Catherine reflects on regret through a compassionate lens—less “what I should’ve done” and more “what I wish I could lovingly tell my younger self.” She shares a grounding quote about mountains (obstacles) and how the growth you earn while climbing them stays with you long after the hardship is behind you. From there, she talks candidly about how silencing your voice can shape major life decisions, and how she wishes she’d cultivated joy and identity earlier instead of trying to become who the world wanted her to be. Catherine also offers heartfelt reflections on parenting—moving from control and perfection toward connection, curiosity, and nervous system regulation—plus the ways divorce, grief, and financial insecurity impacted her kids. She closes with hope: mountains are inevitable, but with grace, resilience, and self-trust, what feels impossible today can become a distant view in the rearview mirror.💬 What You'll HearA powerful “mountain” quote and why obstacles can become opportunitiesCatherine’s take on regret: reflection without shame, compassion without rewriting your lifeHow silencing your voice (and listening to the loudest voice in your head) can shape your choicesWhat she wishes she’d cultivated earlier: joy, identity, and self-trustThe perspective shift of parenting adult children—and how every child experiences family differentlyUnsolicited (but loving) parenting advice: presence, eye contact, listening, and connection over perfectionWhy kids don’t need rigid control to become good humans—they need safety, love, and boundariesA reframing of “skills”: why bedwetting, emotions, and behavior are learned like riding a bikeReflections on divorce, bankruptcy, grief, and the hope that time can soften even the hardest seasons✨ TakeawayRegret doesn’t have to be punishment—it can be a gentle teacher. When you look back with compassion, you can keep the wisdom without carrying the shame. And when you parent (or re-parent yourself) with connection over control, you create the kind of safety that lasts.⚖️ DisclaimerThese stories are mine — told through my eyes, my lens, and my lived experience. Each person moves through life in their own way. I own these stories, and I share them to inspire us all to live truthfully, freely, and as our most authentic selves.🌿 Connect with CatherineIf this episode made you reflect on a time when you judged others or needed forgiveness yourself, share it with someone who showed you grace when you didn't deserve it.Follow Catherine on Instagram to keep following the story.Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago ILPhoto: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WAProduction: Red Trux Productions Snohomish, WA

Don’t Start Cutting Yet: The Setup Step That Saves Hours in EditingYou recorded your episode… now it’s time to edit. But before you start cutting, trimming, and adding music, there’s a step most new podcasters skip—and it can cost you hours.In this episode of Snohomish Podcast Playground, Trent walks through the “editing prep” workflow: tracking your recording levels, choosing editing software, importing your files correctly, and applying basic audio processing so your episode sounds consistent from start to finish.What we coverThe recording mistake that ruins audio: peaking/clipping (and why it’s hard to fix)How to track your levels while recording (aim for upper green + yellow, not the top)The difference between gain and sliders/volume controlsEditing software options (and who they’re best for):Audacity (free, but destructive editing)Reaper (one-time cost, powerful)Adobe Audition (great if you already have Adobe)DaVinci Resolve (free, strong audio tools + future video option)How to import audio from recorders (SD card workflow, stereo file vs. individual tracks)Why multi-track editing gives you more control (breaths, bleed, loud laughs, room noise)The “make it consistent” starter stack: compressor + denoise (plus de-esser/de-hum if needed)Why you should never edit on laptop speakers—and how to check mixes across headphones, car, and earbudsHow EQ and presets can shape the “signature sound” of your podcastThe big takeawayEditing gets way easier when you set your levels and processing first. Do the setup once, and you’ll save time on every episode after.Next episode: How to actually edit—cutting, shaping the story, and building a polished final episode.

 In this episode, we sit down with Melody Clemans, one of the founding members of the Snohomish Carnegie Foundation and a steadfast steward of one of our town’s most beloved landmarks. Melody’s story is one of quiet determination and deep love—proof that some things are worth fighting for, even when the timeline stretches longer than anyone expects.After more than 20 years of dedication, Melody saw her vision realized as the Carnegie building once again became the heart of Snohomish—a place where core memories are made, the community gathers to celebrate, and legacy continues to live on.This conversation reminds us why the work we do matters—not just for ourselves, but for generations yet to come. Our actions, care, and persistence ripple outward in ways we may never fully see, shaping lives and stories far beyond our own. 

