Episodes

  • When Scams Hit Home: Personal Accounts
    Mar 7 2025

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    In this podcast episode, we talk about various scams, how scammers lead us to believe them, and what to watch for.

    Guests are Kyle Rea, Kay Schrieber, Dale Schrieber

    Host Jan Johnson narrates her harrowing experience of falling victim to a sophisticated scam.

    She recounts how a stressful day, combined with technical issues, made her vulnerable to scammers posing as tech support. Throughout the ordeal, Jan was manipulated into purchasing gift cards, believing it was necessary to resolve an alleged hacking issue.

    Despite the warning signs, the scam persisted until a conversation with a sheriff revealed the truth. In sharing her story, Jan emphasizes the importance of awareness and overcoming the shame associated with being scammed.

    Common points:

    • Sense of urgency
    • I can fix this for you
    • I'm here to help you
    • scammer asks for money, credit card info, cashier's check
    • Tells you to stay on the phone (prevents you from calling anyone or getting messages from your bank)
    • You're contacted out of the blue- unsolicited phone calls or emails (you can't win a lottery you never entered, you don't receive a call or email from tech support that you didn't initiate.)
    • It sounds too good to be true
    • Email looks official, but has mistakes or subtle differences
    • Threats
    • Asks for upfront payment

    https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed

    https://www.usa.gov/where-report-scams

    Subscribe to the Women of the Northwest podcast for inspiring stories and adventures.
    Find me on my website: jan-johnson.com

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    49 mins
  • How One Woman Changed the Surf Industry with Lexie Hallahan
    Feb 11 2025

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    Lexi's Website

    Jan's website

    In this podcast episode, Lexi Hallihan shares her incredible journey from watching 'The Love Boat' as a teenager to becoming a prominent figure in the surf industry.

    Her early interest in recreation led her to Hawaii, where she discovered her passion for nutrition while working at a vegetarian kitchen.

    This experience laid the foundation for her future endeavors.

    Returning to Oregon, she pursued a dietetic career, which eventually tied into her creation of the Northwest Women's Surf Camps.

    Lexi's story highlights her efforts to empower women and increase their presence in the male-dominated surfing world.

    Subscribe to the Women of the Northwest podcast for inspiring stories and adventures.
    Find me on my website: jan-johnson.com

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    29 mins
  • On Science, Philippines and Ice Cream
    Jan 6 2025

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    This episode begins with some women-on-the-street interviews asking two questions:

    1- When you graduated from high school, what was it like? What did you expect your life would look like?
    2. Did things turn out the way you expected?

    Jazmin Geografo left the city of Manilla, Philippines (population 21 million) to try her hand at teaching science in the United States, specifically, the small town of Knappa, Oregon, (population 1800)

    Originally, she sought to become a journalist major, but plans changed when she wasn't admitted to her preferred school.

    Listen in to her passion for teaching and cultural changes she's adjusted to.

    And her fun final activity for her students- making ice cream!

    Subscribe to the Women of the Northwest podcast for inspiring stories and adventures.
    Find me on my website: jan-johnson.com

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    34 mins
  • A Confluence of HIstory and Inspiration with Julie McDonald Zander
    Dec 4 2024

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    Julie's website

    This episode features a discussion with Julie McDonald Zander, an inspiring woman who turned her journalism career into a personal history business.

    Fascinated with history, Julie's passion led her to the creation of Chapters of Life, where she has published more than 75 books and beautifully captured various individual and local histories.

    An interesting highlight was Julie's work with Rosie the Riveters, preserving their powerful stories.

    Julie McDonald Zander, an avid fan of history, earned a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from the University of Washington.

    After working two decades as a newspaper reporter and editor, she launched a personal history business to capture and preserve life stories.

    Her company, Chapters of Life, has published more than seventy-five books.

    She and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest, where they raised two children.

    Her nonfiction book about Matilda Koontz Jackson, Washington Territory's Grand Lady: The Story of Matilda (Glover) Koontz Jackson, was a finalist for the Western Writers of America Spur Award and the Will Rogers Medallion.

    It can be found at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers.

    Subscribe to the Women of the Northwest podcast for inspiring stories and adventures.
    Find me on my website: jan-johnson.com

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    31 mins
  • Surf, Sand and Community Service: Life Lessons with Patricia Baum
    Nov 18 2024

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    Jan's website
    Contact Patricia Baum for voice-over: teampaty@gmail.com

    Patricia Baum, an ordinary woman leading an extraordinary life in Mexico, shares her journey from being a surfer in Oregon to owning a surf shop in Todos Santos, Mexico. In addition to running her business, she's also been a property manager, T-shirt designer, environmental advocate, and founder of a bilingual library. Her most recent venture is voice-over, with a focus on audiobooks.

    Subscribe to the Women of the Northwest podcast for inspiring stories and adventures.
    Find me on my website: jan-johnson.com

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    30 mins
  • Margo Lalich- Making Visible the Invisible: A Conversation about Death and Dying
    Oct 29 2024

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    North Coast EOL Collective

    Mission, Vision, Values

    Collective Story and Founders

    Death Cafe

    Benefit Corporations for Good

    In this special episode, Margot Lalich, the co-founder of the North Coast End of Life (EOL) Collective, joins us to talk about the organization's work in creating a collective approach towards death and dying. She shares her insights on the need for society to understand, prepare, and have a living relationship with mortality, challenging the fear, stigma, and taboo surrounding death.

    She also shares about her many years work with community health.

    Subscribe to the Women of the Northwest podcast for inspiring stories and adventures.
    Find me on my website: jan-johnson.com

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    44 mins
  • My Heart Attack Saved my Life with Susan Smith
    Oct 9 2024

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    My Heart Attack Saved my Life Susan's book
    Divine Detour by Lori Ann Wood

    In this heartfelt podcast episode, Susan Smith shares her transformative journey following a heart attack. She discusses how, despite her busy lifestyle and tendency to ignore warning signs, she came to realize the importance of recognizing female-specific heart attack symptoms.

    Her story emphasizes the urgency of being proactive about heart health and how her experience led to a spiritual awakening.

    By slowing down and learning to just be, she now focuses on helping other women understand the risks and signs of heart disease, advocating for awareness and preventative care through her support group and public speaking.

    Subscribe to the Women of the Northwest podcast for inspiring stories and adventures.
    Find me on my website: jan-johnson.com

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    22 mins
  • Ecological Wonders: From Mountain Sheep to Pygmy Rabbits to Rhinos with Janet Rachlow
    Sep 26 2024

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    In this episode, Janet Racklow shares her unconventional journey from a dance major to a wildlife researcher.

    Janet's enduring fascination with animal behavior led her to study species across diverse ecosystems, from mountain sheep in Alaska to rhinos in Africa.

    Her current focus in the Pacific Northwest includes studying the ecological and behavioral intricacies of pygmy rabbits, highlighting the significance of sagebrush steppe habitats.

    Janet discusses the interplay between research, wildlife management, and conservation efforts, bringing attention to the challenges and importance of preserving endangered species and their environments.

    Subscribe to the Women of the Northwest podcast for inspiring stories and adventures.
    Find me on my website: jan-johnson.com

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    24 mins