Doug Has Questions

Douglas

Doug Has Questions is a podcast dedicated to thoughtful conversation that leads to better understanding, connection, and inspiration. Host Douglas Olerud draws on his life experience to explore the stories of the people he’s met along the way.

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 45: Nicole Holm; Hard To Kill! What Does Resilience Look Like!

    Send us Fan Mail A nine-year-old gets hit by a stray bullet while playing second base. A 30-year-old nursing student hears the words “you have cancer” and still has to get dinner on the table for three boys. A seasoned Alaska RN crashes an airboat into a sweeper, wakes up pinned, and starts running a trauma checklist on herself while the boat sinks. That’s the real-life timeline Nicole Holm lays out with us, and it’s as raw, specific, and human as it sounds. We talk about growing up in Haines, Alaska, where isolation is normal, adventure is a lifestyle, and emergencies can be hours away. Nicole shares the improbable childhood run of injuries, what the White Fang filming years felt like for local families, and why small-town resilience isn’t a slogan, it’s a skill you practice early. Then we step into military spouse life in Georgia during Iraq deployments: ten-minute communication windows, blackout periods, and the strange mix of community support and constant dread. Nicole also walks us through her stage two breast cancer diagnosis at 30, the surgery decisions, chemotherapy reality, and the complications that nearly took her out after she “rang the bell.” Finally, we break down the 2022 Chilkat River airboat crash, the inReach SOS that set rescue in motion, the limits of rural EMS pain control, and what it’s like to rebuild a body and confidence after broken ribs, a shattered knee, and sepsis. If you care about rural healthcare, Alaska survival stories, breast cancer recovery, military family life, or the hard-earned lessons behind outdoor safety gear, this conversation stays with you. Subscribe, share it with someone who needs a push to keep going, and leave a review with the line that hit you hardest. Thank you for liking and subscribing to all of Doug Has Questions  Visit Doug Has Questions Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580983432868 Visit Doug Has Question Instagram Page https://www.instagram.com/doughasquestions Visit Doug Has Questions YouTube Pagehttp://youtube.com/@doughasquestions

  2. Sep 24

    Episode 44: Matt Jones; From Kansas Prairie To Coast Guard Storms

    Send us Fan Mail A kid from flat Kansas farm country ends up on the open ocean, clinging to a mast in a storm and wondering if he will make it back down. That is where Matt Jones’ story gets real, and where mine as a listener shifted too. Matt walks us through the unexpected chain of choices that took him to the Coast Guard Academy, onto cutters and tall ships, and into a career shaped by responsibility, risk, and the kind of leadership you only learn when other people’s lives are tied to your decisions. We talk maritime law enforcement and what it actually looks like to run boardings, chase drug interdiction targets, and respond to migrant cases, plus how Coast Guard and Navy operations intersect in the real world. Matt shares the side nobody puts on recruiting posters: being away for weeks at a time, coming home to a family that had to learn how to function without you, and feeling your morals tested in moments when you are exhausted, stressed, and far from home. From there, he explains his shift into vessel inspections and marine safety, and why Kodiak and Alaska changed everything by making the work personal. The conversation turns toward calling and ministry, including what drew Matt toward becoming a pastor in Haines, how his theology widened over time, and why grace and second chances matter more when you have needed them yourself. We also go straight at mental health, OCD, and the cost of carrying “uber responsibility” for too long, connecting it to resilience, community service, and his role as an EMS chaplain after critical incidents like the Haines landslide. If you care about leadership, mental health, Coast Guard stories, Alaska life, or how a person becomes who they are, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with the moment that stayed with you most. -------------------- Thank you for liking and subscribing to all of Doug Has Questions  Visit Doug Has Questions Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580983432868 Visit Doug Has Question Instagram Page https://www.instagram.com/doughasquestions Visit Doug Has Questions YouTube Pagehttp://youtube.com/@doughasquestions

