319 Cultures, Conversations, and Community
The beauty of humanity is that we all share different cultures, from the differences in our food to whether we take our shoes off in the house, culture shapes how we interact with our community and our career which is why it is vital we have conversations about culture, so that we may find our community, teach others, and learn about another person’s beliefs and values, in doing so we will all be stronger together as a community.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Kevin Hamm discuss the importance of community, culture, and the conversations that need to happen in order for us all to have a better understanding and respect for one another. Kevin offers valuable insight, intelligent conversation, and a healthy dose of humor, approaching this difficult topic with humanity and dignity.
Highlights
A love for new and exciting things starts early and fosters growth and admiration for other cultures and ideas.
What memories from your past impact your decisions to this day?
Everyone sees the world through different lenses, be sure to encourage the growth and curiosity to see outside of your current lens.
Being yourself is vital to your survival and to being able to thrive as a human being.
Fostering community through compassion and pride. Making sure the whole world knows you and your community exist.
Understand the cultural differences between yourself and other places, and understand that these differences can foster growth and connection between yourself and those of a different culture.
What access to other cultures do you have in your own community that you can explore right now.
Ask questions! There is no harm in wanting to know more.
Quotes
“…Governor Schwinden…had just started the Sister State program with Kumamoto in Japan… And it’s really fun to think about being an ambassador for the state of Montana going over when you’re 12 years old or 11 years old, however old I was. Going over and being in front of the aristocracy, the Imperial Family, and all that in Japan, you know performing and being a soloist and homestays and meeting all these people, and having this incredibly intense, delightful introduction to how vast and different our world is, how diverse things are. When you’re a kid and finding out some of those things that are common in other cultures we never even hear of, like at the time we didn’t have a sushi restaurant in the state of Montana.”
“The truth of the matter is I found a thriving and robust queer community up there (in Vermont) as well and it was really interesting to see that this community that I knew existed in major metropolitan areas because Portland and Phoenix had given me that, also exists in these little tiny towns where people on a regular basis are like, “I’m going to move to the big city because I can’t be here!” and then they move away. But there were some that were still there and wanted to live there and really loved it, and that was part of the realization that I was like, “Oh my community, the queer community, crosses every other boundary, whether it’s racial or societal or economic, we’re everywhere. And because we are everywhere we have community everywhere.” And that took me a little bit to figure out, but once I figured it out I was like “Oh I can move back to Montana because my community exists!”.”
“It’s not only that you don’t want to be insulting in a lot of cases. I don't know that it would be insulting. They would just look at you like, “Oh you’re not trying to be like us.” And I want to try to be like them. When I’m on their lands, in their place, in their house, I want to fit in, I want to belong, I don’t just want to be there.”
“The one thing I would tell anybody going into a new culture is don’t be afraid to ask everything, ask the question that seems a little weird that you’re like, “Oh I can’t ask that.” You absolutely can.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
Are you going to go explore a culture that you haven’t explored before as a result of hearing this conversation? I know I’m going to and it could be just down the street, I have friends who own a Cuban restaurant here in town they are originally from Cuba. I have met them, I’ve spent time with them, but I’m not sure I explored their culture quite enough yet. I could even go to one of the upcoming Pow Wow adventures, I would love to do that with one of my friends from the tribes. I’m going to do that this year and I hope Listeners that you will find a culture you’re not familiar with, somewhere within a few hours of your home and go explore it. Your mind and your heart will be better for it.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Kevin
Kevin Hamm, 50, is a small business owner, battle-tested community organizer, fearless activist, and lifelong advocate for the rights and dignity of all Montanans.
He has had the privilege of calling Montana his home state from the age of five; that’s 45 years, for anyone counting. Armed with an appreciation for the importance of community investment that can only come from a childhood in a rural state, Kevin has spent his adult life investing in ways to give back to the place that built him. He has served on the boards of Queen City Ballet and Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, and founded the Happiness & Joy Foundation, a 501(c)3 that puts on Montana Pride — Montana’s statewide Pride celebration, which Kevin has run for the last nine years.
In addition to his deep commitment to community investment, Kevin is a skilled businessman with a strong track record in tapping into economic potential. Through his marketing work, he assisted in ATX’s transition from a $5 million company to a $20 million company and later capitalized on the skills he learned there to start two small businesses from scratch that continue to thrive today. Through Studio 19, his first company founded in 2010, he took on the responsibility of managing live production for the athletics departments at all Frontier Conference schools in the state; he continues to work with Carroll College leading their stream team to this day. By 2018, his reputation as a skilled problem solver had grown his customer base to such a degree that he was able to start Auxilyum, a second company that lightens the tech support load.
Most importantly, though, Kevin’s background is that of a typical working Montanan. He has firsthand experience doing the real work that powers our state as a matter of necessity, not just as a hobby or a means of making friends with the neighbors. He knows what it's like to sacrifice sleep working alongside good people in hot kitchens, and to give up sleeping entirely while turning a dream into a business.
Kevin also knows this place in a way that everyone with a Montana childhood will understand; he grew up alongside people who valued character over politics, and formed lifelong friendships with people who disagreed with him on issues that might raise some people's hackles. He attended his first day of kindergarten on Four Georgians Elementary School’s first day of operation, and found community in the halls of public schools and community theaters that gifted him with an education of which he is deeply proud.
These experiences shaped Kevin into the man he is, but they are not unique to him — most Montanans will recognize these stories, and have their own versions to share. In Kevin, Montanans will find a candidate able to stand in a kind of solidarity shared only by those who know the value of hard work done on their own, without a trust fund to fall back on. So while he may not have unlimited funds with which to pay for billboards advertising his name or lobbyists on speed dial ready to pull strings on his behalf, Kevin does have something that matters more: a lifetime of solidarity with working Montanans, and decades of experience advocating for all of them in every way that he possibly can.
Be sure to check out Kevin’s LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram! As well as his website KevinHamm!
Interested in the Former Felon’s Ball this year? Click Here! Interested in learning about Montana Pride and how to help? Click Here!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!