And now the 419 with Gretchen debacker matt kill And Kevin.

Mullin.

Welcome into the 419 season one, episode one.

Yes.

419.

Powered by and presented by Retro Wealth Management.

I'm Kevin Mullin, alongside Gretchen de Bakker and Matt Killam.

Hello.

Good morning.

Happy new year.

We made it.

We did.

It's amazing.

This is you.

I say season one, but it's season three for us because, we did a podcast, called the 419.

For the last two years.

Let's for our audience that may be new to the program.

This may be truly episode one.

Sure.

We're going to take some tim to get to, you know, introduce ourselves, to the new audience.

Get a chance to introduce the show.

But why don't we talk about kind of where this show came from?

And I guess I' going to start with you, Matt, because I feel like you were really the the connecting point between a couple different swirling ideas that became the 419.

Well, a couple of things also and that's pretty pressurized.

But season three is really whe the character arc starts going.

So the season three of The Wire, was arguably its best.

This is exactly this is going to be like The Wire.

Which is a good segue into describing how the show.

Nothing like The Wire.

I will tell you that it jumped The shark here in season three.

That's right.

That I in, I hope, pur examples of all of our nature.

All of us are.

None of us have taken the credit for this.

Because I said, yeah, you know Kevin and Gretchen got together and said we should do something like smart.

Let's but talk about our great city and our our great friends and people doing great stuff.

And they said, well, how did Kevin and Gretchen know one another?

And I was like, oh, I introduced them.

It was like, so the reality of it or the truth of it is, i that it's just the genesis of, and one of the great thing about living in a town our size.

Right?

So you get to know everyone.

You can participate in the stories about that.

So there's enough drivel out there.

There's enough bad news.

Our phones are filling up with it as we sit here.

But there's so much good stuff happening, and great people and the three of us have been really lucky to be able to participate i things, be bystanders in things.

And I hope that some things like this, create new things.

So that's sort of how I think about the show.

So Matt referenced smart lists.

Yes.

Popular podcast, but people may not be familiar with it.

I'm actually surprised I meet people every day that I describe our podcast, and I use smart lists as the explanation.

Yeah.

And they're like, I don't know.

We should just tell them it's our idea from the.

Perfect, I like it.

Why don't you explain?

So there's a there's a, specific kind of niche piece of smart lists that we've stolen to try to tell stories in a unique way.

Why don't you explain what that is?

Yes.

And it allows us to sort of have these spontaneous conversations with the people that we bring on.

And it's because the other two hosts don't know who the one host is bringing on, and we rotate and people ask us all the time, is it really a secret?

And it's true.

It truly is.

One time Matt and I invited the same person and so then we tricked him about that.

But we don't know who the person is.

They come on and we just have, you know, a conversation about who they are, what they're doing, and, and, and why they're what they're doing.

Great for.

Toledo.

It's authentic.

It's unscripted, an it's it's us being who we are, truly loving our community and genuinely curious about the people that make it better after.

Hours of heavy editing.

Oh, yes, it.

Is who we are.

Yeah.

That's right that's right.

Yeah.

I like it.

All right.

So this episode is going to be.

That was made a big difference.

This episode will b a little bit different than the, maybe some of our other episodes.

Yes.

We're not going to have a surprise guest every episode right on this show.

But we will do that once a week.

To, t still continue to pay homage to, kind of where we started.

But on this particular episode, we're going to turn the cameras, tur the microphones, turn the tables on the three of us, and so we're going to take a time, for, two of us to interview the third host.

And when we come bac on the other side of this break, you crazy fools get to get to know me.

So with a lifetime dream.

If you come back and Matt's not here, it's because he's walked out.

He's like, I don't want to be a part of that.

So, hey, this is, the 419 powered by GT and presented by Wheelchair Wealth Management.

We'll be right back with getting to Know me.

Kevin Mullin to me, community means connecting to others.

And what will it really take to bring peace to Toledo's neighborhoods?

I love it here.

Yeah, we're a community committed to education.

Discover new ideas, dive into exciting subjects, and engage with the world around you.

It's all chapters in a book.

I would send them personally a t shirt.

Crim doesn't pay in the old West End.

Pass it on.

That's how we cleaned up the neighborhood.

Bring you back memorie that you don't think are there.

You know.

There, there.

Public media invites you to get out and play day.

The people of Toledo have really become family.

You know, they walk in and it was just like, hey, it's so good to see you.

Hello there, and welcome to public media town hall meeting.

The where you come to watch, listen and learn.

I love PBS kids.

Welcome back to the 419 presented by We Wealth Management.

And of course, now in 2026, powered by CTE, Kevin Mullin Gretchen de Backer, Matt Killam.

All right, so this is a chance for us to get to know the hosts and for us to introduce ourselves to the audience.

So I'm gonna turn over to you guys because you guys are supposed to.

I don't know, but I guess get to know me.

Yeah.

Go ahead.

Matt.

Well, I know we hate to start at the beginning.

But, Kevin you have been, a lot of things, so we'll get to that.

Presumably in the middle or end, you know, like one would, but you are born and raised here.

Talk to me a little bit about the.

And am I pronouncing that correctly?

That's right.

The household.

It's Kevin.

That's right, that's right.

Yes.

It's not Mulan.

No.

I thought that movie was about your family.

Yeah.

And it was, scary.

Yeah.

It's Mulan.

It's, a little bit different than my actual.

Tell us how it's different.

Well, I grew up in Sylvania, so that's a little different.

Yeah.

I am not a woman dressed as a man trying to fight in the army.

Okay, a little.

As far as we know.

That.

You know what the episode is.

So, I grew up in Sylvania, and I've got three brothers, and, most of them, I should say most of them.

One of them still lives here in Toledo.

My oldest brothers up outside of Detroit.

You're in the middle.

I am three of four.

Okay.

So it is, Scott, my oldest brother, Matt, who lives here in Toledo, myself.

And then my younger brother, Steven is a musician.

