97 - Our Interview with Alex Watters

Rich: Hey Zach, we are back and we have a special guest. We do. You booked a guest. Yay, Zach booked a guest. No doubt. Um, so our guest, today's Alex Waters, he's gonna help, uh, he's gonna talk with us about community education and impact and, uh, some of the things he's done along his life and career. Um, we'll talk about who he is, uh, why he is pretty well known in the Siouxland community.

Uh, Zach, I believe, was calling him a pillar. Not to embarrass you, but hey, whoa.

Alex: Um, very active in this community, that, that's quite the title. I mean, it's way better than some of the negative things that are normally associated with elected officials, but I'll take it, Zach. I appreciate it.

Rich: That is true.

That is true. Um, okay, so we're gonna talk with him, um, his personal journey, um, how he works, uh, to help the s Sulan community every day, what he does at Morningside University. I swear I will call it Morningside College at some point during thisAnd, I sure you slip up too.

Alex: Understand. I understand.

Rich: Um, so, um, yeah, Zach, let's get into the drink and then we'll talk to Alex.

Zac: Yeah. So every episode we feature a cocktail. This week's cocktail is in Manhattan. So a little bit of a background. The origin of the Manhattan is a bit of a mystery. Uh, there's a story that says it was created in the 1870s at the Manhattan Club in New York. Some believe Dr. Lane Marshall made it for a banquet hosted by Lady Randolph Churchill, while others claim a bartender named Black on Broadway was behind it.

So kind of unclear where it came from. But, so is the

Rich: bartender's name black or is the bartender's name black on Broadway? Just black.

Zac: It was the, the bartender's name was black. And then Okay. The, the bar. The bar was Mo Bar was on Broadway. Somewhere there go. Okay.

Rich: I mean, a classic Manhattan is, um, is kind of wild.

So this is not my drink by any means. Um, and obviously people like Make Crazy Manhattans these days, but this one is kind of the old true, classic. Classic. So you just need two ounces of rye whiskey. Um, you could use Templeton Rye. Uh, nice Iowa brand there, uh, one ounce of sweet vermouth, two dashes of Ango Stir bitters.

Um, and don't overdo it on the bitters, you'll be sorry. Um, garnish it with a branded cherry or a lemon twist if you prefer. Um, I think most of the time I see people use luxado cherries in these 'cause they're just a little bit deeper. Um, if you put a Marino cherry in it, I'll slap it outta your hand 'cause that's just not.

Not in a Manhattan. Uh, so, okay,

Alex: so you take the whiskey ver remove the bitter. I feel like it was meant to be. Guys, this is my favorite drink. Is it nice? That's awesome. My favorite drink is a Manhattan. So I'm listening to you and I'm like, yep. I know exactly what I use, what the ratio is. It is my Apple favorite drink that I make at home or that I order.

Zac: It's one of my favorites too. I love it. That

Rich: is a, see, it's not my favorite, but that's okay. We have all the stuff for it here, but it's not my favorite. Um, so you just put all that stuff into a mixing glass, um, with ice and you just stir it until, well chilled. Um, I suppose you could shake a Manhattan, but traditionally it's stirred, uh, straight into a chilled Nick and Nora or a coop glass.

You know, I love a good coop glass. Um. And then you garnish it with your cherry or lemon twist. Um, and that's just a straight up classic Manhattan. Um, super, super good.

Alex: And one of my favorite, you know, sayings that I, I watch this influencer that does a lot of cocktails and he always says, you know, don't be a poop.

Freeze your coop. You gotta throw that coop in the freezer. Get it nice and chilled. And then strain it right into there and, and then it's, it's chef's kiss. It's not diluted down too much. It stays nice and cool. It's delicious. It's well balanced.

Rich: Yep. Yeah. And they're, I mean, that's kind of the better alternative to putting ice and cold water in the glass and letting it sit while you mix your drink and then dumping it out.

You see a lot of bars do that to chill the glass down. Yeah. I think like next level, um, glassware would be, um. Like if you had a standup freezer with a glass door, that was just for like all of your drink glasses. So like every drink glass had its own shelf. All of us ready to

Zac: go.

