More than 3,000 years ago, a Native American community in what is now Northeast Louisiana built monumental earthworks - such as mounds, ridges, and a vast plaza - at Poverty Point, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For nearly two decades, Dr. Diana Greenlee, station archaeologist at Poverty Point, has worked to uncover what life was like for the people who lived there so many years ago.

Hear Diana talk about:

• How the massive earthworks at Poverty Point were constructed
• Evidence of art, craftsmanship, and daily life at the site
• The enduring mysteries of the mounds and ridges
• How modern tools like ground-penetrating radar reveal insights without excavation
• The moment she discovered a previously undocumented mound

Mentioned in this episode:

• Read more about Dr. Diana Greenlee
• Poverty Point World Heritage Site
• UNESCO World Heritage listing for Poverty Point
• University of Louisiana at Monroe

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• Leave a rating and review
• Share on social media and tag @rainemediaco

In Part 1, Bill Gerhart shared his son Connor’s story and discussed the dangers of fentanyl. In Part 2, Bill shares more about the fentanyl crisis, why he feels prosecuting those who sell it is necessary, and what he’s doing to raise awareness. He also reflects on his belief that there’s opportunity in every event, and how he moves forward with that perspective.

Hear Bill talk about:

• Giving away Narcan at Connor’s memorial service so others might be saved
• Why awareness and access to treatment matter more than ever
• The role of cartels, supply chains, and prosecution in the fentanyl epidemic
• His hopes for developing a new, non-opioid addiction treatment
• How this tragedy has made him appreciate his friends and family even more

Mentioned in this episode and references:

• If someone you care about is battling opioid addiction, find resources here
• Learn more about Naloxone (Narcan), the reversal drug Bill and his family gave out at Connor's Celebration of Life
• Read more about the crisis and the DEA's "One Pill Can Kill" awareness campaign

This week's music is by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay.

In 2023, nearly 80,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses. Bill Gerhart's son Connor was one of those people. In this first part of a two-part conversation, Bill shares who Connor was, from his childhood and football days to his career as a civil engineer, and how a series of surgeries and pain prescriptions led to an opioid addiction that few around him knew about. He also reflects on when he realized what was happening with Connor, and why awareness is so important.

Hear Bill talk about:

• Connor’s childhood, football years, and what made him “every dad’s dream”
• The challenges of college and how he found his way forward
• Rebuilding confidence after setbacks and starting a successful career
• The injuries and surgeries that introduced opioids into his life
• How his family discovered his addiction, and what Bill has since learned about awareness and prevention

Mentioned in this episode and references:

• See Bill's tribute to his son Conner at Connor's Celebration of Life
• If someone you love is battling opioid addiction, find resources here
• Read more about Suboxone, a medication used to treat opioid addiction
• Learn more about Naloxone (Narcan), an opioid overdose reversal drug
• Find out more about Fentanyl test strips, a tool to detect fentanyl in recreational drugs

Closing music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay.

Dr. Mary Hayden recently traveled to Colombia to answer a question about mosquitoes that was actually about us humans. Specifically, she wanted to know how human behavior shapes the risk of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, Zika, and yellow fever. From unregulated areas with limited water access to neighborhoods in the U.S., she’s found that our daily habits, infrastructure, and even trust in information can either reduce or increase that risk.

Hear Mary talk about:

• How her interest in climate led to a focus on human behavior and disease transmission
• What she observed in Colombian communities where water access is scarce and mosquitoes thrive
• How perception of risk and trust in messengers impact public health efforts
• Practical ways you can protect yourself from mosquitoes and ticks
• Why some prevention strategies are simple, yet are still so hard to make stick

Mentioned in this episode:

• More about Dr. Mary Hayden
• BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) – Bacteria used to kill mosquito larvae in standing water
• Engineers Without Borders – Organization developing low-cost solutions for clean water and storage safety
• Permethrin – Insecticide applied to clothing to repel mosquitoes and ticks
• Bug repellents like Picaridin, DEET, and the plant-based Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus

Support this pod:

• Follow in your favorite podcast app
• Leave a rating and review
• Share on social media and tag @rainemediaco

At 14, Brandon Phillips was a healthy kid with a passion for sports. Then one day he noticed his leg was swollen. Within 24 hours, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and the outlook wasn't positive. In this episode, Brandon shares what it was like to face a life-threatening diagnosis, fight through months of brutal chemotherapy, and go on to become a professional polo player, as well as a devoted advocate for families battling childhood cancer.

