73 episodes

A podcast for people who long to try something bold but need some encouragement.

Liz Sumner interviews people who are doing (or teaching) things that others have always wanted to do.

What have you always wanted to try?

https://ialwayswantedto.net/

I Always Wanted To Liz Sumner

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.9 • 23 Ratings

A podcast for people who long to try something bold but need some encouragement.

Liz Sumner interviews people who are doing (or teaching) things that others have always wanted to do.

What have you always wanted to try?

https://ialwayswantedto.net/

    Listen to Unpacking Peanuts

    Listen to Unpacking Peanuts

    Hi everyone. While I’m taking a break from this podcast I’m working on another one called Unpacking Peanuts, where 3 cartoonists take an in-depth look at the greatest comic strip of all time-- Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.
     
    This is a labor of love from three smart, funny, comic artists, one of whom is my husband Michael. Regular listeners might remember my episode titled I Always Wanted to Create A Graphic Novel with Michael and Jimmy Gownley. The third member of the triumvirate is Harold Buchholz. They’ve all been friends for decades and all are lifelong fans of Schulz and Peanuts. Three years ago or so they had the idea to do a podcast looking at every year of the strip and discuss the development, the influences, and the genius of Schulz from a cartoonist’s point of view.
     
    They got through the first 5 years of strips but the project stalled. It’s harder than you think to get a podcast out into the world. That’s where I came in. I volunteered to edit the existing recordings. Unfortunately all but the first one was lost. But I could tell, despite the poor recording quality, that this was worth listening to and re-creating. So that’s what we’re doing.
     
    As I’m sure you’ve heard me say time and time again, I love listening to smart people talk about what they are passionate about. I think Unpacking Peanuts is a brilliant concept and I’m thrilled to be part of the team. Here’s the first episode - 1950 Part One - Good Ol’ Charlie Brown.
    Full transcript available at http://unpackingpeanuts.com
    ********************
    Theme song written by Michael Cohen https://michaelcohenmusic.com and performed by Complicated People https://complicatedpeople.com
    Additional music by Michael Cohen
    *********************
    Please fill out a 5-question survey at lizsumner.com/survey. Let me know when you're done and I'll send you a coupon code for my online course, 8 Steps to Launch Your Dream Life. (launchyourdreamlife.com)
    *********************
    Listen on your favorite app - http://pod.link/alwayswanted
    Support I Always Wanted To on Patreon - http://patreon.com/alwayswanted
    Leave a review on Podchaser - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/i-always-wanted-to-670674
    Thanks for listening.

    • 31 min
    Take A Break

    Take A Break

    I want to let regular listeners know that I’m taking a break from creating new episodes of I Always Wanted To. I have plans to make additional “best of” compilations like the Learn To Sing and Travel episodes I released at the end of last year. I’m also going to share some other projects I’ve been working on that I think you’ll enjoy. I will stay in touch now and then but not on a regular schedule.
     
    I had no idea when I started how much I would come to love podcasting. I love listening to people talk about their passion. I love learning about this relatively new and exciting field. I love all the techy bits of recording and editing. And I’m deeply touched by all the compliments I receive on my interview skills.
     
    Thank you all for joining me on this adventure. If you’re new to I Always Wanted To I hope you’ll check out the back catalog. 
     
    Until we meet again, in the words of Martin Mull, "Let’s not say au revoir. Let’s just say hors d'oeuvres."
     
    I’m Liz Sumner, reminding you to be bold, and thanks for listening.
    ********************
    Theme song written by Michael Cohen https://michaelcohenmusic.com and performed by Complicated People https://complicatedpeople.com
    Additional music by Michael Cohen
    *********************
    Please fill out a 5-question survey at lizsumner.com/survey. Let me know when you're done and I'll send you a coupon code for my online course, 8 Steps to Launch Your Dream Life. (launchyourdreamlife.com)
    *********************
    Listen on your favorite app - http://pod.link/alwayswanted
    Support I Always Wanted To on Patreon - http://patreon.com/alwayswanted
    Leave a review on Podchaser - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/i-always-wanted-to-670674
    Thanks for listening.

