While Myron had decided to end his bike trip across the country, he and Dana are still out there making new friends and having unfiltered conversations. Mike and Kelli Ellis share their journey to the First Baptist Church of Sanderson. 

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Myron and Dana made their way to Roswell, yes, that Roswell. While there, they met Jocelyn and Ernie at “Food Not Bombs.” A nonprofit that recovers food that would otherwise be discarded. Both Jocelyn and Ernie share where their deeply personal relationship with food insecurity began. 

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As Myron and Dana travel across the country, they can't help but meet and have Unfiltered Conversations with folks they meet. This week, Jason and Jackie Reames share overcoming many personal difficulties to find love for each other, their children, and their community. They are also owners of a BBQ and Burger food truck in New Waverly, TX. 

Check them out on Facebook! Double J's Burgers & BBQ

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After retirement, Myron and Dana hit the road! This special BONUS episode is one of the first Unfiltered episodes born on the road. We hope there are many more to follow!

Heidi Jackson is an extraordinary individual! Standing tall at 6'8", she made waves during her college basketball career at Vanderbilt University. Heidi was a dominant force on the court, earning numerous accolades, including being named a Kodak First Team All-American in 1993 and leading Vanderbilt to its only Final Four appearance that same year. Off the court, she was admired for her charisma and was even voted Homecoming Queen by her peers in 1993.

Her family is equally remarkable, with five towering sons whose heights range from 6'3" to 7'0". Dana randomly met her at a Goodwill in Mississippi while we were trekking across the southern United States. After a friendly conversation, Heidi invited us to her home for dinner. She is a warm and kind-hearted person, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with her and her family.

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The author shares the story of his name, "E-Man," derived from the show Family Matters. Born and raised in Goshen, Indiana, he attended Catholic schools and adopted the nickname "E-Man" (God with us), inspired by his mother's story as a refugee from Nicaragua.

Growing up in Indiana with a Catholic background, his childhood included playing with G.I. Joes and watching pro wrestling. His professional career began with making custom orthotics in South Bend, then shifted to working with personal fitness at Goshen Anytime Fitness. He felt called to become a personal trainer.

Now living in Goshen, the speaker was influenced by his Purdue degree to pursue therapy and counseling. His career has focused on helping others heal from the inside out through various therapies and understanding their goals. His journey embodies personal growth, career development, and a desire to help others.

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In this episode of Unfiltered Conversations with Myron, Ted Swartz shares his journey as a storyteller and comedian. He grew up in Eastern Pennsylvania, where he was a part of a rural community that was influenced by Mennonite values. His brother and sister were part of a group that shared a love for baseball and comedy.

Ted was married at 19 and worked as a meat cutter until his father's store closed. He attended Eastern Mennonite University and seminary because it was the quickest path to Pastoral Ministry. He signed up for an acting class at the college, thinking it would help him in preaching and speaking.
Ted fell in love with acting almost immediately. He felt like he had been in hibernation in the world of comedy, but he knew it was the right thing to do.

Ted's story is about finding humor in any story, whether it's a comedic story or not. He believes that there's humor in everything, and that there's a purpose to his work. Ted's journey as a storyteller and comedian has been shaped by his upbringing, experiences, and passion for comedy.

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Tammy Hicks, a native of Goshen, shares her journey from growing up in Florida to becoming a teacher. Born in Colorado Springs, she moved to Florida at nine and attended Model Elementary and Goshen Middle Schools. She graduated from Goshen High School. Tammy's hardworking parents supported her interests in music and cheerleading.

After high school, Tammy attended IUSB but paused her education upon learning she was pregnant with her son, Ethan. Balancing work, college, and raising a child with special needs, she received a lot of support from her community and family, fueling her passion for helping kids.

Tammy's parents, from lower-income backgrounds, worked multiple jobs. Her mother was at JCPenney's, and her father spent 20 years in radio, notably at WFRN. Tammy's story underscores the importance of investing in the next generation and the sacrifices made by parents to provide for their children.

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Sywulka is the Founder and Chief Dot Connector of HAPI, with expertise in national innovation ecosystems, corporate innovation management, and social innovation. He is a Guatemalan linguist and author, translated the Bible into Mam, an indigenous language. Inspired by his missionary grandparents, he studied linguistics. Sywulka emphasizes addressing smaller issues to tackle bigger problems and advocates for simplifying life's complexities to find straightforward solutions. His family moved between Guatemala City, California, and Boston before settling in Goshen. His experiences in Guatemala shaped his views on poverty and reality, stressing the importance of simple solutions.

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Twila, born in Goshen, grew up by Gorham Woods. One of her earliest memories was biking downtown to the brew, meeting friends, and begging for chocolate-covered espresso beans. This space inspired her creative work. Twila, from a creative family, expressed herself through writing and poetry, admiring her siblings' skills in photography and drawing. Realizing writing was her identity, she focused on writing papers and articles in college. After graduating from Goshen College in 2015, Twila joined the Community Resilience Guild. Her passion for writing and community work continues to grow, leading to a fulfilling career.

