OH Rep. Dave Thomas-Property Taxes

Do you know how property taxes work in your area? Are there any limitations on what the property owner can be charged? Today we talk to Ohio Representative, Dave Thomas, who is working to make the property tax system in Ohio fair to both school systems and property owners. He explained how the system works here in Ohio currently, what two proposed bills want to change, and how he believes in transparency and single-issue bills. Eric, Deven, and Lila then debrief and talk about schools, homeschooling, and how you can get involved to make your local jurisdiction better!

Rep65@ohio.gov

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The Power of Music and Purpose with Maya Azucena

Guest: Maya Azucena, Award-Winning Recording Artist, Cultural Ambassador, and Humanitarian

Host: Dr. Allen Lycka

Introduction

Dr. Allen Lycka welcomes the phenomenal Maya Azucena, an award-winning recording artist, cultural ambassador, and humanitarian. Maya has toured over 40 countries, using her music to unite, inspire, and drive social change.

The Journey into Music

Maya shares how she always knew she was an artist from a young age. She studied opera and classical vocal training in high school, later forming her own band and starting her recording journey.

Global Impact: Touring the World

Maya discusses her mindset of seeing the world as a market, which led her to collaborate internationally. She explains how she became a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department, touring Myanmar, the Philippines, China, and Sri Lanka to promote American culture through music.

Featured Song: "I Am Enough"

Dr. Lycka introduces Maya’s song, "I Am Enough," from her latest album. Maya reveals that the song began from feelings of inadequacy but transformed into a declaration of self-worth. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's own value without external validation.

The Transformative Power of Music

Maya reflects on how performing worldwide has shown her that music connects people beyond language. Whether in Suriname, Tanzania, or the Kingdom of Lesotho, audiences respond similarly, proving that music highlights shared humanity.

A Defining Moment in Honduras

Maya recalls a powerful experience performing in Honduras during a political coup. She describes how her concert brought people together, diffusing tensions and inspiring hope. Audience members later shared how the performance helped them through dark times.

Collaborations with Global Icons

Maya shares her unexpected collaboration with Stephen Marley, son of Bob Marley. Through a series of introductions, she was invited to record in Jamaica at the legendary Tuff Gong Studios, performing Nina Simone songs in reggae style. The project ultimately won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album.

Music, Activism, and Purpose

Unlike the traditional concept of "giving back," Maya integrates humanitarian work with her music. She is passionate about social issues, particularly domestic and sexual violence, as a survivor herself.

Living a Fantastic Life

Maya defines living a fantastic life as aligning one's work with personal passion. She encourages listeners to identify what they love and integrate it into their daily lives, whether as a career or a regular pursuit.

Words to Her Younger Self

Maya shares the advice she would give to a younger version of herself: “You are a queen. Don’t listen to those who don’t believe in you.” She emphasizes self-confidence and self-love.

Where to Find Maya Azucena

Maya invites listeners to connect with her via her website www.MayaAzucena.com and to explore her latest recordings, masterclass, and upcoming book.

BIO:

Maya Azucena is an award-winning recording artist and humanitarian known for her versatile, soulful voice. She has toured 40+ countries, collaborated with global artists, and uses her platform to empower women and youth worldwide. Recognized for her power and ability to cross musical genres, Maya is more than just an accomplished artist; she's a cultural ambassador, public speaker, writer, event producer and a force for social change. With numerous awards and accolades to her name, Maya's impact resonates far beyond the stage. Maya has been celebrated for her ability to connect with people of many cultural backgrounds, bring people together, and highlight important causes by effectively reminding people of our shared human experience.

Social Media:

IG: @mayaazucena

TikTok: @FearlessMayaAzucena

Website: www.MayaAzucena.com

"I Am Enough" Course: https://i-am-enough-masterclass.squarespace.com/

Mastering Communication with Grace Gavin

Guest: Grace Gavin

Host: Dr. Allen Lycka

Podcast: How to Live a Fantastic Life

Introduction: Dr. Allen Lycka welcomes communication expert and co-founder of Know Honesty, Grace Gavin, to discuss the power of open and honest communication in leadership. Grace shares her journey from growing up on a dairy farm to becoming an executive assistant and eventually co-founding a company dedicated to transforming workplace communication.

Grace Gavin’s Journey to Know Honesty: Grace’s path to becoming a communication expert began in a family business, where she observed communication challenges firsthand. Later, working with leadership teams, she realized that even top executives struggled with communication. This insight led her to develop a structured approach to fostering open and honest communication in organizations.

The Power of Open and Honest Communication: Grace explains that honesty alone is not enough; communication must also be met with openness. Without an open listener, honesty has no impact. She describes how organizations struggle when employees build walls, shutting down dialogue and preventing collaboration. By identifying these walls, leaders can foster better relationships and more effective teamwork.

What to Do When Communication Fails: Dr. Lycka and Grace discuss strategies for breaking through communication barriers. Grace introduces the concept of ‘the wall,’ which blocks people from truly listening. She encourages leaders to identify their own walls and work through them. The key is curiosity—seeking to understand rather than shutting down conversations.

Common Communication Divides in Organizations: Grace outlines two primary divides:

1. Fake You – Projecting a false image, pretending to have everything figured out, or downplaying accomplishments.
2. The Wall – The instinct to dismiss differing opinions instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue. By addressing these divides, leaders can create cultures of trust, reducing turnover and improving workplace satisfaction.

The Impact of Poor Communication in Healthcare: Dr. Lycka shares his experience in the medical field, where doctors often struggle to communicate with patients. He emphasizes the importance of involving patients in their treatment plans. Grace adds that trust in professionals, particularly doctors, has declined, making communication more critical than ever. Entrepreneurs and business leaders, she notes, now rank among the most trusted professionals.

Team Dynamics and Communication: Both Dr. Lycka and Grace stress the importance of recognizing individual strengths within a team. Leaders must identify who excels in communication, planning, writing, or other skills and leverage these strengths for success. Grace urges organizations to embrace collaboration rather than operating in silos.

The Lasting Effects of COVID-19 on Communication: Grace reflects on how the pandemic intensified fear of others, leading to lasting communication breakdowns. She argues that while distancing measures were necessary, society never fully addressed how to rebuild trust. Organizations must now take intentional steps to restore strong communication and collaboration.

BIO:

Grace Gavin is an open and honest expert, helping leaders simplify their communication and eliminate the divides that exist within organizations. As co-founder of Know Honesty, she guides people towards becoming masterful communicators day in and day out. Having experienced the transformative power of openness and honesty, Grace is on a mission to help others create that same freedom in their own lives.

Social Media:

https://knowhonesty.com/assessment/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-gavin/