Moral Money Podcast Jeremy Kalin, Kalin LLC

In episode 5, I was joined by one of my closest friends, Wade Vitalis. Before you listen to this Bonus Episode, I suggest you catch Episode 5. But it's still a free world - it's your choice, of course!

As happens all the time in Minnesota - some people say it's a scandinavian thing - others than it's part of our oddly passive aggressive nature - we kept talking after we wrapped up the content we wanted to cover in Episode 5. Realizing that we were on to something big again, I pulled out my iPhone and hit record. The sound isn't bad - after I cleaned it up in postproduction.

Interestingly, the more we spoke about deep spirituality and Christianity's roots, the more freely we spoke - so there's several four-letter words dropped in this bonus episode. Another milestone - Moral Money Podcast's first language warning!

Episode 5 features an intense discussion with Wade Vitalis - longtime owner of the Drive-In Restaurant in Taylors Falls MN - about root beer, and about life after losing a child. Wade shares the full experience of deep pain, of a marriage strengthened by loss rather than torn about by it, and about running a seasonal restaurant whose employees are nearly all teenagers. Wade also talks about his need to redefine Christianity, including the wilderness church he has started hosting, on his family land along the St. Croix River.

Trista Matascastillo is running for Ramsey County Commissioner in St Paul MN. Trista's a 16-year veteran - a sailor, soldier and a marine - and a survivor of sexual assault. We talk about her campaign funding choices; her vision for investing in forgotten neighborhoods - her community - in St Paul; and moving forward after sexual assault. Learn more about Trista and her campaign at http://www.votetrista.org/

In this episode, we are joined by two members of the leadership team at Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis - Judy Halper, CEO and Dana Rubin, Development Director.

We speak specifically about JFCS' work, including a few of the 30 or so programs JFCS operates for clients in need across Hennepin County - the largest County in the State of Minnesota. Judy and Dana talk about why JFCS serves all people in need, not just the Jewish community.

I asked Dana and Judy to appear together because they are partners in donor engagement in fundraising - and in speaking in moral terms about giving, and in particular about giving to Jewish Family and Children's Services. Learn more at http://jfcsmpls.org

In this rich episode, I spoke at length with Pastor Paul Baudhuin, of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in St. Louis Park MN, about Jesus' teachings on money; personal challenges in budgeting, and a Pastor's role in fiscal stewardship for a church like Aldersgate.

We also talked explicitly about how Aldersgate raises needed funds to sustain the church. It turns out, a key to meeting Aldersgate's budget challenges has been Spinal Tap - Going to 11.

Episode 1 of the Moral Money Podcast features a conversation with Rabbi Shawn Zevit of Congregation Mishkan Shalom in Philadelphia.