Rich: Yeah. Probably not red wine glasses, but white wine glasses.

Could you imagine that? A frozen white wine glass. It's gonna be so good for the white wine.

Alex: All right, now you're talking Rich. You show me to that refrigerator and that bar set up. You guide me there, my friend, and it's five o'clock somewhere.

Rich: I mean, the biest we have, we have a lot of booze in our house.

Um, but the biest thing we have is, is we got a new refrigerator when we moved here. Um, and it makes the round large ice balls. Ice

Alex: think. Yep. Nice. So

Rich: good. And also, like, I don't, we don't use 'em a lot, so I'll take 'em and dump 'em in to make iced tea because like they don't melt as fast, so it stays pretty cold.

I don't know. It's just my thing. Yeah. Um, all right. So, uh, Alex, um, just give us the like. Five, you know, two minute background. Who are you? What are you like? What do you do? What's going on?

Alex: I tell you what, I was talking to Zach and I didn't know, um, how in the world I boil down my background or story I story or how I do this.

So I will do my best to give you 30,000 feet and then you guys let me know where, where I can take it from there. But I would just say, I mean, I'm excited to be here first and foremost. And like I said, I think it's serendipitous that the cocktail of C Manhattan, uh, but now it has me craving one. So, uh, I might have.

You know, duck outta work a little early. But I will say that I grew up in northwest Iowa. I'm an Iowan through and through. And then, um, I grew up over in a town, tiny town called Chein, Iowa. Mm-hmm. So a town of 500 maybe. And then eventually in eighth grade, moved over to Okoboji, which is a little better known.

It's the Hamptons of Iowa, if you will, Uhhuh. And so, um, grew up there and went to high school there, and then ended up coming down to Sioux City on a golf scholarship to go to Morningside then college. I understand Rich. Yep.

Yep.

Alex: Um, and so I came on a golf scholarship, but two weeks into my freshman year at Morningside, I actually returned to Okoboji where I had a diving accident.

Yeah.

Alex: And so a diving accident, two weeks in. Long story short, I was 150 feet out on a dock, and, um, my hat blew off into the water, and so I dove in to retrieve it. And it was 18 inches deep. And so it, it broke my C five C six vertebrae. I was able, um, the people I was with, the two girls I was with were trained lifeguards that got me Oh, perfect.

Breathing, um, called paramedics and life flighted down to Sioux City where I would have my surgery. Six months of rehab out at Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Okay. Before returning back, um, to go to Morningside and finish my undergraduate degree, go to grad school down at Omaha, at Creighton, and then do an internship at the US Department of Education.

Yeah, we're gonna get to that one because that, I didn't know anything about that. All these things and worked for a presidential campaign, was inspired to run for office myself, um, was eventually elected to the city council. Um, wanted to make a difference in the world around me. I was inspired by the people of the rehab hospital.

I was at Shout out to Craig Hospital. Nice. And, um, they inspired me to want something more and to pay it forward. So I took a job at Morningside University where I felt that I could do just that. And here we are now have, I've been at Morningside for over 11 years and held a couple different titles there, but then also been an elected member of our city council, uh, here in Sioux City for eight years now.

So it's been

Rich: two full terms. Wow. Okay. So that is quite a journey. So, and obviously like we've crossed paths, we've met, we don't really, we haven't really talked a ton. Yeah. Um, but, um, I, and I, of course I knew you were in a wheelchair. I've been at events with you, you're in a wheelchair. Like I could see that, but I didn't know all the history, like, and it sounds like that.

That tragedy, that accident kind of gave you the experience of coming out of that and the people you met through it and the help you got, kind of drove your life direction after that.

Alex: Oh, a hundred percent.

Rich: Yeah. Just, I, I hear you talk about like, you know, the people in rehab and inspiring you and then wanting to give back and wanting to, to do service, so, um.

Let's start in DC 'cause you've been to DC a couple of times. Um, yeah. Numerous times. Yeah. You had your internship. The two that I know about is you had your internship that you talked about Department of Education, uh, but you also spoke, um, before the Senate at one point. Right. I.