You're not going to be entertainment.

Another show.

Those guys that those are all the first names of Kevin's brothers.

Yeah.

That's right.

Well, you you you asked about my family.

This is not how we can treat our guests.

Sorry.

I'll start again.

Who is?

Oh, okay.

Who is the.

Handsomest?

So this is funny.

My parents are moving, and I was there helping them.

Yeah.

And my dad actually introduced me to a complete stranger as, this is my son, Kevin.

He might be the smartest in the family.

He's not the best looking.

And I was like, I mean, I know it's true.

And he knew you were.

There, but I don't need you to say that to other people.

I don't need you to be that way.

But, Yeah.

So I've long said that it's me.

Okay, that doesn't.

Sound.

That much of a hurry.

That is right.

That's right.

No, I always we all have the same running joke when we call my parents.

And obviously caller ID exists so they know who's calling, but it's like, hey, it's your favorite son.

Yeah.

And inevitably my da every time is like, oh, Stephen.

Yeah.

I'm like, no.

Yeah, that's your dad's a card.

We have a little too close to home.

Yeah.

So but yeah, I grew up in Sylvania.

We ended up moving to South Toledo, as we got older, in preparation of going to say John's.

So I went from Saint John' to Miami University and really with sort of the sort.

Of single.

Day.

That's right.

One day that's actually how it happened.

Yeah You do tend to move on one day.

But the, the sole purpos really, of me going to Miami was to never come back.

Sure.

And I wanted to work in television, and so I was like, oh, I' going to do this in a big city.

And, and, you know, Toled will be in the rearview mirror.

And, you know, I think the more time I spent away from Toledo, the more time I saw big cities and the things that I thought I'd be seeking.

And I realized that they were here.

I realized that they existed here in Toledo.

And you grew u hearing people disparage Toledo, and so you start to believe it.

And then when you start to see other things, you're like, actually this place, this is pretty great.

And not just because you're sitting next to me, but because you paid me to say this.

Like, I mean, the Metropark are a true gem in our community, and you don't pay attention t that when you're a kid, right?

That's not it's we went to Wildwood and it existed.

But like, you don't realize what a what a gift that is.

And so when I came back to Toledo, worked in television, worked at Fox Toledo.

I like to joke that I was part of the witness protection program, the Toledo media, that I worked at Fox Toledo.

NBC 24 and, 1230.

I had a radio show at 1230.

So you.

Literally reached tens of.

People.

That's right.

My parents, my parents legitimately weren't even.

They weren't they weren't aware you moved back.

Yeah.

That's right, that's right.

They're just learning this.

Yeah.

Today that they have a son.

But I, you know, I, I started in television because I grew up watching, I wanted to be in television.

I grew up watching the the legends in Toledo use their voice to make the community a better place.

And I was like, that's what I want to do.

And never any fear of that.

You were ready for primetime.

I you know, I was always the kid that when we would play a board game as a family and we're like, answer!

Announcer.

Every time it was like we want to do Trivial Pursuit.

Greg, give me the cards.

I'll read them.

I don't know, tell us there's not an announcer in a single board game.

No, there is in jeopardy.

And I would always also try to be Alex Blitz, because I didn't know th answers to any of the questions.

Nudity, I on cards.

Yeah.

True.

Yeah.

I wasn't that's.

True.

That was m that was the scam that I pulled.

So I, you know, I, I really like to tell people like when I, when I talk to kids now about career developmen and thinking about your future, you know, when I was a very little kid, my dream job was to be a, on a smoothie bar on the beach.

Yeah, sure.

And and so I like to sort of unpack that.

To say what I really wanted to do is bring joy to people an make make a great space better.

And so what makes the beach better?

An ice cold drink, you know, and so I don't know how to make a good smoothie.

And I certainly don't live on the beach, but I like to think that when I wake up every day, I'm doing my part to make, a great place better.

Well, you're one of the most entrepreneurial people, that I've encountered.

You're a very hardworking person.

You're now have your own you.

That's.

I believe that's part of it.

And actually, that's what powers the show.

Yes.

Yeah.

Bless your wife, Danny.

Yes.

Your beautiful bride.

You have three children.

I do.

And what is it?

What is your full time job now?

What do you do?

It's a great question.

Yeah.

So I've got.

I think it could be about seven things.

That's true.

So I've got a consulting company.

I work with nonprofits to small businesses, to help them better tell their story and make more money.

I got into fundraising after leaving TV.

After leaving media, I got into nonprofit PR, marketing and then fundraising.

And so I take the, the lessons in the skills that I've developed throughout my career and lend those to, organizations that I believe in, that I think are doing great work.

And so I get the privilege of working with, some great nonprofit organizations in town.

I also have the privilege of serving as the PA announcer for the University of Toledo.

That I. That's a good segue.

Or at least, you're you certainly have a wealth of talent.

But your voice is somethin that is not ubiquitous, right.

So yelling at your children in a radio voice or directing them to do things, is that a wildly different experience?

Can you tell Gretchen to take the garbage?

And how often do they record you?

I had a boss that would tell me that he could tell when I was selling something, because I would go from, like, my normal talking voice, and I'd walk in.

I'd be like, yeah, if you have a second, I'd like to talk to you about an idea I have.

Yeah, sure, like I don't I'm not looking to buy car insurance, so let me.

Well, I. Thin I've heard that voice from you.

Yeah, I think that's how we'r sitting here today.

Yes, it is.

I think.

That's pretty much.

What happened over time.

When I first got into announcing, I mean, I was a caricature of an announcer.

I mean, it was it was bad.

And it's still maybe but I have in time my speaking voice in my announcing voic have sort of blended into one.

And so this is just what you're stuck with.

And I wake up like this, like, this is.

It drives Danny crazy shit.

And she needs, help.

So she's still here, but she needs coffee, to get her day going.

I don't drink coffee, and so I just wake up, like.

Good morning.

How's everybody doing?

Well, that sounds exhausting.

