A.J. Riebli: Hey, welcome Santa Clara Broncos! Happy daylight saving spring forward. Oh my god, we're starting early this morning, but hey, welcome to Crossing the Alameda, the podcast where we reconnect with the Santa Clara University community of 1991 and celebrate the stories that have unfolded since we've left the mission campus. I'm AJ Reibli, and today we're going to flip the script. That's right. We're going to flip it. Wait, do you see what we got in store today? Our listeners have been asking for a while. Hey, when do we get to hear about you, the host? So today we are turning the tables. Are my clients with us? Good morning, Mike. All right.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: good morning to you. Good afternoon from sunny Madrid and happy forward. Very excited for today's show. Can't wait for all of you to learn more about our guest.
A.J. Riebli: Yes. we were not charles michell a child can't be in this morning but he's made this podcast way cooler with his part and his music and his great interview style and is active listening which i think is one of charles many many and ⁓ we for having a vaccine so they might what's going on in the show
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Yeah, so like you said AJ, we're gonna switch it up a bit and today joining us we have a very special guest host, a fellow bronco from the class of 91, Gina Finicaro. Gina, welcome to the other side of the microphone this
Kari Morin: Hey.
Gina Warner: What the hell? Hi guys, I've been rehearsing in all my free time. So nervous.
Kari Morin: Hahaha
Gina Warner: Thanks for having me, you guys. I'm really excited. I'm so excited that our guest today is one of the four co-hosts, Carrie Morin. Carrie, I'm so excited. We got to catch up recently after I was a guest, and now we're turning the tables on you. Happy International Women's Day, and so glad to be here to be part of your interview. So, Mike, go ahead and take it away and introduce Carrie.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: yes, thank you, thank you. Like you said, I'm very excited. Also very excited for today's show. Carrie was a political science major with a French minor. The youngest of four siblings and the third, yes, the third in her family ⁓ to Santa Clara University. She lived the 10th floor of Swig, that other coed floor that was the our year. ⁓ Then she moved to Dunn. Then she spent the fall of 1989 during the fall of the Berlin Wall. in Ruin France. moved into the condos when she returned and then she finished her time at Santa Clara as RA in Walsh. After graduating, she joined the Judgment Volunteer Corps, a chapter that she calls Life Changing, which brought her to Washington, D.C., where she remained working in the nonprofit sector. While there, she crossed paths with her high school boyfriend, yes, love can be rekindled, high school boyfriend, Brendan. They are celebrating 31 years this August. That's amazing. Congratulations on that. Along the way, Carrie worked for AmeriCorps in New Orleans, earned her master's in education from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, then in Portland 28 years ago, where she and her husband raised three boys alongside her sister, Julie. And the Framley, includes a whole crew of fellow Broncos whose kids have grown up like cousins to hers all around the Portland area. After years of working in nonprofit youth and education programs, she pivoted to running her own coaching and practice and now also co-hosts the Things We Know podcast and co-leads women's retreats. She has a special affection for supporting fellow caregiver moms. So much so that she wrote a chapter in an upcoming book called Suddenly Brave Together. Letters to caregiving moms at the defining moment in their lives. And she has raised three young men who, in her words, have made the whole ride rewarding, heart exploding, hilarious. Carrie, we are so lucky to have you here today as guest. So welcome.
Kari Morin: Thank you. were gonna do Charles first. I think we should have done Charles first.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: the brave one.
A.J. Riebli: You look familiar. Have we seen each other? Do know each other?
Kari Morin: He is conveniently busy.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Excellent.
Kari Morin: Yeah, most nervous about you. probably remember most about me.
Gina Warner: you
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Well, we have heard some great stories.
A.J. Riebli: I don't know how you can be nervous. Come on, come on. We've been friends for almost 40 years. Holy crime, how does that happen? Anyways, we're thrilled that you are in the hot seat today. And so we might as well just jump right into the hot seat. As you know the show, Carrie, as you're part of this show, we start with the Santa Clara days and then we move forward to the next 35 years of your fabulous life. By the way, we really couldn't do this show without you when Mike hit me and said, hey, Who should we get up, who should we get to help us? And I'm like, better yet, who do we need? And you were like the first person to jumped off the page for both of us. And I think you thought, oh, I'm just coming on the help. And the next thing you know, we like, we got you on the hook and we're like, Mike, I we can land this. And we were so fortunate to land your talent and your smarts. And our show is 1000 times better because you come on with us weekend and week out and we love you and we can't thank you enough. for making Crossing the Alameda. By the way, you get also credit for naming it Crossing the Alameda. So big shout out to you. So this is awesome. And also, how stoked are we that we got Gina Finnecaro-Water on the show today? It's so good. Things that I know about you, would like you to tell us, what's one memory from Santa Clara that is slightly or makes you smile or cringe?
Kari Morin: Thank you. I Very good.
Gina Warner: happy to be here.
A.J. Riebli: or little bit of both. ⁓
Kari Morin: Okay, I'll tell you the first one that comes to mind and it is embarrassing. it's also popped in who was part of it or like, anyway. So our year we were living in Dunn and I actually did it, I was starting to date someone who was a freshman who lived in Swig. You probably remember him. But I ⁓ literally, I wasn't with ⁓
A.J. Riebli: Hmm.
Kari Morin: I was friends with them. Do remember Shannon Henry and Suzy Ledwixon? And I like, yeah. So we all crashed there. We're like watching a movie. We had all been probably drinking and crashed. And I got up early in the morning to walk out and I was like, everyone's going to think I'm doing that whole walk of shame thing. But it's early, no biggie. And like the distance between Dunn and Swaig are so small, but it was margaritaville day. It's so...
A.J. Riebli: Heard of him? Yeah, familiar, yeah.
Kari Morin: As you remember, people would be up early, you know, walking from Benson over to the stick up house. And I walk out and Darren Bouton's like, what a shame. Like I heard him before I saw him. was like in clothes I was wearing the night before and yeah, was like, I didn't even have the energy to, ⁓ like a few other people too started laughing and I was just like.
A.J. Riebli: don't think the walk of shame gets enough credit. ⁓ so many. Isn't interesting when everybody's like, why didn't I see you at the hut the night before? And you look like you're in the same clothes, but you look a little more disheveled. Your pants and shirt look a little front bowled. What happened? the walk of shame. Or ⁓ usually the are off and you're carrying because your feet hurt so much. like, I'm just going to carry these ⁓ MFers home.
Kari Morin: Totally. I know.
A.J. Riebli: ⁓ I love that Darren Boughton caught you too, by the way. And shout out to Darren Boughton. He peed past recently such a great guy, member of the baseball team. Had some of the best hair at Santa Clara University. We always like to let everybody know that he had some of greatest hair of all time. And he is seriously missed and I love that he you actually. It is such a short How you got caught in that, mean, walk of shame.
Kari Morin: He did.
A.J. Riebli: And we've made a suggestion, does everybody have a Rocketsian story?
Kari Morin: And also, also like from the freshman dorm. Yeah, from the freshman dorm to the sophomore dorm. That had like just an extra funny.
Gina Warner: Yeah, extra little edge there. Okay, so Carrie, you were in SWIG. I remember you vividly from done because we were both on third floor together. Then you did a stint in France. I remember studying abroad when you were in France. I was in Rome, like, and then the Congress, our living trajectory was very similar. I'm really excited to hear about like of
Kari Morin: Yes. Yes?
Gina Warner: of those living experiences being so vast, like is there one that really stands out as the one that is your Santa Clara, know, living memory or, know, one that surprises you the most, your memories of it? ⁓
Kari Morin: feel like sophomore year was the most fun. That was such a great floor. Like Gigi and Shannon were on that floor. It just such a great way to meet other people in the class that I liked and didn't know as well yet. But also, ⁓ I that studying abroad even better because then we all came to visit each other. ⁓ I don't know you recall, I think we tried to stay with you ⁓ and we got out of Loyola Room, but they sent us over to this amazing little pensione so it all worked out.
Gina Warner: Yeah. Absolutely, yeah. Yeah.
Kari Morin: Yeah, traveling with Gigi and Beth, that was so fun. I would say probably sophomore year, Gigi and I, or not Gigi, sorry, Jackie and I lived together again. You know, were randomly put together freshman year and we lived together by choice sophomore year. And I she is a blast and people were in our room and that just kind of stands out to me as iconic and fun. ⁓
Gina Warner: Yeah, I do think like that was a fun part of staying in the dorms to sophomore year is your circle just got bigger, you know, with being with a new group and a new mix. So I loved third floor.
Kari Morin: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, me too. I am known my life as the nose. People are just like, God, how do you smell everything? And I I realized that sophomore year, because I kept saying to Jackie, I feel like I smell cat food. I feel like I smell cat litter. And she kept going, what are you talking about? And was like few weeks later we found out guys two floors below us had a cat. ⁓ And yeah, funny things about that year that I ⁓ probably have memories from that dorm year than
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Wonderful.
Gina Warner: Not a cat.
Kari Morin: You know the other two.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Phenomenal. up? You every student seems to have their spot on campus and we've heard quite a few people mention their spots. Basically for what was the place to study? Decompress, disappear, kind of a hide if you What was yours?
Kari Morin: I, being a SoCal girl, I always try to get sun on warm days. I loved Mission Gardens. I loved being able to study and nap up But if I really didn't want to be found, I can't remember part of the library, but there was like at the end of some stacks way, way back, like these little desks, I would go hide there. And that was helpful. My brother gave me the best advice before I went to Santa Clara and he said, study during the day, you know? So like, I took that to an extreme and I took like eight o'clock and 10 o'clock classes and I didn't have any classes in the afternoon and I would study, like it was my job until five and then I could feel like I relaxed. Did I get that right every semester? Certainly not the first one. I tried to stick to that and it meant hiding.
A.J. Riebli: So hey, as the youngest of four, right, you're the youngest of four and the third to go to Santa Clara. did you choose STU because your siblings were already there or did you carve out your own path and what was that like arriving at a place where you already had family? And by the way, your sister was an awesome RA, love Julie, say hi to her for me. She's amazing and very patient as well. I yeah, I think there's a patient, you streak that runs in I think the more in family that they go I see you're being really silly but that's okay we'll we'll we'll make sure you're okay how did you like how did adventure at Santa Clara like I you knew the campus obviously like but how did you end up thinking okay I'm gonna go here
Gina Warner: family.
Kari Morin: So when my brother was there, I went to visit and he like basically let me out of his room. And then when I went to visit my sister was the complete opposite. Like, you know, she lost me somewhere, left me somewhere. So it was two very different experiences. And I would say was last place I wanted to go, right? Like I'm, because I was the last one going to school, a lot was happening. Like my senior year of high school, my dad was commuting to Denver cause he was ⁓ the manager of
Gina Warner: you
Kari Morin: flight training for Continental and he was doing, Continental. So that was all based in Denver. And he was there. My brother was living in Northern California, was about to get transferred to Illinois. My grandmother wasn't doing well. I just felt like, ⁓ gosh, if I do go to Boston College, which was my number one, we're gonna in five different places and you're all from Catholic families, big Irish Catholic family. I don't know, especially as the youngest, you get really sentimental about that. So think even though I kept saying it's the last place I'm going to go, it ended up being the only place I wanted to go. so was great. It was great to be in school with my sister. It was funny to be in the same dorm. was funny to get written up by her. ⁓ It actually a really cool thing that she did because ⁓ Jackie I had a room full of people and she was with John. I think his name was Loverado, but we call them Loverite Up. ⁓
A.J. Riebli: I'm
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Ha ha ha ha!
Gina Warner: Yeah, well, I forgot about that.
Kari Morin: And stopped by like three times and finally she's like, okay, I'm gonna have to just write you and Jackie up or maybe it was just me. But yeah, I milked that quite a bit, gave her such a hard time. But no, it was great. ⁓ then my brother ended up staying in the Bay Area. So it was a really fun way to be away from home and ⁓ stuff with my siblings. And ⁓ was great. Yeah. ⁓
Gina Warner: Thank That is a really like standout memory for me about Santa Clara was when I got there, just how many people had siblings there, you know, at the same time. It's a big sibling school, you know. So how great that you got to start with your sister there and all that. What about professors? I know you were poli sci. Is there anyone within that department or outside of the department that you would dub your favorite?