Alex: So I had worked on the Senate, well, a couple different committees, and I've spoke before them before.

Nice. Never speaking to like the full senate, to a committee, um, actually being out there. So I've gotten to attend, you know, a number of different events or go to the White House for different things. Um, I actually interviewed at the White House, um, at one point in time, but.

Wow,

Alex: that was interesting. And then, um, so never, never before the full sentiment, but I have then been interviewed or worked with Senator Harkin Yep.

On a few different things and was interviewed with him regarding different legislation for sure.

Rich: Yeah. Perfect. Yeah. Um. So what did you, what did you actually major in in college? Like I'm curious like, like we joke, I am on my plan A, like I did marketing, I did advertising. Like that was my thing and that's what I do.

Yeah. What did you major in and how does that relate to what you're doing now? I.

Alex: Well before my accident, um, I actually was really interested in golf. I was on a golf scholarship. Like I said, I wanted to, um, actually be a teaching pro. And so my whole goal was to own a golf course and manage that and do different things.

Mm-hmm. And then I ultimately, um, after my accident was obviously not swinging the sticks anymore. And playing golf. And so I had to kind of pivot and I leaned into some of my other areas where I was really passionate and it ended up being like political science. Oh, okay. And loving the classes that I had taken.

I was really big into debate in high school, and that was really. It shaped kind of who I was and how I was able to think about and articulate arguments and just analyze what people were saying to me. And so then I ended up studying political science, and then my master's is in negotiation and dispute resolution from cre.

Wow. So kind of unique, like not one that a lot of people hear about and. And yeah, then I've been able to leverage both of those. I mean, just with obviously I think more of the poli sci in undergrad gives you context for maybe where we've been, um, to give you pause about maybe where we're going or what we're experiencing.

1. And then the master's degree is like, Hey, I mean, you both know this. You don't have to be in politics or anything else. Life is a negotiation and

Rich: everything is,

Alex: there's always enough dispute resolution that you need, um, to try to navigate that. But I.

Rich: Yeah, we talk a lot in our business about, um, having difficult conversations.

Like there are appropriate ways to have difficult conversations for sure. Um, and we have them all the time, like we have to. It's just the nature of a creative business. Um, and I think that that's kind of as you get into negotiations, like when you get into sort of a formal negotiation, that's like the ultimate difficult conversation to me, like Right.

Um. But yeah, you gotta find an outcome. So, okay. I'm gonna give you a plan A, because you've done stuff in politics and you're an elected official, so political science and you're an elected official. Maybe not the career piece of it for sure, but that's cool. Um, that is so neat.

Alex: Yeah, it was, it was really for me, after my accident, I was more inspired by, Hey, go after what you enjoy.

You know, and figure out the rest later, like the dust will settle, trust that you'll land on your feet. Ha, pun intended, like, you know. But, um, that, you know, everything will work out and it really has, like, I've just continued to follow my passions and let it lead me. And, you know, I, when I first ran for office, I lost.

Um, that's very common though. Alert. Yeah, exactly. It's like, Hey, come on. So did Abraham Lincoln. Right. And so he lost a lot and then he suddenly became president, like it was Yep, yep. He, he struggled there. And so it's one of those where, you know, whether you think I was hardheaded or uh, persistent, I, I did it again.

And now I've been elected a couple different times. And so it's, it's quite an honor to serve. But yeah, you just don't know where life will take you. And I would say it's definitely. Led me to this point and, and it is kind of a path, a, I mean, even if mm-hmm. After you, I always say like, the before and after, you know, like, I was on a path and then Yep.

The path diverted and I've been kind of following that path ever since.

Rich: Yeah. You're just on a different branch of the path, I guess. Yep. Um, so talking about like giving back and community and the service you do like on the council, um, is there any particular community project or an initiative that's come through over the last several years that you've been especially proud of and really made an impact on you?

