With Arms Wide Open St. Vincent de Paul Louisville

If you want to grow as a leader, then listen to Churchill Downs Incorporated President & COO Bill Mudd and Vice President of Corporate Communications Tonya Abeln open up about what they've learned as high-level leaders over the years. 

In our 25th podcast episode and ahead of the 150th Kentucky Derby, we hear from Bill and Tonya as they talk about what's new at Churchill Downs and give leadership advice. You can download to listen, or watch now!

Watch: https://youtu.be/dGr5INxvp4o

Bill has been the President and Chief Operating Officer of CDI since 2015. He joined CDI in 2007 as the Executive Vice President and CFO after working for several years at General Electric and was promoted to the role of President and CFO in 2014. Under Bill’s leadership CDI’s business has expanded through the development of live and historical racing entertainment venues, the growth of TwinSpires horse racing online wagering business and the operation and development of regional casino gaming properties. CDI follows a long tradition of corporate social responsibility and has been a committed charitable partner for decades. 
In her role as Vice President of Corporate Communications for Churchill Downs, Tonya is responsible for the strategy, implementation and oversight of internal and external communications and revels in the opportunity to share the thrilling and inspiring stories behind one of America’s most iconic brand—the Kentucky Derby. Additionally, as President of Churchill Downs Foundation, she drives strategic charitable initiatives and manages community partnerships across the company’s entire portfolio of racetrack and gaming properties. 

Our CEO Dave Calzi sits down with Bill and Tonya to hear about the rich history of the Kentucky Derby and CDI: 
Bill and Tonya reminisce on their favorite Derby Day memories.The major changes and cultural shifts at CDI over the last couple of decades, including what's new ahead of this year's race.The first Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks were held in 1875. St. Vincent de Paul Louisville started in 1853. Each organization has a rich history that has impacted the community in different ways. Through corporate giving, the Churchill Downs Foundation  contributes over $5 million annually in charitable grants and in-kind donations to more than 800 organizations nationwide. Tonya talks about the importance of the Foundation's corporate charitable giving. They share some of the ways CDI serves the community and seeks to engage horseracing fans year-round, including the Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy. The definition and growing pains of leadership, especially in the early years. Advice for young leaders who don't just want to climb the ladder, but hope to make a difference in the workplace for the benefit of the community. How you can balance a demanding job with everything else in your life. To learn more, visit https://www.churchilldownsincorporated.com/. 
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Scarlet Hope founder Rachelle Starr used to drive past "Theatre X" everyday on her way to work without thinking twice about the sex entertainment industry. Today, she goes into strip clubs with home-cooked meals and brings hope to the women inside.

In 2007, Rachelle founded Scarlet Hope, a nonprofit that shares the hope and love of Jesus with women in the adult entertainment industry. Scarlet Hope has since expanded across 10 cities in the United States from Las Vegas and Los Angeles to Atlanta and Orlando. Rachelle is a national speaker who has trained thousands of people to launch similar nonprofits worldwide. She is also the author of “Outrageous Obedience.” You can download to listen, or watch now!

Watch: https://youtu.be/WnzD9wFdLpw

Our CEO Dave Calzi sits down with Rachelle to talk about the local and global sex entertainment industry: 


Rachelle shares her story and how Scarlet Hope launched. In the early years of Scarlet Hope, Rachelle talks about her many personal doubts and others calling her "crazy." She shares about overcoming her initial fears and her organization's frontline work to combat sex trafficking. How Hollywood films like "Taken" or "Sound of Freedom"  may not give us an accurate picture of the adult entertainment industry. Louisville is the 13th largest sex industry per capita in America. Rachelle says sex trafficking is happening "right next door" and gives us a look behind the curtain into the adult entertainment industry—whether in strip clubs, online, or on the streets. Rachelle and her team went to this year's Super Bowl in Las Vegas. She shares about sex trafficking at the Super Bowl and their organization's outreach experience. 

To learn more, visit https://scarlethope.org/. Thanks to everyone who listened! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn!

What's it like to win a Grammy? Teddy Abrams tells us in his own words ... and his answer might surprise you.

This podcast episode is powerful, especially for anyone who has a passion or dream! For the last decade, Teddy has been a conductor, pianist, clarinetist, and composer and presently serves as the Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra and the Britt Festival Orchestra. Under his leadership, the Louisville Orchestra has experienced unprecedented success and its attendance has increased 30%. As Musical America’s 2022 Conductor of the Year, Teddy has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, the New Yorker, and NPR, among other media outlets. You can download to listen, or watch now!

