Getting to Third Space with Lamar and Tom

Starting In 2027 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed in 2025) enables scholarships for private school tuition, tutoring, and transportation for families with incomes up to 300% of the area median income. Is this really a good idea?

In today’s podcast, Lamar and Tom talk with LaMonte Rothrock who has been an educator throughout his career. LaMonte began his teaching career as a music educator. His career’s journey led him down sev...

You know about earworms, right? It’s a piece of music that gets stuck in your brain and won’t leave you alone. (“Baaabeee shark…”) Sorry about that. 

There are questions that are like earworms, too. In our last podcast our guest, Joel Kauffman, asked us if we are making a difference with Getting to 3rd Space and, if so, how do we know it. His questions have been earworms for us ever since. 

We started this podcast in September 2023. ...

What is the state of our democracy in the U.S. today? What does it mean to be a democracy? Lamar and Tom check in with historian Joel Kauffman on these and other questions. 

Joel Kauffman is a professor, coach, reader, and world citizen. His interest in the world in which we live has led him to learn more about it through the study of history and in conversations with people from all walks of life. Joel taught courses at Hesston Col...

It’s Lamar & Tom’s Second Annual Oddly True for April Fools’ Day podcast! Here’s how it works. Each tells the other three stories ripped from the headlines that are odd but true. However, the story teller changes a single detail in one of the stories making it only mostly true. The other has to correctly guess which story has been changed. 

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Tom’s Stories:

• Wild turkeys terrorize Wisconsin neighborhood, chase postal w...

Have you ever felt disconnected from the decisions that shape our world? 

Today Lamar and Tom are discussing the tragic loss of six Iowa National Guard members in Kuwait. Their sacrifice reminds us of the heavy toll of conflict and the often confusing nature of war.

As they reflect on this, they also consider the broader implications of military actions and the importance of transparency in decision-making. It's vital to stay inf...

In this episode of Getting to 3rd Space, we are going to try and answer a question we are getting more frequently from friends, followers, listeners, and viewers: “But what can I do about the situation in our country?” Frankly, we were a bit stuck. So we went to Perplexity (https://www.perplexity.ai/) and asked it this question: People ask me, about the current social and political situation in the United States, "What can we do?" ...

Liz Weaver joins Lamar and Tom in this episode of Getting to 3rd Space to talk about collaboration, trust, and transitions. Liz retired recently from her role as Co-CEO of Tamarack Institute in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Tamarack is known for its work in catalyzing collective action with diverse leaders to solve major community challenges including ending poverty, building youth futures, building belonging, and addressing climate c...

When you are wondering about rumors, conspiracy theories, folklore, fake news, and urban legends, who ya gonna call? Not us…but how about Snopes.com?

Today Lamar and Tom start by talking about the upcoming season of the Frederick Flying Cows basketball team and a new photo project that Lamar is undertaking. However, the conversation transitions into a deeper examination of four articles from Snopes.com that illustrate gasligh...

An American citizen was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minnesota. The video of the incident was clearly viewed by millions. The truth of what happened is not so clear, especially when the gaslighting starts. 

In this conversation, Lamar and Tom discuss the recent shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis and its implications, particularly as it relates to the concept of gaslighting. They explore how conflicting narratives e...

Stephen Owens was Lamar & Tom’s first guest on Getting to 3rd Space in the first season of the podcast. This week he is our first ever Table Talk guest on the podcast and we talk about school choice.

During the first season of our podcast Stephen Owens was representing the 74th District in the Kansas House of Representatives. He served in the Kansas House from 2019 to 2024. In 2025, Stephen was elected to the Kansas Senate and i...

About this Episode

In this holiday-themed episode, Tom and Lamar reflect on their experiences and traditions surrounding December holidays. They share personal stories about their favorite holiday memories, gift-giving practices, and the role of pets in their lives. The conversation also highlights memorable moments from the podcast season and their plans for the future. Whatever holidays you celebrate and however you celebrate them...

About this Episode

Michael Gaskins is a Philadelphian by birth and heart. In fact, he’ll take a soft, chewy Philly pretzel anytime over cookies. He began his career in television production with CBS, NBC, and CNN affiliates but has found himself drawn to work with incarcerated young men to help them prepare for their re-entry into society as citizens upon their release. For a time he operated a prison ministry to do that work and wo...

This week is Thanksgiving in the United States and Lamar & Tom take time to celebrate by sharing acts of kindness submitted by listeners and viewers over the last two months.

Since August 2025, Lamar & Tom have been collecting responses to two questions about acts of kindness. The first is, “What is an act of kindness you’ve received that made a difference to you?” The second is “What is an act of kindness you have done whic...

This episode of Getting to 3rd Space is Part 2 of our conversation with Christie Vilsack, writer, teacher, Former First Lady of Iowa, and sponsor of the Navy’s U.S.S. Iowa, a nuclear submarine. 

Our conversation continues with a focus on literacy, acts of kindness, and the benefits of growing up in rural America. Christie writes the Substack column, “Common Ground,” in which she tells stories of the people she has met and the ties t...

Today’s guest on Getting to 3rd Space is Christie Vilsack. She describes herself as a "Teacher, writer, wife, mom and gramma. Proud Iowa first lady, congressional candidate, and USAID education advisor. A world traveler but an Iowan by birth and choice. I write about people living close to the land, who believe in community and the public good. I tend to favor underdogs.” She is also the sponsor of the U.S.S. Iowa, a nuclear s...

Lamar and Tom talk with Senator Ethan Corson about his decision to run for Governor the State of Kansas. Ethan emphasizes the importance of bipartisan leadership and staying focused on the everyday issues that matter to families. He shares insights on maintaining civility in political campaigns, the significance of community colleges, and his vision for making Kansas an affordable state. Throughout the discussion, Ethan Corson high...

About this Episode

What happens when two Hawkeyes get together in person? Well, there are some are stupid jokes as well as good conversation. Join Lamar & Tom for a Getting to 3rd Space episode from Tom's home studio. 

Lamar Roth and Tom Klaus recorded this episode in person in Tom’s Frederick, Maryland home studio. They talked about Lamar’s experience with a new (and very small) camper he and his spouse used to camp en route...

What is the power in a name? How do you have challenging conversations about difficult to break personal habits, even addiction? These are just a couple of things discussed in today’s Getting to 3rd Space with Lamar & Tom. 

In this conversation, Stan “The Man” Martin discusses his extensive work in community engagement and public health, particularly focusing on the fight against menthol tobacco. Stan is a native son of Buffalo,...

It’s Labor Day! But how much do you really know about it? Take Tom’s Labor Day quiz with Lamar and learn three other things they think you need to know. 

In this engaging Table Talk, Tom Klaus and Lamar Roth explore the significance of Labor Day, the challenges facing the agricultural sector as harvest looms, and the implications of current political trends. They discuss the origins of Labor Day, the serious issues surrounding worke...