Alex: Gosh, I mean, honestly I could point to a lot of different things, right? Like, I think. When I was running for office initially when I was running to be appointed to the city council in that first election, even in my interview, I kind of joked like I, I look, I crack jokes. I make light of it like we mm-hmm.

Life is, you can't take it too seriously and. I said to them, the reason I'm applying for this position is selfishly, I said, I want to see more young people, people my age that are not only, um, living and staying in Sioux City mm-hmm. But finding Sioux City as their home that are coming here for, you know, to go to college or to come here for a job and deciding, you know what, this is an amazing place and I wanna stay and I wanna raise a family here and.

I was, I was single at the time. And so I was like, gosh, come on. I need more people. I want, I want more people coming to Sioux City. And uh, and so I knew that we were on the verge of, of change and great things, and I think that I could point to a number of different projects that have really moved the needle, um, in our favor and been just transformative as a community.

I will tell you that the one that I am probably most proud of. And it's one where it's not, maybe not as flashy, maybe not as well known. It's not like you would know. It's not like a landmark. It's not like the riverfront. Right, right. The riverfront is incredible. It is beautiful. Or Cone Park, you know, the addition of the tubing hill, the mountain biking area, and now like all of those additions.

That's all very exciting and you can see that. Yeah, but I would say the part that I am most proud of is I worked with the council. And some individuals on just completely revamping our look at tourism and our Convention and Visitors bureau and what that does, how it acts, how it works, how it's funded, um, you know, and who those people are.

Okay. And we established a more traditional model of A CVB as opposed to one in-house. And the reason that I think this was important, it was something I was really. Pushing, but it's because on my council, on the council, since I've been on there, one of the mantras or things that I've always thought about is getting a return on your investment.

Mm-hmm. If you're going to invest in something, like I want to be investing in things wisely that are going to return for us as a community so we can continue to grow it.

Right.

Alex: And with the CVP, if you don't know what that means, it's basically you have an entity that is marketing your community. Yep. And they work with the areas that you have.

They work with your convention center, your event center, your event and convention space. Um, they do all those things to market your community to say, you should come visit here. You should come and vacation here. You should host your conference here. You should do X here. And. And we've really leaned into that and you can actually show and track the growth of the revenue coming in, the people sitting in hotels.

I mean, think of the. Youth sports movement and how it's just exploded and we're able to tell that narrative. We're able to bring in all of these large scale tournaments, and that equals a lot of heads and beds, which generates revenue not only for the organization, but for the city and for all these different businesses.

Yep. I think that keeps the city going.

Rich: Yeah. What's interesting, I'm in Omaha and of course College World Series is going on right now as we speak, so I'm avoiding downtown like the plague. Yep. Because, uh, there's a lot of people down there, but it's a huge, huge benefit. But I think the other thing, when I think about events like that, and I think about, um, I'm trying to remember, is it a large basketball or volleyball tournament you guys host there?

Oh,

Alex: we do. So we do multiple. We actually host the NAIA National Championship. Yep, I knew that. And that's in volleyball and basketball. Oh, it's both. Okay. I was right. So we've been having both of those for years. Yeah. And they're celebrating milestones. But yeah, it's a huge windfall for the city. Yeah.

Rich: And like, just like the College World Series, like you don't have to know the team.

Your team doesn't have to be there just going as a sit, like as a resident and participating. It's just one more interesting thing to do. Yeah. Um, and like I, I was talking to somebody the other day and it's like when you go to a sporting event like that, that's like a tournament and you don't have any like.

You have no teeth in the game, right? Yep, yep. You just really want a good game. And then that the no-hitter came up at the College World Series. Yeah. First one in like 80 years. And somebody was like, yeah, that can be a boring game. I'm like, no, because it pivots. And the excitement is like, can he do it? Can he like actually pull this out?

And I think there's definitely that tipping point in the game. I'm sure. Yeah. And I think that that's one of the big things about, it's interesting you talk about this behind the scenes, organizational structure, funding, like none of these are exciting things. We wanna talk about the accounting of the visitors, like how we do that, how we structure it, how it's formatted.

