VOA – CONNECT
EPISODE #165
AIR DATE 03 12 2021
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Nature Versus City
((SOT))
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
I'm really excited, like it's weird when you have a vision and
a dream for so long, and then you see it and you're like,
“Okay, this is it.”
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Nature in the City
((SOT))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
I think it's very soothing to be able to check in and just watch
them marching through these first few days of their lives and
see them developing, seeing them growing and preparing to
fledge.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
A Cowboy Tradition
((SOT))
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy))
I grew up in a family of cowboys. My dad was a cowboy,
professional cowboy. His dad was a cowboy. So naturally,
I became a professional cowboy.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) RELOCATING DURING COVID TIMES
((TRT: 10:56))
((Topic Banner: A Pandemic Move))
((Reporter/Camera: Arturo Martínez))
((Map: San Diego, California; Incline Village, Nevada))
((Main characters: 1 male))
((Sub characters: 2 male; 5 female))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Popup Banner:
One in 20 U.S. adults moved in 2020, either temporarily or
permanently due to the pandemic.
*Pew Research))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
My name is Luke Derrin. I'm a financial professional. My
office is here, at home, because I'm working
remotely. COVID happened and we were like, all right,
everything is shutdown. We are going to homeschool. I'm
working from, in a common space in the condominium
common area, and I've been working here since COVID
started.
((NATS: Luke and Shayna))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Hey, Shayna.
((Shayna Yellon, Financial Professional, Luke’s
colleague))
Hey, Luke. How's it going?
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Good. It's hard to imagine, like, it seems so natural for us to
be on Zoom all the time now.
((Shayna Yellon, Financial Professional, Luke’s
colleague))
Right. I mean, it's like our new life, but...
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
I’m finding myself so much more productive because I've got
blinders on. There's none of this kind of hanging around the
water cooler, talking, talking. And I finish an appointment,
and I turn, and my kids are right there, and then back to my
work. It's not getting stuck in traffic.
((NATS))
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
Hey!
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Hey, what are you guys doing? You have some books?
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
In this one, I think the bear is going to Lake Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the United States.
It’s on the border of two states.
Where are we going to live? Right up here.
((NATS))
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
We're moving to Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, in Nevada.
We're moving out to have a different lifestyle, more nature,
simpler lifestyle. I can't wait to pick up and, you know, we
felt like those sort of dreams and goals were down the
track. They were like five years, 10 years’ time, we can
maybe go do something like that. But now, it's like, all right,
we can do that now. So, all we have to do is just pick this
thing up and plug it in somewhere else.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
What I won't miss is the traffic.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
You live in the city but then obviously COVID happened, and
I couldn't have access to all the things that I wanted to. I
can't go to the restaurant. I can't even go to the movies. It’s
a struggle to find a babysitter these days. So, I'm living in
the city for all these reasons, and I don't have access to it.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
So, this is our office here. I haven't been here since the
lockdown basically. All up and down you’ll see like, office
spaces for rent. Two signs there, one sign here. Every
block. Another sign there. This parking lot would always be
full.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Shaka, brah.
Yeah.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
When I’m at the beach, it’s the only time I start to question
the move because I'm like, “Oh, my God, this is so good.” I
mean, look at this. This is paradise. People would give the
whole life to be able to do what we are doing right now. Are
we…..but then, and then reality kicks in and you count how
many times we've been to the beach in the last month.
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
I know, not that many.
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Not that many.
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
I don't know. I just feel in Tahoe, it's easy. The mountain is
five minutes away. The beach is five minutes away. The
park is five minutes away. The shops are five minutes
away. I think for where we are with kids, we want to do
things together and we see that as being a much more
possibility if he's working from home and we have,
everything is closer proximity and a lot more simple.
((NATS))
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
Say, bye-bye sun.
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Bye-bye sun. Bye-bye.
((NATS / MUSIC))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
This way, guys.
Let’s run. Come on.
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
Good running.
((NATS))
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
This is it. I'm really excited, like it's weird when you have a
vision and a dream for so long, and then you see it and
you're like, “Okay, this is it.” And I think that's the blessing in
COVID, is it's allowed us to do this a lot faster than we
thought.
Yeah, there's the Chickadees. You're right.