Yeah.

That's right.

All right, speaking of exhausting.

Yes.

You guys have got to be exhausted getting to know me, but I appreciate, the time and opportunity to just mysel to our new audience here.

And, we're also gonna be introducing the audience to a couple of our friends, a we will do throughout this show.

When we come back on the other side of this break, we have our first surprise guests.

Yes.

But our first ever guest on the podcast, fittingly, will be the first to fill this chai on the new show powered by wget.

We will be right back with the 419 powered by W GT, presented by Retro Wealth Management.

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

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

More information at Retro advisors.com and from Work Spring supporting healthy and vibrant businesses one workplace at a time.

More information at work spring.org.

Join us every Wednesday for Wellness Wednesday, sponsored by Work spring.

The 419 is also sponsored by Toledo Refining Company, serving northwest Ohio and East Toledo for over 125 years.

More informatio at Toledo Refining company.com.

And today, celebrating its 55th year of connecting Northwest Ohioans to their community.

More information@tada.com.

Tune in every Thursday for the toledo.com Community calendar presented by today.

Interested in supporting the 419 and other great local programing?

Visit gt.org.

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

We are joined now by tw longtime friends of the podcast, now forced to be friends of the new show here on GT.

And all three of us forever.

Well, that's true.

That's you.

You signed that contract.

And read it.

So you're hearing about it for the first.

Time right now.

Mary Brucker and John Amato, Mary, our first ever guest on the podcast.

And the second.

That's right.

Yes.

So the first ever three time guest.

There are three peat.

Now, the first episode we taped, no.

One has or will ever hear.

I'm making sure that it doesn't go anywhere.

That was that was not a good one.

You've gotten progressively better.

Well, I appreciate it.

So, yeah, I mean, we're still doing.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So, Mary, for folks that may not be familiar with you, I don't know why.

They they should, but why don't you, introduce yourself to our audience?

I'm Mary Brooker.

I own a company called imagine 901.

Who, we do large event production, corporate, and community culture.

And I love the city.

I also own a, children's theater company.

I did thi because that's part of my gift that I'm breaking free.

Nice.

And, literally a lover of this, this community.

So I think that's one o the reasons why I, it made sense to be on the show.

And I'm so proud of you guys.

This is so awesome to get your faces.

Okay, well, the styrofoam says.

It's.

I grant.

Yeah.

It's like snowing.

Yeah, yes.

I am I like maybe I'm just now paying attention or.

Mary.

Mary.

Right.

You know.

I imagine that no one is growing.

It is.

Yes.

I, I took the leap of faith, to start my own company.

And since then, now I have employees, and we've expande beyond Toledo, which is amazing.

But, you know, our our goal really, like yours, is to show people that you don't have to just create, experiences.

You're creating moments.

Why are you laughing at me?

Because I just told him.

Three minutes.

000, that's how long.

You have to answer this.

Question.

Okay, we start again to, Mary.

Mary.

Yeah.

Let's start again.

Let's start again.

John Amato with us as well.

John from jute mode.

Speaking of entrepreneurs obviously kind of took the leap right out of the gate.

Into your own company when you tell people if they're not familiar with jute mode, again, I will say, what rock have you been living under?

But tell us about you mode.

Group mode.

We do custom branded merch.

So that's screen printing, embroidery, promotional products.

We do that for any business organization.

A lot of local businesses, a lot of people know us as well for our, our retail brand, we sell clothing for people who are proud to be from, the Midwest, Ohio, Michigan and specifically Toledo.

The one design that I think most people know us for says you Will do better in Toledo is a recreation of the slogan from 1913.

That's now when they were putting that sign up for you.

Excited?

Yes, I was.

I remember the day we all went out there.

Yes.

Sorry.

Yeah.

It's cold.

So one of the thing that we're doing for our guests when they come on the show and we have these amazing bookshelves and, they're mostly empty, but we're going to ask our guests to bring something that they may want to leave behind on the bookshelves.

And so we've asked both Mar and John to bring something in.

For relief, to give you a opportunity to give us a gift.

Yes.

I was like, the way you deliver that is exactly the way it's played out.

Yes.

I don't know that I like the wa it sounds.

Oh, really?

Did it.

So we're giving our guests the opportunity.

Yeah.

Cash.

Yeah.

That's right.

Yeah.

Perfect.

We love it.

That's backstage.

So why don't you talk about, you've you've brought something I did wrapped in.

Yeah.

Thanks for giving you environmentally friendly styrofoam.

Yeah, yeah.

Well I originally was going to bring a fire truck to honor my friend Tommy.

Yes.

And his passing.

So sa that you have all made fun of.

Yeah.

If you don't.

Imaginary friend.

Yeah.

You don't know the story of Tommy.

I recommen you go back and listen to season one, episode one of the 419 podcast.

It is.

It's one of my favorite moments of all of our shows.

Which is a singular list.

But it it was so funn and it it evolves in real time.

It is a classic of havin an improv show, as we find out that Mary has this, imaginary friend who then perishe and always in a house fire.

Yes.

Yeah.

And her whole family goes along with it.

Yeah.

Yes.

The creative mind.

You can't.

You can't.

Yes.

So this, I brought because it reminded me of, my life.

And also it reminds me of you guys because you guys are dreamers and believers and wishers.

So it's Tommy's.

Ashes.

It's not.

Yeah.

It's a photo of.

Oh my God.

Oh, my gosh, it's Aladdin's lamp.

That's so so Mary, dreams will come true.

And you guys are making dreams come true by telling these stories.

So thank you so much I know yeah.

Thank you.

Maybe it really.

Works.

Yeah, yeah.

Don't try it now.

Yeah.

Because you only get three wishes.

Yeah.

I'll take them all.

Yeah.

And you can't wish for more wishes.

Yeah.

Right.

John, under your crappy gift.

It's not.

It's not a crappy job.

Hey.

There's something from your cover days.

Yeah, I actually, if I can up some soap in it.