But I. The non, the tangible of that is it actually pays back a revenue dividend. The non-tangible is your initial, like, I want more people to be in Sioux City. I want more people to understand Sioux City. I want more people to wanna do things here.

Yeah.

Rich: Um, and I just look at like where it was, 'cause I went to college in the, the nineties.

Um. At Morningside,

Alex: no one's asking. I mean, I might have the records as the alumni director, but no one, I'm not bringing that out here. Not today. Not today. All

Rich: good, all good. Um, my, my GPA was good. I think it was like a three eight or three seven or something. There you go. There you go. Um,

Alex: but you've done very well for yourself.

Rich: I've been All right. Yeah. The thing that was interesting though is like stuff to do. Like we didn't go downtown. There was nothing to do downtown. Um, and that has picked up so much. And I think that's one of the other things is like. If you have these events happening at your event centers and things, especially the downtown or your convention center, that infrastructure to support it actually gives more things for the community to do as well.

Like Yeah. You know, bars, restaurants, deciding to stay open later, those kinds of things.

Alex: Exactly. Or more businesses take a chance, right? Like mm-hmm. The more people see this and the more people that are visiting and are like, oh, I could see that. You're going to have more. We have more apartments and living units downtown now than we've ever had.

Yep. And it's like, so that's growing. You have the Hard Rock and the Tyson Event Center, the Orpheum Theater, the Sioux City Art Center. I mean the Warrior, the Warriors. My warrior. Oh my God. Love the bar. So beautiful. I mean. And if you haven't seen the riverfront, that redevelopment was just, it's absolutely breathtaking and it's packed every single weekend.

Yep. And it's like, these are the types of things that, you know, draws people to a community and gets them to believe in it and have some pride in it.

Rich: Yeah, absolutely. Um, and I think that that's, um, it's interesting for me because Sioux City's had like struggles with growth in population. Yeah. I mean population charts and it was like flat for a really long time.

Um, and I think that it's that mindset of like, and you nailed it. You know, we're going to invest, we're gonna spend money, folks, like we've got to spend money, but we're gonna get it back. And then some, because again, like more people moving, there is more tax revenue. Like Yeah. There's just. It compounds itself.

Alex: Yep. Um, yeah. And that is the challenging dialogue that you have. I mean, it is. Look, Sioux City is a blue collar community. I mean, our roots are in the stockyards. Mm-hmm. And working hard. And so we're not that blue collar city or the white collar city. We're not. But we have so much to be proud of and our people work hard.

And the more we invest and are proud of our community, the more we support those area businesses. Um, the more you see it return and the more you see growth, the more jobs you see, the more people are joining and coming here and you have more to do. Yeah. I mean you, it's funny, it all just balloons on us.

Like, it just, it is, and people want to want more and more different, new, I mean now we're working, we're getting a raising canes. That's right. You know, don't fall off your feet. Um, getting things like raising canes and all kinds of different stuff, but it. It wouldn't be if there wasn't some growth and some momentum and we just gotta work on some of the other components.

But they're, Hey, I

Rich: was there for the first Taco Bell that came to Sioux City. Oh. Like that was a big deal. It was down by Sneaky's Chicken.

Alex: There you go. Um,

Rich: yeah. Oh God. So awesome. Um, I could just gush poor

Alex: memory. There was a core memory right there of Taco. I know. Well because of a college. We're a

Rich: college student.

We're super poor. And you could shoot right down there and like. That was back in the days of like 69 cent tacos and things like nothing like today. Wow. Um. So I think that, you know, I was born in scc. I was born at St. Luke's. Uh, I grew up for my first few years on Alice Street and Morningside. Yeah. Um, and then we moved, um, we moved away to Sergeant Bluff and then Denison.

So still Siouxland, um, still getting the TV stations from up there. Um, I. But I could gush about it. Like the Warrior Hotel was a big one for me. And I remember when that project was happening and talking to the people who were doing it, because as a kid, like we would go downtown to shop because that's where you went before the mall and all the skywalks and JCPenney and all that.