Every morning, we come down here after breakfast and go
for a little walk with the kids and…
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
It's a nice change in trying to cross the railway tracks and a
busy, busy highway and fight the traffic. And just the scene
of seeing my kids, like running down towards the lake, I just,
I felt so good. It felt so right.
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Let's go over here.
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
Show me the way.
((Jaden Derrin, Luke and Kristin’s son))
That way.
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
No, no. We're going to go over to the water, Jaden.
((Jaden Derrin, Luke and Kristin’s son))
No.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
I don’t think we have to explain why he moved here
though. I mean, look at that. It's not just here that people
are moving to. It's like all these other locations and they're
moving there for the natural environment. They're not
moving there because it's got the best strip malls and the
best restaurants and all that sort of stuff.
((NATS / MUSIC))
((Whitney Sesma, Bartender at The Local))
A lot of people from the [San Francisco] Bay Area have been
coming in, living more full time, which is great for
business. But it's also, it's a different, I don't know like
feeling, you know, like it's not the same that it's always been.
((NATS))
((Keyla Heidenresch, College Student and Waitress))
Like people are seeking the outdoors, which is cool, but the
amount of influx of people and exposure to like one small
little area, like Lake Tahoe is not ready for this. So, if
everyone's going to come up here and leave their trash
everywhere, I don't think anyone is really truly benefiting
from that.
((Corey Skaggs, College Student and Outdoor
Adventure Guide))
The housing has been a very difficult thing to just find for us
college students and just people that are moving here. I
know people that had to move down into Carson and Reno,
and they are students and/or they work up here, and they
have to commute every day because there's no housing up
here.
((Andrea Tatengo, Receptionist))
Yes, it has been getting crowded. I have seen a lot more
cars and a little bit more traffic. A lot of people have been
pushed out or some just decided to move out due to the
increase of rent because they can't afford it.
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
We're lucky we got a rental. A lot of people, there's no more
rentals. I mean, your place is definitely smaller, which we're
saying is cozier. It is less as well. But we didn't have many
options. I mean, rentals were really tight. It was one of
those things where it was like, either this price or twice the
price. And we just thought, you know, with everything going
on, this is perfect.
((NATS))
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
So, what else? Do you have work today to do?
Yeah, I have to call Emily, just try to get people on a meeting
tomorrow.
((NATS / MUSIC))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
We're looking at some condos in Incline Village. I think it's
around $850,000 condos, $900,000, because we were
interested in obviously buying, eventually, next year.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Hunter.
((Hunter Platte, Realtor))
Hey.
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Hey buddy. How are you doing?
Good to see you, man.
((Hunter Platte, Realtor))
You, too. Come on in.
Let's go up and then we'll come back down.
((Hunter Platte, Realtor))
Business has been really good and I'm very, very grateful
and blessed. I mean, people literally couldn't keep up with
all the people that want to buy property. I've got clients in
New York. I have clients in the Bay Area, in L.A., and even
though, depending on the person that you're talking to,
they're like, “Oh man, you know, prices are kind of expensive
here in Incline”, which definitely is, but this just kind of funny
because if you get people from the Bay Area, they come
here and they're like, “Wow, prices are cheaper, you know.”
So, it's interesting and to be honest, I think, that's definitely a
factor in what's pushing up prices as well.
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
This is already getting close to a million dollars. Is this going
to be 1.5 in six months? Is this going to be two million? Am
I going to be priced out or priced down into a smaller place if
I want to stay here?
((Hunter Platte, Realtor))
Prices in this area will always appreciate.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
I feel it’s, I feel they are all overpriced. It’s still condo living.
We're in no rush. We don't know what's going to happen.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
I don’t see myself going back to a normal office, and I don’t
think I’ll be the only person. I think people have got a taste
of the Promised Land and they're like, “Why have I been
grinding it out for so long? Why have I been living that when
this life is so much better?”
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
I feel grateful. I feel “privileged” is something like it’s been
given to me, but this hasn't been given to me. I've worked
my butt off for it. I've taken chances. I've dealt with a lot of
stuff like having to deal with stress. So, it's not something
that's been given to me over someone else. Because I know
anybody could be in my shoes right now. If their priorities
are buying a house and living in the suburbs, that's
great. But that hasn't been my priority. My priority has been
more to be able to make sure I can take my family and put
them somewhere safe and take my family and show them
what life is about, not the things that we own.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Come on, guys. Let’s get in this one.
