Lern is married to Tim Elwell. They have been married for five years, together for nine. In this episode, she will attempt to interview him while they sit fireside at their home in Missouri. There will be awkward pauses (some left in… many taken out, for your pleasure.) It gets awkward but guess what – that’s what it’s like living in their home. Tim is thoughtful with his words, where Lern is many times impulsive. Tim is reserved and cool about things, where Lern is outward like an octopus –...

Since Kelly Wild was fifteen years old, she has been making music. Kelly started in a band called, ‘Boom’ that lead her to fronting one of St Louis’ best cover bands known today as ‘Trixie Delight.’ She has made plenty of cameos in El Monstero and Celebration Day productions and it does not matter who originally sang the song because Kelly’s range has no gender role – she can sing it all. Lern sits down with Kelly Wild in a studio so you can really get to know those vocal chords. She may...

Jordan Hampton works with with ARCHway Institute, NCADA, and Recovery House in the St Louis area. Aside from being a peer counselor, Jordan is also a living, breathing example of how these organizations can help people recover from addiction. Jordan, himself, is in long-term recovery from his addictions. In this episode, Lern sits down for some coffee, informative conversation about the resources available and how those suffering with addiction have never had a better opportunity than the...

Taree McGee is retired now but for many years of her life taught English at various high schools in Illinois. McGee also happens to be Lern’s favorite teacher of all time for a multitude of reasons. First meeting in 1999, McGee noticed Lern in class as a student with the phrase, ‘I have issues’ written on the backside of her palm. Quickly with wit -- ‘Ms. McGee’ at the time – said to her, ‘Don’t we all?’ It was in this small moment that a student felt accepted and understood. This led to Lern...

Dustin Row is the founder of Songs4Soldiers, an organization based in Columbia, Illinois which helps area combat veterans in a variety of ways. The annual benefit concert is growing each year and in its seventh year, will host names like Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters) and .38 Special with supporting acts of the country and rock variety. This ever-growing event is all from the mind and heart of Dustin, who is a combat veteran himself. Lern and Dustin sit down to discuss how this all happened....

Katie May is a local business owner and curator of vintage goods at her shop, May’s Place. If you’ve been to St. Louis’ Grove neighborhood recently, maybe you’ve seen the new digs for this fabulous vintage store. Now, two stories and even MORE gorgeous. Find everything your heart desires – maybe a 1981 Alice Cooper tour shirt or possibly a locally made candle that smells of dreams… or at least that’s what their Egyptian Amber candle smells like to Lern. Katie is a fierce-woman-boss-lady as...

Tyler B. Ruff is an artist from Waterloo, Illinois. His comic book, ‘The Unforgiven’ has made its rounds through the local comic convention circuit, some national conventions and has even made it into the hands of the late and legendary, Stan Lee. Lern sits down with Tyler in The Grove at Rise Coffee Shop to talk about how one actually creates a comic book series, where the inspiration is drawn from (no pun intended) and how nurturing the talents of people can help those talents grow into...

Michelle Smallmon is co-host of the Bernie Miklasz show on 101 ESPN in St. Louis. The lone female on her sports station sits down with Lern at Sasha’s on De Mun over a couple glasses of wine to discuss being a woman in this business, working with such prominent figures in St Louis media like Bernie, she tells the story of how she got to the station and the importance of sports relating to the human spirit. Lern comes clean about being a total novice about the sports world and the two connect...

Orlandez Lewis is the Marketing and Promotions Director of Vintage Vinyl Record Store in St. Louis. While hanging out at Kayak coffee, the two chat about how vinyl records have always been in the foreground of Orlandez’s life and how it lead to the existing career path he’s grown into over the last ten years. If you’ve ever inherited the love of music from someone else, Orlandez’s story will resonate deeply with you. And if you’re someone who has passion for something special and would like...

Lzzy Hale is one of the most prominent female voices in metal/rock today as she has fronted the band Halestorm for two decades. Lern sits down for the inaugural episode of ‘Live & Lern’ with Lzzy from the bowels of the Stifel Theatre in St Louis, Missouri, as they dive into the can-be-hardships of getting started as a female musician, tour life, where their good self-esteem comes from and what Lzzy was like at slumber parties as a kid with Alice Cooper records.