  3. Sep 17

    Episode 43: Jim Stanford; A Life Built On Hard Work

    Send us Fan Mail One minute Jim Stanford is a farm-country kid outside Cleveland pushing a mower across five-acre lawns. The next he’s caddying at a U.S. Open, running track and football at Kent State, and watching campus tension build until the Kent State shooting changes everything. Jim’s story has that rare mix of history, humor, and hard-earned clarity, and it only gets wilder from there.   We talk about leaving Ohio for San Diego, becoming a professional commercial diver, and how a civilian ends up training alongside Navy SEALs in the Vietnam-era world of mixed-gas diving and demolition prep. Then comes the curveball: a real plan to move to Perth through Australia’s “Australia Needs People” program, a cross-country drive to sign paperwork, and an impulsive decision that reroutes his entire life. That detour leads to a graduate class at Kent State, a red sweater, and a three-week courtship that turns into 54 years of marriage with Deb.   From Selma, Alabama, where Jim and Deb feel the tension of a divided town and see the Ku Klux Klan in full display, to Phoenix classrooms where he teaches construction tech and coaches, we keep circling back to the same question: how do you build a safe, meaningful life for your family? That question eventually points north to Haines, Alaska. Jim shares what it was like arriving in 1984, living in a tent, grabbing two jobs in three days, and building a reputation through construction, school maintenance, and constant community service.   We also go deep on dog mushing: training teams, racing across Yukon and Alaska trails, the rising cost of the sport, and why volunteer burnout is quietly shrinking events. Jim’s EMT stories and his ideas about emergency services, public gratitude, and civic responsibility land with real weight, especially if you care about small town life, local politics, or what it takes to keep a community healthy.   If you enjoy long-form storytelling, Haines Alaska history, dog mushing culture, and honest talk about volunteering and resilience, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves Alaska stories, and leave a review so more people can find the show. ------------ Thank you for liking and subscribing to all of Doug Has Questions  Visit Doug Has Questions Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580983432868 Visit Doug Has Question Instagram Page https://www.instagram.com/doughasquestions Visit Doug Has Questions YouTube Pagehttp://youtube.com/@doughasquestions

  4. Sep 10

    Episode 42: Shelby Steiner; How A Fashion Designer Builds Gear That Works

    Send us Fan Mail A great-looking jacket is the end of a very long chain of decisions and most people never see the chain. We talk with fashion designer Shelby Steiner about what actually happens between a sketch and a product you can buy, from pattern making and prototypes to tech packs, factory communication, and the unglamorous details that make gear work (or fail) in real life. Shelby shares how a rural upbringing and an early fixation on fashion pushed her to move fast, take risks, and eventually land in Chicago design school after a gut-level moment of “I belong here.” From there we get into the reality check that hits many young designers: the industry rewards repeatability, clear specs, and teamwork more than fantasy runway pieces. If you’re curious about apparel design, technical design, and product development, her breakdown makes the process feel concrete and human. The story gets even richer when she talks about launching her own line at 22, pitching boutiques with a suitcase, surviving rejection, and learning expensive lessons about production. Then comes her Nike chapter: eight years across women’s sportswear, NikeLab collaborations, and Nike ACG, including field testing outdoor systems from base layers to Gore-Tex shells. We also go beyond clothing into leadership, stress management, small-town life in Haines, Alaska, and why “finding your fit” might be the biggest career skill of all. If you’ve ever wanted to build something, change directions, or lead with more confidence, you’ll pull practical takeaways from this conversation. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who’s building their path, and leave a review with your biggest lesson from Shelby’s journey. To learn more about Shelby Steiner: https://www.shelbysteiner.com/ https://www.instagram.com/shelbysteiner https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelby-steiner-92a39a22 Doug Has Questions Can Be Found at  https://www.youtube.com/@DougHasQuestions https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580983432868 https://instagram.com/doughasquestions https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/doug-has-questions/id1856422429 https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZFknRuvVNbMzH6Pkr5EPx?si=83c4178dde204f1c #fashiondesign   #appareldesign   #youngdesigner  #DougHasQuestions #HainesAlaska #alaskaliving   #nikeacg   #outdoorgear   #ApparelDesignerPlaybook #nike   #fashionpodcast   #creativecareer   #goretex   #streetwear   #entrepreneurship   #womenindesign   #cabinbuild   #alaska   #chicagofashion   #ActivewearDesign #podcast  #longformcontent  #longform  #haines  #topdog  #fleece  #careeradvice  #career  #advice #careercoach