Kari Morin: Totally. Yeah, I mean, yesterday we were interviewing Drew Ione and he mentioned Peggy Downs. was absolutely, Beth and I were recently talking about her. was, you know, I mean, I came from Orange County. I definitely came from like a very different background a lot of those poli sci professors. And like, she stretched ⁓ quite a bit, but Peter Minowitz was just goofy and cool. He was like in a jazz band at Lord John's and he, he, he definitely, always wanted more from me in such a great way. you know, he, it weird to go from an all-girl school to a co-ed school. And so there were times when ⁓ I really outspoken and times when I would kind of just sit in class and listen and he would call on a lot as a freshman. And I actually really liked it. And in the end, and we ended up, he was my advisor. We ended up kind of buds. I liked him a lot. They were all kind of quirky. It's a very quirky. I recall, and I not be right, ⁓ there's many poli sci majors that we keep having on here. So I'd love for them to correct me if I'm wrong. ⁓ But that's weird and unexpected was at that time in history, Santa Clara sci faculty ⁓ way more left Berkeley poli sci faculty. They tended to be really conservative. Yeah.
Gina Warner: Really? Wow.
Kari Morin: And so I remember they would like, you know, work at both places, like sometimes they would, it was a really interesting time. And I had friends that were at Berkeley and we would go up and do seminars up there. And I just remember being, like very different ideas and opinions from professors about like, you know, the Gulf or something like that. That was interesting.
A.J. Riebli: you
Gina Warner: All
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Ooh, fantastic. Okay, now, as you know, we're gonna move forward to part two, the now. so, know, walk us through the journey of, you know, you were a treasure volunteer Corps after Santa Clara, and then you went running your own business. then you land up in the Pacific Northwest from an Orange County transplant, is, you know, that's amazing in itself that you survived the rain and gray weather. tell us a little about that path, because you have lived a number of places since Santa Clara.
Kari Morin: I always feel really lucky because my brother's job him to places like Norwalk, Connecticut, or like this place two hours outside of Chicago. ⁓ was like, yeah, you got a little care. like DC, New Orleans, Nashville. Those are pretty cool places. Yeah, I mean, DC, I loved it when I went on one of those like close up trips in high school and I'd gone with my parents before. So I was very excited to move there. I've said ever since, I wish every young person would spend at least six months there. I think as a kid, like a little kid, I had an aunt who was actually worked in the CIA, a great aunt. And always wanted me to be a page and I never made that happen. So it was just fun to finally get there. so yeah, I, my with volunteer Corps was, in a group, set of group homes elderly who had been homeless. And it was, it was. Incredible. mean, I think I took three buses to get there. was way out, like, east. And I would go by the National Cathedral, which was really cool, up by Catholic U. And so I'd switch buses there, and sometimes I would just go in and light candles. It was so beautiful. And I worked with all of these mostly African-American people who were, like, late 90s. One woman, Miss Emma, 103. And they all, like, worked their entire lives into their... late 80s, early 90s, they were just incredibly and super and they loved giving me hard time and teaching me how to you know, greens way they wanted to. so I was the activities coordinator, but I also did a lot of advocacy work as well. And it ⁓ was incredible work. It fun. And then I had six ⁓ roommates that JVs and all still really close to this day. ⁓ And we were... ⁓ Like we were kind of supported by this parish at Ignatius High but the church was St. Al's and they could only afford to light up, like heat up basement. So church was in the basement with this huge gospel choir and some of roommates joined it. And it was so funny cause like they'd have to stand in front of my roommates and like get them on beat. It's pretty funny, but was just such big fun part of our year, you know, and I learned the whole. ⁓ public transportation system there. Like I knew how to take the bus anywhere. So then after that, when I was working for what ended up being an AmeriCorps program, but it was before the National Youth Service bill got passed, I was able to you know, map out where we sent all of the service teams because I knew the whole public transportation system by then. So that was a helpful skill. It was good.
Gina Warner: I'm a huge DC fan, Carrie. agree. One of my kids went to Catholic University. And so just learning how to navigate the city and how much they have that's accessible to them. I know that part of town that you were in. What a great, amazing opportunity. That's awesome.
Kari Morin: It was great. And so much is free there. That's another great reason to go be young there is we learned really quickly. First of all, the Smithsonian has all these cool things and that's all free. There was these like leagues you could join to play volleyball in the mall. did that. And then sometimes you could get into the Kennedy Center for free and go have a picnic up on the roof. And there were days it was really cheap to rent a canoe. mean, JVC is like $85 spending money a month. So you had to be really, and we figured out which bars in Georgetown, if we took a bus over there, we had like lots of free food out for happy hour. It's great. I'll never forget that my roommate who went to Holy Cross, she and I were like, let's go to the Irish Times. And we went there and we ordered two harps. it was like, even back then, it was crazy. It was like, I don't know, $12 for like a pint. were like, uh-oh. Yeah, we didn't drink that much.
A.J. Riebli: So, Acare, like, so how do you, you know, so, obviously I think that that Jesuit message landed pretty heavy with you. I'm so impressed by like your journey at JVC and then AmeriCorps. But a lot of the way, how do you end up running back into your high school boyfriend? Like, where does that all drop in? And then ⁓ obviously launched you into, you know, a pretty amazing family. I'm curious, where do you run into Brendan and all this, you know, this
Kari Morin: was pretty fun.
A.J. Riebli: this journey that you're on. Like, you're like, hey, what's up? Or did you always kind of keep tabs on each other and kind of just came together? How did that happen for you? What was going on there?
Kari Morin: Um, I mean, we, we were not in touch for like five years. I was his brother's our year. He, Brendan was a year older than us and he went off to Claremont. And, um, so was somewhat in touch with him and then, and, um, his sister, Christie, because, you know, we were all friends and it wasn't a, it wasn't an arcomoneous breakup or anything. Um, but I hadn't been in touch with him at all. And I knew he was off in med school. I wasn't sure where. And so. A mute is the same mutual friend who like set us up in high school. My friend Steve was like, no, he's in DC. So like, sort of knew he was there, right? Like we, we had sort of communicated. It was really weird and awkward turned out like his girlfriend at the time was there when we, when I reached out. like that just bombed and which was weird, you know, like I was dating someone he was, I was just like, Hey, you're in DC. So I kind of let that go. And then we, um,
Gina Warner: Thank
Kari Morin: When I came back, you you got to do your orientation for Jesuit Volunteer Corps, which at the time was in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Jesuits have some nice property, as we all know. And I came back and like there was no, you know, we didn't have cell phones or anything like that. So like I called my parents from a payphone and they were like, Brendan called here and he was wondering if, you know, if he could get in touch with you. And I kind of blew it off. And then we ended up bumping into each other in Georgetown ordering tequila shots.
Gina Warner: Yes, they do. you
A.J. Riebli: That will be paid for at for the month.
Kari Morin: and that he heard me. Right, right, right. It must have been happy hour, because I wouldn't have done that otherwise, but it was my roommate's birthday. was his roommate's birthday. And we were like, what? And he goes, you must be from California. Before he saw me, he must be from California. Seems like only Californians are dumb enough to order tequila shots or something. And then we bumped each other. And our all started hanging out after that. And we were pretty good friends over time. We weren't dating other people and we were dating each other, but it really wasn't immediate. It must have looked that way, way back on the other coast, I'm sure, but it's not how it went.
Gina Warner: But so you hear those stories about how people, you know, they reconnect years later and the circumstances are such that. You know, rekindling makes sense. So I love that for you. Walk us through, know, somehow you got back to the West Coast. You're in Portland now. I you ⁓ are to catch up together when you and I caught up. didn't. We talked so long, but we never really got to your work and the whole chapter again thing. I'm dying to hear all about that. So walk us through a little about what happened after JVC and your journey west and then the work you're doing now.
Kari Morin: Yeah, mean, my, thank you. DC, New Orleans, Nashville, and partly Portland, like really ⁓ career was always about like, you know, in the nonprofit ⁓ with like education and youth services. And I thought would do that. I mean, in some ways I still do. I still do some grant writing for some of these organizations, cause I, you know. I keep, either on a board or I keep in contact with like I Have A Dream Foundation and where I used to work, but they're not called that anymore. But keep in touch with those people and I'm aware of, you know, certain projects with ⁓ different So I do stuff like that, but it would, you know, I was right around the time I was at that last job, when it was called I Have A Dream Foundation, I... The lot was going on with my dad and my middle son. of their health was just, were just in these nebulous places of, cannot figure what's going on. You know, wasn't ⁓ a cut dry thing. My dad ended up with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, but that took forever to figure out. You like this just kind of larger than life, ⁓ very fit person was couldn't breathe. You know, it was just this, was really hard to figure out. ⁓ And he was older and he had had some heart stuff that he inherited. ⁓ made it complicated. So that and ⁓ trying figure out if my son ⁓ had metabolic going on, was studying about nutrition and stuff it was my job, just on the side of having three little kids and working full time. And my husband was like, you should really, and he in women's healthcare. He's an OB hospitalist now, but at the time he was doing. You know, his own practice and, was like, not only should just kind of, you know, maybe you should work part-time and pursue this or, but, know, you seem really passionate about it. And honestly, they don't us nutrition in med school. So a lot of people like me could use someone like you to refer people to. ⁓ So that's it that I just kind of. ⁓
Gina Warner: Thank
Kari Morin: I, sort of the way I am. I'm sort of investigative about everything. kind of go down rabbit holes. So have to be really intentional at how I do that and what I do that about. But, so for ⁓ it just of got me into that world. also ⁓ when we were, I was working in that last job, we were in, East Portland, east of the 82nd is kind of a food desert here. It's high poverty. The school we were working in had probably like 36 languages spoken. So there's a lot of immigrant families. And I just was, I was working a lot with the guy who was running the school lunch program. And we were just, we were talking a lot about how it's so hard to reduce. mobility and like stabilize families if they actually don't have nutrition. Like all the other things we're bringing the tutoring that like whatever doesn't really matter if a kid doesn't have food in their belly or if they don't have dental work, kind of stuff. So we were constantly trying to figure out what were the factors we could bring in. So it just opened up a whole bunch for me in terms of, I think I'd like to work with mothers. ⁓ on like help, know, helping themselves, you know, kind of putting that oxygen mask on first and stabilizing what they can do for themselves so that they can, you create more stability. So ⁓ it of brought me in that direction. Sorry. That's a really long answer. We can edit it out, but, ⁓ it, was of the impetus of how I went into coaching ⁓ and, and really was planning on just doing it like that, like part-time and sort of a passion project.
Gina Warner: No, no,
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: you
Kari Morin: And two things happened, my husband was leaving his practice to go be a hospitalist, but he had to kind of do both for a couple months. between that ⁓ my started to show signs of we then learned were absent seizures. So I ended having to start that much quicker than I planned, I had been getting certified in different levels of training and...
Gina Warner: you Wow.
Kari Morin: like their linguistic pathways training. So like to do a lot of like habit change coaching and things like that. So I just kind of had to start before I was ready. And it's cool. Cause some board members from that organization were like, I'll be your first client. so that like getting clients allowed me to continue to like fund what I wanted to do with that group of moms. So that's how that started. And then over time it's become a lot more. lot less of the nutrition stuff. still do it. just, just, do it in, partnership with someone seeing like a functional nutritionist or a doctor. I do a lot more of mindset habit change, somatic work now with people around, know, like limiting belief work. That's just, it's kind of what it grew to be for me. ⁓ I wasn't as like.
Gina Warner: you
Kari Morin: I don't know. It wasn't so much like I want to help people lose weight. I don't care. really to help people go after what they want and figure out what's getting in the way.
Gina Warner: That is amazing work. I, as you were describing journey and the different, you know, arenas that you've ⁓ able to play in, so to speak, in work, I just, you know, thinking like she is a true person for others. Like AJ said, you really do model that Ignatian spirituality. And it's incredible to see that's been a constant through your life, it seems. It's really beautiful.
