Jen is back, and the coffee vibes are strong! We dive into another lively chat about all things coffee, play a hilarious game of coffee brand phrases, and Jen treats us to a sneak peek at four of her newer rockstar flavors. Her coffee comes in 12oz bags (and 12oz bags). It’s caffeinated fun you won’t want to miss. BONUS: Go to our Facebook page for a chance to win a basket from Jenuine Coffee

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All material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

Welcome to the Clopen Book Club! Let's talk about books and reading a book before seeing the movie! All of Lexie's info is here and on Facebook: "Luna and Koi"

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We do so much more than work retail! Let's talk about it. Hobbies and extracurricular activities.

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Judy and Holly are here from Home of the Sparrow! Here is their mission and some insights from their website:

"Home of the Sparrow’s mission is to provide Hope, Opportunity and Support that empowers women and children as they journey from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Home of the Sparrow opened its doors as a registered 501(c)3 non-profit homeless shelter in 1987. Today, Home of the Sparrow not only provides Transitional Shelter, but also Affordable Housing and Rapid Re-Housing combined with Supportive Services that address the core issues of homelessness. Home of the Sparrow serves single women, pregnant women and women with children. Approximately 70+ percent of the women we serve have experienced domestic violence at some point on their journey. Other reasons for homelessness include unforeseen housing or financial crisis, a death in the family, or a medical emergency. The economy and rising cost of living contribute to unstable housing situations. On average Home of the Sparrow receives over 1,700+ calls a year from women in crisis and helps an average of 400+ women each year. Tax ID 36-3494491"

Need assistance? Visit https://hosparrow.org/intake/

Origins & Why It Matters

1. The journey began in 1984, when McHenry County recognized that homelessness wasn’t just a city issue - neighbors right here were struggling. A church survey revealed a growing need, and the community began discussing real solutions rather than just sympathy.

First Steps into Action

1. In 1985, community members (yes, regular people like you and me) met over pancakes, recognized the problem was real, and decided to take action. Initially, folks weren’t sure how to help, but that spark launched a movement.

Shelter Opens

1. December 15, 1986: The first shelter opened — not fancy, but real, offering refuge to those most in need. It became clear very quickly that the majority of people they were helping were women and children—people often left out of the conversation, but never left behind at HOS.

Becoming an Organization

1. 1987: Home of the Sparrow officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, cementing its role as a key community resource.

This isn’t a static charity — it’s a community ecosystem that has grown, adapted, and expanded its reach:

1990s

1. They bought their current McHenry shelter site (1991) and launched the first Sparrow’s Nest Thrift Store* in 1992, both milestones in sustainability and community engagement.

Expansion of Services

1. Over the next decade, they opened more thrift locations, expanded shelter capacity, and started affordable housing programs — turning temporary shelter into pathways to lasting stability.

2000s–2010s

1. Around 2012–2014, Home of the Sparrow began acquiring scattered affordable housing units and launched outreach & prevention programs — tackling homelessness before people lost...

Laura, owner of Wild Hunny Boutique, is here this week! We chat about her boutique and surprise her with the game: 'Finish the Christmas lyric'. It's a great listen!

Wild Hunny Boutique is a woman-owned local shop specializing in affordable, stylish, and giftable items — perfect for holiday shopping, everyday wear, and supporting local makers.

📍 Located at 1213 Riverside Drive, near the Riverwalk Shops in McHenry.

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

A constantly refreshed selection of boutique-style apparel that’s fashionable without the boutique price tag — nothing is priced above about $33. Shaw Local

• Trendy tops
• Dresses & casual wear
• Seasonal fashion pieces
• Comfortable everyday outfits

These pieces are handpicked to suit a wide range of styles and sizes, making it easy to find something for yourself or as a gift.

Wild Hunny carries a variety of accessories from local designers and makers, including:

• Jewelry from brands like Windy Prairie Jewelry, Jenny Shlemon, Natalie Clare
• Scarves, hats, and style boosters
• Hand-crafted or boutique jewelry pieces

These wardrobe add-ons help elevate any outfit and make perfect stocking stuffers.

This is one of the boutique’s strongest strengths — a curated gift selection that supports small makers:

• Gift items and home pieces from local creators
• Featured artisan products like Gunny&Co., Caritino’s Old Fashioned Mix, Wisconsin Bee Company, Dead Smooth, The Dusty Coop Homestead
• Gift cards for the store (great for holiday presents)
• Items that feel local, thoughtful, and unique

This makes Wild Hunny Boutique more than just a clothing store — it’s a spot where shoppers can find meaningful, small-business gifts alongside fashion.

Laura intentionally stocks items from women-owned and local artists whenever possible, making the store a community hub for supporting local makers. Shaw Local

Additionally, the boutique participates in local events and pop-ups, building community connections beyond merchandise.

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All material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

This week, Meredith and Cassandra chat about the winter inventions that helped us survive the cold - from the classic hand muff to heaters, ice scrapers, remote starts, and shovels. It’s a quick, fun look at how these cold-weather creations came to be. omehow bed bugs made their way into the conversation, too. We give a shout-out to one of our #1 fans, Shannon, and Meredith love Lauren Conrad clothes at Kohl's.

Info from this episode:

• ~500,000 BCE
• Inventor: Early humans (Homo erectus)
• Fireplaces became structured “hearths” in ancient Greece & Rome.

• 1892
• Inventor: Sir James Dewar (Scottish chemist)

• ~3000 BCE (first wool garments in Mesopotamia)
• Inventors: Ancient Mesopotamians

• Dated back to ~1000 BCE, first used by indigenous Arctic peoples
• Modern aluminum snow shovel patented in 1889 by Joseph Flanders

• 1980s
• Inventor: First commercialized by M. Frank Verducci, founder of Autostart

• 1910–1920s (early automobile era)
• Inventor: Unknown — evolved as cars became popular in snowy regions

• 1983
• Inventor: Ingrid Kosar (founder of Thermal Bags by Ingrid)

• 1950s modern rubber-and-insulation design
• Inventor: The boot company Sorel (founded by Kaufman Footwear) popularized them

• 2001
• Inventor: Milwaukee Tool’s heated gear division eventually commercialized the tech

• 1890s
• Inventor: Albert Leroy Marsh pioneered the high-resistance alloy “nichrome” in 1905, leading to modern heaters

• 1970s–80s, became mainstream in the early 2010s
• Inventor: No single inventor — fashion industry evolution

• 1925
• Inventor: Arthur Sicard, a Canadian dairy farmer

• 2000s
• Inventor: First implemented by certain Midwest gas station chains — not patented by a single inventor

• 1936 first patent for heated wipers
• Inventor: Joseph Karasik

• 1910s
• Inventor: Olaf Bergh (Norwegian engineer) patented early air-curtain systems

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Let's talk about the dangers of cooking on Thanksgiving! And a few other stories...

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What a fantastic interview with Chris from @belliesfoodtruck 🐷

Owner Chris, along with his wife, his daughter, his business partner, his dad, and his brother, serves up pork belly bites, Cuban sandwiches, and Meredith’s favorite grilled cheese!

We talk about Chris’s past jobs and how Bellies came to be. And of course, there is a short quiz at the end where we realize that Chris is surprisingly good at guessing years in history. Like… how is he that good? Anyway... their food is fantastic! Please check them out.

https://belliesfoodtruck.com

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All material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.