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Jason Butler’s mission is to help others flourish.  He helps leaders realize the power of compassion and how it can open doors to greater opportunity and prosperity. In fact, his message to us all is to realize that compassion is the new SUPER POWER! He also thoroughly believes in the power of diversity and how it can truly help us close the gaps between us, all the gaps, not just color but modes of thinking, different dimensions of diversity. This is truly important for leaders in business and those in the heart of our communities. What he provides most certainly is needed. I don’t think anyone would readily say that America has enough compassion. In fact, it’s quite plain that we don’t have enough compassion. Jason’s work is most certainly needed. He also is Vice President of the Wake County (Raleigh NC) chapter of the Progressive Democrats. Take a moment and listen in as we Etch The Edges on compassion and diversity and why just now it is so very important. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etchtheedges/support

A CPA by day and a conservative blogger and podcaster by night, Josh Lewis is on a mission. He’s Saving Elephants.  Josh presents as an aspiring critical thinker, which we love on this show. He’s an intellectual that voraciously consumes knowledge in order to seek and find higher levels of understanding. He is the thinking man’s, thinking man, thought and exposition filtered and clarified through the prism of his perspective. Listen to our conversation as he leans into what he says he does, reading a ton of stuff written by old white guys with the intent to understand it, figure out how it informs our present, and perhaps help us create a better future. For Josh, he holds fast to the sentiment of conserving good things and sharing these good things for the prosperity of everyone. Conservatism, and what it is, is not a readily, easily defined thing, same for liberalism. Hear him when says Conservatives in America have a goal of preserving American Liberalism. That is a mouthful of a statement for lay conservative and liberals. Check this powerful episode out. Let’s Etch some Edges. Oh, and when I say matriarchy, know I meant monarchy. Edged my word there. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etchtheedges/support

On Etch The Edges we always remind ourselves and our listeners that the work is talking, conversations, leaning in even when it is most uncomfortable, to etch away at the parts of us that keep us from coming together, from serving in order to make our world better. And if you choose to lead, lead as a servant of the people, not the kind of person that would lord over the people. It is our pleasure to bring to you on this episode Ryan Cox, servant of the people who now seeks to serve as a leader.  He is the founder of Gwinnett Chatt, an outreach organization that partners with public and private organizations to provide opportunity and ensure that the people of Gwinnett continue to thrive. Now, Ryan is running for State Representative of Georgia District 111. Listen in as we etch the edges on Ryan’s personal journey that led him to this moment. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etchtheedges/support

Being a Judge is one of the most important jobs in our society.  A judge must walk a fine line that is charged with complications and challenges to push the human soul to the limit … if you are truly doing the job right. This is no trite thing and cannot be dismissed. On this episode of Etch The Edges we have a conversation with Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge Angela Duncan to talk about how as a judge you must maintain your humanity, not dismiss it, adhere to the law, because that is what is required, but always see and meet people where they are. In order to do the work of administering justice one cannot be blind, as so many assume by looking at the statue of Lady Justice and her Scales of Justice. The law must be applied as the law is written but as the arbiter of the law Judge Duncan cannot lose sight of fairness, opportunity and of course justice for all equally, no matter who you are, how you present yourself, or where you are from. To be clear, it’s not easy being the judge, but it is a job she has leaned deep into with the mindset of a servant, as it is a job for the people. Listen in, learn, and enjoy a conversation as we etch the edges with Judge Duncan. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etchtheedges/support

When you walk a path of service your way of life becomes consumed by the commitment, or so we have often observed. On Etch The Edges we take the time to hear people in their own words, share their own stories, and when it comes to people running for office we listen for the commitment, to see if they are on the path, if service is truly a way of life. BT Parker has worked hard, put in the time, and made it her purpose to serve. She has taken the time and done the work of extending herself throughout the environs of this county, to get engaged, to see the who and the what of the details of our county and where she can best contribute in order to better serve the people. With an effervescence that sparks positivity she says it best in her own words, “BT PARKER … BE SURE TO MAKE HER!” Listen in as she etches the edges on getting engaged and fixing the inefficiencies. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etchtheedges/support

There is no question we have a social dilemma. Hands and eyes remain fixed on devices worldwide, absorbing snippets of information voraciously. There are any facets to the dilemma that need to be addressed. Our guest on this episode is Peter Zaborszky, serial entrepreneur and founder of RealTalk.com, the social platform for the center and center-right conservative. However, don’t let the labels lock your perspective. As with us all his history, his life story, informs his perspective. However, the label, which he is not overly fond of, do not prevent him from being an aspiring critical thinker. He seeks to enhance the conversation and provide a medium for people who feel they are being ignored. Now, there are many who will say those who claim they are being ignored taking up the majority of the space in any echo chamber, but again we must be reminded that with all things in life, it is truly about perspective. Peter has decided to lean in and address a need, moving away from the megalithic social media platforms, carving a space for others. Whether or not that space is for you is not the question. The question is will you be aspiring and etch the edges on the topic, the supposition, and the challenges our platforms provide. Give us a listen. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etchtheedges/support

