ReadMHK Podcast Manhattan Public Library

The focus of this episode is exploring beliefs. Join us as we speak with Reverend Caela Simmons Wood. Caela has a B.A. in History from Kansas State University, a Masters in Theological Studies at Perkins School of Theology at Dallas, and a Masters in Divinity at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. She became ordained in the United Church of Christ in 2010 and became the first female pastor of Manhattan's First Congregational United Church of Christ in 2014.



Caela is passionate about understanding and confronting systemic injustices, especially related to race, sexuality and gender, economic inequality, and environmental stewardship.

The focus of this episode is military life. Join us as we speak with Chad Moreau, a husband and father to four children, and a recently retired Air Force veteran. A native of New Orleans, Chad joined the Air Force following the September 11, 2001 attacks, with assignments in four states, and deployments to six countries.

The focus of this episode is the immigrant experience. Join us as we speak with Rohina and Zohra Safa, two sisters from Ghazni province in Afghanistan. They recently resettled here in Manhattan, Kansas with the help of the Manhattan Afghan Resettlement Team (MART) after they were forced to flee their home when the Taliban took over their country. We also speak with two volunteers from MART, Fatima Jaghoori and Sarah Inskeep, who were both instrumental in helping immigrants from Afghanistan resettle here in Manhattan.

Our inspiration for this episode of the ReadMHK podcast is this year's K-State First Book, Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why by Amanda Ripley. This book reviews not only disasters, both natural and man-made throughout history, but uses those disasters for context to examine how and why people survive, and what we can do to increase our odds of survival. Join us as we speak with Annie Spence, a personal trainer who offers client-centered coaching, based on her years of experience, her degree in Kinesiology, and her broad-reaching professional certifications. Thanks to her previous strength training, Annie survived a traumatic crush injury in New Zealand that led to a six-month hospital stay, left her with 29 screws and three plates in her pelvis and spine, and she eventually had a complete hip replacement. This left Annie with an even greater gratitude for movement, health, and strength.

On this month of the ReadMHK podcast we are focused on Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Join us as we speak with Fanny Fang, a proud first-generation Chinese Kansan, a graduate of New York University, and currently the Chief People Officer of Mama Fang's International Market. Her focus is on carrying out the market's mission to cultivate nourished communities by feeding the human mind, body, and soul.

On this month of the ReadMHK podcast we are focused on poetry. Join us as we speak with Dr. Traci Brimhall, a poet and author of four poetry collections, most recently Come the Slumberless to the Land of Nod. Dr. Brimhall is also an Associate Professor and the Director of Creative Writing at Kansas State University.