The 39/94

Jodie O'Brien
  • 5.0 (5)
  • News

Welcome to The 39/94. Every great story starts with a place, and this is our place. Named after the coordinates of our region (39°N, 94°W), Jodie O'Brien hosts a weekly dive-in with the people, stories, and conversations shaping life across Northwest Missouri. Big topics, small towns, and the people who make this place worth talking about. Your neighbor's story. Your town's news. Your community's voice. We pull up a chair, ask the tough questions, share the good laughs, and bring you the stories you didn't know you needed - the stuff that makes you proud, makes you think, makes you laugh, and reminds you why Northwest Missouri feels like home. 🎙️ New episodes every week. Subscribe so you never miss one.

  1. 3d ago

    For The Long Haul: 50+ Years of Business, Family, & Leadership with Bob Wollenman

    Bob Wollenman has been doing business in St. Joseph since 1967, and Deluxe Truck Stop has served the trucking and agriculture industries since 1979. Today it's much more than a fuel stop. It offers truck washing, a tire shop, and food-grade, kosher-certified tank washing that handles well over 100 trucks a day. In this season two episode, Bob talks with Jodie about more than trucks. He describes leaving his father's business and later mending that relationship while caring for his dad. He explains how a 30-year-old's "young and dumb" confidence in 1979 led to a lease, a locked-in purchase price, and the property Deluxe sits on today. He also shares how 55 years of marriage to Connie gave him the courage to lead. Bob reflects on how St. Joseph has changed, from the stockyards and local leadership to the value of getting to know candidates as people. He also talks about his work nationally against human trafficking and distracted driving, and why he keeps giving back through United Way, the St. Joseph Chamber, and Progressive Community Services. Growing up in his father's business and graduating with Missouri Western's Class of '7255 years with Connie, and how she gave a "too timid" young man the confidence to leadWalking away from the family business and finding healing with his dadThe "young and dumb" 1979 deal that became Deluxe Truck StopAdapting to change as agriculture and the Stockyards evolvedJames, the employee who has shown up since 1980From national Corvette club president to national truck stop leadershipHow truck stops are fighting human trafficking and protecting highway workersWhy giving back matters, and what St. Joseph has lost in local leadershipGetting to know candidates as people, not partiesHow a neighborly request from Nestlé Purina launched a kosher-certified tank washBringing son Nick into the business and doing it differently the second time aroundAnd, of course, the King Hill flag "weather forecast" for washing trucks 😂 The 39/94 Podcast - New episodes every week! Watch this episode on YouTube: @the3994podcast Learn more about supporting The 39/94 Podcast: Patreon Our sponsors: North Central Missouri College www.ncmissouri.edu Scooter's Coffee Savannah & St. Joseph (Facebook: ScootersCoffeeSavannah) Wollenman Family's Deluxe Truck Stop https://www.deluxetruckstop.com/ Gina's Cafe & Catering https://www.ginascafeandcatering.com/ E.L. Crawford Construction http://www.elcrawford.com/ Greater Than Financial https://www.greaterthanfinancial.com/

    For The Long Haul: 50+ Years of Business, Family, & Leadership with Bob Wollenman

