Advertise on podcast: The Lantern with Dr. Ryan Martin

Season 2 of The Lantern kicks off with a conversation about passion, intentionality, and mentorship in building a meaningful career. Host Dr. Ryan Martin sits down with Brian Figueroa, managing director of transportation at KBX, to explore the experiences and relationships that shaped his journey. From growing up in a Guatemalan-American family in New Richmond, Wisconsin, to finding his passion for transportation and logistics, Brian shares how his family's work ethic, early experiences, and willingness to embrace challenges helped him find his path. He reflects on the mentors who invested in his growth, why approaching education as an investment can change the way students think about their futures, and how the lessons he's learned influence his leadership today. As an advocate for workforce development and an active member of the Green Bay community, Brian also discusses the importance of creating opportunities for others and strengthening the next generation of supply chain professionals. His advice? Run toward the challenges others avoid–they may lead to the greatest opportunities. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and follow for more powerful stories from Northeastern Wisconsin and beyond. Learn more: https://blog.uwgb.edu/good-cahss/ Connect with Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-figueroa-969188bb/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oBcNXdBja5E

In this episode of The Lantern, host Ryan Martin sits down with Wisconsin artist and UW–Green Bay Lawton Gallery curator Cristian Andersson to talk about creativity, mentorship, community, and the power of figuring things out along the way. Cristian shares how a career in painting, photography, performance art, and even credit union management shaped his approach to making art and building community. He reflects on the mentors who helped him find his path, the students he now mentors, and why he believes the arts can help us better understand one another. From creating a newspaper after leaving Facebook to turning the Lawton Gallery into a space for connection, Cristian’s story is one of curiosity, ingenuity, and making something meaningful with what you have. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and follow for more powerful stories from Northeastern Wisconsin and beyond. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TbYY8--mH-0 Learn more: https://blog.uwgb.edu/good-cahss/

In this episode of The Lantern, host Ryan Martin sits down with Beth Hudak, director of community engagement at House of Hope in Green Bay and the 2025 Wisconsin Women’s Network Excellence in Advocacy Award winner. Beth shares the journey that led her from studying women’s studies and film theory to a career centered on advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and community change. She reflects on the women who have inspired her, finding community after moving to Green Bay, and why strong relationships can make all the difference when people face difficult circumstances. Beth also discusses House of Hope’s work with young people experiencing homelessness and housing instability, the importance of prevention, and why collaboration is essential to creating lasting solutions. Along the way, she makes a compelling case for the value of a humanities education and the importance of questioning the systems around us. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and follow for more powerful stories from Northeastern Wisconsin and beyond. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eSaqVYAjpMU Learn more: https://blog.uwgb.edu/good-cahss/

In this episode of The Lantern, host Ryan Martin sits down with Dennis Rockhill, Makerspace Director for the Einstein Project, award-winning children’s book author and illustrator, and UW–Green Bay graduate. Dennis shares how creativity and curiosity have shaped his career, from graphic design and packaging to product development, makerspaces, and science education. Ryan and Dennis explore why creativity is about more than art, how solving problems can be a deeply creative pursuit, and how hands-on making can help people build resilience, focus, and confidence. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and follow for more powerful stories from Northeastern Wisconsin and beyond. Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/v08Xm5SHTTE Learn more: https://blog.uwgb.edu/good-cahss/

In this episode of The Lantern, host Dr. Ryan Martin sits down with Barb Cedergren, founder and director of Barb’s Center for Dance, to reflect on 40 years of dance, determination, and community. Barb shares how growing up with limited resources, and a mother who sacrificed so much to support her dream, shaped her commitment to helping others. From starting her studio with just 60 students to growing it into one of Wisconsin’s largest dance studios, Barb’s story is one of perseverance, faith, and purpose. She also discusses the life lessons dance can teach young people, the importance of being a good human being, and why success is about far more than a competition score. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and follow for more powerful stories from Northeastern Wisconsin and beyond. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3lbnv8iP1ms Learn more: https://blog.uwgb.edu/good-cahss/

In this episode of The Lantern, host Ryan Martin sits down with Dennis Buehler, president and CEO of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, to explore the power of philanthropy, community, and small acts of kindness. From nearly 30 years in professional theater to leading one of Green Bay’s philanthropic organizations, Dennis reflects on how creativity, collaboration, and showing up every day shaped his journey. He shares the story behind his TEDx talk, Let’s Redefine Philanthropy Together, and why everyone—not just those with significant resources—has the ability to make an impact. Dennis also discusses Give Big Green Bay, the importance of civic engagement, and why sometimes the most important thing you can do is simply show up, learn, and help. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and follow for more powerful stories from Northeastern Wisconsin and beyond. Watch the Episode Here: https://youtu.be/nfG9fXiQHa4

In this episode of The Lantern, host Ryan Martin sits down with CEO of Storytelling with Data and bestselling author Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic. From her early career in applied mathematics and banking to teaching data visualization at Google and leading a global education company, Cole shares how she discovered that communication is just as important as analysis. Ryan and Cole explore storytelling, presentation skills, and the value of practice, revealing how anyone can learn to communicate ideas that inspire understanding and action. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and follow for more powerful stories from Northeastern Wisconsin and beyond.

