The Mango Times

Fletch
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The Mango Times Podcast is where midlife curiosity meets adventure, humor, and human stories. Hosted by Fletch, the show features thoughtful conversations, great banter, and stories from the porch to the open road. In Season 6, each episode explores what it looks like to wake up in the second half of life and decide there’s still plenty of adventure left...through interviews, personal reflections, recurring segments, and a little bit of well-earned shtick. New episodes drop every other week and stay under 30 minutes. Pull up a chair, ride along, and join the conversation.

  1. Living In Crescendo

    6D AGO

    Living In Crescendo

    Send Fletch a text! What if the second half of life could be louder, braver, and more generous than the first? We sit down with longtime friend and educator Pete Swanberg to trace a path from elementary classrooms and adapted PE to founding an international special needs sports collective that brings inclusion to life through play.  This is a story about living in crescendo...choosing purpose, relationship, and flow...while turning grief and transition into fuel for service. Pete shares the moments that shaped him: the joy of working with students with multiple disabilities, the freedom he found in adapted PE, and the research that reframed his plans for retirement. Then we get practical. Adaptive Play Collective runs five-day camps with buddies for every child, sensory-rich stations, take-home equipment, and a collective of specialists who train and consult so local teams can keep the work going long after the trip ends. Board member and educator Aubrey Colton joins us from Jordan to paint a vivid picture of the need and the hope. She shares what families face—stigma, scarce resources, and kids who rarely leave home—and the transformation that happens when a room is designed for access and joy.  If you’re curious about midlife pivots, this conversation delivers heart and how-to.  Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs courage for their next chapter, and leave a review so more people can find these stories. Then tell us: what small step will help your live in crescendo today? ⸻ Guest Information Pete Swanberg is a husband of 40 years to Beth, and a father of 5 young adults.  He retired in 2025 after a 37-year career in education.  He’s the chief dreamer behind PlayAbility Camps, bringing movement, laughter, and belonging to kids with disabilities around the world.  When he’s not planning adapted sports camps, you can find him taking long walks with Beth, browsing the shelves at a local library, or having coffee with interesting people. Like Fletch! Aubree Colton has been married for 17 years to Ben, her high school crush. She Is a mother of 3 amazing girls who have been her greatest joy and also greatest opportunity of growth to trust in God. She has a special education degree and has had the privilege of working with the special needs community in Jordan for 11 years.  Aubree’s definition of fun is playing card games at any opportunity, hanging at a coffee shop with a friend, hiking canyons in Jordan, and finding any excuse to wear a dumb looking costume. Resources and Links Adapted Play Collective Venn Diagram - Purpose Play Ability Camps Pete's Daily Resolution: Resolved. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I will live in crescendo. I will value relationship, pursue meaning, and maximize flow. I will let go, live fully, and move on. Music used in this episode: All music in this episode is licensed for use through Epidemic Sound. ⸻ IF YOU LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AT THE MANGO TIMES, PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW BY... ✅ Send me a text and let me know what you think. ✅ Share this episode with a friend RIGHT NOW! ✅ PLEASE LEAVE ME A REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS HERE. Support the show

    43 min
  2. From Cancer To Camino: A Mother Who Refused to Stay Down

    JAN 19

    From Cancer To Camino: A Mother Who Refused to Stay Down

    Send Fletch a text! If resilience had a passport, it would look a lot like Dr. Erica Conway’s. In this episode, we sit with a dentist, mother of three, breast cancer survivor, and unapologetic advocate to explore how midlife can become a launchpad for meaningful adventure. From trekking Peru’s Salcantay Pass at 15,300 feet to the blisters of the Camino de Santiago, Erica shows how adventure can be both safe and soul-stretching...especially for solo women navigating fear and logistics. Erica shares how raising a daughter with Down syndrome raised expectations rather than lowered them. She unpacks common misconceptions about disability and offers practical insight into building real independence through meaningful support. What ties it all together is a simple philosophy: don’t wait for retirement to start living. Book the trip. Walk to work. Choose the big yes and the daily small ones that add up to a life well lived. If this conversation lit something up in you: Subscribe, Share, Review and let us know more stories we should cover. ⸻ Guest Information Dr. Erica Conway is a dentist, mother of three, and lifelong adventurer. A breast cancer survivor and passionate advocate for individuals with Down syndrome, she believes resilience is built by choosing forward motion and living fully—at work, at home, and on the road. Resources and Links Backroads Travel Booking Erica Conway, DDS Redwood Seeds Scholar Program Napa Valley Is Better Together - Donate Here Venn Diagram - Purpose Music used in this episode: All music in this episode is licensed for use through Epidemic Sound. ⸻ IF YOU LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AT THE MANGO TIMES, PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW BY... ✅ Send me a text and let me know what you think. ✅ Share this episode with a friend RIGHT NOW! ✅ PLEASE LEAVE ME A REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS HERE. ✅ Buy Me A Taco (LINK HERE) Support the show

    38 min
  3. What Is A Midlife Crisis?

    JAN 5

    What Is A Midlife Crisis?