  5. Sep 3

    Episode 41: Randy Simmons; What Would David Do When Life Breaks

    Send us Fan Mail Click here to watch this Interview on YouTube. Click this link for more information on David Simmon's book, "50 Countries, 50 Stories." We’re talking with Randy Simmons about his son David: a switch hitter raised on work ethic and personal growth, a natural connector who made friends everywhere, and an entrepreneur who could turn airline miles and sheer curiosity into a year of travel across the world. If you care about parenting, identity, and building character that lasts, you’ll hear how small habits at home become a person’s compass later on.   We also follow David’s path from college baseball to playing in Germany, learning languages through community, and pursuing international education and public service. Randy shares the lessons he tried to model, including “I come to you unafraid” and the practice of leaning into problems instead of running from them. Those ideas show up in David’s life through bold choices, deep empathy, and the way he listens to people across different backgrounds without turning every conversation into a fight.   Then the story shifts to Haines, Alaska and the catastrophic landslide that takes David and his tenant Janae. We talk candidly about grief, the shock of loss, and the practical nightmare that follows: insurance fine print, disaster relief limits, a mortgage on unbuildable land, and even tax consequences after a write-off. Randy also shares the most moving part of his journey: recovering David’s 95,000-word draft, retrieving hard drives from Germany, and finishing David’s book, Fifty Countries, Fifty Stories, as an act of legacy and love.   If this hits you, subscribe so you don’t miss the next conversation, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What’s one principle you want to pass on to the people you love? ------------ Thank you for liking and subscribing to all of Doug Has Questions  Visit Doug Has Questions Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580983432868 Visit Doug Has Question Instagram Page https://www.instagram.com/doughasquestions Visit Doug Has Questions YouTube Pagehttp://youtube.com/@doughasquestions

  6. Aug 27

    Episode 40: Christine La Vonna; How A Cruise Ship Creator Built Her Global Travel Community

    Send us Fan Mail A cruise ship can be a vacation, a workplace, and sometimes a lifeline. From a room next to an aeroponics grow at Skagway Brewing Company, we talk with Christine Kessler, a former cruise director turned full-time travel creator, about the real story behind “getting paid to travel” and what it costs to build a life that never sits still. Christine takes us from Iowa to pageants, Oprah, and VH1, then into the cruise industry where she’s expected to move serious luxury sales in port. We dig into the moments that shaped her values: surviving HELLP syndrome and a premature birth, navigating postpartum depression, enduring the brutal pile-on of 2008, and finally leaving an abusive relationship by walking away from everything she owned. Her honesty is raw and practical, especially for anyone who’s ever felt trapped by money, fear, or a lack of options. Then the cruise ship stories get even wilder: a bowel rupture and sepsis that lands her in a New Zealand hospital for two months, and the COVID shutdown where she’s stuck onboard for 55 days on a repatriation ship, managing rules, uncertainty, and crew needs across dozens of nationalities. On the other side of that, she builds a massive Facebook-first Alaska cruise community, sets clear creator boundaries (no filming strangers), and grows a business ecosystem that includes travel groups and jewelry partnerships. If you love cruise ship life, Alaska cruise travel tips, behind-the-scenes maritime work, and social media strategy that’s actually human, you’ll want this one. Subscribe, share this with a friend planning a cruise, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re using next. Doug Has Questions is based out of Haines, Alaska Find Us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580983432868 Find Us on Instagram instagram.com/doughasquestions Find Us on Apple Podcasts podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/doug-has-questions/id1856422429 Find Us on Spotify Podcasts open.spotify.com/show/3ZFknRuvVNbMzH6Pkr5EPx?si=83c4178dde204f1c Find us on YouTube youtube.com/@DougHasQuestions

  7. Aug 20

    Episode 39: Kim Clune; What If Being Here Is The Lesson?

