right.

We're going to take a break.

When we come back, we'll take another look at our toledo.com community calendar driven by Tada!

It's the 419 powered by.

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

Thank you.

Welcome back into the 419 powered by GT.

As we wrap up a Thursday edition, ther are incredible things happening.

And we talked a lo about the Old West End Festival.

Just one of the many things, happening this weekend around northwest Ohio.

Certainly appreciate, Brad, spending some time with us today.

He's got such a fascinating background that I think the, his career.

I mean, we could have probably spen another half hour talking about just his his music career and traveling around the country, in performing.

And it's such a unique space.

It just from growing up in Toledo, Ohio, I, I mean, my little brother was a, classical musician, went to, college for vocal performance as an opera singer, and found his way into pop, because he enjoyed the storytelling.

And so when you talk about the range, right, when he, he lists these two very, different songs to be his walk up song.

I think a lot of people, though, are, by nature humble.

But not a lot of people know that Brad, was part of the original engineers of, K-pop.

Oh.

He did.

I didn't know where that was going to land.

Yeah.

He didn't get it in Korea.

He didn't either.

That's where it is specifically.

Just underneath the 33rd parallel.

Oh, interesting I don't know what the music is.

North of the 33rd parallel.

It's probably just as good.

You're right.

Yeah.

So the top five events of the week.

Let's take another look at on toledo.com community calendar driven by.

Tada.

Gretchen.

What's up tonight Matt Killam and Darius Rucker will be in concert at the Toledo Zoo.

He actually a he has to be mentioned first.

Darius Rucker and Matt Kill be in concert at the Toledo Zoo tonight.

Tickets are still available.

Party in the park tomorrow night.

Promenade Park 80 this week, Jeremy.

Tribute band.

And, try to think of the other.

The other the local band.

A journey fan song.

Don't stop believing.

Is that a journey song?

It is.

Okay.

I was impressed that I got that.

Yeah.

Why?

I don't know.

I was impressed that I identified one of the most, I don't know, famous songs of all time.

It could have been, hairband.

Call me Kendra.

Okay.

Is the, the opening act actually would like you like with it.

And then we have same, same time a night.

A little bit later in the night.

Danny Schaefer's disco party.

8 to 12 at Pennsville.

From this coming Friday until June 21st, we have Fiddler on the roof.

Little wra tickets are available for that.

It's a long time to be on the roof.

Yeah, they usually do.

Three weeks.

That must be soaking wet.

Yeah, they're going to be tired.

Old West End festival.

The parade is on Saturday.

Festival Saturday and Sunday house tours, garage sales, live radio broadcast, live radio broadcast, the house tours.

It's fun.

Yeah, well and I'm not a huge history buff.

Get out of town.

I know, but but I think hearing some of the, like, Toledo history stories with some of you, I just like to look up stuff.

Oh, and maybe pilfer a little bit of it.

Yeah.

Do a little film.

You go into the bathroom and steal people's prescription drugs.

Is that what you're doing?

Well, no, I'm just going to take a little on the nose.

Is is is like a candy.

No, it is it one pill for me.

It's just repeal it.

It you and Jesus.

It's traffic.

Yeah.

Oh, you traffic in.

Yeah.

No trafficking.

Anything.

Yeah.

Well.

Good start.

You know, man, I know I'm not trafficking anything.

I love how we went from this i this is the range of our show.

You run out of your house tonight?

Yeah.

We go to made from th the legend that is Brad Creswell talking about the 50 year history of FM 91 straight into pilfered Gretchen creation houses.

I'm sorry, I just it's like a little everybody that's going into the house.

This is creeping in.

I'm just doing it with an eye for stealing.

That's right.

Right.

Yeah.

Yep.

I mean, there's nothing wrong with that.

You got to go somewhere.

Except for the law.

If there was, if you were going to steal one thing.

Yes.

This weekend from Old West End.

What's the thing that your house needs that you think somebody needs?

Like little art, pieces of artwork, five, some little places.

So I would steal a painting.

That's right.

I don't.

And put it in a car that I stole on.

All right so I'm going to keep an eye, no.

And I said have you ever stolen anything?

No, I did, yeah, yeah.

Do you guys remember ferals that used to be at the con?

What a dream.

No.

You stole my heart.

Southwick Mall.

Farrell's.

I stole the button candy.

Had a hustle.

I sold a packet of button candy, am I not?

I asked my mom for it.

She said no, so I stole it.

You get in the car We're eating it.

The car?

Yeah.

And she's like, she made us go back an tell the lady that we stole it and we had to apologize.

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