  2. Sep 24

    Passport to Purpose: Miu Sutton's Road to Northwest Missouri

    Season two of The 39/94 kicks off with one of the most fearless young entrepreneurs in Northwest Missouri: Miu Sutton, founder of Miuze Marketing. Born and raised in Bangkok, Miu grew up in Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Laos, and Australia, learning English after moving abroad and making friends from around the world at international schools. A college fair in Bangkok led her to Missouri Western State University, where she arrived alone at 18 in 2013. Only after she was accepted did she realize she'd spent childhood Christmases in Savannah, Missouri, where her aunt lives. Miu shares how her mentor Annette Weeks helped shaped her path, and how she built Miuze Marketing into an all-women boutique agency serving St. Joseph and Kansas City. She talks about helping to launch Palmer's Ice Cream and Desserts from the ground up, her advice for camera-shy business owners, life as a proud single mom to five-year-old Leon, and her newest venture: Pour Before, a coffee and beverage shop she's opening with business partner Alexis in Kansas City's Parade Park development near 18th & Vine. In this episode: • Growing up across four countries and landing in St. Joseph • A "God-coordinated" connection to Savannah, Missouri • How mentorship and programs like Leadership Savannah shaped her journey • Building Miuze Marketing: social media, websites, SEO, and ads • Advice for business owners who'd rather stay behind the camera • Going into business with a best friend, and how to protect the partnership • Why Northwest Missouri is home Connect with Miu: miuzemarketing.com | @miuzemarketing on Facebook and Instagram The 39/94 Podcast - New episodes every week! Watch this episode on YouTube: @the3994podcast Learn more about supporting The 39/94 Podcast: Patreon Our sponsors: North Central Missouri College www.ncmissouri.edu | Scooter's Coffee Savannah & St. Joseph (Facebook: ScootersCoffeeSavannah) | Wollenman Family's Deluxe Truck Stop https://www.deluxetruckstop.com/ | Gina's Cafe & Catering https://www.ginascafeandcatering.com/ | E.L. Crawford Construction http://www.elcrawford.com/ | Greater Than Financial https://www.greaterthanfinancial.com/

    Passport to Purpose: Miu Sutton's Road to Northwest Missouri

  3. Sep 17

    Friends, Fried Chicken & Following Your Dreams With Gina Calderwood

    The 39/94 is officially one year old! 🎉 For this special anniversary episode, the microphone changes hands. Gina Calderwood of Gina’s Café & Catering turns the table and interviews Jodie (after Jodie asks a ton of questions). We hear about Gina's journey and they discuss female friendships, but we also get the story behind the podcast and everything that has happened during its first year. Jodie and Gina talk about: • How The 39/94 began and why local storytelling matters • The people who encouraged Jodie to believe the podcast could work • What Jodie has learned after more than 50 podcasts • The importance of friendship and having people who will tell you the truth • Gina’s passion for cooking and the story behind Gina’s Café & Catering • The challenges of staying authentic in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms and AI • Why local voices and local journalism still matter • The evolution of The 39/94 and what’s ahead for Season Two • And, of course, Gina's unforgettable San Francisco Waymo adventure 😂 This conversation is part anniversary reflection, part friendship conversation and part "look behind the scenes/peak behind the curtain" of The 39/94. Most of all, it’s a thank-you to the people who have shared their stories and to everyone who has listened, watched and supported the show during its first year. About Gina CalderwoodGina Calderwood is the owner and head chef of Gina’s Café & Catering in Cosby, Missouri. She returned to her hometown and followed her passion for cooking, building Gina’s into a destination for home cooking, catering, meal kits and more. Learn more: Gina’s Café & Catering The 39/94 Podcast – New episodes every week! ▶️ Watch more episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the3994podcast ❤️ Support The 39/94 Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/the3994 Our SponsorsScooter's Coffee – Savannah & St. Joseph https://www.facebook.com/scooterscoffeesavannah Wollenman Family's Deluxe Truck Stop https://www.deluxetruckstop.com/ Gina's Cafe & Catering https://www.ginascafeandcatering.com/ E.L. Crawford Construction http://www.elcrawford.com/ Greater Than Financial https://www.greaterthanfinancial.com/ Pankakes, Pups & Suds https://www.facebook.com/cpankake/ North Central Missouri College https://www.ncmissouri.edu/ Mentioned in this episode: Missouri Western State UniversityKQ2-Mike BraccianoLute AtiehPatterson FoundationAnnette Weeks

    Friends, Fried Chicken & Following Your Dreams With Gina Calderwood

  4. Sep 10

    Local Realtor, Army Veteran & New Dad: Louie Guardado on Finding Purpose & Giving Back