Kari Morin: Thank you. Thank you. I don't know that I have a track the whole time. Sometimes it feels a little chaotic, or linear. My husband of knew what he wanted to do from age eight. My path's been that, so thank
A.J. Riebli: Hey, isn't really a Sophie's Choice kind of question, but you know, when and I were thinking about this idea crossing the Alameda, right? And we didn't even know it. Obviously, thank you that you came up with crossing the Alameda for us. But when Mike ⁓ hit us when Mike hit me up last summer, I'm not saying I stalked people that had podcast experience, but like we did, I kind of knew that you had this thing going on. I'm like, you know, Kerry's got this thing. never really talk about your other thing. Now, I'm not saying, like, you thought, ⁓ we're just going to ask you a few questions and maybe we're going to mind you for some ideas. But we never talk about your other podcast. Let's talk about your other podcast for a moment, because you time between giving your love to this community, which is, I can't even put a price on it. But I to talk about your other podcast. talk about this show all the time.
Kari Morin: Thanks.
A.J. Riebli: Tell us about your other gig, your other love besides us.
Kari Morin: Thank you. yeah. And also like, feel like I never got to that part of Gina's question. So it's perfect. So, at a certain point I was working for a company, an online education company with their grad students. I was doing like master coach training and, and also a lot of business coaching for people who were, you know, trying to ⁓ create something. ended up a lot of therapists who were also kind of expanding into, into coaching. so while we were that.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Ha ha. ⁓ Okay.
Kari Morin: the person who became my business partner, Lisa, she and I kept, we would be at these events and they would put us together. They'd have us be leading stuff on, you know, facilitation and leading workshops. And we were constantly talking about our peers, clients, you students we were working with and so many women are age. And I, ⁓ when I that it's pretty broad cause it's turned out, you know, there's some women in their thirties who were wise enough to think about it early. didn't, but like forties, and beyond. who, they either know it's gonna be great, but they just need connection and community. Cause it's a, it's, I don't, it's really isolating time and nobody expects that at all. It's just life. then, ⁓ or are dreading They just think it's all downhill. And we were like, you know, we, and there's a lot of various reasons why they're dreading it, whether it's, you know, health or, you know, they feel like they're getting phased out at work, whatever it is. Some people have a lot of unexpected loss, not by choice, ⁓ know, some people are divorced and they didn't want to be. So at the I was like, ⁓ we should people together. was around the, right after the women were like just so hungry for connection. And so we talked about it and at the time the whole idea was also really funny in tongue and cheek. So we were, you know, like trying to come up with an idea that's like a retreat, but there could be some drinks if they want them. ⁓ it's a retreat, like we might go out dancing after, know, like we'll do some hard work during the day, but people can like kind of let at least at night. and the more we were developing it, someone said to us, guys, that's a podcast. So that was actually a secondary idea. And we started the podcast first before we got the retreats going and.
Gina Warner: Thank
Kari Morin: we were going to call it, women for women of a certain age with no Fox left, you know, this is every, every guest comes on and says, can I, can I cuss here? And thanks to AJ, I can. but actually that, that title was taken. So it ended up being of a spinoff of my partner does on her own, like on her own, Facebook, which the things I know. We called it the things we know, which is kind of.
Gina Warner: That was awesome. ⁓
Kari Morin: nebulous, but it works. It's fine. And, um, and truly the idea was we are going to help women just get excited about making this their best chapter yet. And it was going to be like fun and lighthearted and all those things. And it has been at times, but then like the world is what it is. so, and both of us are pretty passionate about community building and social justice. So that is definitely crept in quite a bit that, and also both of us at 52, you know. Gosh, that was five years ago when we started talking about this. were like, you know, we got you, 47 year old. This is not as bad as you think. And then right after that, shit hit the fan for both of us in different ways. either we didn't realize there was another phase of this ⁓ you lovely change that women go through. ⁓ She a hip replacement. We went through some really hard stuff with my which ⁓ I'm sure get to at some point, but. there was just a lot that was going on. And so I think we've sort of been humbled and we're really transparent about that. And people really respond to that. mean, the things people reach out to me about like friendships, relationships with your adult kids, what does marriage look like in this decade? All those things, kind of how to reinvent yourself, all those things that we never know. just kind of come up with topics. a lot of the, it won't surprise you guys, you know, I do a lot of the research and come up with the outlines and you know, gets it up online and does all the social media for us, thank God, but it's good. And we have a really steady group listeners that come to our retreats. So it's great. And the retreats are amazing because when you get people in the room together, something really shifts. Like you can be home and listening to something, whether it's us or a audio book or reading something or, but like if you don't actually. get yourself moving and then get yourself witnessed on something you want to do, you're going to have a lot like lower chance of making that happen. So when people show up and they're really trying to identify something they want in their lives, it's really great to be in person with that.
Gina Warner: So. Yeah, what a gift you're giving them. I'm sure it fosters some accountability to be in person. But just, it's great for the gentlemen here on the podcast. Like it is a very defining thing about, I think a lot of women that you and I know.
Kari Morin: Yeah, totally.
Gina Warner: carry in our own lives. When you get to be around our age and you know who you are and you're done with the messages being fed to you about who you should be, how great to be with a group of women and explore all that. So that's amazing work.
Kari Morin: Thank you. I know this last weekend, we were in Palm Springs was our last one and were some women there and I think like, amazing, you've done amazing things and it boggles the mind to watch someone struggle with like, you know, that. So it's great to have someone hold up a mirror and say like, think you do know who you are, you know? And it's humbling, I love I feel really grateful to do this work.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Yeah.
Gina Warner: awesome.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Well, I say to AJ and Gina, what they said is, kudos to you. You truly are there for others, and that's amazing. And the world is a better place because you're in it and all those women that you help. But not only that, you have three boys. have three girls, and so I have no idea what that would even like to raise three boys. What that experience taught you about yourself and about life in
Kari Morin: think the first funny thing I realized about having full, mean, they're a They've always been just such, they're so different from each other. So it's not like this is how boys are, you know, like, I mean, they're just, when I was I wasn't sure actually wanted to have kids. thought I'd be a really fun aunt and travel and stuff like that. And then, you know, so we were married six years before we had kids, before we even, you know, talked about it, but.
Gina Warner: Thank you.
Kari Morin: feel the first moment I realized something about boys, was like I was so in touch my 14-year-old self when I was listening to my son and his friends talk about what talk about. And I wanted to go back to my 14-year-old self and be like, he's not thinking about but he's not really thinking about much. Just don't even worry about it. Their brains are just whatever's in front of them. So seriously, don't overthink it. ⁓ Just like boys have just a beautiful... I am not at all talking about intelligence, but boys are bright. Every man I've been privileged enough to either be raised by or be friends with or in relationship with are brilliant. It's not that. It's that like, just... Boys are so different. Like the way they kind of go about things and what they pay attention to and they're... Like in that way, obviously making generalities, but...
Gina Warner: Thank
Kari Morin: That was always really funny. I have loved it. It's very important to me that I raise kind and caring humans. And however, like, you know, they get a lot of that from their dad as well. And I feel grateful that we had kids together, but it's been fun. mean, sport, Legos. sports, the amount of stadiums I've been to. Luckily, they're all so super musical, which is a, you I always wanted to have a full of laughter and music. And I definitely, definitely got that. So it's been great. I feel like I'm along for the ride and just, their generation really inspiring to me. I know people love to bag on Gen Z, but my kids and their peers, you know, I that. They're way more depth than I did at that age. They have way more awareness. And I know part of it is because we didn't have the world in our hands and that was a much better thing. But yeah, I love it and I can't imagine it any differently. And my sister who we raised kids together basically, she has an amazing son. He's really like what he made me wanna be a mom, that little guy. And then she has two daughters who I adore. So I get to get. like that little girl fix with them.
A.J. Riebli: Hey, I mean, speaking of your boys, I know you do have a situation in your house and we did bring up that you wrote a chapter in an upcoming book about what your day to day is. And I think you talk about it quite a bit on our podcast. I think, can you share a little bit about, not to overshare, because I don't want to, I want to respect you, but I think you're all like,
Kari Morin: Yeah.
A.J. Riebli: I think a lot about what our show works on is that trust and authenticity and I think ⁓ show works because I think we're really honest with each other and I think that's pretty much a blessing at 57. Be like, I don't give a fuck, man. This is me, you like me or not. And think it takes a long time to get to where we are. And ⁓ I appreciate level honesty you bring to this program day in and day out.
Kari Morin: you
A.J. Riebli: Tell us a little bit about this chapter in this book that you've written and maybe share a little bit of what your journey's been, know, if you would be so kind to share that with us, we'd appreciate it.
Kari Morin: Sure, yeah, absolutely. ⁓ my God, I'm so proud of Griffin. Griffin is my second ⁓ He's 22. both imagine, you have siblings that are same gender. So imagine being the middle of three of the same gender and older one launches, younger one launches. It's a tender thing and yet, he's got such an amazing. greatest reminder from him constantly is, like I look at him and he has, he's such a happy person and he is really excited about what he's excited about. And so whenever I get a little sad, I think that there's no point being sad when he isn't. ⁓ his, he has a disability, he has a few disabilities, honestly. is, we did find out right away.
Gina Warner: Mm-hmm.
Kari Morin: And that's what this chapter was about. This chapter, this book is for moms at the beginning of a diagnosis. And chapter, I think was chosen because ⁓ didn't have a typical journey. We didn't have a, here's a diagnosis, here's what you do. And sure we've all long enough. Everyone knows what it's like to weirdly want a diagnosis with clarity, even if it's bad, because it'll give you some sort of belonging and some sort of path.
Gina Warner: Thank
Kari Morin: We went through that with my dad at first and yet it unfold that way. For us, it was like, is he on the spectrum? No, he's definitely not because of this, this and this high emotional intelligence really, you know, like, no. Okay. ⁓ So he's He's some sensory issues. Okay. What does that look like? he seems to have staring spells. ⁓ he has absence seizures. Okay. That's it. All right. Cool. Medication will help. And then like.
A.J. Riebli: Yeah.
Kari Morin: Okay, kind of gave us a rocky time for a while. Then he hit puberty and that all changed. And then he started having different types of seizures. like K eight was a beautiful time for him. High school was just a shit show. He missed more than of it. different types of meant getting injured, especially as an athlete. Also just looking back at everything. Everything was constantly a look back. Like, wow.
Gina Warner: Thank
Kari Morin: you know, what it was taking him to just keep up with his brothers and his peers must have been heroic, you know, because weren't discovering these things right away. So has, we found much later, did some genetic testing. He has a very rare genetic mutation called SP tan I'll just say that in case anyone listening knows anyone out there, cause it's super rare. And then that can look really differently him. has multiple types of uncontrollable seizures because like everything. the different meds he's on, even has a vagus nerve stimulator in surgically, ⁓ here. None of that controls them completely. We will have runs. last night we got to almost two weeks without one and he had in his sleep. But sometimes he drop seizures, which cause injuries and things like that. So there's been quite a few hospitalizations surgeries and then head injuries related to that. So, So there's a lot of things that cascade into other things. That looks like still living at home, but wanting to pursue work and school just like his brother. it's just a slower track. It's a different track for us. had great jobs working for a bike camp for kids with disabilities. And his younger brother joins him at once a year when he's home. My youngest is now off to college. He's worked at other camps. He's working with a job coach now. He would love to go work for the Portland Timbers or the Blazers or something like that. So ⁓ takes lot of creativity. He's got a lot of passions. Everyone who knows like Beth was on the show, she's his godmother. Everyone's kind of got something they do with him, whether it's pickleball or karaoke or something like that. So ⁓ he has a great of people who love him. ⁓ and we're really lucky. And I think the thing he teaches us so much because our plan, I mean, he has taught us to pivot like like Olympian pivoters because you can't plan anything really. I mean, you can plan, but you have to pivot. And so it helps us just really be in the moment. And I'm not trying to like, you know, put a smiley face on it. It is heartbreaking. It is traumatic. We all have PTSD and we also have, ⁓ you know, lot really wonderful moments because have to. We grab onto them.
A.J. Riebli: What's the advice in your chapter of the book, Kerry? I mean, I mean, and thank you for sharing that. I mean, know, we've been working together now for like the last seven, eight months and I appreciate you giving some to that. in your chapter of the book, like, what do you, I understand you know, ⁓ often you're for like, I want the roadmap out of a diagnosis. Like people want a plan and he was like, ⁓ I got this plan. I can at least deal with this. You're in a world that seems extremely
Kari Morin: Yeah.
A.J. Riebli: unpredictable and of course that does require pivoting and it is heartbreaking on a certain level but also sounds like Griffin brings so much love to everybody he encounters so you know I think that's a blessing but like in your chapter of book like what are you what are you telling about your your situation?