Yeah. But that building was so huge and boarded up for decades, like just forever. And when you, you're in there now and when I'm like, that's where I stay when I come up to Succ the office. Yeah. Yeah. It's like you can't believe this was just an abandoned. Dangerous building like, yep. So great.

Alex: Well, and just going to the rooftop bar, that's like one of my favorite spots.

Oh, and if for nothing else, just the vantage point, the view, because it's just awe inspiring to look out at the community and the look over, even to South Sioux or even the river and the bridge and city hall is right there. It's just, yeah. It is really awe inspiring and it's just one of those, like, it gives you that sense of pride.

And I think, I think more community members need to have that. We need to find that I'm not, I'm not from Sioux City. I'm not a native of Sioux City, okay. Northwest Iowa. We'll give it to you. Ok. Emoji of all places. I know this is the place that's my home and I wanna make it better than the way I found it.

And so I'm doing everything I can to invest in it.

Rich: Awesome. That's fantastic. Um, one last question. Oh, we're gonna kind of pivot away from Sioux City. Um, this is at age old. If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, um, is there a piece of advice you'd give yourself now, knowing everything you know about?

Don't

Alex: go after the hat. Sorry. Let the heck go. Just kidding. I mean, that's a pretty good one, like, yeah, right, right. No. Um, I think that, I mean, honestly, people ask me all the time if I could go back and, um. Make a different decision from my accident, you know, or like, change history and do that. Would I, and I always think that's a challenging question because what I will tell you is now granted, I, I was 18, so you're a different person then.

Mm-hmm. And I was much more selfish. I was way more focused on golf, money and girls is what I usually say. But um. My accident taught me the importance of people around you and the impact you can leave on one another. And so like, if I could, if I could go back, um, in time and tell my younger self anything, it would just be to cherish the people around you and the moments you have, like I.

Never really gotta connect with my grandma, um, either of my grandma's or my grandpa's, for that matter, the way that I wish I had. And, um, had some of those memories. And, you know, my grandma passed away from Alzheimer's the same year as my accident and just. This accident just in my life ever since, has taught me how much the people around us mm-hmm are a part of our story, a part of our journey, and we impact them in such profound ways.

Even if you don't know you're making a difference, the way you smile and greet someone on the city street can change their whole outlook for that day. I love that. And I think that like, we, we miss that and we forget that, and especially in today's social media era. I mean, um, it's technological screen-based, Hey, no offense, you know, if you're watching this pod or if you're listening to it.

Um, but it just, it really emphasized to me. The difference we can make one another's lives. You referenced it early on of how I was inspired by the healthcare workers or just everyone at that hospital. And it's true. They inspired me and I think we have the ability, the innate. Ability to inspire everyone around us every single day, and you just, you never know.

It could be the smallest way. And so I would tell my younger self to really pay attention to that and, and don't take those moments for granted.

Rich: I feel like that's good advice for anybody, you know, younger self or even today, just like we get so like, you know, stuck in our screens and, yeah. And you just, you, you miss the people around you.

Um, and I think that like, that's something that, especially if you're a kid, like a teenager, 18, 20, 25, like you're not necessarily focused on everyone around you. You've got your group of people that you care about. Yeah. But you're not really noticing the world, um, and all of that. And just to be able to open your eyes and embrace that, um, that's really beautiful.

Um, yeah. Speaking of screens like I saw today, like, I don't know if you've seen these ads. They're coming at me on social media in places, but there's a new camera that is not a disposable camera. It's a digital camera, but it has no screen on the back, so you just take pictures. It's 69 bucks I think. So they're, they're pitching to be like, replace the disposable cameras at camp and at weddings.

But you take the pictures, but there's no like, is it perfect? Let's take it again. Right. Let's watch 'em all. You take the pictures and then have that surprise, you remember the surprise of like getting film developed and you had no idea what you got.

Alex: I very

Rich: much so

Alex: remember that

Rich: and I was like, I was like, this is going back to my very first digital camera.

I had no screen on the back. It was just, you looked through it and pushed. It was also like six 40 by four 80 or something on the pictures,

Alex: and then you had to take the drive out and plug it in and figure it out. Yeah. Put it into an adapter so that you could put it into your computer. All, yeah, a hundred percent.