Hear Brandon talk about:

• The moment he realized something was wrong with his leg
• His swift cancer diagnosis and grueling treatment
• How mental strength and his athlete’s mindset helped him beat the odds
• Why he didn’t want to talk about cancer for years
• Founding Polo for Life to support families with a child fighting cancer

Mentioned in this episode:

• Polo for Life – Brandon’s nonprofit supporting families affected by childhood cancer
• Kids Cancer Foundation – Florida-based nonprofit supporting children and families fighting cancer, and one of Polo for Life’s beneficiary organizations
• Pediatric Oncology Support Team (POST) – Services and counseling for families of children with cancer in South Florida, and one of Polo for Life’s beneficiary organizations
• Miami Cancer Institute – One of Polo for Life’s partner hospitals and beneficiary organizations

Support this pod:

• Follow in your favorite podcast app
• Leave a rating and review
• Share on social media and tag @rainemediaco

Carol Hoenig published her first novel in 2005. Years later, while driving home from work, one of her characters suddenly returned, insisting to Carol that her story wasn’t finished. That unexpected moment sparked a new novel about the character's story. In this episode, Carol reflects on her creative process, the career pivots that shaped her path, and the moments when fictional characters come to life.

Hear Carol talk about:

• The day her character, Grace, let her know there was more to the story

• Starting her business the same day she lost her job at Borders

• How her characters speak to her and sometimes surprise her

• The creative process behind Without Grace and Before She Was a Finley

• Why honoring the craft of writing matters

Mentioned in this episode:

• Without Grace by Carol Hoenig
• Before She Was a Finley by Carol Hoenig
• Her episode of My Hometown on 90.3 WHPC
• Learn more about Carol on her website
• Watch Carol's podcast, Wildflowers Podcast: Books, Booze and Banter, on YouTube

Support this podcast:

• Follow in your favorite podcast app
• Leave a rating and review
• Share with a friend and on social media and tag @rainemediaco

Insurance agent Rich Salgado has spent decades building a reputation as the guy who knows how to help – whether you're an NFL player, a TV producer, or just someone he met at a business event. Known to nearly everyone as “Big Daddy,” Rich shares how he's built a powerful network rooted in generosity, trust, and simply showing up for people.

Hear Rich talk about:

• How losing his early business partner pushed him to rely on his network
• How he became the insurance agent to many in the NFL
• Why networking is a give-and-take, not just an ask
• The role networking played in his unexpected jump to TV
• What it means to “keep it real” and make others feel at ease

Mentioned in this episode:

• Big Daddy Insures, Rich's insurance company
• Connect with Rich on Instagram @bigdaddyinsures

Support this show:

• Follow in your favorite podcast app
• Leave a rating and review
• Share on social and tag @rainemediaco

Bill Horan has spent nearly four decades interviewing people about one elusive idea: success. On his radio show Secrets of Success, he’s spoken with thousands of guests, from authors and business owners to everyday people, about the idea of success. In this episode, Bill shares some of the most memorable stories, the themes that have stuck with him, and how hosting this show has shaped his own understanding of what success really means.

Hear Bill talk about:

• How a guest appearance turned into a 37-year radio career
• Why success doesn’t always look glamorous, and that’s okay
• The role of mindset and gratitude in personal growth
• What he’s learned from reading 2,000+ books on success
• Why self-awareness might be the real key to a meaningful life

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Success Principles by Jack Canfield – Bill’s top-recommended book on success
• Chicken Soup for the Soul – Bill interviewed co-author Jack Canfield early in his career
• WHPC in Garden City, where Secrets of Success airs
• Bill's show, Secrets of Success – Bill’s radio show on WHPC, running for 37 years and counting

Support this podcast:

• Follow Tell Me What It’s Like in your favorite podcast app
• Leave a rating and review to help more people find the show
• Share this episode with a friend and tag @rainemediaco