Kari Morin: That's a great question because it's been a while since I wrote it. I wrote it last summer. I what it comes down to, because when we ⁓ had the assignment, it was to write it to your younger self. And it was incredibly emotional. And think what it comes down to is don't be so hard on yourself. Give yourself lot of grace because it is, I mean, I'm this to who's been through anything hard with someone they love, but you can constantly. constantly think that what else should I be doing or I should have done that sooner, I should have found that out sooner, we should have advocated for this. And so many ways show it all over yourself, you know, and you don't want to do that. But I did. that's a very thing. think the other advice to, like, I mean, so many marriages fall apart. so it's just really to each other grace and to give each other, you know. Well, first of all, to prioritize some time together, which we're not always great about, but also just give each other the opportunity to make sure you're taking care of yourself. Because any single time I've ever felt like we're off, it's because I'm off. if I can kind of get myself grounded, it all feels much easier to deal with.
Gina Warner: Carrie, really in awe just of ⁓ honesty ⁓ just trying to imagine what something like that would be like. Like you said, like we've all probably had different forms of it. I mean, our kids here to grow us, that's for sure. But what a gift that Griffin was born to a mom with so much just natural curiosity that has, and you hustle. know what I mean? Like if, If I had a real challenge like that, I'd be just so gifted with a mother who's driving for answers and information. And that is such a gift. And ⁓ can see it in the pictures of your boys. They all look really happy. So I'm really glad you shared it too. You mentioned. ⁓
Kari Morin: They're very tight. I will say this, I can't tell you how many times I thought, ⁓ I wish he had a different mom, I wish he had a better mom. And so I just wanna admit that, that's what people go through constantly. ⁓ it's like, hear that and thank you. And then I'm like, ooh, I wanna go back to that younger version of me and be like, be ⁓
Gina Warner: Yeah, I burnt. So. Yeah, I'm sure it's hard to maintain perspective when you're in the pain of that. You mentioned Beth and I know we're going to switch at some point to the fast five, but I really want to hear about the Santa Clara community in Portland because I know you're you know you have a strong connection with a lot of Santa Clara grads, many from our class. Is that a part of your social life? You know day to day.
Kari Morin: Yeah. I mean, to day, I think we're all so busy. I wish it was day to day. Sometimes it is, in the summer or the holidays. But I like I lucked out just moving here. It was definitely a factor in when we were looking here. Brendan was looking at different practices. His little sister was a senior at University of Portland at the time. college roommate and med school roommate lived here. Beth lived here. Annie lived here. Annie and Steve. Mark Wilson, who I wasn't as close to as an undergrad, but they're like some of our best friends now, Mark and his wife. I just lucked out. I moved into it. And if you move anywhere in the radius of the Annie Dice, you're like part of this huge community. It's fantastic. She's like ⁓ Kevin Bacon of Portland. So I feel really lucky for that. Like I moved here and Abby and Jack.
Gina Warner: Wow, that's awesome.
Kari Morin: Beth's oldest is Jack and Abby is Steve and Annie's daughter. Like they had just been born and you know, that little play group happened. And once had kids, they were part of it. Beth lived three blocks away. So our kids have grown up like cousins and it, and that's great. Cause we went to high school and college together and I've said a of times, I have never run into him, not once, but Mitch Thomas apparently lives or lived in Portland for a long time and said to Andy Mason who lives right behind me. And they're big, like our kids grew up best friends. Like we even put a gate in between fences. So a super fun thing. And Jeff lived here for a while. Jeff has twin brother, cause they were in business together before he moved to Boston. But he told once that Mitch goes, Beth and Carrie, two Orange County girls in Portland? What's that like? And here we like Beth even longer than I mean, she's been here longer than me. So. It's great. I feel so lucky for it. And yeah, we have definitely a social network together. All kids went to different schools and we have our own communities there as well. But this like family, yeah.
Gina Warner: So awesome, I love it.
Kari Morin: I feel really lucky, yeah.
A.J. Riebli: Right, we're moving into the Fast Five and they're lucky to have you in Portlandia, by the way. I just want to comment on that. As a up to Portlandia, two cows, that could be like its own show basically. Two so-called cows living and raising kids in the Pacific Northwest. Client sees the possibilities, I can see it already in face. So we're going to the Fast Five. We're going to the Fast Five. I know, Kerry, you don't know what's coming at you.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: for Ilandia, Cascadia.
Kari Morin: Yeah. That's funny.
A.J. Riebli: And you know what? You're not even going know what's coming at you because I just made up a question that's not on your list. So here we go. If you could be an animal, what animal would you be?
Kari Morin: Yay, love that. ⁓ think... think a gazelle. think that just sounds fun. used to be a faster runner than I am now, so that just sounds so graceful in life and all that.
Gina Warner: you. That's what I thinking, graceful. Awesome. Okay. Being that I just started listening to the that you all have put together for our class, tell us what we would find in your CD player in 1991.
Kari Morin: Which I'm not, I am not graceful. Hmm 1991 Hmm. I don't know. I'm trying to think of that year Like my answer on the intake form was fine young cannibals, but I'm just trying to think a couple years later. What would it have been? I'll just say that for right now, but I think that's wrong may have been you too might have been Tom Petty
Gina Warner: Again.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: what you currently binge watching or reading?
Kari Morin: Okay, reading... watching, it's not that I'm against it, it's just it's hard to get in here where the TV is and when everyone's watching something else like sports or something. So I don't watch a lot, but I have lot of things I want to watch. What I'm reading right now is The Sellout by Paul Beatty. It's really good. Yeah, did you read it? Mike, did you read it?
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: I have it, it's right next to my desk in the UK. I've started it and I think the premise of the story is absolute riot. Yes.
Kari Morin: ⁓ so good. It's super funny and chaotic, but I love it.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Good choice, good choice, highly recommend.
A.J. Riebli: We obviously, this is a bedrock question of the Fast Five. If you weren't doing what you're doing now, what would be a completely different career you would have pursued? Skills, talent not matter.
Kari Morin: loved everyone's answers to this. I know if mine's changed. I think when we asked each other this, said, I said journalist, but I almost feel like historian or something. don't know. I love doing investigative. I hate the word research because people just mainly, you know, Google, but yeah, I love like really learn things about what they were really like. yeah. So I, ⁓ right now it's, it's lot of. ⁓ Like if you were to ask me who in history lately, I feel like it would be someone like Eva Perone or Antoinette because I feel like history scapegoats some of those people and I'm learning now that Marie Antoinette maybe didn't even say that and shoot. it's interesting to find out the real story.
A.J. Riebli: you
Gina Warner: ⁓ Okay, Lee's favorite household chore.
Kari Morin: floors.
Gina Warner: Good one.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Okay, then ⁓
Kari Morin: I have wood floors and there's just dust everywhere all the time. ⁓ clean it and then dust will come back.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: It's a magnet. ⁓
Gina Warner: Excellent.
A.J. Riebli: Plus you have dogs, plus you have dogs, right? So I'm sure the hair factor maybe is a thing as well.
Kari Morin: I've done. have non shedding dogs because yeah.
A.J. Riebli: Good play.
Gina Warner: No, you, lucky you. so ⁓ one, Carrie, if you could go back and give your 1991 self one of advice, knowing all that you know now, all you've walked through now, what would it be?
Kari Morin: Do you think I would have thought of this one since we ask this all the think it would be, well, mean off the top of my head, don't get one of those cell phones, they'll suck your brain out. No, ⁓ think would be trust your intuition. You have incredibly intuition and take forever to finally learn that. Start listening to it now.
Gina Warner: Yeah. ⁓ Amen. It's awesome.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: space.
A.J. Riebli: Lot to be said about gut instinct and blink. I 100 % believe in that every day. Like you gotta trust yourself even when you think, yeah, you know, maybe it doesn't the wisest thing. I think that is, you know, and I agree. I'm with you on that for sure. So hey, 35th Reunion's coming up October, 2026. We're counting on you being there. Mike's already booked his ticket. Zemke's booked his ticket. They're coming from Europe.
Kari Morin: Yeah.
A.J. Riebli: I'm pretty sure you're coming, aren't you? Please?
Kari Morin: Yes, I booked it. I booked it.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Yay!
Gina Warner: So awesome. I booked my hotel last week.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: And ⁓
Kari Morin: Yay!
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Good, good. And who are you hoping, or who are you most hoping to see at the reunion?
A.J. Riebli: Good!
Kari Morin: Well, like I said, I see a lot of people, so I want to see all of you. Everyone that I keep seeing on the podcast, I want to see everyone in person. was like a taste to catch up with Gina. There was so much afterwards when we had to hang up because I was getting on the I was like, we've got talk again because I have all these questions about your work and like your kids what you're doing. that like there's all started conversations that have happened here that I feel lucky to be part of. I want to continue.
A.J. Riebli: So, Care, we're gonna wrap it up, but we appreciate you going first. Thank you for sitting in the hot seat today on Crossing the Alameda. It's long overdue. You've built an amazing life. We're glad you're here to talk about it with us, but I think Mike and I, and Charles, because are really grateful to have you doing this podcast with us. We could not do it without you. I think it's been an amazing chance for us to reconnect in a really personal way.
Kari Morin: Thanks.
A.J. Riebli: And then I can't think of us not being able to reach out to our classmates and pull them into the fold. And this has been a gift. I think I speak for Mike and Charles that we are so grateful that you do this thing with us. We cannot thank you enough. And thank you for going first. I don't know who's going to go next. We'll draw straws. Maybe you get a pick who's going go next since you went first. But thank you so much. And we love you. And we're so grateful that you
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Ha ha!
A.J. Riebli: that you
Kari Morin: you guys were nice. Thanks Gina for being available.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Amen to that.
Gina Warner: Thanks so much for letting me be a guest host. It was super fun. If viewership numbers go down, please don't tell me. ⁓ I'll have to go and read this over and over to skew the numbers. I'll have it. Now, this was super fun, you guys. Thanks for having me.
A.J. Riebli: Thank
Kari Morin: That would be sad, because it would be... If they were dead, it would be because I'm boring.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Mm-hmm.
A.J. Riebli: And I would be remiss if I didn't thank Gina for coming on today. I think this has been a great thing to take it for a test run. And we appreciate you being the first celebrity co-host. know, somebody was saying, can you bring on a guest DJ? And we brought on a celebrity co-host. And we're thanking you for making the time to come on with us, especially in the spring forward of moving our whole lives up an hour. I don't know.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: ⁓ and.
Gina Warner: Ha ha ha ha!
A.J. Riebli: I'm looking forward to more daylight, you for bringing a little bit of your daylight to Crosse in the Alameda today.
Gina Warner: Thanks so much. think the audience really wants to hear from you guys. I've been dying to have you guys be guests. So I'm glad you're starting to do this. It's awesome.
A.J. Riebli: Thanks, G.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Good. Thanks. Thank you, Gina for being co-host today. It's been lots of fun and it's been one of the gifts of the podcast is really reconnecting. So I really appreciate the opportunity to reconnect with you and definitely looking forward to talking more and having more conversations. And Carrie, it's great to hear your story today. One of the pleasures as AJ said, being part of this podcast is getting to be reacquainted with you and the amazing person that you are. And it's really, it's been an inspiration to myself to see
Gina Warner: Yeah.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: all the work you do for community and for others. It's, you even inspired me to get back out there and do a little more volunteer work and things like that. So thank you for that because I know it's it's a big gift we receive when we do give like that. But it is hard work. And so thanks for being an inspiration on that. That's wonderful. And to all our classmates listening, I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Crossing the Alameda. If you have a fellow Bronco you want to be on the show, give us a shout out at crossingalamita.com I'm not sure if we've had many emails I thought about just emailing myself on that just to get some but also I'm gonna suggest if you want us you know put myself out there I get a mohawk like I did at Santa Clara but you if you want me to wear some crazy outfit or spike my hair or you know maybe wear lipstick or something or if you have a suggestion you know please do reach out to us at Crossing the Alameda we'd love to hear from you
Gina Warner: I'm
Kari Morin: Hahaha
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: We are dropping new episodes each week. We're Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube. We have Instagram account up and running. I finally did the first post there. So you can, we have 24 followers. Let's get more out there and you can see the post from Instagram. We also have the Facebook page. And of course have the 35th reunion coming up. So we're trying to build towards that. We hope to see everyone there. We hope to see a lot of people listening to these podcasts. And if you want to be on the show, give us a shout out. Thanks.
