Three Things - A Podcast of the Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics

Join us in hearing how AI and human editors can help moderate our online conversations.

“Dr. Bob” Hamilton, proud parent of two Wheaton College graduates and owner of Pacific Ocean Pediatrics shares what it takes to run a small independent medical practice and the background of how his famous baby calming technique, the “Hamilton Hold,” went viral.

Stephen R. Smith, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amsted Industries Incorporated shares the benefits of  Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and also how Amsted has navigated Covid and supply chain issues. Interview date: March 2, 2022

Don Holt '57 is a Wheaton College alumnus and former editor of Fortune magazine, Newsweek magazine, Journal of Commerce, and The Chicago Daily News. He was one of the first Wheaton alumni to work in major news media and then after he retired, he returned to Wheaton College and trained the next generation.

Rebecca Contreras served as an executive and chief advisory to the Secretary in the role of Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief Human Capital Officer at the U.S. Department of Treasury.  She also served as a Member on the government-wide Chief Human Capital Officer’s Council advising Congress and the President on Workforce issues. Prior to that she served as a Commissioned Officer in the White House as Special Assistant for Personnel to President George W. Bush.

Jeff Parnell is the President & CEO of FishUSA, a leading online retailer of sport fishing products. He discusses the (positive) impact that Covid-19 has had on fishing retail, how his faith has impacted and informed his work and how an unexpected physical challenge required a new level of faith and courage.

Ambassador Richmond comes to the highest position in the federal government dedicated to combating human trafficking, after a distinguished career in the global battle for freedom. He co-founded the Human Trafficking Institute that exists to decimate modern slavery at its source by empowering police and prosecutors to use victim-centered and trauma-informed methods to hold traffickers accountable and ensure survivors are treated with respect and care. Prior to the Institute, Ambassador Richmond served as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. Ambassador Richmond regularly served as an expert to the United Nations Working Group on Trafficking in Persons. He also lived in India for three years pioneering International Justice Mission’s anti-slavery work.

Dr. Pontón is the CEO and Founder of Persona Neurobehavior Group. For the past 27+ years, he has focused on the neuropsychological assessment and treatment of individuals with catastrophic injuries. He is an expert witness in the fields of head injury and trauma. Dr Pontón is also an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UCLA.

Former Quarterback for the University of Oklahoma Sooners goes on to excel in all three areas of faith, politics, and economics.

Evelyn Sanguinetti shares how she rose to become the first Lt. Governor (Illinois) in the United States from a mother who was a Cuban refugee and a father who was an Ecuadorian immigrant.  She also overcame a serious injury and a subsequent MS diagnosis.  She now works with HOPE fair housing center to help guarantee fair housing for all.

Join alumni, David Iglesias, Larry Absheer, Dan Johnson, Karen Gehl and Mark Mooney as they share how their time on the International Study Program at Wheaton College helped shape their lives. The Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics, & Economics plans to continue this opportunity with a trip to the Nordic countries this summer, 2021.

Ed Moy began as a child of immigrant parents from China and advanced all the way to the White House as President George W. Bush’s Special Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel from 2001-2006.  He was then appointed as the 38th Director of the U.S. Mint from 2006-2011. 

Judge Nelson Diaz shares his story, rising from the tenement housing in New York to General Counsel to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Judge Diaz was the 1st Puerto Rican admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar and the 1st Latino judge in the Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. He was awarded the National Institute for Justice Award for saving the courts $100 million in 10 years and eliminating 7 years of backlogged cases.

Galen Smith '98, CEO of Redbox, shares his journey to becoming a CEO in 2016, less than 20 years after graduating from Wheaton College.

Join us for the second half of our interview with Dr. C. William Pollard, former CEO of ServiceMaster, which includes insights on the Faith @ Work movement and his friendship with Billy Graham.

Dr. C. William Pollard, former CEO of ServiceMaster, shares Christian principles that shaped his choices in the workforce, including a Christian perspective on profit.  Join us in two weeks for the second half of this interview which includes insights on the Faith @ Work movement and his friendship with Billy Graham.

Join David Iglesias as he interviews Shundrawn Thomas, President of Northern Trust Asset Management, where they explore a wide range of topics including: Shundrawn’s personal path to business success, the importance of family, lessons on leadership, insights on racism, his new book Discover Joy in Work, and potential opportunities stemming from our current COVID–19 crisis.

CAPT David Iglesias interviews Steve Preston, CEO of Goodwill Industries, about what it takes to be an effective leader during times of crisis.