John, John was my guest on the podcast and it was an absolutely perfect example of bringing on your friend and your guest and realizing that you knew nothing about them at all.

Yeah.

Which is.

That's my takeaway from the episode.

As well.

Yes.

But a dear friend, to me, and many countless others, but it's actually a little bit of what you brought up and I know that we talked about you'll do better in Toledo, but yes, itself.

Yeah.

Well, I think it represents what this podcast is about.

I think, what makes Toledo better is its people.

And you guys are highlighting all of the really interesting and, successful people in Toledo.

And it's great to have that reminder because it's easy to be detached.

And as I like to say, Toled is better because of its people.

And you are a representation of that.

And you actually listen to the podcast, are you?

Yeah, I'm a. Big fan of the podcast I listen to a lot of podcasts.

I'm excited that you'll be on more.

And, every episode I enjoy.

I also want to ask someone a little bit, unlike me, John has all boys, and episodically, I will receive a picture of just some boy blood.

Streaming that that's in.

All hours of the day.

So we've put them in.

Wrestling for that reason.

Yeah, sure.

They might as well get try an get something out of it, right.

Or make that organized chaos.

Well, John, I'm choked up.

I'm really choked up by your, your support.

Yeah.

Thank you John.

Thank you Mary.

Thank you.

Appreciate you being here on day one.

Nobody we want to start it with more than John.

Yeah.

And also Mary.

Yeah.

We'll be right back.

The 419, powered by presented by Retro Wealth Management.

Every day when you laugh with us, you learned with.

Us a neighbor we made sure your child had with special.

Memories that could only be provided by PBS.

And you.

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

Programs that entertain, inform and inspire.

And today is no different.

This is public media in Toledo.

It's where.

You belong.

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

I'm Kevin Mulder, alongside Gretchen De Backer and Matt Killam.

Taking a moment to get to know your hosts on episode one for our new audience that may not know who we are.

We thought it'd be fitting to take our first episode for a chance to us t to introduce ourselves to you, and what better way to do i than the way we've done our show for the last two years, which is just fire random, insane questions at our guests.

So.

As.

If we've never talked to each.

Other.

That's right.

You know what I mean.

You talked about it with with John Amato.

Like you know, you bring a friend on and you start asking questions and you realize how little we actually know it's.

Happened every time.

Yes, yes.

Yeah.

So.

It's pronounced kill him.

That's right.

Yeah.

Okay.

Yep.

So.

All right, we're going to turn, turn the cameras, turn the lights on you this time.

Matt.

Gretchen, you want to you want to lead off with the first question, I guess.

No, I'm just.

Matt likes to start.

He does like to start in the beginning, but I'm going to skip.

Born.

Raised.

Toledo.

Yep.

And then, you and I on a, sports scholarship.

Division one soccer.

Well, we played.

I got to go to college in New Hampshire, to play, which was really pretty exciting.

Played at Central Catholic.

I stuck with soccer becaus I got cut from everything else.

In full transparency, I would have played, giving up, have all soccer to play five minutes of college basketball.

But yeah, I had a I met great friends.

I got to go to, the New Hampshire, which was thrilling.

So, yeah, it was great.

And then when you came back t Toledo, or you lived in Chicago for a number of years after that, right?

Yeah, I moved sort of all over.

I not dissimilar to most.

I graduated college without any idea what I wanted to do, although I knew I didn't want to do what I studied.

What did you study?

I have a degree in history and have a degree in, advertising and public relations.

From Marietta College is where I finished, and I, my first job, I was a busboy at Real Seafood Toledo.

Because I didn't have any money, and I was.

You know, interviewing.

So my parents were thrilled and proud, as you can guess.

But I actually did love it.

You know, there was a theater portion of it, and you got to help people, which I liked.

You know, I like to serve.

So I was with that company.

Ended up for eight years.

They moved me all over the country.

I helped open, their did I help do their openings?

Or if there was a unit that was, struggling, I would inevitably be sent there.

So, yeah, it was, I I'm grateful to them.

And I get to live sort of all over the country, move to Chicago to kind of cut out on my own, with some other individuals that I've met.

So, yeah, for someone who didn't know what they wanted to do, I felt really fortunate.

To have that opportunity.

And I will tell you, that I was only good at it.

Or lucky to be good as a result of starting ou at a time of really low level.

I, I always you know, her and I say it myself that, like, everybody should work in food service.

From your perspective, why is that true?

Yeah, I think, well, I don't know if it's food service, but service, right.

A couple things.

It's humbling.

And I think that you do, and this is will be germane to yo as a, as a Saint John's student because it is in service of others.

Right?

I think that it's humbling.

And that is at a core, as Tracy is going to sound, how we should look at serving each other.

And most of my career hasn't been in the food business any longer, but it in the essence of it, I'd like to think that I am serving others.

So let's talk about your career now.

Yeah.

So you've become a a, you know, really sort of.

I don't want to use the word mascot to disparage you with the the public face.

You know what?

Yeah.

Metro parks.

Toledo.

Yeah.

I am, one of the cogs in a great wheel.

I've been there for eight years.

It's a park system I grew up in.

You mentioned Wildwood, on the show.

I grew up in Wildwood, also.

Visiting my grandparents at least one day a week.

They live right behind, the manor house, which was the stree I hosted when they moved there.

And my dad and his brothers broke in and played there.

So that's where I played.

So I've always had, real family.

I had knowledge of how important public green space is to people were not outdoors.

People that films in hunt or backpack or anything like that, but play man, we I get that 24/7.

So I work with an amazing team that does amazing things.

My boss is exceptional.

And you know, the no individual would want to take credit for all of our stuff.

But it's actually 100 years o individuals that have allowed, for, mid to small, town to have the best park system in the United States.

And that was a distinction given to us by the National Park.

I know you role has evolved over the years that we've known each other, but at one point you would describe yourself as sort of being you know, overseeing everything that isn't planted in the ground.

Well, yeah.