    • 2 min
    Join the Circus

    Join the Circus

    Allison’s interest in becoming a performing artist began when she joined FSU’s Flying High Circus in 2004 where she was able utilize her background in gymnastics training as well as other athletic sports. In 2007, she embarked on a professional career in the circus arts when she joined a 7-person flying trapeze act. Shortly after joining the troupe, Allison trained with the internationally recognized flying trapeze artist, Ivan Espana, and together developed a dynamic solo swinging trapeze act which utilizes the timing of the swing to accomplish several powerful release maneuvers creating an unbelievable and thrilling routine. Persistent in pursuing her passion, Allison continued to train several other aerial disciplines and is an accomplished aerialist on The Cyclone Cycle, Aerial Silks, Motorcycle on a High Wire and The Bungee Trapeze. Her performances have taken her across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Australia.
     
    Allison has expanded her interests into not just performing but Producing. In 2014, Allison and her husband, Ivan Espana, co-founded Salto Entertainment, LLC. Together, Ivan and Allison produced several live shows including MOTO MANIACS®, MOTO PSYCHO CIRCUS®, FLIPPIN’ and The Great Mr. Swindle’s Traveling Peculairium and Drink-Ory Garden®.
     
    Ivan and Allison are trailblazers of the live entertainment industry and believers in the importance of excitement, laughter and kindness which they aspire to spread through their innovative and original live productions.
    Here are some links of an act and shows.
    Video of my single trapeze act – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKuS5AaOTGM Video - Mr. Swindle’s Traveling Peculiarium - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4jTZoBSbEE Video – FLIPPIN - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIqywVZZZpU&t=15s Video – Moto Maniacs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dpJpboIlCA Facebook Pages – Mr. Swindle’s Traveling Peculiarium-https://www.facebook.com/Mr.SwindlesTravelingPeculiarium Facebook Page – Salto Entertainment - https://www.facebook.com/saltoentertainment Facebook – Moto Maniacs - https://www.facebook.com/Motomaniacstheshow Facebook – FLIPPIN - https://www.facebook.com/theflippinshow Company websites– Salto Entertainment, LLC - http://saltoent.com The Great Mr. Swindle’s Traveling Peculiarium® - https://www.mrswindles.comFacebook - FLIPPIN - https://theflippinshow.com MOTO Maniacs® - https://moto-maniacs.com Specialty Tent Rentals - https://www.specialtytents.com
    REMARKS
    It’s hard to think about circus without memories of childhood . My mind goes to the Russian circus I saw when I was about 8 years old and watching Cecile B. DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth on TV. 
     
    I’ve seen a couple of Cirque du Soleil performances and love the direction that circus has taken since I was a child. I watch from afar and I’m amazed by the magical world being presented to me.
     
    Possibly my favorite part of doing this podcast is meeting people who live in a world I know nothing about and hearing how they got there and what inspires them. Allison makes her living flying through the air and dreaming up productions with intriguing titles like The Great Mr Swindle’s Traveling Peculiarium. Her husband and son ride a motorcycle up a tightrope toward her. Who wouldn’t want to know more about that?
    Here’s the interview.
    Full transcript available at http://ialwayswantedto.net
    ********************
    Theme song written by Michael Cohen https://michaelcohenmusic.com and performed by Complicated People https://complicatedpeople.com
    Additional music by Michael Cohen
    *********************
    Please fill out a 5-question survey at lizsumner.com/survey. Let me know when you're done and I'll send you a coupon code for my online course, 8 Steps to Launch Your Dream Life. (launchyourdreamlife.com)
    *********************
    Listen on your favorite app - http://pod.link/alwayswanted
    Support I Always Wanted To on Patreon - ht

    • 35 min
    House the Homeless

    House the Homeless

    Josh Young is an athlete, leader, and follower of Jesus. He graduated from F&M with honors while playing two NCAA sports, D1 wrestling and football. Since then, Josh has worked in investment banking, non-profit, and helped run a successful political campaign.
     