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
It looks like my hair is his.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up
((Banner))
Words of Encouragement
((SOT))
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
It just kind of started honestly from the ground up. I mean
from way ground up. I built all of this knowledge myself. I
never took any classes.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) A PANDEMIC ESCAPE - FALCONS
((TRT: 03:14))
((Banner: Urban Falcons))
((Reporter: Michelle Quinn))
((Camera: Matt Dibble, Michelle Quinn))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Berkeley, California))
((Main character: 1 female))
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
There's a couple, Annie and Grinnell, as they've come to be
known, and they have been breeding in the Campanile for
four or five years now. I think that they first started in 2016,
but the cameras have been in place since 2017. And that
was really the moment when the campus community got
involved with this pair of birds. So, they've had a clutch each
year since then and because they're also banding the birds,
we’re able to follow the fates of those birds and learn a little
bit about their offspring.
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
These organisms, in part, they have rebounded a bit
because of their ability to nest in cities, which is also a little
bit of a special thing. So, they typically nest in cliffs, but
they've been able to take advantage of skyscrapers and tall
structures like the Campanile.
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
There's nature in the city. There are wildlife in the city. And
that interacting with these organisms, viewing these
organisms, whether it's through the critter camera or right
outside your window, has these positive benefits for us. It
can be very soothing, very calming. And, in fact, that's been
shown through research. There's a kind of a growing body
of research emphasizing just the positive benefits of
interacting with nature and interacting with nature and
wildlife.
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
It's like our daily dose of nature. We can check in on them.
We can see their feathers coming in. We can see them
exploring the windows, getting ready to take that next step,
which is going to happen later this week.
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
I'm just sort of fascinated with wildlife in urban areas. As the
human population has become increasingly urbanized, we've
also become increasingly disconnected with nature. And I'm
very interested in efforts like this one that try to re-engage
the public with the wildlife in our midst.
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
These organisms, their struggle for survival really involves
avoiding being eaten and eating themselves. And so, I think
in some ways, our simplified existence right now is perhaps
more similar to what these critters are going through on a
day-to-day basis. And maybe that's part of why we can, it
resonates with us in this moment.
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
Grinnell is banded and now all of the chicks are banded.
And that’s part of a mark and recapture study so that we can
follow the fates of these animals, understand where they go
when they leave this nest. So, for example, one of the
chicks, a few years ago, has apparently set up a nest on
Alcatraz and this will be the first year that she'll be using that
nest.
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
In this particular moment in time, a lot of people are
recognizing that or recognizing the importance of those
interactions, not just with their community but with the wildlife
outside of their windows.
((NATS))
((PKG)) MAKING A STATEMENT
((TRT: 06:10))
((Topic Banner: Making a Statement))
((Reporter:??Faiza Elmasry))?
((Camera/Editor:??Adam Greenbaum))
((Map:??Gainesville, Virginia))??
((Main characters:??2 female))
((Sub characters: 2 male))
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
My name is Dessirae Mantas and I am the owner of
the Rustic Texan Woodshop.
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
Business started as an accident. I just wanted to make
signs for myself, give them as gifts to friends, family.
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
I’ve always loved the idea of giving a unique piece to
someone, not just a candle or something like that, something
that people would love and cherish. I think the whole
concept of my business is I just want to create custom and
unique pieces for people out of wood.
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
There was a sign I created a couple of months ago. It was
about a guy that moved to Colorado. He was in and out of
drug rehab and was just piecing his life together and moved
to Colorado for a fresh new start with his partner, was going
on hikes and was enjoying life in different ways than he had
enjoyed it before. And his sister came to me, wanting to
make him a sign to showcase this new chapter in his life.
((Courtesy: Dessirae Mantas))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
We came up with a piece. It was a round sign with
mountains and trees and we put a quote that he used on
Instagram a lot. That was her gift to him, and she told me
that it was probably the most important piece in his life. He
looks at that as a reminder of, “This is where I'm at now and
life is good.”
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
I just let it all come naturally to me. There really is no
specific process. I can’t have a specific process because
then everything would look very similar. I just let
my customers talk, give me ideas of things that they want to
incorporate and then I just try and mesh it as well as I can.
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
It just kind of started honestly from the ground up. I mean
from way ground up. I built all of this knowledge myself.
But no, as far as classes, no, I never took any classes.
((Courtesy: Dessirae Mantas))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
I just read a lot. I YouTubed a lot. Pinterest a lot.
