Ready: Leaders to Know, with Bill Graves, is podcast with civic leaders about their personal journeys to leadership–those pivotal moments when they said yes to a challenge and the lessons they learned on the way.
Ready: Leaders to know, with Bill Graves
Welcome to ‘Ready: Leaders to Know.’ Once a week beginning January 16th, we’ll release interviews with leaders from politics to environmental justice, education to human services. You can find episodes wherever you get your podcasts.
Current Episode
Season 1 Episodes
Ready, Episode 10: Aaron Klemz
In the final episode of season one, Bill speaks with Aaron Klemz. Aaron balances his role as the Chief Strategy Officer at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and teaching communications at the university level. Aaron shares how high school debate and speech gave him the tools to push back against bullying and unexpectedly prepared him to advocate for our environment and people impacted by environmental abuses.
Ready, Episode 9: Willie Pearl Evans
In this episode of Ready: Leaders to Know, we’ll meet Willie Pearl Evans. In our conversation, Willie Pearl shares her journey from her childhood in the Robert Taylor housing projects in Chicago, through addiction and recovery, to passing key legislation on the opioid epidemic in Minnesota. She shares how her mother’s commitment to civic engagement through voter registration, voter education, and community organizing taught her the skills and strength to lead. Willie Pearl’s journey is a powerful example of the leadership of lived experience. We hope you enjoy the conversation.
Ready, Episode 8: Eric Meyer
In this episode, Bill talks with Eric Meyer, Falcon Heights City Council Member and Founder and Director of Generation Atomic, a nuclear power advocacy and awareness organization. In this conversation, Eric shares how activism turned into leadership as he realized the potential for nuclear energy to impact climate change and how he went from singing opera about advanced nuclear energy to founding Generation Atomic to organize globally.
Ready, Episode 7: Ray Camper
In Episode 7 of ‘Ready: Leaders to Know’ Bill talks with Ray Camper. Ray is an advocate for social services, a veteran, a poet, and Educational Leadership PhD candidate. Ray grew up in a large family whose nomadic lifestyle led to a homeschool education. As the eldest of 10 siblings, he carried responsibility from a young age. Ray was deployed to active military duty, serving in Iraq for 16 months, and processes his experiences in his book of poetry, Shadowland America. As a trauma survivor, he believes change is possible and that holistic education is key to creating a better world. Don’t miss this compelling journey to leadership.
Ready, Episode 6: Lisa Norton
Lisa Norton stepped into local leadership first on the Lent Township Board and then to serve as Mayor of Eagle Lake, Minnesota. In this conversation with Bill Graves, Lisa shares her journey from growing up on a farm in greater Minnesota to activism and politics. She has relied on mentorship and learned by doing while supporting Mark Koran’s state senate campaign. She values transparency and fighting to provide access to resources for all who need them. She’s an advocate for practical, solution-oriented leadership and for leaders who listen and work for all constituents.
Ready, Episode 5: Jim Paine
Don’t miss episode 5 with Jim Paine! Since 2017, Jim has served as mayor of Superior, Wisconsin. Before becoming mayor, he was the vice chair of the Douglas County Board. Jim talks about his deep connection to Superior that lends meaning and importance to his work in government. He discusses leadership as showing up, whether it be washing the dishes at the church fundraiser or leading Superior’s dragon boat festival.
Ready, Episode 4: Bob Blake
In Episode 4, Bill talks with Bob Blake, founder of Solar Bear, a solar energy company that advocates for tribal renewable energy. Bob grew up in St. Paul and is a member of the Red Lake Nation. Bob’s family has led in Minnesota’s Native American community since his grandmother, Nelly Spears, founded the St. Paul American Indian Club in 1960. From leadership lessons gained as bodyguard to Minnesota music legend Prince to charting his own path through environmental advocacy, Bob’s journey is totally unique.
Ready, Episode 3: Lisa Thompson
Episode 3 is up! In this episode, Bill talks with Lisa Thompson. Lisa was appointed by Governor Walz and serves as the Ombudsperson for childcare providers in Minnesota. She shares her path to leadership, from growing up in a family who knew the importance of workers and learning the power of organizing from her grandmother, a restaurant server who independently organized an emergency fund for servers, to becoming a home childcare provider and following in family footsteps to found and lead a union of her peers. Lisa reminds us that leading begins with showing up and speaking out whether it’s in the church basement or the capitol rotunda.
Ready, Episode 2: Kirsten Kennedy
Don’t miss episode 2 of ‘Ready: Leaders to Know’! In this conversation with a Minnesotan who raised her hand to lead her community, I speak with Kirsten Kennedy. Kirsten served two terms as Mayor of North Branch, MN, was a Democratic nominee for Congress in 2018, and currently leads the Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership as its executive director.
Ready, Episode 1: Jake Spano
It’s time for Ready: Leaders to Know, with Bill Graves, Episode 1! In this episode, Bill talks with Jake Spano. Jake is the outgoing mayor of Saint Louis Park and founder of Spano Group Advisors. They discuss Jake’s wide breadth of experience in Minnesota politics, from keeping up with Senator Klobuchar to learning how to take responsibility from Mayor Chris Coleman, to what’s happening right now as he closes out his final mayoral term. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. We hope you enjoy the conversation!
Release Trailer
Happy New Year! Bill’s up to something new in 2024, and we’re so excited! His podcast, Ready: Leaders to know, with Bill Graves, kicks off next week. In it he asks the question: How do everyday people, our neighbors and friends, step up to help us navigate challenging times–how do they learn and hone leadership skills? With that curiosity, he invites guests to reflect on their personal journeys to leadership. Catch the trailer to hear Bill’s “why” in his own words, and then catch a new episode every Tuesday. Episode 1, out next week, features Jake Spano outgoing Mayor of St. Louis Park. He reflects on his path to political leadership, a path that runs through Senator Klobuchar and former mayor Chris Coleman’s offices. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. We hope you enjoy!