So I'm at least most things outward facing, right?

I mean, we've we've grown so much.

So we've, there' multiple people doing that now.

But yeah, we work.

We again, about 250 people work for the Metroparks o on the behalf of Lucas County.

So all of us are serving 420,000 people, right?

We get, millions of guests visit annually.

And I've got to tell you that everyone from the very top of the food chain to, individual that, you know, open the gates, everyone I've met for the entire eight years cares about the experience that the guests have there.

They take real pride in it.

And there's no cheating that you can tell when you go to a metro park, right?

That's not a criticism o other parks, but you can tell.

It's in everything.

Yeah.

I mean, so I look I get to talk about great work.

And that's, that' been a real blessing in my life.

And and you are prou of how clean the bathrooms are?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Is all the extravagant stuff we've got.

Right?

From ice skating ribbons to treehouse villages, people care about clean bathrooms and safe trails that are well maintained.

And we have the best of those in the country, so you can throw all the sexy stuff at them.

But it's the core deliverable that people really have come to expect from us.

And by the way, they deserve.

All right.

That's Matt kill.

We'll come back next to the break with another surprise guest.

Yes, I'm friend of the two of us.

Yes.

And, Yeah.

We're excited.

Nailed it.

All right.

This is the 419, powered by GTI, presented by Retro Wealth Management.

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

The local thread brings you stories and conversations that connect our community here at weeknights at seven on FM 91, with early access on podcast platforms.

Each morning, the local thread only on GTV.

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

We've got two more of our dear friends joining us here on our inaugural episode.

The Level of icon status has just gone from 0 to 1001 for our.

Previous guest.

Regression.

I' just talking about this segment.

That's our hero in the traditional sense of nothing.

Welcome Chri Petersen and Ronda Sewell here.

We're so happy to have you here as it is.

Well, I'm just going to start.

Okay.

Chris and I met before she moved to Toledo.

I do remember we were in.

What?

We just had a show here anyway.

Yeah, or so.

We met out to dinner.

You went to dinner?

And she said, I just got a job in Toledo.

Or, like, I live in Toledo.

And then the rest is history.

That is crazy.

I never knew that.

Toledo.

Yes.

Yeah.

And you still came?

Yeah.

What what does like.

I love that we've we've joked, prior to the taping of this, episode, we've joked that, you know, Chris is going to replace one of us.

Yes.

I don't know that we thought that our.

All of us.

That Ronda.

And Chri are going to replace all of us.

Yeah.

Yes.

Both first and last.

So what it will be the 419 with your host.

Chris Davis.

And Dan, you where you just.

Announced in here.

Perfect.

Awesome.

It's called a 420 run.

Oh, that's one more than that.

Yeah.

No, I knew it.

I knew what that was.

Run up.

So work.

It's a little museum of art.

I do, I do.

You've been a an icon in Toledo.

I think in every role you've been in.

Which is hundreds.

You have helped us really transform that organization.

Like, you talk about the work you're doing with DMA.

Thank you so much.

And that is such a compliment.

I am the director of advocacy and external affairs.

And so what?

That means I'm a glorified lobbyist, and I try to bring in money from the stat and the feds, sometimes local, but more so state capital budget dollars, grant money from the federal government.

And then, well, we've done really well with the state.

I have to come in both sides of the aisle.

When it comes to arts and culture sector, the arts are looked upon as sort of a bipartisan kind of entity.

And it is really a pleasure.

When we see that kind of bipartisanship especially in a divisive world.

And so it's it's, it's a pleasure.

I love what I do at the.

Museum, and you're great at it.

Shows.

Well, I think the fear is always that the arts is viewed as optional.

Right Is that that's an extra right.

We've got to make cuts.

That's where we're, you know, we'll cut from the arts because we need core infrastructure.

But I think the work that you and the team at CMA have done is sort of established that like art is core infrastructure.

Exactly.

Not optional.

Yeah, it's not optional.

I sit on a state board, the Creative Ohio, and they're the lobbying arm for the Ohio Arts Council.

And we brought in a million more dollars in the budget for arts and culture.

That's a testament that the advocacy is working.

We're showing how important arts, you know, is to everyone, to all of our lives.

And two years ago, that would have not landed with me.

So the risk of overstating it, yeah.

When all you're doing is things being cut.

Yeah.

And Ed if it's not to be, diminished.

So kudos to the leadership and to team.

I know that you are a team player, but you know the arts Commission, which you play, played a vital role in, it is truly a nod to the show, right?

I mean, it's what makes Toledo great, and unique.

It's amazing.

I've been a board member, the immediate past president, and the governance chair now o the Arts Commission since 2018.

It is a board that I believe in, and I say it openly to the board members.

Aside from Toledo Children's Hospital, board it is one of the most meaningful boards I've ever served on in the Toledo area.

It's really diving deep into community.

I am a board member with, Gretchen.

And other standards.

And so that, you know what?

Over time.

It's happened.

It's amazing.

And they were once on our campus, and now they're over by the library at 1000.

Adam.

So we're really it's just a new era in in the museum culture but also in the arts, culture, live arts, also moving off o our campus, you know, and Chris.

You go.

Yes, Chris.

And you and your daughte Riley were guests of our podcast as well, as was Ronda at one of our amazing live events that were at the Metroparks.

At the Metroparks glass.

I imagine you've.

Been a friend to all of us for so long.

Thank you so much for being here for our first show as a true professional in broadcasting.

I just cannot believe that you're sitting here witnessing this.

This is so amazing.

For me, it was.

Intimidating.

This time.

Yeah.

Only becaus I was so intimidated last time.

Yeah.

So silly.

Yeah.

So.

Like high low.

Chris, I had told several people this story, and I've said this to Chris before that, like, so I talked about kind of my history started in TV and when I talk about the legend Toledo that I wanted to live up to, Chris is both the reason why I got into and out on television.

Yeah, sure Because the bar was set so high.

For what?