My dad was not any type of craftsman, but although I didn't
learn anything from him about woodworking, I did learn a lot
of life lessons.
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
And he told us constantly, “If you don't know how to do
something, you better figure it out.”
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
I started my business at the beginning of 2018 as just a
hobby. It was just, you know, little, little things here and
there.
((NATS: Dessirae Mantas husband and sons))
You going to come to lunch?
Yep.
Alright.
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
And my husband has always been on board with it. There’re
days when I spend all day in the shop and he's inside with
the kids, but he does alleviate a lot of pressure for
me. So, I'm thankful for that because while he's not in here
working with me, he helps me in other ways.
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
One of the biggest challenges that I have with being a small
business owner and a stay-at-home mom is I don't have
((Courtesy: Dessirae Mantas))
all the time to be with my kids.
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
I have to kind of balance the two out. And in the beginning,
that was really hard. I didn't understand how to do those two
things, but over time, I quickly learned to incorporate my kids
into my work. Let them see what it is I'm doing.
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
I hope that my story can encourage other people that are
just beginning or discouraged by everything that, you know,
they may be facing and that you don't have to know
everything about anything to start out. You just have to have
the will, the want, the confidence and you have to believe in
yourself. And I would not have made it this far if I did not.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
Perfect!
((NATS/MUSIC))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up
((Banner))
Cowboy for Life
((SOT))
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy))
Even though I'm not personally riding and roping
anymore, I am a cowboy. I am carrying on the cowboy way
of life.
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) CONNECT WITH – CODY GARNETT
((TRT: 03:22))
((Topic Banner: Connect With – Cody Garnett))
((Reporter/Camera: Deepak Dobhal))
((Map: Pawhuska, Oklahoma))
((Main character: 1 male))
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy))
Howdy, I’m Cody Garnett from the best small town in
America, Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
Welcome to my museum, the Ben Johnson Cowboy
Museum.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy))
I grew up in a family of cowboys. My dad was a cowboy,
professional cowboy. His dad was a cowboy. So naturally,
I became a professional cowboy. It was a very serious thing
around our house, this rodeo.
It wasn't all fun and games, growing up. I came from a poor,
poor, rodeo cowboy family. We had zero money.
Every dollar we got,
went to the rodeo, you know, we, it's not free.
The gasoline to get to them isn't free.
The feed you feed your horses isn't free. When you get
there,
you have to pay an entry fee, you know.
It's hundreds and hundreds of dollars for each one,
you know. That's not free.
So, you know, we saw a lot of hard times.
Watching your dad, knowing they need to win, you know, to
provide for the family, sometimes that was a little stressful.
But we all saw
a lot of great times. We saw a lot of great times. We lived
half a mile [0.8 km] off the Arkansas River.
Some of my best memories growing up is
we take our horses down to the Arkansas River.
We would just ride up and down the Arkansas River and
it was
just like riding back in time.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy))
I had a friend from Stillwater, Oklahoma,
a good friend of mine. I was, kind of,
helping him out with his roping
a little bit, and we became real close friends. He was a
professional business fella. And he asked me,
"Cody, if you had to pick a business, what business would
you go into?"
I said, "Well, the local pawn
shop closed down in our little town.
I think that might be a good business, Larry." I said, "Well,
that's all fine and dandy, Larry. But I'm a broke cowboy.
I couldn't even open a lemonade stand on the corner, much l
ess a pawn shop in our town."
He said, "You get all the paperwork done and everything,
Cody. I'll be your partner."
He was a real, real great thing that was brought into our lives
and changed me and my wife's life.
Since then, I retired from rodeoing. I'm a professional
business
guy here in town. We own the Ben Johnson Museum,
which I get to hold on to our cowboy roots here.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy))
I always had big dreams. Everybody had big dreams.
I wanted to be a world champion cowboy, growing up.
I never accomplished that goal. But you live and you learn.
Not everybody gets what they want in life. So,
but I had a lot of great years in the professional rings.
Even though I'm not personally riding and roping
anymore, I am a cowboy. I am carrying on the cowboy way
of life. I'm teaching my kids the cowboy way of life,
teaching them the rodeo life. And we're also just living the
dream here.
