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When Ken Budd was thirty-nine, his apparently healthy father collapsed after 18 holes of golf. In the following weeks, countless friends called to talk about his father--how much he meant to them and give many examples about how he'd changed their lives. Ken started questioning his own life and wondering how much (or little) difference his life was making. At that very moment, an email crossed his desk with the subject line: "Katrina Relief Volunteer Opportunities." A coincidence? Maybe not. He signed up and went to New Orleans. But it didn't stop there. He kept volunteering--Costa Rics to teach English; China to work with special-needs kids; Ecuador to study climate change; the West Bank to assist refugees; Kenya to care for orphans. He's a magazine editor in real life but, for years, he's spend part of his two-week vacation time volunteering. But, it is not all work. As he says in his book, "The Voluntourist: A Six-country Tale of Love, Loss, Fatherhood, Fate and Singing Bon Jovi in Bethlehem," there always time to find the best hole-in-the-wall noodle shop, to sip chai with locals, to hike for miles hoping to see rare speckled bears and, something Ken didn't expect, to make life-long friends. You'll love reading about his adventures (but the misadventures are the best) and will be inspired to check out the many voluntouristing (did Ken make up this word?) opportunities--near home or in far-away places. You can hear some of our conversation here. For more information about taking your own voluntouristing vacation: www.thevoluntouristbook.com |
Focus with Irene Rawlings
On air: Sunday 10:30pm - 11pm
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Irene grew up in Detroit listening to Rhythm and Blues, Hip hop, Funk and Pop rock. She went to school in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and moved to Colorado where she worked buying art for billionaire oil man Phil Anschutz' collection of American art. After that, she was editor-in-chief of Country Home magazine, restaurant reviewer at The Denver Post and gayot.com and editor-in-chief of Mountain Living magazine. She has been hosting the early Sunday morning show, "Focus," on KBCO for more than 15 years. In her spare time she reads books, writes books, goes fishing in the mountains, collects vintage scrapbooks and hangs her laundry out on the line because "the towels are so satisfyingly scratchy when you bring them in."
Best career moment: I've tried to think of just one and can't. This has got to be the best job in the world. Anyone I'd ever want to talk to, walks through my door and wants to talk to me--and they are usually on their best behavior!
Most challenging career moment: Interviewing Penn and Teller. I forget which one is which but the tall one with the pony tail talked a lot while the little one who does not talk tried to tie me to my chair with the microphone cord. That was bizarre.
Worst career moment: Interviewing Garrison Kiellor (A Prairie Home Companion) who, just as we were ready to start, looked down and saw gravy stains on his signature red tie. He made us all wait while a fresh tie was sent over from his hotel. I wanted to say, "This is radio, who cares...." but I didn't say anything. While we waited, Garrison sat very still, humming some hymns.
ON DEMAND
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