What I expected when I got in, and I wasn't able to live up to that, and it was like, no, I got to find a different lane.

I'm not going to do it in Chris's way, but.

Let me double down and make you both feel even more comfortable.

But a nod to what a great small town we have.

I have had the opportunity to speak about the two of you in two separate videos celebrating, and talking about a challenge or feeling intimidated.

I it's no secret that I tell the people that I love that I love them.

You know, I love YouTube very much, but being able to represent the wattage, that you bring to something, made me cry on the, on the video.

And when I said that in order for Rhonda to have spoken, she is certainly should be known for listening.

That is how I feel about both of you.

This is a show that way.

It's made better by you and our partners and my two colleagues here.

But, you are the essence of what this is supposed to be about so I'm not to beat us to death.

But thank you both.

Thank you.

Yeah.

And and it's not.

It's not difficult to be happ and love life in Toledo, right?

I mean, it is not hard to find ways to get involved.

It's not hard to find ways to help.

People want to help.

And that's the most wonderful thing about this community is that you all you have to do is ask.

You don't even sometimes have to ask.

People are just there, right?

Right.

And maybe more so than tha anybody else in our community.

Chris, you could have gone anywhere.

And you chose to.

Have been asked to.

Because, because I'm happy here.

I love Toledo, but necklace that says Toledo on it.

It's got the little map with the, Swarovski crystal right where we live.

I and love this city, and it has given me so much.

And my family so much.

And, you know, oddly enough, you were talking about how you just, you know, went to Miami and you just that was your way out, right?

You're not coming back to Toledo.

My daughter felt the same way.

And Riley was a guest with me the last time that we were chatting on this show, and she intended to fully go someplace else on live.

She may end up someplace for a while, you know?

Like, I mean, we don't know where our lives are going to take us.

But she loves Toledo, too.

And she came back and she's like, it's kind of different as an adult.

And so I do think when you, have lived other places, I've traveled a lot.

I've been a lot of other places, you know how special this place is?

We have, some of the most amazing institutions.

We have the art museu and the zoo and the Metroparks, and, I mean, the list goes on and on for, quality of life here.

Well, we appreciate both of you being here.

We appreciate your friendship so much.

Gretchen is such a welcoming hostess.

Yes.

That she's asked you to bring gifts.

Yeah.

What what what what do you.

Either of them would show up without a gift, so.

That's fine.

Well, I brought somethin that is really, really special.

So every year, the Toledo Museum of Art creates, a glass goblet.

And we are the Glass City, correct?

Yes.

So this is the 17th annual limited edition goblet for the Toledo Museum of Art.

It was hand-blown.

But isn't it beautiful?

Hand-blown by our, assistant director of the glass studio, Alan Moore.

And this is just.

And I love that it's paint.

I love my favorite colors.

But this, I hope, will sit an a place of honor on your shelf.

And I'm just so happy for the three of you.

Thank you so much.

That's so beautiful.

Thank you to the artist as well.

And Bath and Body Works.

Yes, I did.

Some lotion, soaps for everyone, a bath.

Bombs?

Yes.

No.

You know that one of the things near and dear to my heart.

And, Actually, Gretchen, the way that we met.

Yes.

Komen race for the cure.

Yes.

So this will be my 32nd year as honorary chair.

And so I brought you all my.

Yes.

Oh, my goodness, this is serious.

Whoa, whoa.

So we.

So.

Gretchen, Joni.

Mitchell.

Rhonda, move that crappy goblet.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So Gretchen joked that she wanted Chris to bring one of her.

Emmys I did for us.

I always like there's no way going to bring that.

Like, that means.

I'm like, what about our moral?

Well, I will say, I thought about bringing an Emmy and then I thought, well, they're going to win one of their own.

Okay.

Yeah, you don't need mine.

Listen, I prefer the boa.

Yeah, yeah.

Thank you.

I know that you will be tempted to take this home with you and wear it around the house, but please try to just leave it here.

Well, five is enough for my house.

I don't need a six.

Rhonda.

Thank you so much.

I think when we come back we're going to get to know our third host.

Oh, boy, Gretchen de backer.

Stay tuned.

This is the 419 powered by GT, presented by Retro Wealth Management.

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We made sure your childhood.

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Programs that entertain, inform and inspire.

And today is no different.

This is public media in Toledo.

It's where you belong.

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

I'm Kevin Mullin alongside Matt Kellam, and it's time to get to know our third host, Gretchen Debacker.

It's very odd to have you both looking at me in this way.

Yeah, we generally try to pretend like.

I. Know we generally try to pretend like you're not here.

That's I understand, I prefer that, Born and raised in Toledo.

No, really, I know Matt.

Okay, hang on, I did not.

Oh, yes.

We've spent so much time together.

I legitimately did not know this.

Topeka, Kansas.

Which is the.

Capital.

The capital.

Okay.

We moved here when I was in fourth grade.

My dad got transferred here the.

First place.

As high as you can go in Kansas.

Yes.

We done the education system.

That's right, that's right.

So nailed it.

And, moved here in fourth grade, and, my dad worked at Dana Corporation.

That's why we moved here.

We went to Oklahoma first, and then.

As one would.

Come.

So I basically consider it but not the place of my birth.

We're going to skip around, but like us, I mean, we had a couple of guests that have this entrepreneurial background.

You of course, have that, in your blood as well.

Yes.

If people don't know what's the the notable business that you you started here in Toledo?

I don't know how notable it is anymore, but in the early 90s my family and I, started and ran sufficient grounds at coffeehouses and, West Toledo, Sylvania, Perrysburg, area.

So we did that for about ten years.

So tons of fun.

That's about how many local coffee shops were there?

None when?

No Starbucks, even.

How many people to this day tell you they miss?

Probably at least probably two.

Two people a month.

Sure.

Yeah.

That's still that.

Still will say they miss it or they want a recipe for something we had or just last week someone asked me where, but.

None of your family members.

Of the.

No.

Yeah, they.

We don't speak.