Rich: Yeah. So I kind of, I kind of love that. I like that there's this kind of movement, you know, and obviously people would be watching this on the screen or listening to it on a device, but, um, you know, taking some time. Like I go sit on my back patio while the dogs are out there. No phone, glass of water, glass of wine, cocktail.

I had a che martini the other day. It was delicious.

Lovely. Go.

Rich: And just while they're running around, I just take that moment to pause and be outside and. Not worry about like, getting them back inside. Like, let 'em run, let 'em play, let 'em sniff, let 'em do stuff. And I just, I just relax and I'll do that in the middle of the day while working too.

Like, um,

Alex: it's important. Wait, the, the martini part or the dog part? Wait, I mean the, let the dogs out out generally don't drink. Are recording any, are we getting this hot? No, I'm just kidding. I mean. I could, I mean, who's gonna punish me When you own the company, you know, when it's your ship at sale, you, you decide, captain, we have done

Rich: margarita lunches at Chili's.

I know that's happened. Uh, oh. There you, well, I mean, when you're

Alex: at Chili's, you know, I mean, and they do those like $5. If you're not getting a margarita, you're doing something wrong.

Rich: Right. And they're huge. They're big. Yes. Well,

Alex: and I will tell you, um, it's funny you bring up your dogs because I actually, um, I don't know if you've seen this, but at Morningside we have an animal ambassador and her name is Betty and she is my golden retriever.

She's about four years old. And um, she actually is fast asleep at the chair here next to me in my office. And but to your point. She reminds me to be so present and to appreciate the most little things and because like I look, I hate the cold, I hate it, but because my body just doesn't adapt well and I get cold so easily, all these things.

But we're in Iowa, we're in the winter. This dog, when it is, when there's a foot of snow or there's fresh snowfall or snow is falling, she has more fun. Than anyone you should ever have in snowfall. And it's like, no matter how cold I am, I just smile. And it brings so much joy that it's like, I love how happy you are and I will be outside and I will let you play because that's what life is about.

Like I want you to enjoy that. And it just reminds me that it's like, look, life is short. Like play in the snow, dance in the rain, you know, whatever it is. And I just. I love those moments that you can reflect.

Rich: Yep. A hundred percent. I think that's Zach a great place for us to like leave it. Like, thank you so much Alex.

This was great. Like I, next time we're at an event together, I need to actually stop and we need to chat. Like you've got so much going on in your background. I wanna hear more about dc I wanna hear more about Senator Harkin. He was one of my favorites. Yeah. Um, my dad did was in the National Guard, so he did some stuff with Senator Harkin.

Alex: Okay. Yeah. Well, and I'll have that Manhattan, you go ahead and have that martini or whatever it is. That sounds, that sounds great.

Rich: We can do it on the rooftop of the hard rock, or not the Hard rock, the, uh, warrior. Warrior. Yeah, I'm in. Perfect. I'm boss. All right, Zach, take us home

Zac: as always. Uh, thanks for listening.

Thank you for being here, Alex. You can find our agency at Antidote seven one. And if you have a question you'd like to send our way, head to CTA podcast live to shoot us an email. Or even better, you can leave us a voice message on our hotline at 4 0 2 7 1 8 9 9 7 1. Your question will make it into a future episode of the podcast.

Rich: Yeah. And if you can see, I don't know if you can see over my shoulder here. You probably, there's, this is all books. This is our cocktail book. Ready to go out to people. You just gotta send in a question or call in a question. But Alex, you'll get one for being a guest on the show. You get our, there's a gift.

Here we go. Yeah. Value of 1995. So no need to tax on it. Alright?

No doubt it'll

Rich: be good. All right, thanks for being here and thanks Zach. We'll be back with another episode next week. Zach is keeping it a mystery from me at the moment so it's not in the notes. Um, but until then, um, enjoy your cocktails and uh, go have that Manhattan tonight, Alex.

Alex: No doubt. Cheers. Cheers.