My favorite chats often begin the same way, coffee in hand, easy laughter, and no real agenda beyond showing up. That was exactly the vibe a few weeks ago when I sat down with Michele Gates, mom of two kiddos, founder of Mae’s Way Foundation, author, journaling mentor, and contemplative photographer. We met at one of my favorite coffee shops; of course, these days that’s almost always a given. Michele arrived with a friendly smile and an easy presence that made our conversation feel familiar from the start.

This week’s Brewed Awakenings began almost the same way as usual, just without coffee. We opted for a cup of water and a scoop of chicken salad in a diner booth. (No worries, I already had a pot before I left home). It is in moments like these that I’m reminded why I love sitting down with people to talk about what drives, motivates, and inspires them to pursue the work they do and the passion behind it. These conversations have taught me that the path someone takes often matters just as much, if not more, than where they end up. Somewhere between the first sip and the last refill, real talk with real people presents more than a story; it reveals the person. 

You know that moment when you pour a fresh cup of coffee so hot you have to sip it slowly or risk burning your tongue? Then suddenly, you’re interrupted. You set the cup down, just for a minute, and by the time you come back, it’s cold. A small inconvenience, one that happens more often than not. So, you get up, slide the mug into the microwave, and press 1 to reheat. Back to emails, phone calls, projects waiting to be finished. Somewhere along the way, you forget about the coffee altogether. Was it left in the microwave? There it is, press 1 to reheat again. Reheating becomes a habit, a ritual, a daily loop on repeat.

I’ve always been fascinated by the paths people take. How life moves us quietly in different directions, then sometimes circles us back together when we least expect it. Out of nowhere it seemed, Susan and I kept running into each other. Familiar faces in an unfamiliar stretch of years. Eventually, we did what people do when coincidence gets persistent, we made a plan to actually sit down and catch up. That’s how I found myself sitting across from Susan Everett at my favorite coffee spot not long ago. 

Last set, last song, last call. The applause dies quickly. House lights snap on. Someone calls out, “Great set, guys” from somewhere near the door. Onstage, the work begins. Cases, cables, cymbals, and one lowly drum kit waiting to be dismantled piece by piece. In the hollow sound of an empty room, a drummer packs up, hands moving on autopilot, mind running the night back, already thinking about setting it all up again next week.

Great stories are everywhere. Sometimes they simply show up when you pause long enough to notice them. That is exactly what happened a few weeks back. I walked into a book signing expecting to browse new titles, do a little networking, and maybe collect a few signatures. Instead, I found myself surrounded in a room filled with inspiring talent.

This week, I had the opportunity to meet with Dorrie LoBue, owner of Goat Queen Gifts. As expected, the best conversations begin with a carefully crafted, blended‑to‑perfection cup of coffee, and this one was no exception. From the very start, it was clear this was a hidden‑gem story worth sharing.

There’s something about spring that turns sunlight into an unpaid home inspector. Suddenly, the same walls you ignored all winter look scuffed, the carpet is showing its' age, small imperfections stand out, and the leaky faucet has apparently awakened the home improvement gremlins. This is the time of year when desire, dreaming, and planning turn into action. Budgets are reviewed and confidence is tested.

6:00 a.m., or is it 7:00? Regardless, it’s the same ritual. Counting to ten before throwing off the covers, sitting on the edge of the bed scrolling your phone for another 10 minutes, and debating if you really want to go in or call out. We've all been there. Eventually though, you mumble something about “needing to get with it” and shuffle to the bathroom. The shower helps a little, but not enough to stop you from staring into the mirror as you brush your teeth and wonder how you became stuck somewhere between the life you have, and the life you thought you’d have by now.  

Grande Lattes, and great conversation just seem to go together, particularly with the lingering chill of winter and the last traces of “snowmaggedon” fading. What began as an “interview,” soon felt more like a guided conversation. It’s one thing to research a story, it’s quite another, to sit across from someone, hear the passion in their voice, feel the weight of their emotion, and realize you’re listening to a life shaped by obedience and the courage to follow an unknown path. One step, one day at a time.  

What I love most about highlighting nonprofit work is discovering the good that’s happening quietly all around us. No spotlight, no accolades, just people showing up because it matters. The real story is almost always found in the listening, and that’s exactly how my conversation with Alohana Jackson, president of the Hoosier Cowboy Association, unfolded. What began as a simple discussion about rodeo culture quickly opened the door to something deeper, a mission rooted in service, generosity, and community.