    Louie Guardado joins The 39/94 for a conversation about finding his path, building a career in real estate, becoming a husband and new dad, and learning what it means to give back. After struggling to figure out what came next, Louie joined the Army, a decision he says was one of the best he ever made. Today, he's a young realtor navigating a competitive industry while building relationships and establishing himself in Northwest Missouri. Louie and I also talk about the whirlwind of the past two years. He and his wife got married, moved to a new city, bought a house, got a dog and had a baby. We get into fatherhood, faith, family, the challenges of being an introvert in a relationship-driven business and the lessons Louie has learned along the way. Louie is also spearheading The One Invitational, a golf fundraiser supporting Sisters of Solace. We talk about why giving back is important to him, the challenges of organizing his first fundraiser and what he hopes the event will accomplish. And, of course, we have to talk about his 10-month-old son, who apparently doesn't believe in quietly waking Dad up. 😂 The One Invitational golf tournament (Oct 9, Fairview Golf Course) for Sisters of Solace Register to Play or Become A Sponsor: https://birdease.com/THEONEINVITATIONALSTJOE The 39/94 Podcast – New episodes every week! ▶️ Watch more episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the3994podcast ❤️ Support The 39/94 Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/the3994 Our SponsorsScooter's Coffee – Savannah & St. Joseph https://www.facebook.com/scooterscoffeesavannah Wollenman Family's Deluxe Truck Stop https://www.deluxetruckstop.com/ Gina's Cafe & Catering https://www.ginascafeandcatering.com/ E.L. Crawford Construction http://www.elcrawford.com/ Greater Than Financial https://www.greaterthanfinancial.com/ Pankakes, Pups & Suds https://www.facebook.com/cpankake/ North Central Missouri College https://www.ncmissouri.edu/ Companies mentioned in this episode: Realty One Group CornerstoneSisters of SolaceFairview Golf CourseWellspring Community Church

    Local Realtor, Army Veteran & New Dad: Louie Guardado on Finding Purpose & Giving Back

  5. Sep 3

    The Stories We Carry: A Conversation with Tom Brand

    Tom Brand, St. Joseph author, storyteller, and weekly columnist for about 12 Missouri newspapers, and director of the St. Joseph Community Alliance joins Jodie O'Brien this week on The 39/94 to talk about his unusual hobby of buying old photographs at thrift stores and inventing fictional stories for the strangers pictured in them, a project he sees as a way of preserving people who might otherwise be forgotten....but that's not all. The conversation moves through his writing life, from his newspaper columns to his books, including the origin of his memorably titled first book, a tribute to his father through personal essays, and his kids' book inspired by Pony Express rider, "Johnny Fry". Tom also opens up about surviving a massive heart attack and bypass surgery in 2013, including the moment his heart stopped and a surgeon held it by hand to keep him alive, reflecting on how it reshaped his outlook on life. The episode closes with a candid, deeply personal conversation about the loss of his son, Alex, to suicide in 2015, suspected ties to CTE from repeated concussions, and how he and his wife have carried that grief while continuing to find meaning and gratitude. Topics Covered: Preserving forgotten lives through fiction inspired by discarded photographsThe evolution of a weekly newspaper column into published booksFamily, faith, and rural Missouri as recurring themes in his writingPractical guidance for first-time authors on publishing and independent bookstoresSurviving cardiac arrest in 2013 and the perspective it producedLosing a child to suicide, the role of concussions, and living with griefBuilding community through the St. Joseph Community Alliance You can learn more about Tom here: https://tombrandwrites.com/ The 39/94 Podcast – New episodes every week! ▶️ Watch more episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the3994podcast ❤️ Support The 39/94 Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/the3994 Our SponsorsScooter's Coffee – Savannah & St. Joseph https://www.facebook.com/scooterscoffeesavannah Wollenman Family's Deluxe Truck Stop https://www.deluxetruckstop.com/ Gina's Cafe & Catering https://www.ginascafeandcatering.com/ E.L. Crawford Construction http://www.elcrawford.com/ Greater Than Financial https://www.greaterthanfinancial.com/ Pankakes, Pups & Suds https://www.facebook.com/cpankake/ North Central Missouri College https://www.ncmissouri.edu/ Companies mentioned in this episode: KFEQEL Crawford ConstructionGreater Than FinancialGina's Cafe and CateringWollenman Family's Deluxe Truck StopPankakes, Pups and SudsScooters CoffeeNorth Central Missouri CollegePony Express MuseumRichardson Press Links referenced in this episode: richardsonpress.com