((MUSIC/NATS))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
SHOW ENDS
EPISODE #165
AIR DATE 03 12 2021
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Nature Versus City
((SOT))
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
I'm really excited, like it's weird when you have a vision and
a dream for so long, and then you see it and you're like,
“Okay, this is it.”
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Nature in the City
((SOT))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
I think it's very soothing to be able to check in and just watch
them marching through these first few days of their lives and
see them developing, seeing them growing and preparing to
fledge.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
A Cowboy Tradition
((SOT))
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy))
I grew up in a family of cowboys. My dad was a cowboy,
professional cowboy. His dad was a cowboy. So naturally,
I became a professional cowboy.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) RELOCATING DURING COVID TIMES
((TRT: 10:56))
((Topic Banner: A Pandemic Move))
((Reporter/Camera: Arturo Martínez))
((Map: San Diego, California; Incline Village, Nevada))
((Main characters: 1 male))
((Sub characters: 2 male; 5 female))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Popup Banner:
One in 20 U.S. adults moved in 2020, either temporarily or
permanently due to the pandemic.
*Pew Research))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
My name is Luke Derrin. I'm a financial professional. My
office is here, at home, because I'm working
remotely. COVID happened and we were like, all right,
everything is shutdown. We are going to homeschool. I'm
working from, in a common space in the condominium
common area, and I've been working here since COVID
started.
((NATS: Luke and Shayna))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Hey, Shayna.
((Shayna Yellon, Financial Professional, Luke’s
colleague))
Hey, Luke. How's it going?
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Good. It's hard to imagine, like, it seems so natural for us to
be on Zoom all the time now.
((Shayna Yellon, Financial Professional, Luke’s
colleague))
Right. I mean, it's like our new life, but...
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
I’m finding myself so much more productive because I've got
blinders on. There's none of this kind of hanging around the
water cooler, talking, talking. And I finish an appointment,
and I turn, and my kids are right there, and then back to my
work. It's not getting stuck in traffic.
((NATS))
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
Hey!
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Hey, what are you guys doing? You have some books?
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
In this one, I think the bear is going to Lake Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the United States.
It’s on the border of two states.
Where are we going to live? Right up here.
((NATS))
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
We're moving to Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, in Nevada.
We're moving out to have a different lifestyle, more nature,
simpler lifestyle. I can't wait to pick up and, you know, we
felt like those sort of dreams and goals were down the
track. They were like five years, 10 years’ time, we can
maybe go do something like that. But now, it's like, all right,
we can do that now. So, all we have to do is just pick this
thing up and plug it in somewhere else.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
What I won't miss is the traffic.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
You live in the city but then obviously COVID happened, and
I couldn't have access to all the things that I wanted to. I
can't go to the restaurant. I can't even go to the movies. It’s
a struggle to find a babysitter these days. So, I'm living in
the city for all these reasons, and I don't have access to it.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
So, this is our office here. I haven't been here since the
lockdown basically. All up and down you’ll see like, office
spaces for rent. Two signs there, one sign here. Every
block. Another sign there. This parking lot would always be
full.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Shaka, brah.
Yeah.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
When I’m at the beach, it’s the only time I start to question
the move because I'm like, “Oh, my God, this is so good.” I
mean, look at this. This is paradise. People would give the
whole life to be able to do what we are doing right now. Are
we…..but then, and then reality kicks in and you count how
many times we've been to the beach in the last month.
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
I know, not that many.
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Not that many.
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
I don't know. I just feel in Tahoe, it's easy. The mountain is
five minutes away. The beach is five minutes away. The
park is five minutes away. The shops are five minutes
away. I think for where we are with kids, we want to do
things together and we see that as being a much more
possibility if he's working from home and we have,
everything is closer proximity and a lot more simple.
((NATS))
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
Say, bye-bye sun.
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Bye-bye sun. Bye-bye.
((NATS / MUSIC))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
This way, guys.
Let’s run. Come on.
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
Good running.
((NATS))
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
This is it. I'm really excited, like it's weird when you have a
vision and a dream for so long, and then you see it and
you're like, “Okay, this is it.” And I think that's the blessing in
COVID, is it's allowed us to do this a lot faster than we
thought.
Yeah, there's the Chickadees. You're right.
Every morning, we come down here after breakfast and go
for a little walk with the kids and…
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
It's a nice change in trying to cross the railway tracks and a
busy, busy highway and fight the traffic. And just the scene
of seeing my kids, like running down towards the lake, I just,
I felt so good. It felt so right.
