Rocky Cabagnot, Rick McDermott, and Danny Lyon join me to discuss our experiences growing up in the Catholic church.Av Steve Dunn

Nute Thompson has followed a well-trodden path in his legal career, from law firm litigator to in-house general counsel. On thing sets him apart: Nute is 28 years old. I was pleased to speak with Nute about his accelerated career trajectory as well as the generational differences we observe in our profession. It was fun to reminisce about my own st…

I set out to talk to Rocky Cabagnot about his love of professional wrestling and fighting sports. He's a great follow on social media, keeping his network updated not just on the latest feuds in the WWE, but also in-depth analysis of the Charlotte Hornets and Carolina Panthers. However, as we started talking, we got sidetracked into a discussion of…

James Young is a fully bilingual (English-Spanish) mediator and arbitrator in Charlotte. His broad range of experience includes breach of contract, defamation, personal injury, workers compensation, and estate matters. He is a Certified Superior Court Mediator and has experience mediating a range of cases including guardianships and Medicaid planni…

The one and only Greg Parent joins me once again to discuss the practice of mediation. In this conversation, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of working with lawyers and parties from all around the country and all around the world.Av Steve Dunn

Just a quick hello directly from me to you to let you know what's going on with the podcast. Subjects include: Frequency of future episodes Bitcoin, streaming money, and the Fountain app Personal reflections upon turning 50Av Steve Dunn

Josh Van Kampen represents individuals in disputes with their employers and former employers. As one of the best known and most successful employee representatives in North Carolina, Josh is the perfect guest to talk about mediation from the perspective of a plaintiff's employment lawyer. Josh has developed an approach to mediation based on humaniz…

Greg Parent is one of the most sought-after mediators in Atlanta. His calendar is booked months in advance. This is due in part to Greg's personality, skill, and professional experience. He is one of the few mediators who has worked as an insurance adjuster in addition to representing both plaintiffs and defendants. But Greg's success did not happe…

Jay Ward is a poet and spoken artist currently serving as the Poet Laureate of the City of Charlotte. He is the 2019 Individual World Poetry Slam Champion and the author of two volumes of poetry, Sing Me A Lesser Wound and Composition. Jay is part of a thriving and supportive spoken word scene in Charlotte comprising nationally recognized poets, in…

Psst... don't tell anyone, but some lawyers do not particularly enjoy their jobs. As an insurance defense attorney experiencing the "Sunday saddies" as each new workweek, rolled around, John Miles decided to make a change into the then-burgeoning field of mediation. In those days, the typical mediator was an older, white, male, former judge. Under …

When my daughter, Clara, was four years old, we decided we would visit the top of the Eiffel Tower when she was 16. This year for spring break, we made it happen. I took an audio recorder along with us. Each night, we sat down together and went over the day's events. This was an experiment in a different form of podcasting, as well as a document of…

Stephanie Haynes works with students and parents to evaluate all the options after high school. While college is the right choice for some, she has found that many individuals can better reach their goals through apprenticeship, the military, community college, or a gap season. Haynes discusses these options and how to choose among them in her book…

College basketball is almost a religion in North Carolina, so it is not unusual to run into passionate fans of UNC, Wake Forest, Duke, or NC State. It is rare, however, to come across someone who regularly travels from Taiwan to watch his favorite team, or who is on a first name basis with the school's coaches and former players. Randy Chen is such…

Landis Wade describes himself as a "recovering trial lawyer" who, after a distinguished career in law, has thrown himself into podcasting and writing. As host of the Charlotte Readers Podcast, Landis speaks with authors about their works and process. His new novel, Deadly Declarations, is a legal thriller in which attorney Craig Travail finds himse…

Krystle Baller is the Creative Director of We Rock Charlotte, a nonprofit that provides music education and programming for kids and adults. They are also the bassist and singer of Hey RICHARD, a feminist punk band voted "Best New Band" of 2021 in Queen City Nerve's Best in the Nest. Krystle is inspiring a generation of young musicians through thei…

Molly Ruggere is a Certified Life Coach, Alcohol Freedom Coach and Founder of Counterculture Club, a global alcohol-free community based in Charlotte, NC that offers private and group coaching, monthly membership and virtual and in-person events for individuals who want to build authentic relationships, socialize without drinking and counter the ma…

Matt Cosper is the Artistic Director of XOXO, a theatre collective a collective of artists/creators who develop original performance in and around Charlotte, NC. XOXO has spent the last decade developing a practice based in generosity, play and deep listening to the natural world. Matt has been making theatre in Charlotte for over 20 years, always …

In Charlotte's non-profit sector, Josh Jacobson needs no introduction. Since arriving in 2008, Josh has worked with non-profits large and small to help them get better at everything they do. I have had the pleasure of working with Josh as a board member of two organizations, and I have always been impressed not only by his knowledge and ability to …

My brother Ryan and I were heavy drinkers for many years and now we have both quit. Ryan's struggle was dramatic at times, including an intervention, two stints in residential rehab, and consistent participation in Alcoholics Anonymous. My drinking seemed more normal and socially acceptable, but after seeing what Ryan had gone through, I knew where…

You probably have heard of Phish and maybe you have a friend or family member who seems strangely fascinated with the band. I fill the role of "obsessive Phish fan" in my social circle, so I thought it would be fun to do a podcast episode discussing the band's music and its dedicated fanbase. In addition to being a gifted and successful attorney, M…

Salim Uqdah is the owner of Uroboros Mediations, a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise which strives to make divorce easy through mediation and coaching. We talk about the business and practice of mediation, including: The purposes of mediation The unique challenges of mediating in a family context Building a practice in gay divorce while gay marria…

Amanda is a professional artist whose work is featured in the American Express Centurion Lounge at the Charlotte airport, and on the Design Network show, Commissioned. I get to enjoy her painting, broken wing every day, hanging behind the reception desk at Miles Mediation & Arbitration. To see more of Amanda's work, commission your own original art…

There are many lawyers in the world, but only a few regularly take cases to trial. Fewer still think deeply about the art and practice of litigation. And it's a rare individual indeed who writes prolifically about courtroom advocacy. Dave Redding is all that and much more. Dave is a seeker of truth who values diverse viewpoints because he recognize…

Charles Thomas is the Charlotte Program Director for the Knight Foundation, whose mission is to promote democracy in America by fostering informed, engaged, and equitable communities. We talk about the Foundation's support of Charlotte's Historic West End Neighborhood and explore the concept of community as it has evolved in context of the digital …

Here we are at the first episode of the Steve Dunn Podcast. Bear with me as I figure out how to do this, including now, as I type this, as you read this, my first show notes. Tony Mecia is an old friend and the founder of The Charlotte Ledger, an essential email newsletter bringing you information you don't already know about local news, business, …

Steve Dunn interviews Charlotte leaders, innovators, and creators about their work and what motivates them as people. Tune in for conversations that dig beneath the surface and explore the human side of business, community, and art.Av Steve Dunn