    Now, Josh is Chief of Staff at New Story, with a mission to pioneer solutions to end global homelessness. He declined acceptance to Harvard grad school to lead and love within his role at New Story.
     
    New Story is one of the first non-profits to go through Y Combinator and has since built over 3,500 homes in Haiti, El Salvador, and Mexico. They led the construction of the world's first 3-D printed community. Their accolades include being listed four times as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies. Being featured in an Apple TV+ Documentary. And appearing on the front of the New York Times.
     
    https://newstorycharity.org
    @newstorycharity on Instagram and Twitter
     
    Videos Josh mentions:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvM7jFZGAec
     
    https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/mexico/umc.cmc.vw8qwc1j4ld8jr3itsc0b3wy?showId=umc.cmc.5xjrgoblr5l5i1ypamtayuhe9
     
    REMARKS
    Hi everyone. I have to admit that I was a little skeptical before my conversation with Josh Young. I didn’t want to be naive and just accept some do-gooder’s hype about their non-profit at face value. But that didn’t last long after listening to Josh and learning the story of New Story Charity.

    I am impressed with their mission and their operation. It’s refreshing to hear about novel solutions being worked on by organizations that really want to make a difference in the world AND understand its realities. And it seems clear to me that New Story partners with local communities and gets buyin and doesn’t try to ride in on a white horse and say “we know best.”

    Josh was outdoors when we were talking so you’ll hear some environmental noise. I hope it’s not too distracting.

    Listen and see if you agree that New Story has an approach that makes you hopeful. I’d love to hear what you think.
    Here’s the interview.
    Full transcript available at http://ialwayswantedto.net
    ********************
    Theme song written by Michael Cohen https://michaelcohenmusic.com and performed by Complicated People https://complicatedpeople.com
    Additional music by Michael Cohen
    *********************
    Please fill out a 5-question survey at lizsumner.com/survey. Let me know when you're done and I'll send you a coupon code for my online course, 8 Steps to Launch Your Dream Life. (launchyourdreamlife.com)
    *********************
    Listen on your favorite app - http://pod.link/alwayswanted
    Support I Always Wanted To on Patreon - http://patreon.com/alwayswanted
    Leave a review on Podchaser - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/i-always-wanted-to-670674
    Thanks for listening.

    • 32 min
    Find a Diet I Like

    Find a Diet I Like

    Jess Reid is a self-care keto coach, a certified life coach with the International Coaching Federation, and the founder of her own coaching practice, The Keto Fit. She’s passionate about helping women to lose weight with a keto diet and a self-care mindset, by providing both the concrete scientific strategies to lose weight and the mindset work that will help women change their beliefs surrounding weight, food, and body image, so that they can have life-long success with ease, peace, and joy. Jess lives in Virginia Beach with her husband of 16 years and her 5 year old daughter. When she’s not coaching, Jess loves walking, coffee, shopping, and binge-listening to podcasts.
    theketofit.com 
    facebook.com/theketofit
    instagram.com/theketofit
    linkedin.com/in/theketofit
     
    Her podcast: Self-Care Keto
    anchor.fm/selfcareketo
     
    Carb Manager app - https://www.carbmanager.com/
     
    REMARKS
    My guest, Jess Reid, believes in and talks in detail about the keto diet plan. While I was not looking for a diet, and have a fair amount of resistance to them, she made it sound so intriguing that I’ve been following it myself for the month or so since we spoke. 

    More about that in a minute. But what I especially liked was Jess’s philosophy-- ideas like what works is focusing on how you want to feel rather than a number on a scale, and that change comes from self love not from judgment. That’s an approach I can get behind.

    I’ve had other guests who spoke about diet and weight loss. After listening to Jess you might also check out I Always Wanted To Change My Habits with Betsy Burroughs and I Always Wanted to Bike Across the Country with Leslie Kasanoff. Leslie is a nutritionist and committed vegan. She made some great points but I’m not ready to give up meat and dairy.