A critical thinker’s plan to methodically re-engage the Georgia Department of Labor on the job of labor. That is truly the thing to do. It is a task that requires immediate tactical engagement that builds to a strategic plan which will do the necessary work of enabling the workers of Georgia at all levels. If Georgia is to become the best state in the nation for business, then it stands to reason that we should be the first state in the nation to truly realize that what’s best for business can and must include what is best for labor. With critical consideration and due perspective we can realize that these two objectives are not mutually exclusive. Nadia Surrency is aware of this and she has a plan. She states it’s a “new day,” for a “new leader,” to lead the Labor Commissioner role. Sit down and take some time to etch some edges with us. Listen to the conversation and learn how Nadia plans to bring her considerable skills and versatility to the role and how she will effectively chart a course for Georgia labor into the 21st careers of tomorrow. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etchtheedges/support

As an advocate of perspective and the lifelong pursuit of knowledge we find it refreshing to encounter people who take the time to consider, question, stop and think. Now, in that thinking we may not all arrive at the same conclusion, but we aspiring critical thinkers know the journey to the conclusion is always worthwhile, and perhaps in that journey we may find we have something in common. Joshua Longbrook is a person who upon a time stopped, took stock, and decided to think deeply on who he was and how he would move forward through life. On this episode of Etch The Edges we take a brief journey with Joshua and consider critically how history, economics, behavior, and science-fiction, all come together to tell the story of how we are, who we are, and perhaps with sincere consideration and pursuit of deep understanding, just who we might become. Take a moment and listen as we etch the edges with Joshua. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etchtheedges/support

On this episode of Etch The Edges we talk with Kelly Kautz who is running as the non-partisan candidate in the Gwinnett County Board of Education election. Listen as she clarifies her perspective and discusses why she thinks the non-partisan approach is the right approach when it comes to school policy. She has pledged to bring her knowledge to the Board in order to do the hard work of leaning in deep and finding common ground among the divisions that right now threaten to poison our progress and hurt our community. She makes it clear that she will focus on removing the pork, getting the bacon out of the way and creating efficiencies in the bureaucracy, leveraging her skills and experience to meet the needs of a changing community. As we etch the edges on the conversation pay particular attention to how she will commit to listening, truly hearing the perspectives, and learning what needs to be addressed before recommending any action. She says effective evaluation of the current state of the system is necessary, if it hasn’t been done already. Give us a listen and let’s etch some edges. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etchtheedges/support

Dr. Adrienne Simmons is running to serve on the Gwinnett County Board of Education as the representative of District 4. At this point everyone should know that in 2022 the fate of the country goes right through local School Boards and in particular Gwinnett County, Georgia. Everyone should know that fear tactics have pushed CRT as the next political wedge issue in order to garner votes and retain or gain power. Etch the Edges is always about facts and truth, so we must say that this new Republican tactic to divide communities and win elections is rearing its ugliness and fear mongering in Gwinnett County just as it is doing across the country. Listen as we etch the edges with Dr. Simmons, and as we always do with our guests, lean in and have an everyday conversation like everyday people. Adrienne makes it clear that doing the work on the school board requires that we listen to everyone, include everyone, get knee to knee at the table and stop with the nonsense, such as a CRT distraction, and get with the real, such as TLC, her approach to the issues. Listen as she focuses our conversation on Teachers, Learners, and Community. It’s a vital conversation that informs more than just the election for the School Board, but speaks to how we should view every election this year, focusing on what matters, focusing on what’s real. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etchtheedges/support

Tony Sellers has watched intently and critically and decided that he must do something. As he watches the direction many in our county are choosing to take he has grown ever more concerned. He sees us on a precipice and Etch The Edges cannot help but agree with him. Book banning is without equivocation NOT THE WAY! Tony has decided to throw in and run for a seat on the Gwinnett County Board of Education. He’s taught in Gwinnett Public Schools for 18 years and truly believes in putting students first. It is time to focus on the work of meeting the needs of all our communities. Listen to his story as we Etch The Edges. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etchtheedges/support

On this episode of Etch The Edges we welcome back Gwinnett County Solicitor General Brian Whiteside to talk about the challenges in Gwinnett County and how he has chosen to lean in deep and face them. As the first Black Solicitor General of Gwinnett there is a story to the man that absolutely must be shared. He comes from a family of tradition and service. He has stood staunchly against those who choose to do wrong and has spent a lifetime in service to others. In his own words he calls what some call arrogance, confidence. How he does this, pushes hard with confidence, is something he does for the entire community and seeks to model for the generations that come after. He sees his role in government as a servant-protector who has been chosen by the people to operate as a servant-leader. For the people his father used to say point the rescue boat towards the sea, not the land, because precious seconds matter. Listen to his story and get a good understanding of his perspective as we etch the edges on this episode. Brian Whiteside has much to say and sharp edges to etch. Join us and listen and see how he does it. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etchtheedges/support