    The Stories We Carry: A Conversation with Tom Brand

  6. Aug 27

    Making the Big Time Where You're At: Wes Simmons on Culture, Legacy, and Hope

    Wes Simmons played on back-to-back NCAA Division II national championship teams at Northwest Missouri State, then spent his career coaching coaches...not just in athletics, but in business, education, healthcare and beyond. Today, he is the founder of the 3D Institute and founder/president of the Joseph Company, the group behind St. Joseph's movement to reclaim its identity as the “City of Coaches.” This week, Wes joins Jodie O'Brien on The 39/94 to talk leadership, legacy, hope and what it really means to coach beyond the scoreboard. He explains the 3D Coaching framework and why the areas where leaders can have the greatest impact...mindset, identity, character, significance and self-worth often receive the least training. He also shares how losing his brother and being surrounded by extraordinary coaches shaped his understanding of what a healthy culture can mean when people are going through hard things. Then we turn to St. Joseph. A community survey conducted this year found that 78% of respondents did not believe St. Joseph was headed in a healthy direction for future generations. Wes says that should be a reason to “call a timeout”...not to give up, but to have an honest conversation about where the community goes from here. We talk about the trust gap between citizens and community leadership, the importance of building culture intentionally, and Wes's vision for St. Joseph as the City of Coaches, a place where people can be resourced, equipped and launched to pursue their dreams. Wes also shares the “halftime” moment during the pandemic that caused him to rethink whether he should leave St. Joseph, the difference between success and significance, and why he believes you can “make the big time where you're at.” And, of course, we talk about Bob Ross. This is a conversation about where St. Joseph has been, where it is now, and what it could become if its people decide to build the next chapter together. Interested in signing up to be part of the conversation Sept 1st? https://thejosephcompany.com/events/coaches-timeout/ The 39/94 Podcast – New episodes every week! ▶️ Watch more episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the3994podcast ❤️ Support The 39/94 Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/the3994 Our SponsorsScooter's Coffee – Savannah & St. Joseph https://www.facebook.com/scooterscoffeesavannah Wollenman Family's Deluxe Truck Stop https://www.deluxetruckstop.com/ Gina's Cafe & Catering https://www.ginascafeandcatering.com/ E.L. Crawford Construction http://www.elcrawford.com/ Greater Than Financial https://www.greaterthanfinancial.com/ Pankakes, Pups & Suds https://www.facebook.com/cpankake/ North Central Missouri College https://www.ncmissouri.edu/ Companies mentioned in this episode: 3D InstituteThe Joseph CompanyNorthwest Missouri State UniversityEL Crawford ConstructionGreat than FinancialGina's Cafe and CateringWolleman Family's Deluxe Truck Stop PancakesScooters CoffeeNorth Central Missouri College

    Making the Big Time Where You're At: Wes Simmons on Culture, Legacy, and Hope

  7. Aug 20

    Behind the Headlines at the Bartlett Center: VP of the Board, Tama Wagner on What Comes Next

    For over 50 years, the Bartlett Center has been a fixture in Midtown St. Joseph, child care, preschool, after-school programs, and a lifeline for families across a low-income part of the city. This year, it's also been in the headlines: financial strain, a request to the city for rent relief, and hard questions about what comes next. In this episode, I sit down with Tama Wagner, Vice President of the Bartlett Center's board of directors, for an honest conversation about where things stand. We talk about the Center's shoestring budget and reliance on inconsistent state subsidies, what really happened when the board went to the city council for help, the delicate balance of separating executive director Latonya Williams' political life from her role serving nearly 90 children a day, and the board's new "Friends of the Bartlett Center" push to refocus attention on the kids, families, and staff who depend on it. We also get into Tama's own remarkable career, a journalism degree from Kansas State, a decade covering the Kansas legislature and politics for public radio (including some memories with Senator Bob Dole), a jump to the "dark side" of political campaigns, and 15 years at Mosaic Life Care before roles in manufacturing, at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, and at Missouri Western, before retiring this past June. This is a candid look at what it actually takes to keep a community institution alive, and what you can do to help. In this episode: What the Bartlett Center does day to day, and why it's always operated on the edge financiallyThe real story behind the city council rent-relief requestNavigating the politics around executive director Latonya WilliamsThe board's brand refresh and new fundraising pushTama's path from TV reporter to political operative to nonprofit board leaderWhat a thriving Bartlett Center looks like a year from now, and how to help today How to help: Follow "Friends of the Bartlett Center" on Facebook, or donate directly via the Center's online portal or Venmo @BartlettCenter. The 39/94 Podcast – New episodes every week! ▶️ Watch more episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the3994podcast ❤️ Support The 39/94 Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/the3994 Our SponsorsScooter's Coffee – Savannah & St. Joseph https://www.facebook.com/scooterscoffeesavannah Wollenman Family's Deluxe Truck Stop https://www.deluxetruckstop.com/ Gina's Cafe & Catering https://www.ginascafeandcatering.com/ E.L. Crawford Construction http://www.elcrawford.com/ Greater Than Financial https://www.greaterthanfinancial.com/ Pankakes, Pups & Suds https://www.facebook.com/cpankake/ Links referenced in this episode: facebook.com/friendsofthebartlettcenter Companies mentioned in this episode: Scooter's CoffeeWollenman Family's Deluxe Truck StopGina's Cafe and CateringGreater than FinancialEL Crawford ConstructionPankakes, Pups and Suds