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Let's go over here.
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
Show me the way.
((Jaden Derrin, Luke and Kristin’s son))
That way.
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
No, no. We're going to go over to the water, Jaden.
((Jaden Derrin, Luke and Kristin’s son))
No.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
I don’t think we have to explain why he moved here
though. I mean, look at that. It's not just here that people
are moving to. It's like all these other locations and they're
moving there for the natural environment. They're not
moving there because it's got the best strip malls and the
best restaurants and all that sort of stuff.
((NATS / MUSIC))
((Whitney Sesma, Bartender at The Local))
A lot of people from the [San Francisco] Bay Area have been
coming in, living more full time, which is great for
business. But it's also, it's a different, I don't know like
feeling, you know, like it's not the same that it's always been.
((NATS))
((Keyla Heidenresch, College Student and Waitress))
Like people are seeking the outdoors, which is cool, but the
amount of influx of people and exposure to like one small
little area, like Lake Tahoe is not ready for this. So, if
everyone's going to come up here and leave their trash
everywhere, I don't think anyone is really truly benefiting
from that.
((Corey Skaggs, College Student and Outdoor
Adventure Guide))
The housing has been a very difficult thing to just find for us
college students and just people that are moving here. I
know people that had to move down into Carson and Reno,
and they are students and/or they work up here, and they
have to commute every day because there's no housing up
here.
((Andrea Tatengo, Receptionist))
Yes, it has been getting crowded. I have seen a lot more
cars and a little bit more traffic. A lot of people have been
pushed out or some just decided to move out due to the
increase of rent because they can't afford it.
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
We're lucky we got a rental. A lot of people, there's no more
rentals. I mean, your place is definitely smaller, which we're
saying is cozier. It is less as well. But we didn't have many
options. I mean, rentals were really tight. It was one of
those things where it was like, either this price or twice the
price. And we just thought, you know, with everything going
on, this is perfect.
((NATS))
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
So, what else? Do you have work today to do?
Yeah, I have to call Emily, just try to get people on a meeting
tomorrow.
((NATS / MUSIC))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
We're looking at some condos in Incline Village. I think it's
around $850,000 condos, $900,000, because we were
interested in obviously buying, eventually, next year.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Hunter.
((Hunter Platte, Realtor))
Hey.
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Hey buddy. How are you doing?
Good to see you, man.
((Hunter Platte, Realtor))
You, too. Come on in.
Let's go up and then we'll come back down.
((Hunter Platte, Realtor))
Business has been really good and I'm very, very grateful
and blessed. I mean, people literally couldn't keep up with
all the people that want to buy property. I've got clients in
New York. I have clients in the Bay Area, in L.A., and even
though, depending on the person that you're talking to,
they're like, “Oh man, you know, prices are kind of expensive
here in Incline”, which definitely is, but this just kind of funny
because if you get people from the Bay Area, they come
here and they're like, “Wow, prices are cheaper, you know.”
So, it's interesting and to be honest, I think, that's definitely a
factor in what's pushing up prices as well.
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
This is already getting close to a million dollars. Is this going
to be 1.5 in six months? Is this going to be two million? Am
I going to be priced out or priced down into a smaller place if
I want to stay here?
((Hunter Platte, Realtor))
Prices in this area will always appreciate.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
I feel it’s, I feel they are all overpriced. It’s still condo living.
We're in no rush. We don't know what's going to happen.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
I don’t see myself going back to a normal office, and I don’t
think I’ll be the only person. I think people have got a taste
of the Promised Land and they're like, “Why have I been
grinding it out for so long? Why have I been living that when
this life is so much better?”
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
I feel grateful. I feel “privileged” is something like it’s been
given to me, but this hasn't been given to me. I've worked
my butt off for it. I've taken chances. I've dealt with a lot of
stuff like having to deal with stress. So, it's not something
that's been given to me over someone else. Because I know
anybody could be in my shoes right now. If their priorities
are buying a house and living in the suburbs, that's
great. But that hasn't been my priority. My priority has been
more to be able to make sure I can take my family and put
them somewhere safe and take my family and show them
what life is about, not the things that we own.
((NATS))
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional))
Come on, guys. Let’s get in this one.
