Common Good Conversations
A few years ago brothers-in-law Nick Brock and Shawn Skinner started doing the unthinkable at family gatherings – talking about politics and faith at the dinner table. While at times tense and cautious those conversations were filled with curiosity, nuance, grace, and humor. Wanting to lean into that experience they decided to start a podcast. Common Good Conversations is a weekly opportunity for Nick and Shawn to talk about the politics and faith of West Michigan by being curious, nuanced, grace-filled, and humorous; perhaps they’ll learn something along the way.
Meet Common Good Candidate Abby Klomparens for State Representative (District 86)
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Meet an extraordinary-ordinary Michigander committed to the Common Good for West Michigan. Abby Klomparens for State Representative in District 86 includes the Greater Holland area and portions of Allegan County.
In this episode you'll learn how to properly pronounce another Dutch last-name (Klump-arns), why the election of former President Trump was a catalyst for Abby's political involvement, and why she's challenging Republican incumbent Nancy DeBoer.
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"After two years of far-right rule in a Michigan county, one chance to change it" - with The Washington Post
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Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Washington Post reporter Patrick Marley. Patrick writes about voting issues in the Upper Midwest and wrote a series of stories covering how divisive, Trump-style politics came to Ottawa County through Ottawa Impact.
In this episode you'll learn about the Washington Post's series called Democracy in America, how moderate Republicans and some Democrats mobilized against Ottawa Impact and fought back, and how eating BBQ is a form of patriotism.
To learn more about the Washington Post's coverage of Ottawa...
2024 Election Guide: What Happened to my Ottawa GOP?
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Over the previous year I've had the privilege of being in conversation with a handful of well established Republicans in Ottawa County to help me understand the state of local politics. The central question that I wanted to answer — and understand from their point of view — was:
What happened to my Ottawa GOP?
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Economics Guru Dr. Paul Isley talks about West Michigan's Economy
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Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Dr. Paul Isely the Associate Dean and Professor of Economics for the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University. For nearly a decade Dr. Isley has become somewhat of an economics guru in West Michigan as employers have used his historically accurate economic findings to help guide their business decisions.
In this episode you'll learn about the cause of recent inflation, the power of consumer spending versus government spending, and how to grow West Michigan's economy.
Su...
Meet Common Good Candidate Doug Zylstra running for Ottawa County Board of Commissioners in District 3 (Holland)
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Hey, Everybody!
Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Doug Zylstra. Doug is the incumbent Ottawa County Board Commissioner representing District 3 (Holland) as a Democrat serving in his 3rd, 2-year term.
In this episode you'll learn why it was important for Doug to foster dialogue with the Ottawa Impact Commissioners, what it means to have a record-breaking 2 Democrats on the Board of Commissioners, and if Doug is a "woke" Democrat or not.
Show Notes:
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Live! with Common Good Candidate Chris Crothers for County Commissioner in District 4 (Zeeland)
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Hey, Everybody!
Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Chris Crothers. Chris is running for Ottawa County Commissioner in District 4 (Zeeland) as a Democrat.
In this final segment from our live podcast event in Holland you'll learn how Chris started as a home brewer then started his own brewery, why he's running for County Commissioner, and what it means to be a Common Good Candidate in Ottawa County.
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Live! Sarah Leach discusses her recent firing, Ottawa Impact, and the crisis of local journalism
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Hey, Everybody!
Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Sarah Leach. Sarah is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist and previously the regional editor for Gannett Media leading The Holland Sentinel and 14 other Michigan papers.
During this second segment from our live podcast event in Holland you'll learn about dad-jokes, why Sarah was fired from the Holland Sentinel, the challenges of covering Ottawa Impact, and the crisis of local journalism.
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Live! Nick Brock and Doug Pagitt talk about their shared experience along the US-Mexico Border
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Hey, Everybody!
Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Doug Pagitt the executive director of Vote Common Good. Nick and Doug both went to the US-Mexico border in Arizona and Mexico and talk about their shared experience.
During this segment from our live event in Holland you'll learn about Nick and Doug's first impressions of the border wall from both sides of the wall, why families are seeking asylum and how coming to the US is a last resort, and what can be done in...
Meet Common Good Candidate Marcia Mansaray running for State Representative (85th District)
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Hey, Everybody!
Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Marcia Mansaray, the Democratic candidate running for State Representative in Michigan’s 85th District. Marcia was the Deputy Health Officer for Ottawa County’s Department of Public Health and emerged as a courageous voice for the community when she pushed back against efforts by Ottawa Impact to undermine and silence the Department of Public Health.
In this episode you'll learn why Marcia no longer identifies with the Republican Party, the burden of making Covid-19 related decisions duri...
Educating Voters about Michigan's Election Process, with the Kent County Clerk's Office
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Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus-Lyons and Chief Deputy Clerk Robert Macomber. The two, both Republicans, have been educating voters about Michigan's new election laws and helping them overcome obstacles to election misinformation.
In this episode you'll learn about the technical term for a cow's udder, Michigan's new election laws, election integrity, if Michigan's Qualified Voter File is bloated and problematic, and debunking the local voting narrative about undocumented immigrants.
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