Collaborative Solutions Podcast

Collaborative Solutions Podcast

In the Collaborative Solutions podcast, listeners are introduced to a diverse panel of local experts from Kansas as they work to solve the challenging social issues that confront people experiencing homelessness. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, James Chiselom, Barry Feaker, Misty Bosch-Hastings, and Brett Hartford highlight the importance of collaboration and compassion in finding solutions.

  1. JAN 26

    Episode 50: From the Dais With Amber Sellers: Building Policy That Works for People

    n this episode of Collaborative Solutions, recorded during a dangerous January polar freeze, the conversation moves seamlessly between urgent, on-the-ground homelessness response and the deeper policy structures that shape who is helped, and how. City Commissioner Amber Sellers offers a rare perspective from inside government: someone who has worked directly with people experiencing hardship and now helps shape the policies that affect them.   Commissioner Sellers shares why she believes the people closest to the pain must be closer to power, how she has learned to re-channel advocacy into effective governance, and why housing, access, and coordination of care are inseparable from public health and community well-being. Lawrence is no longer just talking about solutions; it is showing and proving that coordinated, people-centered policy can move the needle.

    50 min

  2. JAN 3

    Episode 49: How Cities Move Forward: Leadership, Collaboration, and the Work Ahead with Mayor Brad Finkeldei

    We kick off 2026 with a conversation with Mayor Brad Finkeldei, who shares what it’s really like to lead a city through complex and often polarizing issues. From homelessness to community growth, Mayor Finkeldei reflects on the role of political will, collaboration, and steady leadership in shaping Lawrence’s direction.   This episode explores what happens when policy, partnership, and persistence come together - and why progress is rarely linear, but always worth working for.

    51 min

  3. 09/04/2025

    Episode 48: Trusted Navigators - Community Health at Work in Lawrence

    Today’s guests are three frontline community health champions: Raul Saenz-Escarcega of Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, a certified CHW who builds trust through relentless outreach—from encampments to home visits with Mobile Integrated Health—connecting neighbors to food, transportation, and care while advocating for equitable systems; Jenn Kessler of Heartland Community Health Center, who leads CHW efforts that remove real-world barriers (think flexible appointment policies, rapid warm handoffs, and a volunteer-powered care cupboard) and weave tight partnerships across agencies; and Shawna Davis, also at Heartland, a pediatric-focused CHW whose lived experience fuels compassionate, rapid response for families—spotting crises early, rallying supports, and meeting parents and kids exactly where they are. Together, they’re the relationship-driven navigators turning “a place for everyone” from slogan into daily practice in Lawrence and Douglas County.

    56 min

  4. 08/21/2025

    Episode 47: Building Community Infrastructure for Behavioral Health - A Conversation with Dr. Kenneth Minkoff

    On this episode of Collaborative Solutions (August 20, 2025), hosts Barry Feaker, Misty Bosch-Hastings, and Brett Hartford welcome special guest Dr. Kenneth Minkoff, a nationally recognized leader in psychiatry, addiction, and system design for behavioral health. Dr. Minkoff shares insights on how Douglas County became connected to his work through the Roadmap to the Ideal Crisis System, and he emphasizes the importance of building proactive, community-wide crisis response networks that treat behavioral health as essential infrastructure—on par with police, fire, and EMS. The conversation highlights Lawrence’s progress in reducing homelessness, the role of outreach teams in engaging people with complex needs, and the value of small, compassionate steps that build trust and long-term stability. Dr. Minkoff also cautions against framing behavioral health investment only in terms of cost savings, stressing instead that effective crisis care is a fundamental community responsibility.