    Send Fletch a text! The itch isn’t a meltdown. It’s a message. We kick off Season 6 of The Mango Times by naming the midlife feeling many of us carry but rarely say out loud. Therapist and fellow motocycler Chris Oneth joins me to unpack what people casually call a “midlife crisis”—where it comes from, why it shows up, and why it might be less about blowing things up and more about waking up. We move past the red-sports-car cliché and talk about identity, deferred desires, and the roles and expectations that quietly try to box us in. We pressure-test the "Purpose" Venn diagram and explore why Gen X feels this moment so acutely—even though the urge to shift is universal and non-generational. Most importantly, we get practical. We talk through thought exercises, small rituals, weekly reps, and how adventure helps to build clarity without burning everything down.  Hey friend! If you’re feeling restless, curious, or unfinished, you’re not broken—you’re waking up. ⸻ Guest Information Chris Oneth is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Modesto, California, and the Executive Director of Downey Park Counseling Associates. With a background in education and years of counseling experience, Chris works with individuals, couples, and families navigating identity, relationships, and life transitions — especially the questions that surface at midlife. Outside the therapy room, Chris is a fellow adventurer, overlander, and motorcycle rider. Like Fletch, he’s partial to his Triumph motorcycle, spending time on the road and trail where reflection, perspective, and renewal tend to show up naturally. Resources and Links Downey Park Counseling Chris Oneth - Personal Website Venn Diagram - Purpose Our Next Question - Podcast with Chris Oneth and Melanie Jones Music used in this episode: All music in this episode is licensed for use through Epidemic Sound. ⸻ IF YOU LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AT THE MANGO TIMES, PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW BY... ✅ Send me a text and let me know what you think. ✅ Share this episode with a friend RIGHT NOW! ✅ PLEASE LEAVE ME A REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS HERE. ✅ Buy Me A Taco (LINK HERE) Support the show

    37 min
  4. The Mango Times Podcast Season 6 Trailer

    JAN 1

    The Mango Times Podcast Season 6 Trailer

    Send Fletch a text! Happy New Year and Welcome to Season 6 of The Mango Times Podcast.  This year’s theme is Adventure at Midlife — the journey of waking up, rethinking life, laughing more, exploring deeper, and discovering that the second half might be the best half.  Join Fletch for conversations, stories, road notes, porch wisdom, and a few surprises, including new interviews and fresh sessions with Pop in the Smoke Shop. Subscribe and let’s ride. ⸻ Guest Information No guests on this episode. Resources and Links Nothing to link for this episode.  Music used in this episode: All music in this episode is licensed for use through Epidemic Sound. ⸻ IF YOU LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AT THE MANGO TIMES, PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW BY... ✅ Send me a text and let me know what you think. ✅ Share this episode with a friend RIGHT NOW! ✅ PLEASE LEAVE ME A REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS HERE. ✅ Buy Me A Taco (LINK HERE) Support the show

    3 min
  5. Mango Bite #4: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

    12/22/2025

    Mango Bite #4: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

    Send Fletch a text! It’s the final Mango Bite — and the final show of the season. As a little gift for your Christmas week, I reached back out to all of the guests from 2025 (plus a few new A.I. friends) and brought everyone together for a reunion reading of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. Also… happy 95th birthday to PopPop. 🎄 ⸻ Guest Information Everyone is a guest on this episode. Resources and Links Nothing to link for this episode.  Music used in this episode: All music in this episode is licensed for use through Epidemic Sound. ⸻ IF YOU LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AT THE MANGO TIMES, PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW BY... ✅ Send me a text and let me know what you think. ✅ Share this episode with a friend RIGHT NOW! ✅ PLEASE LEAVE ME A REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS HERE. ✅ Buy Me A Taco (LINK HERE) Support the show

    8 min
  6. Mango Bite #3: Pipe Smoking. Ritual Over Rush.

    12/15/2025

    Mango Bite #3: Pipe Smoking. Ritual Over Rush.

    Send Fletch a text! For the month of December, The Mango Times podcast is taking a breather while I gear up for Season 6. In the meantime, I’m sharing weekly Mango Bites — small, meaningful moments pulled from the early days of the show. So… what if the draw isn’t the nicotine, but the quiet? In this focused Mango Bite, I revisit pipe smoking as a deliberate ritual, not a race to the bottom of a pack. Instead of inhaling deep and dosing often, I talk about keeping the smoke in the mouth, savoring the flavor, and using the ember as a metronome for reflection. More importantly, I open up about the real “pull”: the calm that comes from packing a bowl, tending the light, and letting thoughts settle. You’ll hear the arc from image to acceptance — early curiosity, parenting realities, then a steady rhythm my family understands — along with a few nostalgic nods to classic “cool smoke” ads that once promised comfort in a storm. If you’ve ever wondered why some people pair a pipe with a book, a porch conversation, or a quiet morning, this episode offers a brief window into that world of unhurried attention. And if the idea of a mindful ritual resonates, I hope you’ll leave with practical insight on creating space, setting a pace, and choosing tools that help you be present on purpose. Want the full story and more detail? Follow the link in the notes to hear the complete original conversation. Then subscribe, share this with a friend who could use a slower evening, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. ⸻ Guest Information No guests on this episode. Resources and Links Season 3, Episode 17: Pipe Smoking: Contemplation in Smoke Music used in this episode: All music in this episode is licensed for use through Epidemic Sound. ⸻ IF YOU LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AT THE MANGO TIMES, PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW BY... ✅ Send me a text and let me know what you think. ✅ Share this episode with a friend RIGHT NOW! ✅ PLEASE LEAVE ME A REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS HERE. ✅ Buy Me A Taco (LINK HERE) Support the show

    7 min
  7. Mango Bite #2: Kindness Always Wins!