Yes that's right.

Well that'll that'll do it.

Yeah a family business.

That's right, that's right.

Right.

But where, where we got our coffee, you know, so I think people, still remember we talk about it still.

Yeah, sure.

It was.

It was a crazy thing that we attempted.

What was your favorite part about doing that?

I really love the community aspect of it.

You know, the events we had, we had the mayor debates, we had this wall in the center.

It was it was called we had put the free marketplace of ideas and so peopl could put signs and posters and.

I'd forgotten there.

Yeah.

It was just, people came in and read the paper is just.

That's how I met so many people that I know even now just coming in and hanging out.

And you guys, we're we're sip.

Yes.

Now we're sip.

Is now a request.

Just.

Courtney, say thank you to you.

Oh yeah.

You come in.

Yes, yes.

I still have to pay for my coffee though.

So that's why you can.

Just like I. Know I said.

Yeah, give me some of that.

Yeah.

Where'd you get your beans from?

It's that I retired.

It was from Susan's Coffe and Tea Roasters in Akron, Ohio.

Was where we got it.

Yep.

When?

So you're an.

Attorney?

I am.

When did that happen?

So after the.

30th person was brought.

I decided we needed to keep this in-house counsel.

We had we were we had had the coffee houses for about nine years.

I had always wanted to be a lawyer since I was in fourt grade, and I had taken the Lsat and intended on going to law school, but then the coffee house took off with me.

We had no ide it would.

It was just like this literally insane thing my mom and sisters and I wanted to do.

Do you remembe when the conversation started?

Right.

When we when I graduated college.

What was it around the dining room table?

Yeah, we were just like, hey, you know, there's all these places everywhere that people are going to.

Our friends are going to these places to hang out and study and stuff, and we think we should do it.

My mom and dad are like, great, let's go, let's try it.

Anyway, I took the Lsat was going to go to law school, but then it took off, so I didn't.

And so nine years later, I had to retake the Lsat and then started going to UT at night in what was it, 2000?

And graduated in 2003.

And talked about your your law career today.

Today I'm in a solo practitioner.

I mostly practice, almost exclusively practiced state and federal criminal defense work, which.

Is how we met.

That' how we that's how I met.

Matt.

Yep, yep.

That's not true.

And that's how I know most of my friends today.

Yeah.

That's right, that's right.

That's your dating.

That's right.

That's right.

I might recommen maybe jump into the other side.

It covers all things.

That's right.

Sure.

Yes.

What's what what do you fin most fulfilling about that work?

I have, probably too much empathy.

Maybe that's a thing.

I think there's always two sides to every story.

But also I have.

And Matt will recognize this.

Kevin.

You probably will, too, since we've been working together.

But I have crippling attention deficit problem.

And I like to be multitasking at all times.

And so testing is generous.

Being a defense lawyers I'm in court all day, every day, making arguments, going to different courts, talking to different people, meeting with my clients, going to the jail.

And so it's a lot of time on your feet thinking on your feet.

Which I enjoy.

You're also very active in the community.

I am, Try to be on.

A number of boards and volunteer in a different role.

Yes.

What are some of those organizations that you you love to support?

As Rhonda mentioned, I, serve on the Arts Commission board.

I'm a trustee there.

I first met Matt when I was serving on the, boar for the Toledo Botanical Garden, and I just recently started on the, tap a board now called Toledo Live Arts.

Toledo.

And I'm on the Toledo Bar Association board.

I don't think I knew them.

That also just started.

I can't really take credit for anything there.

I mean, you could, I could.

But I won't.

Yeah, yeah.

And you guys have been.

You guys have been friends.

Yeah.

Gretche and Matt for.

For a long time.

Yeah.

Over a decade, if you can believe it.

It seems longer.

Yeah.

That's right.

Yeah.

I think the first time that we pulled together to talk about this podcast, it really was the first substantive conversatio that I think you and I had had.

Yes.

But we have a friend in common who was your.

My friend Kelly.

You're a second cousin.

Thank you.

There you go.

I got it right.

Finally.

I don't know if that's true.

Oh, okay.

Yeah.

I'm just thanking yo for getting closer to my truth.

And it was an interesting.

Anyway.

So.

And that's the show.

So it doesn't even matter.

That's I mean I think.

That's part of the, the beauty of Toledo.

It is part of what I love is I see every day I see seven peopl I know and I meet somebody new.

Yeah.

And if that last piece ever change, right.

That's the point that I probably have.

Right?

Right.

I think we have.

I think that that's already done.

For our audience.

I, we have someone mayor is there.

What is there?

Mayor is walked on set.

Hi.

I can we can we?

Well, I, I wish you could.

I got to be honest, when those of us down at City Hall heard about this and heard about what you were planning, our first instinct was to, try to stop it.

Because that's understood.

Just imagine the damage that you could do to the civic discourse.

And who knows what kind of fake news is going to be dispensed from this chair.

So we first thought about reaching out to your friends, to try to get them to talk you out of this.

Realize you didn't have anything to say.

That should have been, Then we, thought that maybe we could pu some pressure on your funders, you know, try to get your donor base and your funder to convince you, to not do this.

We don't have them either.

Looking at the set, you obviously don't have any funders board yet.

As a last resort, I was just looking for some code violations.

Maybe some things that you could have violated within our code that would allow us.

And do you see anything?

Are we in a new trouble, do you.

Think I don't see any code violations back there?

I do think that now we know the Genesi of your last campaign strategy.

Mirror capture your last resort.

Yes.

You're right.

Certainly.

Yeah, I. Think that's what it is.

If you have no other choice.

No other option.

That's right.

That bumper sticker was ignored.

Us?

Yes, it was, because it included my last name.

Of course it had to.

I, overheard part of the conversation that you were having, before I walked in with.

Your prop, which is.

Yes.

Yeah.

Classic.

And you love it.

And I wish I were here to talk about, the part where Gretchen was talking about, you know criminal defense attorney and, I believe you said, that it's Gretchen's dating strategy.