In this episode of The Lantern, Ryan sits down with UW–Green Bay music alum Randy Knaflic, whose unconventional career has taken him from jazz performance to leadership roles at Google, SpaceX, and Jawbone before returning to Wisconsin to help lead Storytelling with Data. Randy shares how curiosity, embracing discomfort, and meaningful relationships shaped a career that never followed a traditional path. Ryan and Randy explore mentorship, goal setting, leadership, and the value of staying open to unexpected opportunities. From lessons learned in music to building teams at some of the world's most innovative companies, Randy reflects on why growth often begins just outside your comfort zone. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and follow for more powerful stories from Northeastern Wisconsin and beyond. Watch it on Youtube Learn More

Amanda Miceli believes connection begins with courage. In this episode of The Lantern, the founder of The Bold Marketing Agency shares how a creative mindset, a passion for people, and a willingness to trust her instincts helped her build a growing business centered on authentic branding and intentional community. Ryan and Amanda discuss entrepreneurship, mentorship, personal growth, and the importance of slowing down long enough to listen to yourself and others. From launching fashion shows and mastermind groups to creating a conversation card game focused on meaningful dialogue, Amanda explains why some of the most powerful opportunities begin with simply asking bold questions.

In this episode of The Lantern, host Ryan Martin sits down with UW–Green Bay assistant professor and documentary filmmaker Justin Kavlie. With a background that spans psychology, media production, and a PhD in communication, Justin shares how curiosity and a desire for deeper connection led him from the business world back into the classroom. Ryan and Justin explore the role of storytelling in film, the importance of hands-on creativity, and why giving students the freedom to experiment can unlock powerful learning. Drawing on his work in documentary filmmaking and his passion for mentorship, Justin reflects on how stories—especially those rooted in overlooked communities—can create impact far beyond the screen.

In this episode of The Lantern, host Ryan Martin sits down with Dr. Jenene Calloway, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Schreiber Foods and founder of the Calloway Leadership Collective. With a background in industrial-organizational psychology and global leadership, Jenene brings both academic insight and real-world experience to her work developing leaders and strengthening organizations. Ryan and Jenene explore how values are shaped across generations, why today’s young people inspire her optimism, and what it means to lead with clarity in a complex world. Drawing on personal stories—from her mother’s civil rights activism to lessons learned from her own children—Jenene reflects on the power of doing what’s right, even when it’s simple. With a perspective grounded in both research and lived experience, she shares why the future of leadership depends on courage, accountability, and a commitment to lifting others along the way. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and follow for more powerful stories from Northeastern Wisconsin and beyond. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RUYC_bO-_-A Learn more

In this episode of The Lantern, host Ryan Martin sits down with UW–Green Bay associate dean and writing professor Dr. Jennie Young, creator of the Burned Haystack Dating Method. Drawing on her background in rhetoric and discourse studies, Jennie applies critical thinking and communication analysis to the world of modern dating. Ryan and Jennie explore how online dating culture has evolved, why Gen Z gives her hope, and how learning to filter signal from noise on dating apps can help people build healthier relationships. With insights that blend scholarship, humor, and real-world experience, Jennie explains why sometimes the best way to find the right match might just be to burn the haystack. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and follow for more powerful stories from Northeastern Wisconsin and beyond. Watch on YouTube Learn more

“We’re here to serve.” That belief has guided DeDe Heid from her early days as a student leader at UW–Green Bay to her role today as president of Heid Music, a 75-year family business employing more than 90 people across Wisconsin. In this episode of The Lantern, DeDe shares how a small-town upbringing, a deep love of community, and a willingness to lean in shaped her path. From walking on to the softball team and becoming Speaker of the Student Senate to building a career in sales, advocacy, and national leadership within NAMM and Women of NAMM, her story is rooted in service–too customers, to colleagues, to students, and to the broader community. DeDe also reflects on why music is more than a product–it’s a connector, a healer, and a force for belonging. She discusses the research-backed power of music to strengthen brain health, the importance of arts advocacy, and her commitment to lifting others into leadership roles. No matter what she is doing or who she is working with, her focus is the same: create opportunities, build harmony, and leave communities stronger than you found them. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and follow for more powerful stories from Northeastern Wisconsin and beyond. Watch on YouTube Learn more

Keifer Sykes has played in the NBA and across the globe, but some of his most formative years happened right here at UW-Green Bay. From arriving on campus at just 17 years old to becoming a two-time Horizon League Player of the Year and eventually seeing his jersey rise to the rafters, Keifer reflects on the work, belief, and community that shaped him. In this episode of The Lantern, he shares how discipline, meditation, and mentorship fueled his journey from Chicago’s inner city to international champion. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and follow for more powerful stories from Northeastern Wisconsin and beyond. Watch on YouTube Learn more

Former Congressman and UW-Green Bay practitioner-in-residence Reid Ribble joins The Lantern to talk about truth-telling in an age of outrage, misinformation, and misplaced incentives. From social media, to Congress, to the classroom, Ribble reflects on leadership, failure, and why the next generation may be America’s greatest hope. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and follow for more powerful stories from Northeastern Wisconsin and beyond. Watch on YouTube Learn more