((Kristin Derrin, Luke’s wife))
It looks like my hair is his.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up
((Banner))
Words of Encouragement
((SOT))
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
It just kind of started honestly from the ground up. I mean
from way ground up. I built all of this knowledge myself. I
never took any classes.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) A PANDEMIC ESCAPE - FALCONS
((TRT: 03:14))
((Banner: Urban Falcons))
((Reporter: Michelle Quinn))
((Camera: Matt Dibble, Michelle Quinn))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Berkeley, California))
((Main character: 1 female))
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
There's a couple, Annie and Grinnell, as they've come to be
known, and they have been breeding in the Campanile for
four or five years now. I think that they first started in 2016,
but the cameras have been in place since 2017. And that
was really the moment when the campus community got
involved with this pair of birds. So, they've had a clutch each
year since then and because they're also banding the birds,
we’re able to follow the fates of those birds and learn a little
bit about their offspring.
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
These organisms, in part, they have rebounded a bit
because of their ability to nest in cities, which is also a little
bit of a special thing. So, they typically nest in cliffs, but
they've been able to take advantage of skyscrapers and tall
structures like the Campanile.
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
There's nature in the city. There are wildlife in the city. And
that interacting with these organisms, viewing these
organisms, whether it's through the critter camera or right
outside your window, has these positive benefits for us. It
can be very soothing, very calming. And, in fact, that's been
shown through research. There's a kind of a growing body
of research emphasizing just the positive benefits of
interacting with nature and interacting with nature and
wildlife.
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
It's like our daily dose of nature. We can check in on them.
We can see their feathers coming in. We can see them
exploring the windows, getting ready to take that next step,
which is going to happen later this week.
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
I'm just sort of fascinated with wildlife in urban areas. As the
human population has become increasingly urbanized, we've
also become increasingly disconnected with nature. And I'm
very interested in efforts like this one that try to re-engage
the public with the wildlife in our midst.
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
These organisms, their struggle for survival really involves
avoiding being eaten and eating themselves. And so, I think
in some ways, our simplified existence right now is perhaps
more similar to what these critters are going through on a
day-to-day basis. And maybe that's part of why we can, it
resonates with us in this moment.
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
Grinnell is banded and now all of the chicks are banded.
And that’s part of a mark and recapture study so that we can
follow the fates of these animals, understand where they go
when they leave this nest. So, for example, one of the
chicks, a few years ago, has apparently set up a nest on
Alcatraz and this will be the first year that she'll be using that
nest.
((NATS))
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of
California, Berkeley))
In this particular moment in time, a lot of people are
recognizing that or recognizing the importance of those
interactions, not just with their community but with the wildlife
outside of their windows.
((NATS))
((PKG)) MAKING A STATEMENT
((TRT: 06:10))
((Topic Banner: Making a Statement))
((Reporter:??Faiza Elmasry))?
((Camera/Editor:??Adam Greenbaum))
((Map:??Gainesville, Virginia))??
((Main characters:??2 female))
((Sub characters: 2 male))
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
My name is Dessirae Mantas and I am the owner of
the Rustic Texan Woodshop.
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
Business started as an accident. I just wanted to make
signs for myself, give them as gifts to friends, family.
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
I’ve always loved the idea of giving a unique piece to
someone, not just a candle or something like that, something
that people would love and cherish. I think the whole
concept of my business is I just want to create custom and
unique pieces for people out of wood.
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
There was a sign I created a couple of months ago. It was
about a guy that moved to Colorado. He was in and out of
drug rehab and was just piecing his life together and moved
to Colorado for a fresh new start with his partner, was going
on hikes and was enjoying life in different ways than he had
enjoyed it before. And his sister came to me, wanting to
make him a sign to showcase this new chapter in his life.
((Courtesy: Dessirae Mantas))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
We came up with a piece. It was a round sign with
mountains and trees and we put a quote that he used on
Instagram a lot. That was her gift to him, and she told me
that it was probably the most important piece in his life. He
looks at that as a reminder of, “This is where I'm at now and
life is good.”
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
I just let it all come naturally to me. There really is no
specific process. I can’t have a specific process because
then everything would look very similar. I just let
my customers talk, give me ideas of things that they want to
incorporate and then I just try and mesh it as well as I can.
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
It just kind of started honestly from the ground up. I mean
from way ground up. I built all of this knowledge myself.
But no, as far as classes, no, I never took any classes.