A.J. Riebli: You're brokeers!
Gina Warner: Go Broncos!
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: good morning to you. Good afternoon from sunny Madrid and happy forward. Very excited for today's show. Can't wait for all of you to learn more about our guest.
A.J. Riebli: Yes. we were not charles michell a child can't be in this morning but he's made this podcast way cooler with his part and his music and his great interview style and is active listening which i think is one of charles many many and ⁓ we for having a vaccine so they might what's going on in the show
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Yeah, so like you said AJ, we're gonna switch it up a bit and today joining us we have a very special guest host, a fellow bronco from the class of 91, Gina Finicaro. Gina, welcome to the other side of the microphone this
Kari Morin: Hey.
Gina Warner: What the hell? Hi guys, I've been rehearsing in all my free time. So nervous.
Kari Morin: Hahaha
Gina Warner: Thanks for having me, you guys. I'm really excited. I'm so excited that our guest today is one of the four co-hosts, Carrie Morin. Carrie, I'm so excited. We got to catch up recently after I was a guest, and now we're turning the tables on you. Happy International Women's Day, and so glad to be here to be part of your interview. So, Mike, go ahead and take it away and introduce Carrie.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: yes, thank you, thank you. Like you said, I'm very excited. Also very excited for today's show. Carrie was a political science major with a French minor. The youngest of four siblings and the third, yes, the third in her family ⁓ to Santa Clara University. She lived the 10th floor of Swig, that other coed floor that was the our year. ⁓ Then she moved to Dunn. Then she spent the fall of 1989 during the fall of the Berlin Wall. in Ruin France. moved into the condos when she returned and then she finished her time at Santa Clara as RA in Walsh. After graduating, she joined the Judgment Volunteer Corps, a chapter that she calls Life Changing, which brought her to Washington, D.C., where she remained working in the nonprofit sector. While there, she crossed paths with her high school boyfriend, yes, love can be rekindled, high school boyfriend, Brendan. They are celebrating 31 years this August. That's amazing. Congratulations on that. Along the way, Carrie worked for AmeriCorps in New Orleans, earned her master's in education from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, then in Portland 28 years ago, where she and her husband raised three boys alongside her sister, Julie. And the Framley, includes a whole crew of fellow Broncos whose kids have grown up like cousins to hers all around the Portland area. After years of working in nonprofit youth and education programs, she pivoted to running her own coaching and practice and now also co-hosts the Things We Know podcast and co-leads women's retreats. She has a special affection for supporting fellow caregiver moms. So much so that she wrote a chapter in an upcoming book called Suddenly Brave Together. Letters to caregiving moms at the defining moment in their lives. And she has raised three young men who, in her words, have made the whole ride rewarding, heart exploding, hilarious. Carrie, we are so lucky to have you here today as guest. So welcome.
Kari Morin: Thank you. were gonna do Charles first. I think we should have done Charles first.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: the brave one.
A.J. Riebli: You look familiar. Have we seen each other? Do know each other?
Kari Morin: He is conveniently busy.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Excellent.
Kari Morin: Yeah, most nervous about you. probably remember most about me.
Gina Warner: you
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Well, we have heard some great stories.
A.J. Riebli: I don't know how you can be nervous. Come on, come on. We've been friends for almost 40 years. Holy crime, how does that happen? Anyways, we're thrilled that you are in the hot seat today. And so we might as well just jump right into the hot seat. As you know the show, Carrie, as you're part of this show, we start with the Santa Clara days and then we move forward to the next 35 years of your fabulous life. By the way, we really couldn't do this show without you when Mike hit me and said, hey, Who should we get up, who should we get to help us? And I'm like, better yet, who do we need? And you were like the first person to jumped off the page for both of us. And I think you thought, oh, I'm just coming on the help. And the next thing you know, we like, we got you on the hook and we're like, Mike, I we can land this. And we were so fortunate to land your talent and your smarts. And our show is 1000 times better because you come on with us weekend and week out and we love you and we can't thank you enough. for making Crossing the Alameda. By the way, you get also credit for naming it Crossing the Alameda. So big shout out to you. So this is awesome. And also, how stoked are we that we got Gina Finnecaro-Water on the show today? It's so good. Things that I know about you, would like you to tell us, what's one memory from Santa Clara that is slightly or makes you smile or cringe?
Kari Morin: Thank you. I Very good.
Gina Warner: happy to be here.
A.J. Riebli: or little bit of both. ⁓
Kari Morin: Okay, I'll tell you the first one that comes to mind and it is embarrassing. it's also popped in who was part of it or like, anyway. So our year we were living in Dunn and I actually did it, I was starting to date someone who was a freshman who lived in Swig. You probably remember him. But I ⁓ literally, I wasn't with ⁓
A.J. Riebli: Hmm.
Kari Morin: I was friends with them. Do remember Shannon Henry and Suzy Ledwixon? And I like, yeah. So we all crashed there. We're like watching a movie. We had all been probably drinking and crashed. And I got up early in the morning to walk out and I was like, everyone's going to think I'm doing that whole walk of shame thing. But it's early, no biggie. And like the distance between Dunn and Swaig are so small, but it was margaritaville day. It's so...
A.J. Riebli: Heard of him? Yeah, familiar, yeah.
Kari Morin: As you remember, people would be up early, you know, walking from Benson over to the stick up house. And I walk out and Darren Bouton's like, what a shame. Like I heard him before I saw him. was like in clothes I was wearing the night before and yeah, was like, I didn't even have the energy to, ⁓ like a few other people too started laughing and I was just like.
A.J. Riebli: don't think the walk of shame gets enough credit. ⁓ so many. Isn't interesting when everybody's like, why didn't I see you at the hut the night before? And you look like you're in the same clothes, but you look a little more disheveled. Your pants and shirt look a little front bowled. What happened? the walk of shame. Or ⁓ usually the are off and you're carrying because your feet hurt so much. like, I'm just going to carry these ⁓ MFers home.
Kari Morin: Totally. I know.
A.J. Riebli: ⁓ I love that Darren Boughton caught you too, by the way. And shout out to Darren Boughton. He peed past recently such a great guy, member of the baseball team. Had some of the best hair at Santa Clara University. We always like to let everybody know that he had some of greatest hair of all time. And he is seriously missed and I love that he you actually. It is such a short How you got caught in that, mean, walk of shame.
Kari Morin: He did.
A.J. Riebli: And we've made a suggestion, does everybody have a Rocketsian story?
Kari Morin: And also, also like from the freshman dorm. Yeah, from the freshman dorm to the sophomore dorm. That had like just an extra funny.
Gina Warner: Yeah, extra little edge there. Okay, so Carrie, you were in SWIG. I remember you vividly from done because we were both on third floor together. Then you did a stint in France. I remember studying abroad when you were in France. I was in Rome, like, and then the Congress, our living trajectory was very similar. I'm really excited to hear about like of
Kari Morin: Yes. Yes?
Gina Warner: of those living experiences being so vast, like is there one that really stands out as the one that is your Santa Clara, know, living memory or, know, one that surprises you the most, your memories of it? ⁓
Kari Morin: feel like sophomore year was the most fun. That was such a great floor. Like Gigi and Shannon were on that floor. It just such a great way to meet other people in the class that I liked and didn't know as well yet. But also, ⁓ I that studying abroad even better because then we all came to visit each other. ⁓ I don't know you recall, I think we tried to stay with you ⁓ and we got out of Loyola Room, but they sent us over to this amazing little pensione so it all worked out.
Gina Warner: Yeah. Absolutely, yeah. Yeah.
Kari Morin: Yeah, traveling with Gigi and Beth, that was so fun. I would say probably sophomore year, Gigi and I, or not Gigi, sorry, Jackie and I lived together again. You know, were randomly put together freshman year and we lived together by choice sophomore year. And I she is a blast and people were in our room and that just kind of stands out to me as iconic and fun. ⁓
Gina Warner: Yeah, I do think like that was a fun part of staying in the dorms to sophomore year is your circle just got bigger, you know, with being with a new group and a new mix. So I loved third floor.
Kari Morin: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, me too. I am known my life as the nose. People are just like, God, how do you smell everything? And I I realized that sophomore year, because I kept saying to Jackie, I feel like I smell cat food. I feel like I smell cat litter. And she kept going, what are you talking about? And was like few weeks later we found out guys two floors below us had a cat. ⁓ And yeah, funny things about that year that I ⁓ probably have memories from that dorm year than
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Wonderful.
Gina Warner: Not a cat.
Kari Morin: You know the other two.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Phenomenal. up? You every student seems to have their spot on campus and we've heard quite a few people mention their spots. Basically for what was the place to study? Decompress, disappear, kind of a hide if you What was yours?
Kari Morin: I, being a SoCal girl, I always try to get sun on warm days. I loved Mission Gardens. I loved being able to study and nap up But if I really didn't want to be found, I can't remember part of the library, but there was like at the end of some stacks way, way back, like these little desks, I would go hide there. And that was helpful. My brother gave me the best advice before I went to Santa Clara and he said, study during the day, you know? So like, I took that to an extreme and I took like eight o'clock and 10 o'clock classes and I didn't have any classes in the afternoon and I would study, like it was my job until five and then I could feel like I relaxed. Did I get that right every semester? Certainly not the first one. I tried to stick to that and it meant hiding.
A.J. Riebli: So hey, as the youngest of four, right, you're the youngest of four and the third to go to Santa Clara. did you choose STU because your siblings were already there or did you carve out your own path and what was that like arriving at a place where you already had family? And by the way, your sister was an awesome RA, love Julie, say hi to her for me. She's amazing and very patient as well. I yeah, I think there's a patient, you streak that runs in I think the more in family that they go I see you're being really silly but that's okay we'll we'll we'll make sure you're okay how did you like how did adventure at Santa Clara like I you knew the campus obviously like but how did you end up thinking okay I'm gonna go here
Gina Warner: family.
Kari Morin: So when my brother was there, I went to visit and he like basically let me out of his room. And then when I went to visit my sister was the complete opposite. Like, you know, she lost me somewhere, left me somewhere. So it was two very different experiences. And I would say was last place I wanted to go, right? Like I'm, because I was the last one going to school, a lot was happening. Like my senior year of high school, my dad was commuting to Denver cause he was ⁓ the manager of
Gina Warner: you
Kari Morin: flight training for Continental and he was doing, Continental. So that was all based in Denver. And he was there. My brother was living in Northern California, was about to get transferred to Illinois. My grandmother wasn't doing well. I just felt like, ⁓ gosh, if I do go to Boston College, which was my number one, we're gonna in five different places and you're all from Catholic families, big Irish Catholic family. I don't know, especially as the youngest, you get really sentimental about that. So think even though I kept saying it's the last place I'm going to go, it ended up being the only place I wanted to go. so was great. It was great to be in school with my sister. It was funny to be in the same dorm. was funny to get written up by her. ⁓ It actually a really cool thing that she did because ⁓ Jackie I had a room full of people and she was with John. I think his name was Loverado, but we call them Loverite Up. ⁓
A.J. Riebli: I'm
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Ha ha ha ha!
Gina Warner: Yeah, well, I forgot about that.
Kari Morin: And stopped by like three times and finally she's like, okay, I'm gonna have to just write you and Jackie up or maybe it was just me. But yeah, I milked that quite a bit, gave her such a hard time. But no, it was great. ⁓ then my brother ended up staying in the Bay Area. So it was a really fun way to be away from home and ⁓ stuff with my siblings. And ⁓ was great. Yeah. ⁓
Gina Warner: Thank That is a really like standout memory for me about Santa Clara was when I got there, just how many people had siblings there, you know, at the same time. It's a big sibling school, you know. So how great that you got to start with your sister there and all that. What about professors? I know you were poli sci. Is there anyone within that department or outside of the department that you would dub your favorite?