Yeah.

Okay.

That's right.

You know, just.

No, this is rehearsed.

Maybe Gretchen is going to cut me off here.

Do you want to tell the about the letter you once got, made out.

To.

The lawyer?

Lovely lawyer, lady Gretchen.

Yeah, which I apologize for.

All right.

Lovely lawyer, lady Gretchen.

You know, update all online dating profiles.

For that.

I did, I did, and he ha the most beautiful handwriting.

Oh, this is one of her.

Literally.

Yeah, he wrote me for many years.

Yeah.

And then as soon as I got out, nothing.

I didn't hear a word from him since.

So he was writing from jail.

That's right.

They were letters from prison?

Yeah, letters from prison.

And and they were addressed to in in the snail mail style.

Yeah.

Lovely lawyer lady Gretchen.

And they made it to Gretchen.

Gretchen, do you wish.

That you had a different strategy in court to prolong his stay?

No more letters.

No, no, no, I got enough.

To be the right.

Enough.

Right.

And it certainly does not speak to Gretchen's acumen as an attorney, that she was right, that he was writing from prison.

No.

That's right.

And so I don't know.

Yeah.

That's right.

And we appreciate.

We appreciate you being here.

Thank you so much for being here.

Thank you.

Yeah, I, I mean legitimately obviously I, you know, I' a fan of of what you do.

Me too.

You joke about, the possibility of fake news coming from this desk.

I don't anticipat any news coming from this desk.

I hope that if we've done it right.

I've actually joked to a few people that if, like, when the peopl ask me, what's the show about?

Say, if you're looking for somebody to hold city council accountable, it's not it's not going to be us, right?

That's we we legitimatel want to lift the community up, focus on the positive, tel the stories, introduce people.

And I think, you know you've brought such a fresh air, breath of fresh air to politics.

Isn't that a different PBS show now?

That might be.

Okay.

Terry Gross, that' one of our sponsors.

Yeah.

Yeah.

But I appreciate that.

In every interaction I've had with you, you are the same person.

Like, I don't know that there's a a political Wade and a community or home or away, I I imagine like you joked Matt.

But Sarah is, I. Guess, the announcer.

So my wife.

Like, it's always mayor.

Wait, are you mayor wait at home.

To I am not, though I here' what I try to pull off at home.

The United States, we don't really have titles, but in Canada they do.

And I discovered early in my tim as mayor that in Canada, mayors, it's hard to believe that the word wow, mayors are referred to in Canada as your worship.

All right.

So I of course, I don't require that.

But I. I do prefer it, I know.

No, I do try to get my wife to buy into the, the proper honorific.

And for whatever reason, she has been slow.

To refer to me properly as your worship.

I only required of her and Toledo City Council and, for some reason, they just.

They haven't.

So it's not.

Picked up steam.

It's not Mayor made at home.

It is, Your Worship, though, She's again slow in picking.

Yeah.

However.

Good luck with, dealing with this when she sees this.

Well, I'm told she's the next guest, so I. Oh, we're out of time.

But we're not out of time for, something I would like to present.

You say and sa you're not going to make news.

And this was made.

Perhaps this is newsworthy.

I noticed that there are gaps in your.

There are talent in your dept of talent and on the bookshelf.

Yeah.

So maybe you can fill the bookshelf with what I want to give.

It's not a boa.

It's not a pink boa.

Oh my.

But it is the key to the City of Incredible.

Anything that was once given to Richard Nixon, should be bestowed upon, the three of you.

Thank you so much.

You're also big in China.

Okay?

Just like Richard.

Like Richard.

Nixon.

Yes.

This is incredible.

It is incredible.

I it's made it Libbey glass.

And, which is why I joke about Nixon.

Nixon.

When it was presented, he said this is the toughest plastic I've ever.

And somebody had to whisper, it's the glass.

It's not plastic.

It's quite so, But it's.

Glass City.

Use that.

Put it next to Chris Bohr.

We will.

And the goblet and the Aladdin, lamp, and you'll be in good shape.

So thank you so much.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you.

Thank you for your leadership, Mr.

Worship.

Yeah, it's your worship.

It's your not.

Mr.. Mr.. We'll be right bac for another episode or another final segment.

Yes.

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Shoe.

We did.

It.

That was a whirlwind.

We have the key to the city, you guys.

That's right.

That is legitimately shocking.

Talk about a third season arc.

That's right.

But the ball, You know, John's glass, just the fact that, all those folks are in our lives.

All right.

Pretty cool stuff.

I think that's been, you know, part of the fun of this is it's an opportunity for us to, you know, spend some time with our friends, talk about the city, talk about the things we love, promote positivity.

And get to know, some new people as well.

I think that's where, you know, one of the things I'm most excited about this new show is, you know, when we were doing it, as a podcast and we started off saying we're going to do it once month.

We went to twice a month, we rotate.

Who is this, you know bringing the surprise guest on?

I'm limiting who I can bring on.

But on this show, we've got so much opportunity to tell so many stories as we do this Monday through Friday here on wgte Another great institution that makes this city great.

But you're going to have three opportunities every day to tune in and enjoy this program.

At 7:00 Am, the 419 is going to be, launched on YouTube channel at 3 p.m.

on FM 91 and at 6 p.m.

on connects 30.4.

We'll see you next time on the 419, powered by WGTE Community means connecting to others.

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Yeah, we're a community committed to education.

Discover new ideas, dive into exciting subjects, and engage with the world around you.

It's all chapters in a book.

I would send them personally a t shirt.

Crim doesn't pay in the old West End.

Pass it on.

That's how we cleaned up the neighborhood.

Bring you back memorie that you don't think are there.

You know.

There, there.

Public media invites you to get out and play day.

The people of Toledo have really become family.

You know, they walk in and it was just like, hey, it's so good to see you.

Hello there, and welcome to public media town hall meeting.

The where you come to watch, listen and learn.

I love PBS kids.