For this episode of the Dragon Tree Podcast, we've got the luck of the Irish with us! Former Notre Dame football star – and nonprofit executive director – Reggie Brooks stopped by the podcast to talk about a unique organization he heads called Holtz's Heroes Foundation. And his timing couldn't be better, as the Fighting Irish continue their improbable run at a college football national title! Holtz's Heroes Foundation, which takes its name from legendary Notre Dame head football coach Lou Holtz, works across the country providing support to promising student-athletes, assisting the families of former players facing adversity, and sponsoring regular food drives in a variety of communities. Many readers will already be familiar with Coach Lou Holtz, who helmed several teams during his illustrious college football coaching career, including NC State, the University of Arkansas, and the University of South Carolina. But it was as head football coach at the University of Notre Dame that he earned iconic status. It was there, in 1988, that Holtz's team won the national championship and enshrined him as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. In 1989, Reggie Brooks began his own storied career in South Bend, Indiana. He ultimately became the starting tailback at Notre Dame, earning All-American status and finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting his senior year. Reggie went on to play in the NFL, spending time with the Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After his playing days were over, Reggie decided to invest his efforts in helping former athletes cope with life off the playing field. In time, he became Executive Director of Holtz’s Heroes Foundation, which continues to help former athletes and many other community groups. Reggie is a first-rate communicator and organizer working to motivate others to always aim high and strive for the greater good. Learn more about Holtz's Heroes Foundation here: https://holtzsheroes.org/ Donate to the organization here: https://holtzsheroes.org/donate/ Find us on social media! Twitter: @DragonTreeComms Threads: @dragontreecomms BlueSky: @chrishobson.bsky.social Instagram: dragontreecomms Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: ROKSTDAAWYZ8H5IE Song: Elevate

It's the season of four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves...and Gene Groshon, bird expert! Our latest podcast guest is not only a lover of all partridges, but a song bird and raptor researcher who studies wild birds, year round. Gene is a naturalist with the Natural Resources Division of the Calvert County Government Department of Parks & Recreation in Maryland. He also helps administer the M.A.P.S. program, which is a continent-wide bird banding effort organized by the Institute for Bird Populations. With his team, Gene not only tags and tracks birds in southern Maryland, but also educates the public on the importance of birds in the global ecosystem. During our interview, he touches on how birds connect with each other and why their communication patterns are a lot more varied and complex than you might think. Find us on social media! Twitter: @DragonTreeComms Threads: @dragontreecomms BlueSky: @chrishobson.bsky.social Instagram: / dragontreecomms Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: ROKSTDAAWYZ8H5IE Song: Elevate

This week, we're asking an important question: How can artists bring their unique vision to the role of communications leader? To help us answer this question, meet visionary communicator Blake Stenning, a photographer, graphic designer, and Director of Communications at the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA). During his career as an artist, small business owner, and communications leader, Blake has learned that the key to success lies in remaining versatile. Blake brings a highly creative mindset to every initiative he oversees, relying on his ever-evolving style of problem solving. According to Blake, the ability to tackle challenges in the office is often facilitated by an openness to learning skills outside of the daily 9 to 5. To build on his fine arts education as well as inform his work in the realm of graphic design, Blake began to focus on photography in his spare time. "I started to do these very intense workshops in rural Maine and I'd read books by Ansel Adams...on how to expose a proper negative...really heavy stuff!" he states. "I began to meet fellow photographers and they were all really interesting people and came from very diverse backgrounds. I realized that this was something that was going to become more than just a hobby." Whether through words or his crisp visuals, Blake's goal has always been to make the picture even clearer for PHADA's membership, executives, policy analysts, and staff. He successfuly redesigned the organization's website (insert link here) in a way that make information quickly and readily available, ranging from breaking legislative news to very important upcoming events. So if you're wondering what it takes to perfect effective visual messaging for your organization, be sure to check out Blake's fantastic interview below. And let's always keep in mind all the people intuitively working hard behind the scenes to bring us the vital, interactive information that we need to keep us in the know! Find us on social media! Twitter: @DragonTreeComms Threads: @dragontreecomms BlueSky: @chrishobson.bsky.social Instagram: / dragontreecomms Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: ROKSTDAAWYZ8H5IE Song: Elevate