Watch: https://youtu.be/2EJ519TZ7UM 

Our CEO Dave Calzi sits down with Teddy to talk all things music: 
Teddy shares how his upbringing influenced him at an early age. He began improvising on piano at age 3 and has fallen in love with music ever since! Teddy took over the Louisville Orchestra at a time when it was not in a great spot and had filed for bankruptcy in 2013. He shares how a tight budget actually inspired a culture of artistic creativity. Teddy is known for riding his bike everywhere. He just got his driver's license. He tells us why! This February, Teddy received his first ever Grammy Award after winning the Best Classical Instrumental Solo for the orchestra's performance in “The American Project” with world-renowned pianist Yuja Wang. The Louisville Orchestra is playing their third “Music Without Borders” performance at the Family Success Center on Friday, April 12. Teddy shares why it's important to make music available to everyone in our community. You can get your free tickets today!

To learn more, visit https://louisvilleorchestra.org/. Thanks to everyone who listened! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn!

How do Legos help explain housing segregation? Louisville Metro Government Planning Supervisor Joel Dock shares what they have to do with one another. 

This is an eye-opening podcast conversation! On the topic of housing segregation, author Leah Rothstein and Joel are global and local leaders, respectively. They are passionate about what we can do in our own communities to begin to challenge and redress segregation. You can also watch now!

Watch: Video

Leah is a nationally known housing policy expert and coauthored “Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law,” which released last year. Joel has worked at Louisville Metro Government for 11 years, and oversees zoning changes and land development code in the Louisville area in the Office of Planning. 

Our CEO Dave Calzi talks with Leah and Joel helps put housing segregation into layman's terms: 
Leah shares how she and her father, Richard, became a strong dad-daughter duo in the housing arena. Richard wrote “The Color of the Law,” which has sold almost one million copies and focuses on how federal, state, and local governments gave rise to and reinforced neighborhood segregation. "Just Action" is the sequel. As a nation, are we past segregation from a housing perspective? Why or why not?Specific examples from “Confronting Racism in City Planning and Zoning" help us look at decisions made over the last century and what led to zoning segregation. Joel shows us how Legos can teach us about more "middle housing" options for local citizens.Over the last few decades, Louisville has become more diverse, and in particular, has many refugees and a growing Hispanic population. How does this affect housing?  To purchase "Just Action," go to https://www.justactionbook.org/  or visit justaction.substack.com.
Joel and his team's interactive exhibit/story map of  “Confronting Racism in City Planning and Zoning": https://arcg.is/1Snbj4.
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Tony Cash was an outlaw whose story is truly one of amazing transformation! From the age of 11 to 49 years old, he spent an accumulative 36 years incarcerated and two of those decades in and out of solitary confinement. Now, Tony is on a mission to help men like him. You can also watch now!

Watch: https://youtu.be/C9T2F19Br_Q

Alongside his wife, Kim, their nonprofit organization, Freedom Lake, has a nearby property with a 20-bed dorm inside the facility to provide a place for recently released men to reintegrate into society and find purpose in their lives. Joining this episode to share their journey are Kevin and Travis, former addicts who have been helped through Freedom Lake. 
Our CEO Dave Calzi covers these topics with our guests: 
Tony's story and the launch of Freedom LakeHow does the home we grew up in shape our story? How can we help those with traumatic backgrounds reenter society? Where do we start? Are we all "incarcerated" in different ways? Why or why not? As the New Year rolls on, they give advice on removing bad habits and replacing them with lasting changeTony and Kim have served inside the prison system since 2018 helping men affected by substance and alcohol abuse find their identity in Christ, reach their God-given potential, and discover God’s purpose for their lives. To watch Tony's story and learn more about Freedom lake, visit https://freedomlake.org/. 
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If you've ever lost a loved one and need help finding purpose again, this podcast is for you. St. Matthews Mayor Rick Tonini shares how the unexpected and tragic loss of his daughter, Lauren, led to serving at our Open Hand Kitchen in Christmas 2003. You can also watch now!

Watch: https://youtu.be/R3vhyT7wRAk

Our CEO Dave Calzi spoke with Mayor Rick about a variety of topics: 
Tonini Church Supply has been around for 143 years, since Mayor Rick's great-grandfather founded it in the mid-1880s. He shares how to successfully run a family-owned business. Why he's been serving at the Open Hand Kitchen every Sunday for 20 years now and has no plans to stop? As a boy, Mayor Rick drove the garbage truck and cleaned out the sewer in St. Matthews. He tells us how this was his start in politics, and also touches on the role he believes government should play in helping those in need. He offers advice after the loss of a loved one and what you can do next. To learn more about finding support through Compassionate Friends, visit www.compassionatefriends.org/chapter/tcf-of-louisville/.
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