Kari Morin: Totally. Yeah, I mean, yesterday we were interviewing Drew Ione and he mentioned Peggy Downs. was absolutely, Beth and I were recently talking about her. was, you know, I mean, I came from Orange County. I definitely came from like a very different background a lot of those poli sci professors. And like, she stretched ⁓ quite a bit, but Peter Minowitz was just goofy and cool. He was like in a jazz band at Lord John's and he, he, he definitely, always wanted more from me in such a great way. you know, he, it weird to go from an all-girl school to a co-ed school. And so there were times when ⁓ I really outspoken and times when I would kind of just sit in class and listen and he would call on a lot as a freshman. And I actually really liked it. And in the end, and we ended up, he was my advisor. We ended up kind of buds. I liked him a lot. They were all kind of quirky. It's a very quirky. I recall, and I not be right, ⁓ there's many poli sci majors that we keep having on here. So I'd love for them to correct me if I'm wrong. ⁓ But that's weird and unexpected was at that time in history, Santa Clara sci faculty ⁓ way more left Berkeley poli sci faculty. They tended to be really conservative. Yeah.
Gina Warner: Really? Wow.
Kari Morin: And so I remember they would like, you know, work at both places, like sometimes they would, it was a really interesting time. And I had friends that were at Berkeley and we would go up and do seminars up there. And I just remember being, like very different ideas and opinions from professors about like, you know, the Gulf or something like that. That was interesting.
A.J. Riebli: you
Gina Warner: All
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Ooh, fantastic. Okay, now, as you know, we're gonna move forward to part two, the now. so, know, walk us through the journey of, you know, you were a treasure volunteer Corps after Santa Clara, and then you went running your own business. then you land up in the Pacific Northwest from an Orange County transplant, is, you know, that's amazing in itself that you survived the rain and gray weather. tell us a little about that path, because you have lived a number of places since Santa Clara.
Kari Morin: I always feel really lucky because my brother's job him to places like Norwalk, Connecticut, or like this place two hours outside of Chicago. ⁓ was like, yeah, you got a little care. like DC, New Orleans, Nashville. Those are pretty cool places. Yeah, I mean, DC, I loved it when I went on one of those like close up trips in high school and I'd gone with my parents before. So I was very excited to move there. I've said ever since, I wish every young person would spend at least six months there. I think as a kid, like a little kid, I had an aunt who was actually worked in the CIA, a great aunt. And always wanted me to be a page and I never made that happen. So it was just fun to finally get there. so yeah, I, my with volunteer Corps was, in a group, set of group homes elderly who had been homeless. And it was, it was. Incredible. mean, I think I took three buses to get there. was way out, like, east. And I would go by the National Cathedral, which was really cool, up by Catholic U. And so I'd switch buses there, and sometimes I would just go in and light candles. It was so beautiful. And I worked with all of these mostly African-American people who were, like, late 90s. One woman, Miss Emma, 103. And they all, like, worked their entire lives into their... late 80s, early 90s, they were just incredibly and super and they loved giving me hard time and teaching me how to you know, greens way they wanted to. so I was the activities coordinator, but I also did a lot of advocacy work as well. And it ⁓ was incredible work. It fun. And then I had six ⁓ roommates that JVs and all still really close to this day. ⁓ And we were... ⁓ Like we were kind of supported by this parish at Ignatius High but the church was St. Al's and they could only afford to light up, like heat up basement. So church was in the basement with this huge gospel choir and some of roommates joined it. And it was so funny cause like they'd have to stand in front of my roommates and like get them on beat. It's pretty funny, but was just such big fun part of our year, you know, and I learned the whole. ⁓ public transportation system there. Like I knew how to take the bus anywhere. So then after that, when I was working for what ended up being an AmeriCorps program, but it was before the National Youth Service bill got passed, I was able to you know, map out where we sent all of the service teams because I knew the whole public transportation system by then. So that was a helpful skill. It was good.
Gina Warner: I'm a huge DC fan, Carrie. agree. One of my kids went to Catholic University. And so just learning how to navigate the city and how much they have that's accessible to them. I know that part of town that you were in. What a great, amazing opportunity. That's awesome.
Kari Morin: It was great. And so much is free there. That's another great reason to go be young there is we learned really quickly. First of all, the Smithsonian has all these cool things and that's all free. There was these like leagues you could join to play volleyball in the mall. did that. And then sometimes you could get into the Kennedy Center for free and go have a picnic up on the roof. And there were days it was really cheap to rent a canoe. mean, JVC is like $85 spending money a month. So you had to be really, and we figured out which bars in Georgetown, if we took a bus over there, we had like lots of free food out for happy hour. It's great. I'll never forget that my roommate who went to Holy Cross, she and I were like, let's go to the Irish Times. And we went there and we ordered two harps. it was like, even back then, it was crazy. It was like, I don't know, $12 for like a pint. were like, uh-oh. Yeah, we didn't drink that much.
A.J. Riebli: So, Acare, like, so how do you, you know, so, obviously I think that that Jesuit message landed pretty heavy with you. I'm so impressed by like your journey at JVC and then AmeriCorps. But a lot of the way, how do you end up running back into your high school boyfriend? Like, where does that all drop in? And then ⁓ obviously launched you into, you know, a pretty amazing family. I'm curious, where do you run into Brendan and all this, you know, this
Kari Morin: was pretty fun.
A.J. Riebli: this journey that you're on. Like, you're like, hey, what's up? Or did you always kind of keep tabs on each other and kind of just came together? How did that happen for you? What was going on there?
Kari Morin: Um, I mean, we, we were not in touch for like five years. I was his brother's our year. He, Brendan was a year older than us and he went off to Claremont. And, um, so was somewhat in touch with him and then, and, um, his sister, Christie, because, you know, we were all friends and it wasn't a, it wasn't an arcomoneous breakup or anything. Um, but I hadn't been in touch with him at all. And I knew he was off in med school. I wasn't sure where. And so. A mute is the same mutual friend who like set us up in high school. My friend Steve was like, no, he's in DC. So like, sort of knew he was there, right? Like we, we had sort of communicated. It was really weird and awkward turned out like his girlfriend at the time was there when we, when I reached out. like that just bombed and which was weird, you know, like I was dating someone he was, I was just like, Hey, you're in DC. So I kind of let that go. And then we, um,
Gina Warner: Thank
Kari Morin: When I came back, you you got to do your orientation for Jesuit Volunteer Corps, which at the time was in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Jesuits have some nice property, as we all know. And I came back and like there was no, you know, we didn't have cell phones or anything like that. So like I called my parents from a payphone and they were like, Brendan called here and he was wondering if, you know, if he could get in touch with you. And I kind of blew it off. And then we ended up bumping into each other in Georgetown ordering tequila shots.
Gina Warner: Yes, they do. you
A.J. Riebli: That will be paid for at for the month.
Kari Morin: and that he heard me. Right, right, right. It must have been happy hour, because I wouldn't have done that otherwise, but it was my roommate's birthday. was his roommate's birthday. And we were like, what? And he goes, you must be from California. Before he saw me, he must be from California. Seems like only Californians are dumb enough to order tequila shots or something. And then we bumped each other. And our all started hanging out after that. And we were pretty good friends over time. We weren't dating other people and we were dating each other, but it really wasn't immediate. It must have looked that way, way back on the other coast, I'm sure, but it's not how it went.
Gina Warner: But so you hear those stories about how people, you know, they reconnect years later and the circumstances are such that. You know, rekindling makes sense. So I love that for you. Walk us through, know, somehow you got back to the West Coast. You're in Portland now. I you ⁓ are to catch up together when you and I caught up. didn't. We talked so long, but we never really got to your work and the whole chapter again thing. I'm dying to hear all about that. So walk us through a little about what happened after JVC and your journey west and then the work you're doing now.
Kari Morin: Yeah, mean, my, thank you. DC, New Orleans, Nashville, and partly Portland, like really ⁓ career was always about like, you know, in the nonprofit ⁓ with like education and youth services. And I thought would do that. I mean, in some ways I still do. I still do some grant writing for some of these organizations, cause I, you know. I keep, either on a board or I keep in contact with like I Have A Dream Foundation and where I used to work, but they're not called that anymore. But keep in touch with those people and I'm aware of, you know, certain projects with ⁓ different So I do stuff like that, but it would, you know, I was right around the time I was at that last job, when it was called I Have A Dream Foundation, I... The lot was going on with my dad and my middle son. of their health was just, were just in these nebulous places of, cannot figure what's going on. You know, wasn't ⁓ a cut dry thing. My dad ended up with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, but that took forever to figure out. You like this just kind of larger than life, ⁓ very fit person was couldn't breathe. You know, it was just this, was really hard to figure out. ⁓ And he was older and he had had some heart stuff that he inherited. ⁓ made it complicated. So that and ⁓ trying figure out if my son ⁓ had metabolic going on, was studying about nutrition and stuff it was my job, just on the side of having three little kids and working full time. And my husband was like, you should really, and he in women's healthcare. He's an OB hospitalist now, but at the time he was doing. You know, his own practice and, was like, not only should just kind of, you know, maybe you should work part-time and pursue this or, but, know, you seem really passionate about it. And honestly, they don't us nutrition in med school. So a lot of people like me could use someone like you to refer people to. ⁓ So that's it that I just kind of. ⁓
Gina Warner: Thank
Kari Morin: I, sort of the way I am. I'm sort of investigative about everything. kind of go down rabbit holes. So have to be really intentional at how I do that and what I do that about. But, so for ⁓ it just of got me into that world. also ⁓ when we were, I was working in that last job, we were in, East Portland, east of the 82nd is kind of a food desert here. It's high poverty. The school we were working in had probably like 36 languages spoken. So there's a lot of immigrant families. And I just was, I was working a lot with the guy who was running the school lunch program. And we were just, we were talking a lot about how it's so hard to reduce. mobility and like stabilize families if they actually don't have nutrition. Like all the other things we're bringing the tutoring that like whatever doesn't really matter if a kid doesn't have food in their belly or if they don't have dental work, kind of stuff. So we were constantly trying to figure out what were the factors we could bring in. So it just opened up a whole bunch for me in terms of, I think I'd like to work with mothers. ⁓ on like help, know, helping themselves, you know, kind of putting that oxygen mask on first and stabilizing what they can do for themselves so that they can, you create more stability. So ⁓ it of brought me in that direction. Sorry. That's a really long answer. We can edit it out, but, ⁓ it, was of the impetus of how I went into coaching ⁓ and, and really was planning on just doing it like that, like part-time and sort of a passion project.
Gina Warner: No, no,
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: you
Kari Morin: And two things happened, my husband was leaving his practice to go be a hospitalist, but he had to kind of do both for a couple months. between that ⁓ my started to show signs of we then learned were absent seizures. So I ended having to start that much quicker than I planned, I had been getting certified in different levels of training and...
Gina Warner: you Wow.
Kari Morin: like their linguistic pathways training. So like to do a lot of like habit change coaching and things like that. So I just kind of had to start before I was ready. And it's cool. Cause some board members from that organization were like, I'll be your first client. so that like getting clients allowed me to continue to like fund what I wanted to do with that group of moms. So that's how that started. And then over time it's become a lot more. lot less of the nutrition stuff. still do it. just, just, do it in, partnership with someone seeing like a functional nutritionist or a doctor. I do a lot more of mindset habit change, somatic work now with people around, know, like limiting belief work. That's just, it's kind of what it grew to be for me. ⁓ I wasn't as like.
Gina Warner: you
Kari Morin: I don't know. It wasn't so much like I want to help people lose weight. I don't care. really to help people go after what they want and figure out what's getting in the way.
Gina Warner: That is amazing work. I, as you were describing journey and the different, you know, arenas that you've ⁓ able to play in, so to speak, in work, I just, you know, thinking like she is a true person for others. Like AJ said, you really do model that Ignatian spirituality. And it's incredible to see that's been a constant through your life, it seems. It's really beautiful.
Kari Morin: Thank you. Thank you. I don't know that I have a track the whole time. Sometimes it feels a little chaotic, or linear. My husband of knew what he wanted to do from age eight. My path's been that, so thank
A.J. Riebli: Hey, isn't really a Sophie's Choice kind of question, but you know, when and I were thinking about this idea crossing the Alameda, right? And we didn't even know it. Obviously, thank you that you came up with crossing the Alameda for us. But when Mike ⁓ hit us when Mike hit me up last summer, I'm not saying I stalked people that had podcast experience, but like we did, I kind of knew that you had this thing going on. I'm like, you know, Kerry's got this thing. never really talk about your other thing. Now, I'm not saying, like, you thought, ⁓ we're just going to ask you a few questions and maybe we're going to mind you for some ideas. But we never talk about your other podcast. Let's talk about your other podcast for a moment, because you time between giving your love to this community, which is, I can't even put a price on it. But I to talk about your other podcast. talk about this show all the time.