    Jess Reid’s description of keto and how it works is very compelling. My results have not been quite as astonishing but I think I know why and I’m going to stick with it for now. See if you feel as motivated as I did after listening to her story.

    Full transcript available at http://ialwayswantedto.net
    ********************
    Theme song written by Michael Cohen https://michaelcohenmusic.com and performed by Complicated People https://complicatedpeople.com
    Additional music by Michael Cohen
    *********************
    Please fill out a 5-question survey at lizsumner.com/survey. Let me know when you're done and I'll send you a coupon code for my online course, 8 Steps to Launch Your Dream Life. (launchyourdreamlife.com)
    *********************
    Listen on your favorite app - http://pod.link/alwayswanted
    Support I Always Wanted To on Patreon - http://patreon.com/alwayswanted
    Leave a review on Podchaser - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/i-always-wanted-to-670674
    Thanks for listening.

    • 38 min
    Be A Podcaster

    Be A Podcaster

    In late 2017, with no previous experience in audio-making or storytelling, Lori Mortimer simply decided it would be a good idea to start a podcast. Then she learned how hard it was. "Since then, I've studied the art and craft of podcasting, audio editing, interviewing, nonfiction storytelling, sound design, and podcast marketing. Through more classes and workshops than I can count, and the support found in online and in-person audio communities, I've stitched together the basic set of skills needed to get a show off the ground. It's taken a village to get me to the point where I consider myself a creator and podcaster. It's been a life-changing and affirming experience for me, which I am thankful to have had the privilege of experiencing." https://mementospodcast.com/
    Twitter & Instagram @mementospodcast   
    REMARKS
    I have met some wise, wonderful, and generous people in the podcasting space and today’s guest is a delightful example.
     
    Regular listeners will notice how often the topic of a supportive community comes up in my conversations with guests. Just about everyone mentions that when they were ready to take a step toward their dream others were there to help them along the way.
     
    Lori and I get together regularly to chat about our love of audio, our goals and frustrations, and share the highs and lows that only a fellow podcaster can appreciate. 
     
    Our shows have very different styles. I Always Wanted To is a straight interview while Lori’s podcast, Mementos, is a first-person narrative with rich sound design to set the scene. 
     
    We really like each other’s work and suspect that our listeners will as well,  so we decided to showcase one another. Lori created an episode about a keepsake of mine entitled Liz’s Nonni that talks about my move to Italy. The link is in the show notes. And I interviewed Lori to find out her backstory and how she became a podcaster.
    Here’s the interview. 
    Full transcript available at http://ialwayswantedto.net
    ********************
    Theme song written by Michael Cohen https://michaelcohenmusic.com and performed by Complicated People https://complicatedpeople.com
    Additional music by Michael Cohen
    *********************
    Please fill out a 5-question survey at lizsumner.com/survey. Let me know when you're done and I'll send you a coupon code for my online course, 8 Steps to Launch Your Dream Life. (launchyourdreamlife.com)
    *********************
    Listen on your favorite app - http://pod.link/alwayswanted
    Support I Always Wanted To on Patreon - http://patreon.com/alwayswanted
    Leave a review on Podchaser - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/i-always-wanted-to-670674
    Thanks for listening.

    • 36 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
23 Ratings

23 Ratings

Nrmeier ,

Thoughtful and Inspiring

This is a wonderful blog to spark inspiration for anyone who wants to try something new. Liz asks such thoughtful questions and offers a wide variety of interesting topics. I recommend it!

Ifrania ,

Open that door and take a gander...

I love "I Always Wanted to..." as a peek into realms I have or have not considered for myself. Liz Sumner is a marvelous interviewer and perceptive listener, which means that she mines story and insight through not only the initial questions but the responses and topics tangential to those responses.

Amyrh3314578 ,

Delightful inspiration we all need

The guests are all so different, yet made with the same inner cloth in what I can only describe as a part of a kaleidoscope quilt still in the making of interesting experiences from those who have done it! Definitely an uplifting Podcast to add to your list.

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