    57 min

  5. 08/14/2025

    Episode 46: Building Hope and Community: Catholic Charities’ Mission in Action

    In this August 13, 2025 episode of Collaborative Solutions, hosted by Barry Feaker and guest co-host Brett Hartford, the conversation centers on tackling homelessness in Lawrence, Douglas County, and beyond, featuring guests Kaitlyn Mercer, Manager of Family Support for Catholic Charities in Lawrence, and Nelson Vowels, Senior Director of Mission Operations for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. Mercer shares how the Lawrence Family Support Center provides food, clothing, rental and utility assistance, homeless prevention, and rapid rehousing, with a focus on wraparound services that stabilize and uplift individuals and families. Vowels offers a regional perspective, describing Catholic Charities’ 21-county network, including transitional housing programs like Shalom House, eviction prevention, refugee resettlement, and immigration legal services—all available to people of any faith or no faith. Together, the guests emphasize the importance of both transactional aid and relational hospitality, illustrating how simple acts of connection can restore dignity, foster hope, and inspire community transformation.

    45 min

  6. 08/06/2025

    Episode 45: Business with Purpose - Aaron Thakker on Building More Than Just Structures

    In this powerful episode of Collaborative Solutions, Misty Bosch-Hastings and Barry Feaker sit down with Lawrence business leader Aaron Thakker, a man whose journey from justice involvement as a youth to successful entrepreneurship is both inspiring and deeply personal.   Aaron shares how one adult’s belief in him at age 17 changed the course of his life, sparking a transformation that now fuels his commitment to helping others. As the founder of multiple companies and the nonprofit Anchored Collective, Aaron uses his success to give back by supporting housing projects, family services, and community partnerships throughout Douglas County.   More than a businessman, Aaron is a hope dealer. His story is a testament to the power of second chances, the importance of presence, and the impact that’s possible when people from all sectors unite to address homelessness.   This episode is a heartfelt reminder: You don’t have to be in social services to change lives, you just have to show up.

    37 min

  7. 07/28/2025

    Episode 44: Sunshine on the Front Lines - APRN Becky Lagger-Dyer's role in ending chronic homelessness

    In this powerful episode, Misty Bosch-Hastings and Barry Feaker welcome Becky Lagger-Dyer, a nurse practitioner with Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health and a core member of the Homeless Response Team (HRT). Becky shares how she brings both medical and psychiatric care directly to unsheltered individuals, building trust and bridging critical service gaps.   Her personal journey - from a teen mom on public assistance to a 6 degree having, dual-certified nurse practitioner - is as inspiring as the impact she makes in the field. The team also celebrates a major win: a woman in crisis saying yes to treatment after months of outreach.   Someone once believed Becky had more to offer - and now, she’s the one planting that belief in others every day.

    46 min

  8. 07/02/2025

    Episode 43: Destined for Greatness - Dustin Moore’s Path from Prison to Purpose

    In this powerful episode of Collaborative Solutions, we spotlight Dustin Moore—Lead for the City of Lawrence’s Homeless Response Team through Artists Helping the Homeless, a devoted father and husband, and a tireless advocate for people experiencing homelessness.   Dustin’s journey to this role is nothing short of extraordinary. Formerly incarcerated and unhoused, he has transformed his life through courage, accountability, and a deep commitment to service. His story is a testament to growth, resilience, and the power of second chances.   With raw honesty and deep insight, Dustin reflects on the complexity of addiction and homelessness—reminding us that not every story begins with trauma or hardship. Sometimes, these struggles touch the lives of people who had stability and support. Addiction knows no boundaries. It cuts across income, race, and background—and so does the hope of recovery.   Dustin shares how he rebuilt his life, rose into leadership, and now shows up every day to walk alongside others on their own path to stability. His journey challenges stereotypes and reminds us that redemption isn’t just possible—it’s powerful.

    51 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

In the Collaborative Solutions podcast, listeners are introduced to a diverse panel of local experts from Kansas as they work to solve the challenging social issues that confront people experiencing homelessness. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, James Chiselom, Barry Feaker, Misty Bosch-Hastings, and Brett Hartford highlight the importance of collaboration and compassion in finding solutions.

Information

  • Creator
    Collaborative Solutions Podcast
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Collaborative Solutions Podcast