Kari Morin: Thanks.
A.J. Riebli: Tell us about your other gig, your other love besides us.
Kari Morin: Thank you. yeah. And also like, feel like I never got to that part of Gina's question. So it's perfect. So, at a certain point I was working for a company, an online education company with their grad students. I was doing like master coach training and, and also a lot of business coaching for people who were, you know, trying to ⁓ create something. ended up a lot of therapists who were also kind of expanding into, into coaching. so while we were that.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Ha ha. ⁓ Okay.
Kari Morin: the person who became my business partner, Lisa, she and I kept, we would be at these events and they would put us together. They'd have us be leading stuff on, you know, facilitation and leading workshops. And we were constantly talking about our peers, clients, you students we were working with and so many women are age. And I, ⁓ when I that it's pretty broad cause it's turned out, you know, there's some women in their thirties who were wise enough to think about it early. didn't, but like forties, and beyond. who, they either know it's gonna be great, but they just need connection and community. Cause it's a, it's, I don't, it's really isolating time and nobody expects that at all. It's just life. then, ⁓ or are dreading They just think it's all downhill. And we were like, you know, we, and there's a lot of various reasons why they're dreading it, whether it's, you know, health or, you know, they feel like they're getting phased out at work, whatever it is. Some people have a lot of unexpected loss, not by choice, ⁓ know, some people are divorced and they didn't want to be. So at the I was like, ⁓ we should people together. was around the, right after the women were like just so hungry for connection. And so we talked about it and at the time the whole idea was also really funny in tongue and cheek. So we were, you know, like trying to come up with an idea that's like a retreat, but there could be some drinks if they want them. ⁓ it's a retreat, like we might go out dancing after, know, like we'll do some hard work during the day, but people can like kind of let at least at night. and the more we were developing it, someone said to us, guys, that's a podcast. So that was actually a secondary idea. And we started the podcast first before we got the retreats going and.
Gina Warner: Thank
Kari Morin: we were going to call it, women for women of a certain age with no Fox left, you know, this is every, every guest comes on and says, can I, can I cuss here? And thanks to AJ, I can. but actually that, that title was taken. So it ended up being of a spinoff of my partner does on her own, like on her own, Facebook, which the things I know. We called it the things we know, which is kind of.
Gina Warner: That was awesome. ⁓
Kari Morin: nebulous, but it works. It's fine. And, um, and truly the idea was we are going to help women just get excited about making this their best chapter yet. And it was going to be like fun and lighthearted and all those things. And it has been at times, but then like the world is what it is. so, and both of us are pretty passionate about community building and social justice. So that is definitely crept in quite a bit that, and also both of us at 52, you know. Gosh, that was five years ago when we started talking about this. were like, you know, we got you, 47 year old. This is not as bad as you think. And then right after that, shit hit the fan for both of us in different ways. either we didn't realize there was another phase of this ⁓ you lovely change that women go through. ⁓ She a hip replacement. We went through some really hard stuff with my which ⁓ I'm sure get to at some point, but. there was just a lot that was going on. And so I think we've sort of been humbled and we're really transparent about that. And people really respond to that. mean, the things people reach out to me about like friendships, relationships with your adult kids, what does marriage look like in this decade? All those things, kind of how to reinvent yourself, all those things that we never know. just kind of come up with topics. a lot of the, it won't surprise you guys, you know, I do a lot of the research and come up with the outlines and you know, gets it up online and does all the social media for us, thank God, but it's good. And we have a really steady group listeners that come to our retreats. So it's great. And the retreats are amazing because when you get people in the room together, something really shifts. Like you can be home and listening to something, whether it's us or a audio book or reading something or, but like if you don't actually. get yourself moving and then get yourself witnessed on something you want to do, you're going to have a lot like lower chance of making that happen. So when people show up and they're really trying to identify something they want in their lives, it's really great to be in person with that.
Gina Warner: So. Yeah, what a gift you're giving them. I'm sure it fosters some accountability to be in person. But just, it's great for the gentlemen here on the podcast. Like it is a very defining thing about, I think a lot of women that you and I know.
Kari Morin: Yeah, totally.
Gina Warner: carry in our own lives. When you get to be around our age and you know who you are and you're done with the messages being fed to you about who you should be, how great to be with a group of women and explore all that. So that's amazing work.
Kari Morin: Thank you. I know this last weekend, we were in Palm Springs was our last one and were some women there and I think like, amazing, you've done amazing things and it boggles the mind to watch someone struggle with like, you know, that. So it's great to have someone hold up a mirror and say like, think you do know who you are, you know? And it's humbling, I love I feel really grateful to do this work.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Yeah.
Gina Warner: awesome.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Well, I say to AJ and Gina, what they said is, kudos to you. You truly are there for others, and that's amazing. And the world is a better place because you're in it and all those women that you help. But not only that, you have three boys. have three girls, and so I have no idea what that would even like to raise three boys. What that experience taught you about yourself and about life in
Kari Morin: think the first funny thing I realized about having full, mean, they're a They've always been just such, they're so different from each other. So it's not like this is how boys are, you know, like, I mean, they're just, when I was I wasn't sure actually wanted to have kids. thought I'd be a really fun aunt and travel and stuff like that. And then, you know, so we were married six years before we had kids, before we even, you know, talked about it, but.
Gina Warner: Thank you.
Kari Morin: feel the first moment I realized something about boys, was like I was so in touch my 14-year-old self when I was listening to my son and his friends talk about what talk about. And I wanted to go back to my 14-year-old self and be like, he's not thinking about but he's not really thinking about much. Just don't even worry about it. Their brains are just whatever's in front of them. So seriously, don't overthink it. ⁓ Just like boys have just a beautiful... I am not at all talking about intelligence, but boys are bright. Every man I've been privileged enough to either be raised by or be friends with or in relationship with are brilliant. It's not that. It's that like, just... Boys are so different. Like the way they kind of go about things and what they pay attention to and they're... Like in that way, obviously making generalities, but...
Gina Warner: Thank
Kari Morin: That was always really funny. I have loved it. It's very important to me that I raise kind and caring humans. And however, like, you know, they get a lot of that from their dad as well. And I feel grateful that we had kids together, but it's been fun. mean, sport, Legos. sports, the amount of stadiums I've been to. Luckily, they're all so super musical, which is a, you I always wanted to have a full of laughter and music. And I definitely, definitely got that. So it's been great. I feel like I'm along for the ride and just, their generation really inspiring to me. I know people love to bag on Gen Z, but my kids and their peers, you know, I that. They're way more depth than I did at that age. They have way more awareness. And I know part of it is because we didn't have the world in our hands and that was a much better thing. But yeah, I love it and I can't imagine it any differently. And my sister who we raised kids together basically, she has an amazing son. He's really like what he made me wanna be a mom, that little guy. And then she has two daughters who I adore. So I get to get. like that little girl fix with them.
A.J. Riebli: Hey, I mean, speaking of your boys, I know you do have a situation in your house and we did bring up that you wrote a chapter in an upcoming book about what your day to day is. And I think you talk about it quite a bit on our podcast. I think, can you share a little bit about, not to overshare, because I don't want to, I want to respect you, but I think you're all like,
Kari Morin: Yeah.
A.J. Riebli: I think a lot about what our show works on is that trust and authenticity and I think ⁓ show works because I think we're really honest with each other and I think that's pretty much a blessing at 57. Be like, I don't give a fuck, man. This is me, you like me or not. And think it takes a long time to get to where we are. And ⁓ I appreciate level honesty you bring to this program day in and day out.
Kari Morin: you
A.J. Riebli: Tell us a little bit about this chapter in this book that you've written and maybe share a little bit of what your journey's been, know, if you would be so kind to share that with us, we'd appreciate it.
Kari Morin: Sure, yeah, absolutely. ⁓ my God, I'm so proud of Griffin. Griffin is my second ⁓ He's 22. both imagine, you have siblings that are same gender. So imagine being the middle of three of the same gender and older one launches, younger one launches. It's a tender thing and yet, he's got such an amazing. greatest reminder from him constantly is, like I look at him and he has, he's such a happy person and he is really excited about what he's excited about. And so whenever I get a little sad, I think that there's no point being sad when he isn't. ⁓ his, he has a disability, he has a few disabilities, honestly. is, we did find out right away.
Gina Warner: Mm-hmm.
Kari Morin: And that's what this chapter was about. This chapter, this book is for moms at the beginning of a diagnosis. And chapter, I think was chosen because ⁓ didn't have a typical journey. We didn't have a, here's a diagnosis, here's what you do. And sure we've all long enough. Everyone knows what it's like to weirdly want a diagnosis with clarity, even if it's bad, because it'll give you some sort of belonging and some sort of path.
Gina Warner: Thank
Kari Morin: We went through that with my dad at first and yet it unfold that way. For us, it was like, is he on the spectrum? No, he's definitely not because of this, this and this high emotional intelligence really, you know, like, no. Okay. ⁓ So he's He's some sensory issues. Okay. What does that look like? he seems to have staring spells. ⁓ he has absence seizures. Okay. That's it. All right. Cool. Medication will help. And then like.
A.J. Riebli: Yeah.
Kari Morin: Okay, kind of gave us a rocky time for a while. Then he hit puberty and that all changed. And then he started having different types of seizures. like K eight was a beautiful time for him. High school was just a shit show. He missed more than of it. different types of meant getting injured, especially as an athlete. Also just looking back at everything. Everything was constantly a look back. Like, wow.
Gina Warner: Thank
Kari Morin: you know, what it was taking him to just keep up with his brothers and his peers must have been heroic, you know, because weren't discovering these things right away. So has, we found much later, did some genetic testing. He has a very rare genetic mutation called SP tan I'll just say that in case anyone listening knows anyone out there, cause it's super rare. And then that can look really differently him. has multiple types of uncontrollable seizures because like everything. the different meds he's on, even has a vagus nerve stimulator in surgically, ⁓ here. None of that controls them completely. We will have runs. last night we got to almost two weeks without one and he had in his sleep. But sometimes he drop seizures, which cause injuries and things like that. So there's been quite a few hospitalizations surgeries and then head injuries related to that. So, So there's a lot of things that cascade into other things. That looks like still living at home, but wanting to pursue work and school just like his brother. it's just a slower track. It's a different track for us. had great jobs working for a bike camp for kids with disabilities. And his younger brother joins him at once a year when he's home. My youngest is now off to college. He's worked at other camps. He's working with a job coach now. He would love to go work for the Portland Timbers or the Blazers or something like that. So ⁓ takes lot of creativity. He's got a lot of passions. Everyone who knows like Beth was on the show, she's his godmother. Everyone's kind of got something they do with him, whether it's pickleball or karaoke or something like that. So ⁓ he has a great of people who love him. ⁓ and we're really lucky. And I think the thing he teaches us so much because our plan, I mean, he has taught us to pivot like like Olympian pivoters because you can't plan anything really. I mean, you can plan, but you have to pivot. And so it helps us just really be in the moment. And I'm not trying to like, you know, put a smiley face on it. It is heartbreaking. It is traumatic. We all have PTSD and we also have, ⁓ you know, lot really wonderful moments because have to. We grab onto them.
A.J. Riebli: What's the advice in your chapter of the book, Kerry? I mean, I mean, and thank you for sharing that. I mean, know, we've been working together now for like the last seven, eight months and I appreciate you giving some to that. in your chapter of the book, like, what do you, I understand you know, ⁓ often you're for like, I want the roadmap out of a diagnosis. Like people want a plan and he was like, ⁓ I got this plan. I can at least deal with this. You're in a world that seems extremely
Kari Morin: Yeah.
A.J. Riebli: unpredictable and of course that does require pivoting and it is heartbreaking on a certain level but also sounds like Griffin brings so much love to everybody he encounters so you know I think that's a blessing but like in your chapter of book like what are you what are you telling about your your situation?
