Fill To Capacity (Where Heart, Grit and Irreverent Humor Collide)

Fill To Capacity (Where Heart, Grit and Irreverent Humor Collide)

Podcast for people too stubborn to quit and too creative not to make a difference!Join visual artist Pat Benincasa in conversation with a riveting roster of guests to uncover extraordinary stories of everyday people. Listen as they share their quirky wisdom, unlikely adventures, and poignant life lessons! Fasten your emotional seatbelt for this journey of heart, humor and grit!

Episodes

April 20, 2025 9 mins

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⚖️ When truth stands alone, it still stands—just ask Joan of Arc. 🛡️⚜️

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Please Note: The views expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect the view...

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Who cares for the caregiver?

In this powerful and tender conversation, Mandy Barr—President Carter’s great-niece and Engagement Specialist at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers—opens a door into the heart of caregiving in America today.

With raw honesty and lived experience—as a caregiver, military spouse, and mother of a medically complex child—Mandy Barr brings depth, resilience, and grace to a role millions...

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In this revealing episode, we go to the heart of a crisis too many parents carry in silence. Dr. Kate Gawlik—Doctor of Nursing Practice, researcher, professor, and mother of four—exposes the quiet toll of parenting—burnout and the loneliness no one talks about.

We dig into what the data reveals, how the pandemic reshaped family life, and what it means to juggle the nonstop demands of parenting, work, and school schedul...

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March 23, 2025 23 mins

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What do Bugs Bunny, a book of Italian love poems, and a burned diploma have in common? Me. And Papaco.

In this episode, I trace a line from my grandfather’s one-armed resilience to my own battle with shame, dyslexia, and teachers who said, “college isn’t for you.” From Calabria’s poverty to the Welland Canal’s brutal cost, from war-time fear to artistic fire, I unravel a legacy forged through poetry, grit, and stubborn...

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Pavement is everywhere—trapping heat, polluting water, and cutting us off from nature. But what if we could tear it up and bring life back to our cities? Enter Depave, a dynamo organization transforming urban spaces by tearing out unnecessary pavement and replacing it with thriving green landscapes.

In this episode, Katherine Rose of Depave, reveals why pavement is both an environmental and social justice issue—and how...

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In this moving episode, Aidan Ryan—writer, publisher, and filmmaker discusses his deeply personal book, I Am Here - You Are Not - I Love You. The book unearths the extraordinary yet overlooked lives of Cindy Suffoletto and Andy Topolski, two groundbreaking artists who came out of Buffalo’s raw, experimental 1970s art scene and made their mark in the intense 1980s–90s New York art world.

As Aidan retraces their artistic...

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Misinformation floods the internet. Can you separate fact from fiction?

In this must-hear episode, Brittani Kollar, Deputy Director of MediaWise at the Poynter Institute, breaks down the rise of online deception—and how you can fight back.

·      The biggest red flags of online misinformation

·      How AI, deepfakes, and clickbait are changing the game

·      Why speed is overtaking context in today’s news

·      Practica...

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What happens when a top-tier athlete, defined by discipline and control, is faced with a rare illness and the collapse of an 18-year marriage? Risa August got off her couch, named her tumor “Bubba,” grabbed her bike, and rode 1,845 miles down the Pacific Coast, battling pain, gale-force winds, and heartbreak.

In this gripping episode, Risa shares how she traded perfectionism for authenticity. From wearing Wonder Woman ...

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Reimagine women’s healthcare! This episode explores the groundbreaking work of Herself Health, redefining care for women 65+ with a bold, whole-person approach. 

Join Becca Kummer, Clinic Manager, and Morgan Lange, Physician Assistant, as they share how they’re charting new paths with empathy, connection, and innovative value-based care—giving women the respect, attention, and healthcare they deserve. Packed with insig...

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What happens when a crow with serious attitude takes to the skies? A flight path you won’t believe! Sometimes, it’s in the smallest acts of defiance that we find our truest strength. 

Joan of Arc Scroll Medal
This brass alloy medal can be worn on a necklace, a keychain, dogtags, on a bag, or in your car.

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What do coral reefs, the Heartland and a student at Southern Illinois Univ. have in common? A groundbreaking journey to save our oceans. Dive deep with Ashlynn Shea, a zoology senior and coral conservation advocate, whose work in a landlocked lab is transforming the future of marine biology.

From studying coral microbiomes to dreaming of heat-resistant reefs, Ashlynn is tackling climate change one flow rate at a time. ...

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What do metronomes, circles, and chemical reactions have to do with the new year? Find out in this 5-minute episode where anxiety meets purpose, and the sacred takes center stage.

Joan of Arc Scroll Medal
This brass alloy medal can be worn on a necklace, a keychain, dogtags, on a bag, or in your car.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra...

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Listen as Joan Vorderbruggen, a visionary force in public art and creative place-making reveals how art can revolutionize communities. Through Minnesota's beloved Dayton's holiday displays and the new Twin Cities Public TV (TPT) documentary "Remember the Magic," she weaves together cultural preservation, community transformation, and art's power to drive social change.

Her work spans from "...

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In this riveting episode, Cheri Witt-Brown, a visionary leader, shares how she transformed Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity into a beacon of innovation and hope. Building has always been in her DNA—from childhood days on her dad’s construction sites to leading the charge on groundbreaking affordable housing solutions.

A devastating 2013 flood in Northern Colorado became a turning point in her life, compelling her to j...

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When the world spins out of control, how do you find your center? Join me for an 8-minute journey that turns a snow globe into a radical map for surviving chaos. 

Joan of Arc Scroll Medal
This brass alloy medal can be worn on a necklace, a keychain, dogtags, on a bag, or in your car.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
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In this riveting episode, Laura Danielson, a seasoned immigration lawyer, confronts the global crisis of climate refugees.  She reveals how climate change is forcibly displacing millions, exposing critical weaknesses in current immigration policies. 

From Haiti to Central America’s Dry Corridor and South Asia’s sinking coasts, Laura highlights the human stories behind the climate crisis. She unpacks the challenges of U...

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In this deeply moving episode, we journey into the life and legacy of Judy Garland. As Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, she traveled a road of uncertainty and danger, yet held fast to her core self. Joined by Judy Garland Museum’s Founding Director, John Kelsch, and Executive Director, Janie Heitz, we explore Garland’s life and story of resilience, heartbreak, and timeless courage that continues to touch hearts across gen...

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October 26, 2024 53 mins

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Journey into the heart of democracy with Michelle Witte, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, as she reveals how this powerful engine of civic engagement shapes our future. From its suffrage movement roots—championed by trailblazers like Nellie Griswold Francis and generations of African American women activists—to today's pressing challenges, discover how the League's mission exten...

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Ever had a day when the universe seemed to be playing cosmic peek-a-boo? Buckle up, buttercup! Sophia Demas is here to spill the celestial tea on those "no way!" moments that are actually the universe's way of saying, "Psst, over here!"

Sophia reveals how problem-solving, and spirituality link her diverse experiences - from her architectural work with Buckminster Fuller to high-end fashion and ...

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Ever wonder how opening your home to strangers from across the globe could change your life? Join Marlis Lambson as she shares 9 years of hosting international students, transforming her home into an eclectic hub of cultures, creativity, and deep connections. 

Listen as she used zany strategies during the pandemic to create unforgettable virtual cultural exchange experiences for everyone involved!  She gives  a candid ...

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