    Send us Fan Mail A last minute email pulls Kim Clune from a normal life and drops her into Haines, Alaska, guiding photography tours through bears, whales, wildflowers, and northern lights. That leap becomes the start of a bigger story about what happens when you stop chasing the “perfect setup” and start practicing real attention. We talk about teaching photography across every skill level, why gear obsession can ruin the shot, and how the best images often come from staying quiet long enough to actually see what’s unfolding. Then the conversation turns hard and honest. Kim shares her stage three breast cancer diagnosis, the brutal reality of chemotherapy side effects, surgery, radiation, and the complicated emotions that come with chronic illness, grief, and survival. She explains invasive lobular carcinoma and why self checks matter, and she gives the simplest, most useful advice for anyone supporting a loved one with cancer: ask what they need, then listen without trying to fix them. We also go somewhere unexpected, into out of body experiences, guided meditation, and the way a crisis can reshape beliefs about purpose, trauma, and what it means to be present. Kim talks about her accidental viral YouTube update, the joy and the backlash that came with public storytelling, and why she’s now working toward more compassionate end of life options like death with dignity in Alaska. If you care about photography, resilience, cancer support, or end of life planning, this one stays with you. Subscribe for more conversations, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re sitting with today. ------------- To Learn More About Hospice in Haines Alaska, enjoy this interview with Hospice Director Shannon McPhetres - https://youtu.be/c1mEX0sKUg0 Visit Kim's Photo Page - https://www.kimclune.com/ Visit Kim's YouTube Page - https://www.youtube.com/@kimclune  Visit Kim's Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/kimcluneART/ Visit Doug Has Questions Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580983432868 Visit Doug Has Question Instagram Page https://www.instagram.com/doughasquestions

  8. Aug 13

    Episode 38: Kim LeDuc; Spam, Cockroaches, And A Call From God

    Send us Fan Mail A sore tongue that wouldn’t heal turns into a cancer diagnosis. A small-town Minnesota kid winds up leading in Mongolia. A long-distance dating message turns into a marriage and another cross-cultural leap. Kim LeDuc’s story keeps forcing the same question: what do you do when life changes fast and you trust God to make decisions?   We trace Kim’s path from farm life in Austin, Minnesota, to youth ministry, missions in Poland, and a decade in Mongolia doing English education and discipleship. We talk honestly about culture shock, spiritual curiosity, and why relationships are what finally make a hard place feel like home. Then the conversation flips to the harder return: missionary burnout, leadership pressure, and the quiet damage that can build when you’re “doing good work” but you’re running empty.   Kim shares what actually helped her heal: counseling, a true sabbatical, making room to grieve, and a journaling practice that sounds simple but gets practical fast. We also walk through her tongue cancer journey in Alaska, the surgery and radiation decisions, and the ongoing reality of scanxiety. And we talk about adoption, building family through foster care, and why creating smaller, safer spaces for faith can matter for people who want God but feel uneasy in church.   If you’ve wrestled with discernment, church hurt, burnout recovery, or rebuilding your faith habits, this conversation will meet you with honesty and hope. Subscribe to Doug Has Questions, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review with the moment you want to remember. ------------ Thank you for liking and subscribing to all of Doug Has Questions  Visit Doug Has Questions Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580983432868 Visit Doug Has Question Instagram Page https://www.instagram.com/doughasquestions Visit Doug Has Questions YouTube Pagehttp://youtube.com/@doughasquestions

See All (45)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Doug Has Questions is a podcast dedicated to thoughtful conversation that leads to better understanding, connection, and inspiration. Host Douglas Olerud draws on his life experience to explore the stories of the people he’s met along the way.

Information

  • Creator
    Douglas
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Doug Has Questions
  • Show Website
    Doug Has Questions

You Might Also Like