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Jess, the Founder and CEO of Write Connections | strategy + design, talks about growing up in Wakarusa as a first-generation international adoptee. Born in Seoul, Korea, and adopted at three months old, she was one of the few minority students in her school. She left but found her way back to Elkhart County, where she now embraces it as her community, where we build together. 

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In this episode of Unfiltered Conversations with Myron, Marshall King recounts his upbringing in Southern Arkansas and his ties to the Mennonite community. Born in El Dorado, he grew up in a Mennonite church and experienced community building. After attending Eastern Mennonite College, he worked in journalism in Indiana. His ecumenical background and diverse community influenced his worldview, including his family's brief ventures in food businesses and connections with the local Jewish synagogue. King's story underscores the importance of community, heritage, and openness to different experiences and perspectives.

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This week, it's Dana's turn as the guest on Unfiltered. Granddaughter Abby Bontrager takes a turn as host. 

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This week, Josiah (Myron's grandson) takes over the hosting mic and turns the tables as he interviews Myron. "The man, the myth, the legend." 

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In this episode, Myron chats with friend Ritch Hochstetler about retirement. Ritch will also be hanging up his work hat this fall. Join them as they discuss their thoughts and feelings in the next chapter. 

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In this episode of Unfiltered Conversations with Myron, Cory Martin, the chaplain of the Elkhart jail ministry, shares his journey from a privileged childhood in Elkhart County to forming a lasting friendship with Shannon and Dana. He discusses the contrast between peace and chaos, emphasizing that a "boring" upbringing can be beneficial and that embracing different experiences and perspectives is important. Cory reflects on his fortunate upbringing and how it shaped his understanding of a good life, even as he acknowledges the diversity of others' experiences.

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Matthew Gillan, a Goshen-born artist, sat down with Myron; he has a multicultural background shaped by his Puerto Rican heritage and frequent visits to the island. These trips inspired his appreciation for family connections and cultural traditions, such as the sounds of coquilles at night. Homeschooled by a doctor mother, he values curiosity and learning, fostering a love for drawing, reading, and nature. Quiet and shy as a child, he spent time exploring the woods and developing his artistic identity. For him, meaningful connections and simple experiences, like being present in new spaces, define both his personal life and creative journey.

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Allison Garcia Romero shared her life story with Myron, highlighting her upbringing in Goshen, Indiana, and her diverse heritage. She described her charmed childhood, influenced by her Amish and Mexican roots, and the impact of owning land on her sense of belonging. Allison discussed her educational journey, including studying social work and Spanish at Nazarene University, and her career in education, where she worked as an ESL instructor and parent liaison. She transitioned to real estate during the COVID-19 pandemic, leveraging her bilingual skills. Allison emphasized the importance of embracing one's identity and not conforming to others' expectations.

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Rafael Barahona, an immigrant from Canada with Chilean roots, sat down with Myron and discussed his journey from feeling disconnected in Goshen at 13 to becoming a strong advocate for the community. He shared his experiences of cultural identity, moving frequently due to his father's pastoral work, and the challenges of integrating into different communities. Rafael also talked about his musical past, his multicultural family, and the complexities of raising children in a digital age. He emphasized the importance of balancing technology use with real-life experiences and the ongoing process of personal growth and identity exploration.

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Kim Pedler shared her challenging childhood in Middlebury, marked by emotional and physical abuse from her alcoholic father. Despite these traumas, Kim developed empathy and resilience, choosing a path of understanding over anger. Her father's violent life and eventual suicide profoundly impacted her, leading her to advocate for financial education to break cycles of financial ignorance. Kim transitioned from banking to Edward Jones in 2021, driven by a desire to help others. She emphasized the importance of creating positive memories for her son and envisions a thriving, connected Goshen community. Her story highlights resilience and the power of empathy. Check out Kim's convo with Myron. 

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In this final episode of Season One, Iris and Myron sit down to discuss what they've learned through this experience. 

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Myron sits down with Eyob and Melat, both born in Ethiopia. Their dream for Goshen is that we grow as a community and help one another thrive, not just survive. They wish for us to show more kindness and open up to strangers in our community. 

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Myron sits down with Ana Avila, a former Brew employee. Ana graduated from Goshen College. She loves to read, and her diverse background (Ana is of Mexican descent) and education reflect her commitment to her community and all she encounters. 

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Myron talks with Goshen native Katy Sonner this week. Her dream for Goshen is for it to be a place where people want to grow old. 

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This week, Myron sits down with Karuu Njogu, the branch manager at 1st Source Bank in downtown Goshen. Karuu was born in Kenya and moved to the US when he was 39. He is passionate about Goshen and dreams that someday, everyone will have more access to affordable housing. 

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This week, Myron sits down with his friend Chet Peachy, who talks about paving the way as a male nurse, growing up in Pennsylvania as an only child who never felt like an only child, and making it through graduate school. 

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