    12/08/2025

    Mango Bite #2: Kindness Always Wins!

    Send Fletch a text! For the month of December, The Mango Times podcast is taking a breather while I gear up for Season 6. In the meantime, I’m sharing weekly Mango Bites — small, meaningful moments pulled from the early days of the show. For the second week, this Mango Bite comes from Episode 13 where I sat down with my favorite guest, my wife Kendra.  We revisit a powerful conversation on everyday kindness, sparked by a simple “Be Kind” shirt and the surprisingly big reactions it drew—from store employees to strangers who felt seen. What starts as a soft reminder becomes a practical framework for how to move through the world with consideration, friendliness, and generosity, even when time is short and emotions run high. A raw story from Kendra drives the lesson home: people carry invisible battles. What looks like rudeness might be survival. Defaulting to kindness means assuming there’s more to the moment than you can see and choosing patience over heat. As the holidays ramp up and stress piles on, this mindset is both a sanity saver and a community builder. Listen now, share it with someone who needs a gentle nudge, and if the message resonates, follow the show, leave a review, and tell us your favorite act of kindness we should all try next. ⸻ Guest Information Kendra Fletcher, BA, MSt received her Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of the Pacific and her Master’s in Literature and Arts from the University of Oxford. She currently teaches high school literature, writing, and critical analysis. Kendra lives in California’s Central Valley, where she serves on the board of the Modesto–Stanislaus Historical Society and interns at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles. She has raised a shocking number of children, homeschooled for twenty-five years, spoken about it all over the place, podcasted, and authored two books about leaving weird religion: Lost and Found: Losing Religion, Finding Grace and Leaving Legalism. You can find her at kendrafletcher.com. Resources and Links Season 2, Episode 13: Being Kind Is A Revolution Music used in this episode: All music in this episode is licensed for use through Epidemic Sound. ⸻ IF YOU LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AT THE MANGO TIMES, PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW BY... ✅ Send me a text and let me know what you think. ✅ Share this episode with a friend RIGHT NOW! ✅ PLEASE LEAVE ME A REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS HERE. ✅ Buy Me A Taco (LINK HERE) Support the show

    6 min
  8. Mango Bite #1: One Hundred Day Challenge

    12/01/2025

    Mango Bite #1: One Hundred Day Challenge

    Send Fletch a text! For the month of December, The Mango Times podcast is taking a breather while I gear up for Season 6. In the meantime, I’m sharing weekly Mango Bites — small, meaningful moments pulled from the early days of the show. This first Mango Bite comes from way back in Season 1, Episode 4 — a conversation with my friend James Estes about taking on a 100-day creative challenge. In these few focused minutes, we talk about the simple power of a handwritten letter… why ink on paper still matters… how a stamp and envelope add just enough friction to make care visible… and how a daily letter can reconnect you to mentors, friends, and family you’ve been meaning to reach. It’s light, practical, and a whole lot of fun. If this sparks something in you, tap the link in the notes to hear the full interview with James — and then tell us what you’re committing to for the next hundred days. If you enjoy this Mango Bite, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can quietly make some noise with us. ⸻ Guest Information James Estes - Born and raised mostly in California, James has a deep love for his home state. He’s been married for nearly 33 years and has three adult children. A lifelong professional in IT Telecom, James also draws daily and is a devoted coffee drinker. He’s an avid reader with a soft spot for science fiction and the occasional Pulitzer Prize winner. Whether it’s a quick getaway or a far-off adventure, James loves to travel. Resources and Links Season 1, Episode 4: 100 Letters in 100 Days with James Estes Music used in this episode: All music in this episode is licensed for use through Epidemic Sound. ⸻ IF YOU LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AT THE MANGO TIMES, PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW BY... ✅ Send me a text and let me know what you think. ✅ Share this episode with a friend RIGHT NOW! ✅ PLEASE LEAVE ME A REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS HERE. ✅ Buy Me A Taco (LINK HERE) Support the show

    6 min
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5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

The Mango Times Podcast is where midlife curiosity meets adventure, humor, and human stories. Hosted by Fletch, the show features thoughtful conversations, great banter, and stories from the porch to the open road. In Season 6, each episode explores what it looks like to wake up in the second half of life and decide there’s still plenty of adventure left...through interviews, personal reflections, recurring segments, and a little bit of well-earned shtick. New episodes drop every other week and stay under 30 minutes. Pull up a chair, ride along, and join the conversation.

Information

  • Creator
    Fletch
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Mango Times
  • Show Website
    The Mango Times