Mesa Verda National Park, Nice Cream and Smoothies, Gaga Ball, Letter Writing, Mini Book Club, Fight for Recovery

Mesa Verde National Park (0:00:00) When we think of national parks in the western United States, we usually think of beautiful, natural rock formations that we can go and explore. But the park we’re talking about today is a little different, because it boasts man-made rock formations. Mesa Verde National Park is located in Colorado, and thousands of years ago it was home to cliff dwellers. Established in1906, Mesa Verde continues to preserve the archaeological history of the ancestral Pueblo people. Today, the park boasts almost 5,000(!!!) archaeological sites, an absolute feast for the modern eye. Joining us today is Cristy Brown, the Management Support Specialist of Mesa Verde National Park. We’re excited to learn more about this historic place from her. Nice Cream and Summer Smoothies (0:16:38) After a long day at work and chasing your children around, it’s nice to sit down on the sofa with a bowl of ice cream and watch your favorite show. But, day after day, bowl after bowl of ice cream, it can become an unhealthy habit. Fortunately, there are amazing healthy alternatives out there like smoothies and even ‘nice cream’, made completely out of fruit. To tell us more about these healthy alternative treats, we are joined by Catherine McCord, founder of One Potato and the popular family and food brand, Weelicious. She’s an excellent cook and has written multiple cookbooks, including ‘The Smoothie Project.’ Gaga Ball (0:31:50) Dodgeball is the quintessential gym class sport: we see it on television, in books and movies, and in real life in schools, clubs, and camps. However, dodgeball has often been criticized for being too harsh and intense. But how could we ever replace such an integral part of P.E. and summer camp? The answer might be “Gaga Ball.” Gaga Ball is similar to dodgeball but is much more accessible and easier for new players. Coach Cliff Silverman has years of experience playing and teaching Gaga Ball as well as designing and building the equipment used to play it. He is joining us today to talk about the sport and why it’s gaining popularity across the U.S. The Lost Art of Letter Writing (0:52:45) I love getting mail. Whether it’s a package or a wedding invitation, as long as it isn’t a bill, there’s something exciting about getting something with your name on it. The mail we get today, however, looks different then the mail we would’ve received 10 or 20 years ago. Handwritten letters, especially, have almost completely died out. But here today is someone who has worked to revive that lost art: Ivan Cash, artist, filmmaker and founder of the Snail Mail My Email project. Mini Book Club: Books Around the World (1:09:29) Rachel Wadham, of BYU Radio’s World Awaiting, talks with Lisa and Richie about the best books to read from different countries around the world. My Fight for Recovery (1:29:00) Hearing success stories of people overcoming extreme difficulty can give us the boost we need to confront our own struggles, especially right now when we’re burdened with COVID, societal issues and personal problems. It helps to know how other people make it through the tough times. They become an example to us of hope and show us the ways we can conquer our own hardships. So today, we’re talking to someone who did just that. Rob Plaskas survived a life-threatening brain injury as a teenager. Since then he’s gone on to become an author and live an accomplished life despite physical, emotional and mental hurdles. He joins us today to help inspire us to never give up.