((Courtesy: Dessirae Mantas))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
I just read a lot. I YouTubed a lot. Pinterest a lot.
My dad was not any type of craftsman, but although I didn't
learn anything from him about woodworking, I did learn a lot
of life lessons.
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
And he told us constantly, “If you don't know how to do
something, you better figure it out.”
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
I started my business at the beginning of 2018 as just a
hobby. It was just, you know, little, little things here and
there.
((NATS: Dessirae Mantas husband and sons))
You going to come to lunch?
Yep.
Alright.
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
And my husband has always been on board with it. There’re
days when I spend all day in the shop and he's inside with
the kids, but he does alleviate a lot of pressure for
me. So, I'm thankful for that because while he's not in here
working with me, he helps me in other ways.
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
One of the biggest challenges that I have with being a small
business owner and a stay-at-home mom is I don't have
((Courtesy: Dessirae Mantas))
all the time to be with my kids.
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
I have to kind of balance the two out. And in the beginning,
that was really hard. I didn't understand how to do those two
things, but over time, I quickly learned to incorporate my kids
into my work. Let them see what it is I'm doing.
((NATS))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
I hope that my story can encourage other people that are
just beginning or discouraged by everything that, you know,
they may be facing and that you don't have to know
everything about anything to start out. You just have to have
the will, the want, the confidence and you have to believe in
yourself. And I would not have made it this far if I did not.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic
Texan Workshop))
Perfect!
((NATS/MUSIC))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up
((Banner))
Cowboy for Life
((SOT))
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy))
Even though I'm not personally riding and roping
anymore, I am a cowboy. I am carrying on the cowboy way
of life.
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) CONNECT WITH – CODY GARNETT
((TRT: 03:22))
((Topic Banner: Connect With – Cody Garnett))
((Reporter/Camera: Deepak Dobhal))
((Map: Pawhuska, Oklahoma))
((Main character: 1 male))
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy))
Howdy, I’m Cody Garnett from the best small town in
America, Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
Welcome to my museum, the Ben Johnson Cowboy
Museum.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy))
I grew up in a family of cowboys. My dad was a cowboy,
professional cowboy. His dad was a cowboy. So naturally,
I became a professional cowboy. It was a very serious thing
around our house, this rodeo.
It wasn't all fun and games, growing up. I came from a poor,
poor, rodeo cowboy family. We had zero money.
Every dollar we got,
went to the rodeo, you know, we, it's not free.
The gasoline to get to them isn't free.
The feed you feed your horses isn't free. When you get
there,
you have to pay an entry fee, you know.
It's hundreds and hundreds of dollars for each one,
you know. That's not free.
So, you know, we saw a lot of hard times.
Watching your dad, knowing they need to win, you know, to
provide for the family, sometimes that was a little stressful.
But we all saw
a lot of great times. We saw a lot of great times. We lived
half a mile [0.8 km] off the Arkansas River.
Some of my best memories growing up is
we take our horses down to the Arkansas River.
We would just ride up and down the Arkansas River and
it was
just like riding back in time.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy))
I had a friend from Stillwater, Oklahoma,
a good friend of mine. I was, kind of,
helping him out with his roping
a little bit, and we became real close friends. He was a
professional business fella. And he asked me,
"Cody, if you had to pick a business, what business would
you go into?"
I said, "Well, the local pawn
shop closed down in our little town.
I think that might be a good business, Larry." I said, "Well,
that's all fine and dandy, Larry. But I'm a broke cowboy.
I couldn't even open a lemonade stand on the corner, much l
ess a pawn shop in our town."
He said, "You get all the paperwork done and everything,
Cody. I'll be your partner."
He was a real, real great thing that was brought into our lives
and changed me and my wife's life.
Since then, I retired from rodeoing. I'm a professional
business
guy here in town. We own the Ben Johnson Museum,
which I get to hold on to our cowboy roots here.
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy))
I always had big dreams. Everybody had big dreams.
I wanted to be a world champion cowboy, growing up.
I never accomplished that goal. But you live and you learn.
Not everybody gets what they want in life. So,
but I had a lot of great years in the professional rings.
Even though I'm not personally riding and roping
anymore, I am a cowboy. I am carrying on the cowboy way
of life. I'm teaching my kids the cowboy way of life,
teaching them the rodeo life. And we're also just living the
dream here.
((MUSIC/NATS))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
SHOW ENDS