    Behind the Headlines at the Bartlett Center: VP of the Board, Tama Wagner on What Comes Next

  8. Aug 13

    From Refugee to Author at 80: Rewriting Your Story in Life’s Later Chapters with Sieglinde Othmer

    Northwest Missouri author Sieglinde Othmer is proof that life doesn’t stop at 80, it can actually begin a whole new chapter. On this episode of The 39/94, Sieglinde and I talk about resilience, reinvention, purpose and what it means to embrace aging with joy and intention. After losing her longtime husband and navigating significant changes in her life, Sieglinde turned her experiences into wisdom—and eventually into her book, “Joyous Longevity: The A to Z Field Guide.” We talk about the habits that can contribute to a longer, healthier life, why relationships and community are so important, the connection between trauma and aging, and why having a sense of purpose can make such a difference. Sieglinde also shares five essential habits for longevity and explains why the environment and people around us can have such a profound impact on our health and well-being. This is a conversation about getting older, but it’s really about something much bigger: how to keep growing, connecting, finding purpose and living fully in every chapter of life. In this episode: Sieglinde’s journey of resilience and reinventionJoyous Longevity: The A to Z Field GuideThe importance of purpose and social connectionFive habits that can support longevityManaging trauma and looking toward the futureHow our communities and environments influence our well-beingWhy aging can be an opportunity—not an ending The 39/94 Podcast – New episodes every week! ▶️ Watch more episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the3994podcast ❤️ Support The 39/94 Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/the3994 Our SponsorsScooter's Coffee – Savannah & St. Joseph https://www.facebook.com/scooterscoffeesavannah Wollenman Family's Deluxe Truck Stop https://www.deluxetruckstop.com/ Gina's Cafe & Catering https://www.ginascafeandcatering.com/ E.L. Crawford Construction http://www.elcrawford.com/ Greater Than Financial https://www.greaterthanfinancial.com/ Pankakes, Pups & Suds https://www.facebook.com/cpankake/ Links referenced in this episode: joyouslongevity.com Companies mentioned in this episode: Bradley CommunicationsThe Metropolitan OperaWashington UniversityUniversity of KentuckyScooter's CoffeeWollenman Family's Deluxe Truck StopGina's Cafe and CateringGreater than FinancialEL Crawford ConstructionPankakes, Pups and Suds

    From Refugee to Author at 80: Rewriting Your Story in Life’s Later Chapters with Sieglinde Othmer
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Welcome to The 39/94. Every great story starts with a place, and this is our place. Named after the coordinates of our region (39°N, 94°W), Jodie O'Brien hosts a weekly dive-in with the people, stories, and conversations shaping life across Northwest Missouri. Big topics, small towns, and the people who make this place worth talking about. Your neighbor's story. Your town's news. Your community's voice. We pull up a chair, ask the tough questions, share the good laughs, and bring you the stories you didn't know you needed - the stuff that makes you proud, makes you think, makes you laugh, and reminds you why Northwest Missouri feels like home. 🎙️ New episodes every week. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Information

  • Creator
    Jodie O'Brien
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jodie O'Brien
  • Show Website
    The 39/94

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