Kari Morin: That's a great question because it's been a while since I wrote it. I wrote it last summer. I what it comes down to, because when we ⁓ had the assignment, it was to write it to your younger self. And it was incredibly emotional. And think what it comes down to is don't be so hard on yourself. Give yourself lot of grace because it is, I mean, I'm this to who's been through anything hard with someone they love, but you can constantly. constantly think that what else should I be doing or I should have done that sooner, I should have found that out sooner, we should have advocated for this. And so many ways show it all over yourself, you know, and you don't want to do that. But I did. that's a very thing. think the other advice to, like, I mean, so many marriages fall apart. so it's just really to each other grace and to give each other, you know. Well, first of all, to prioritize some time together, which we're not always great about, but also just give each other the opportunity to make sure you're taking care of yourself. Because any single time I've ever felt like we're off, it's because I'm off. if I can kind of get myself grounded, it all feels much easier to deal with.
Gina Warner: Carrie, really in awe just of ⁓ honesty ⁓ just trying to imagine what something like that would be like. Like you said, like we've all probably had different forms of it. I mean, our kids here to grow us, that's for sure. But what a gift that Griffin was born to a mom with so much just natural curiosity that has, and you hustle. know what I mean? Like if, If I had a real challenge like that, I'd be just so gifted with a mother who's driving for answers and information. And that is such a gift. And ⁓ can see it in the pictures of your boys. They all look really happy. So I'm really glad you shared it too. You mentioned. ⁓
Kari Morin: They're very tight. I will say this, I can't tell you how many times I thought, ⁓ I wish he had a different mom, I wish he had a better mom. And so I just wanna admit that, that's what people go through constantly. ⁓ it's like, hear that and thank you. And then I'm like, ooh, I wanna go back to that younger version of me and be like, be ⁓
Gina Warner: Yeah, I burnt. So. Yeah, I'm sure it's hard to maintain perspective when you're in the pain of that. You mentioned Beth and I know we're going to switch at some point to the fast five, but I really want to hear about the Santa Clara community in Portland because I know you're you know you have a strong connection with a lot of Santa Clara grads, many from our class. Is that a part of your social life? You know day to day.
Kari Morin: Yeah. I mean, to day, I think we're all so busy. I wish it was day to day. Sometimes it is, in the summer or the holidays. But I like I lucked out just moving here. It was definitely a factor in when we were looking here. Brendan was looking at different practices. His little sister was a senior at University of Portland at the time. college roommate and med school roommate lived here. Beth lived here. Annie lived here. Annie and Steve. Mark Wilson, who I wasn't as close to as an undergrad, but they're like some of our best friends now, Mark and his wife. I just lucked out. I moved into it. And if you move anywhere in the radius of the Annie Dice, you're like part of this huge community. It's fantastic. She's like ⁓ Kevin Bacon of Portland. So I feel really lucky for that. Like I moved here and Abby and Jack.
Gina Warner: Wow, that's awesome.
Kari Morin: Beth's oldest is Jack and Abby is Steve and Annie's daughter. Like they had just been born and you know, that little play group happened. And once had kids, they were part of it. Beth lived three blocks away. So our kids have grown up like cousins and it, and that's great. Cause we went to high school and college together and I've said a of times, I have never run into him, not once, but Mitch Thomas apparently lives or lived in Portland for a long time and said to Andy Mason who lives right behind me. And they're big, like our kids grew up best friends. Like we even put a gate in between fences. So a super fun thing. And Jeff lived here for a while. Jeff has twin brother, cause they were in business together before he moved to Boston. But he told once that Mitch goes, Beth and Carrie, two Orange County girls in Portland? What's that like? And here we like Beth even longer than I mean, she's been here longer than me. So. It's great. I feel so lucky for it. And yeah, we have definitely a social network together. All kids went to different schools and we have our own communities there as well. But this like family, yeah.
Gina Warner: So awesome, I love it.
Kari Morin: I feel really lucky, yeah.
A.J. Riebli: Right, we're moving into the Fast Five and they're lucky to have you in Portlandia, by the way. I just want to comment on that. As a up to Portlandia, two cows, that could be like its own show basically. Two so-called cows living and raising kids in the Pacific Northwest. Client sees the possibilities, I can see it already in face. So we're going to the Fast Five. We're going to the Fast Five. I know, Kerry, you don't know what's coming at you.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: for Ilandia, Cascadia.
Kari Morin: Yeah. That's funny.
A.J. Riebli: And you know what? You're not even going know what's coming at you because I just made up a question that's not on your list. So here we go. If you could be an animal, what animal would you be?
Kari Morin: Yay, love that. ⁓ think... think a gazelle. think that just sounds fun. used to be a faster runner than I am now, so that just sounds so graceful in life and all that.
Gina Warner: you. That's what I thinking, graceful. Awesome. Okay. Being that I just started listening to the that you all have put together for our class, tell us what we would find in your CD player in 1991.
Kari Morin: Which I'm not, I am not graceful. Hmm 1991 Hmm. I don't know. I'm trying to think of that year Like my answer on the intake form was fine young cannibals, but I'm just trying to think a couple years later. What would it have been? I'll just say that for right now, but I think that's wrong may have been you too might have been Tom Petty
Gina Warner: Again.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: what you currently binge watching or reading?
Kari Morin: Okay, reading... watching, it's not that I'm against it, it's just it's hard to get in here where the TV is and when everyone's watching something else like sports or something. So I don't watch a lot, but I have lot of things I want to watch. What I'm reading right now is The Sellout by Paul Beatty. It's really good. Yeah, did you read it? Mike, did you read it?
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: I have it, it's right next to my desk in the UK. I've started it and I think the premise of the story is absolute riot. Yes.
Kari Morin: ⁓ so good. It's super funny and chaotic, but I love it.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Good choice, good choice, highly recommend.
A.J. Riebli: We obviously, this is a bedrock question of the Fast Five. If you weren't doing what you're doing now, what would be a completely different career you would have pursued? Skills, talent not matter.
Kari Morin: loved everyone's answers to this. I know if mine's changed. I think when we asked each other this, said, I said journalist, but I almost feel like historian or something. don't know. I love doing investigative. I hate the word research because people just mainly, you know, Google, but yeah, I love like really learn things about what they were really like. yeah. So I, ⁓ right now it's, it's lot of. ⁓ Like if you were to ask me who in history lately, I feel like it would be someone like Eva Perone or Antoinette because I feel like history scapegoats some of those people and I'm learning now that Marie Antoinette maybe didn't even say that and shoot. it's interesting to find out the real story.
A.J. Riebli: you
Gina Warner: ⁓ Okay, Lee's favorite household chore.
Kari Morin: floors.
Gina Warner: Good one.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Okay, then ⁓
Kari Morin: I have wood floors and there's just dust everywhere all the time. ⁓ clean it and then dust will come back.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: It's a magnet. ⁓
Gina Warner: Excellent.
A.J. Riebli: Plus you have dogs, plus you have dogs, right? So I'm sure the hair factor maybe is a thing as well.
Kari Morin: I've done. have non shedding dogs because yeah.
A.J. Riebli: Good play.
Gina Warner: No, you, lucky you. so ⁓ one, Carrie, if you could go back and give your 1991 self one of advice, knowing all that you know now, all you've walked through now, what would it be?
Kari Morin: Do you think I would have thought of this one since we ask this all the think it would be, well, mean off the top of my head, don't get one of those cell phones, they'll suck your brain out. No, ⁓ think would be trust your intuition. You have incredibly intuition and take forever to finally learn that. Start listening to it now.
Gina Warner: Yeah. ⁓ Amen. It's awesome.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: space.
A.J. Riebli: Lot to be said about gut instinct and blink. I 100 % believe in that every day. Like you gotta trust yourself even when you think, yeah, you know, maybe it doesn't the wisest thing. I think that is, you know, and I agree. I'm with you on that for sure. So hey, 35th Reunion's coming up October, 2026. We're counting on you being there. Mike's already booked his ticket. Zemke's booked his ticket. They're coming from Europe.
Kari Morin: Yeah.
A.J. Riebli: I'm pretty sure you're coming, aren't you? Please?
Kari Morin: Yes, I booked it. I booked it.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Yay!
Gina Warner: So awesome. I booked my hotel last week.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: And ⁓
Kari Morin: Yay!
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Good, good. And who are you hoping, or who are you most hoping to see at the reunion?
A.J. Riebli: Good!
Kari Morin: Well, like I said, I see a lot of people, so I want to see all of you. Everyone that I keep seeing on the podcast, I want to see everyone in person. was like a taste to catch up with Gina. There was so much afterwards when we had to hang up because I was getting on the I was like, we've got talk again because I have all these questions about your work and like your kids what you're doing. that like there's all started conversations that have happened here that I feel lucky to be part of. I want to continue.
A.J. Riebli: So, Care, we're gonna wrap it up, but we appreciate you going first. Thank you for sitting in the hot seat today on Crossing the Alameda. It's long overdue. You've built an amazing life. We're glad you're here to talk about it with us, but I think Mike and I, and Charles, because are really grateful to have you doing this podcast with us. We could not do it without you. I think it's been an amazing chance for us to reconnect in a really personal way.
Kari Morin: Thanks.
A.J. Riebli: And then I can't think of us not being able to reach out to our classmates and pull them into the fold. And this has been a gift. I think I speak for Mike and Charles that we are so grateful that you do this thing with us. We cannot thank you enough. And thank you for going first. I don't know who's going to go next. We'll draw straws. Maybe you get a pick who's going go next since you went first. But thank you so much. And we love you. And we're so grateful that you
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Ha ha!
A.J. Riebli: that you
Kari Morin: you guys were nice. Thanks Gina for being available.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Amen to that.
Gina Warner: Thanks so much for letting me be a guest host. It was super fun. If viewership numbers go down, please don't tell me. ⁓ I'll have to go and read this over and over to skew the numbers. I'll have it. Now, this was super fun, you guys. Thanks for having me.
A.J. Riebli: Thank
Kari Morin: That would be sad, because it would be... If they were dead, it would be because I'm boring.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Mm-hmm.
A.J. Riebli: And I would be remiss if I didn't thank Gina for coming on today. I think this has been a great thing to take it for a test run. And we appreciate you being the first celebrity co-host. know, somebody was saying, can you bring on a guest DJ? And we brought on a celebrity co-host. And we're thanking you for making the time to come on with us, especially in the spring forward of moving our whole lives up an hour. I don't know.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: ⁓ and.
Gina Warner: Ha ha ha ha!
A.J. Riebli: I'm looking forward to more daylight, you for bringing a little bit of your daylight to Crosse in the Alameda today.
Gina Warner: Thanks so much. think the audience really wants to hear from you guys. I've been dying to have you guys be guests. So I'm glad you're starting to do this. It's awesome.
A.J. Riebli: Thanks, G.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: Good. Thanks. Thank you, Gina for being co-host today. It's been lots of fun and it's been one of the gifts of the podcast is really reconnecting. So I really appreciate the opportunity to reconnect with you and definitely looking forward to talking more and having more conversations. And Carrie, it's great to hear your story today. One of the pleasures as AJ said, being part of this podcast is getting to be reacquainted with you and the amazing person that you are. And it's really, it's been an inspiration to myself to see
Gina Warner: Yeah.
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: all the work you do for community and for others. It's, you even inspired me to get back out there and do a little more volunteer work and things like that. So thank you for that because I know it's it's a big gift we receive when we do give like that. But it is hard work. And so thanks for being an inspiration on that. That's wonderful. And to all our classmates listening, I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Crossing the Alameda. If you have a fellow Bronco you want to be on the show, give us a shout out at crossingalamita.com I'm not sure if we've had many emails I thought about just emailing myself on that just to get some but also I'm gonna suggest if you want us you know put myself out there I get a mohawk like I did at Santa Clara but you if you want me to wear some crazy outfit or spike my hair or you know maybe wear lipstick or something or if you have a suggestion you know please do reach out to us at Crossing the Alameda we'd love to hear from you
Gina Warner: I'm
Kari Morin: Hahaha
Mike 'Kliner' Kline: We are dropping new episodes each week. We're Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube. We have Instagram account up and running. I finally did the first post there. So you can, we have 24 followers. Let's get more out there and you can see the post from Instagram. We also have the Facebook page. And of course have the 35th reunion coming up. So we're trying to build towards that. We hope to see everyone there. We hope to see a lot of people listening to these podcasts. And if you want to be on the show, give us a shout out. Thanks.
A.J. Riebli: You're brokeers!
Gina Warner: Go Broncos!