In this episode of Storytelling in a Small Town, Trent, Brian, and AJ tackle the part of content creation most small businesses skip: what to do after you hit record.They break down simple DIY editing moves that instantly make your videos feel more professional (without turning you into a full-time editor). You’ll hear practical advice on trimming dead space, avoiding the “millennial pause,” getting better feedback, and deciding when to polish vs. when to just post and learn.They also dig into how music, pacing, captions, and color subtly shape emotion—and why you don’t need to master all of it to start making better content.What You’ll Learn / Big MomentsThe #1 DIY edit everyone should do: Trim the beginning and end so viewers don’t watch you hit record, adjust gear, or fumbleThe “millennial pause” explained: Why millennials tend to hit record… pause… then start talking—and why Gen Z doesn’tTech habits shape content habits: Older tech trained people to “wait for it to catch up,” and it still shows up in our videosOld film rules vs. social rules: Why starting on a black frame (film school) can hurt performance on social mediaSleep on your edit (when it matters): Coming back with fresh eyes helps you catch awkward cuts, framing issues, and timingGet feedback the smart way:Use a small group of trusted “early testers”Ask for the type of feedback you want (sniff test vs. nitpicky final)When to just post it: For short shelf-life social content, audience feedback can be your best teacherAlgorithm reality check: If no one sees it, you won’t get useful feedback—pair content with platform best practicesEditing choices that affect emotion:Music sets tone and pace immediatelyPacing controls how fast information hits the viewerColor temperature and filters can make content feel warm, safe, clinical, or dramaticCaptions are basically mandatory now: Auto-captions are easy—just quick-check spelling (or don’t, if you want “comment bait”)The bigger takeaway: Don’t overthink it—have fun, trust your instincts, and keep experimenting

Wil sits down with John Agyopang—a longtime Snohomish County resident, former Boeing employee of 25 years, and the new president of the Snohomish County NAACP—for a conversation that blends civil rights, community work, and the deeper meaning of “home.”John breaks down what the NAACP is (and what it looks like today), expanding the conversation beyond race into human rights, class, and access—for immigrants, Native communities, poor and working-class families, and anyone whose rights are being ignored.From there, the episode turns personal and powerful: John shares his immigrant story from Ghana, including the childhood memory that shaped his view of America (USAID food aid) and his belief that what makes the U.S. “great” is the way immigrants bring their talent and dreams here.Then Wil and John explore John’s newest mission: African Audacity Tours, a two-week, all-inclusive trip to Ghana designed to help people reconnect with history and identity—standing where enslaved ancestors stood, walking the ancestral slave path, and participating in a moving African naming ceremony.In This Episode, You’ll Hear AboutWhat the NAACP stands for and how its mission has evolved“Not all skin folk are kinfolk”: why allyship is bigger than appearancesContextual privilege, identity, and how power shifts by settingJohn’s immigrant story and why he believes America is already “great”African Audacity Tours: the two-week Ghana experience (history, culture, legacy)The ancestral slave walk + what it means to return to the exact groundThe naming ceremony: being welcomed “home” and reclaiming identityLocal community work: diversion programs, mentorship, and financial literacyPartnership with Wally Webster’s Access ProjectAdult financial literacy + refurbished laptops with Millennium Industries / Rev. Leilani MillerYouth tutoring support through Make It WorthyCall to ActionIf you’ve ever wanted to travel to Ghana (or Africa) but didn’t know how to do it safely and affordably, John shares how to connect:Website: https://www.africanaudacity.comWil also challenges listeners to help the show reach all 50 states by the end of 2026—and to share the podcast instead of “hoarding the information.”Closing VibeThis episode is a reminder that we have more in common than we think, and that real progress starts when we stay open—open to stories, open to each other, and open to the places that shaped us.