"For many years merely to talk of angels invited scorn. Belief bespoke of craziness, even schizophrenia, and certainly denoted a pitiful lack of intellect. But after eight decades of personal observation, I fearlessly assert that angels are real. We swim like fish in spiritual waters, and like fish we know nothing of water until we’re yanked out flopping and gasping on the grass. We’re tossed back and swim away, confused—“Was that real? Did I really see what I think I saw?” We live in a universe of goodness, one that wants more and better for us than we can possibly imagine, and, when our spiritual eyes open, we find beauty, hope and courage, even in our suffering. Angels form only one small part of it."

That's Sophy Burnham, from her forward to Susan Cushman's book All Night, All Day, life, death & angels, introducing readers to a subject that touches all of us. For this episode of StoryBoard 30, host Mark Fleischer sits down with author Susan Cushman for a personal, candid talk about losing friends or family members and the profound events, unexplainable connections, deep reflections, and spiritual awakenings that can accompany their deaths.

Recorded on June 12, 2023, at Playhouse on the Square in Midtown, Memphis, Tennessee.

“To champion a cause, you have to reboot your fundamental belief in the goodness of people, and that goodness will win out. Because all of a sudden, out of nowhere, resources, people show up that you could not have imagined in a million years. There is power in beginning. The minute you decide to commit, all make and manner of support materializes out the ether that you could not have predicted. To me, that’s a marvel.”

 That’s Marvin Stockwell, discussing his own passions and how forces come together once someone or a group takes on new causes. This June and into early July, Marvin is taking his Champions of the Lost Causes podcast on the road with his son and daughter, through the Southwest, the Pacific Coast, the northern Rockies and the Great Plains, to explore and discover people and their passions for taking on causes around the country. 

SB 30 host Mark Fleischer sat down with Marvin on Friday, June 2nd, just a couple of days before the trio’s road trip was set to begin, to talk about how it came about and how he hopes it plays out, and what he hopes to discover along the way. Recorded on the 7th floor of Crosstown Concourse in Memphis, Tennessee.

“We’ve seen Bridge Builders transform young people in countless ways, and the result is a growing community of young leaders poised to reach across, lead the way, and build our community. Bridge Builders are not just the future leaders of tomorrow; youth today want to make a real difference. We are here to support them on that journey. And now more than ever, Memphis needs more Bridge Builders.” ~BRIDGES CEO Dana Wilson

"It was really a breath of fresh air. I didn't know what to expect. At first my mom told me to do it, and when I actually got there it was something completely different than what I had expected, and it ended up being one of the best things I've done in my life." ~Student and Youth Advisory Board Co-Chair Emmanuel Mosley

BRIDGES CEO Dana Wilson and student Emmanuel Mosley, speaking candidly about the importance of the BRIDGES program and its impact on Memphis's youth, are this episode's guests. Join host Mark Fleischer as he talks with both Dana and Emmanuel about how this program fosters collaborations and connections between Memphis teens and the community, and how it builds future leaders.

Recorded at BRIDGES main facility near the historic Pinch District on 5th Street and A.W. Willis Avenue, across from St. Jude, on March 20, 2023.