VOA Ð CONNECT 
EPISODE  #165   
AIR DATE  03 12 2021   
TRANSCRIPT 

OPEN  ((VO/NAT)) 
((Banner)) 
Nature Versus City 
((SOT)) 
((Kristin Derrin, LukeÕs wife)) 
I'm really excited, like it's weird when you have a vision and 
a dream for so long, and then you see it and you're like, 
ÒOkay, this is it.Ó  
((Animation Transition)) 
((Banner)) 
Nature in the City 
((SOT)) 
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of 
California, Berkeley))   
I think it's very soothing to be able to check in and just watch 
them marching through these first few days of their lives and 
see them developing, seeing them growing and preparing to 
fledge.   
((Animation Transition)) 
((Banner)) 
A Cowboy Tradition 
((SOT)) 
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy)) 
I grew up in a family of cowboys.  My dad was a cowboy, 
professional cowboy.  His dad was a cowboy.  So naturally,  
I became a professional cowboy.  
((Open Animation))  
 

BLOCK A 
 

((PKG)) RELOCATING DURING COVID TIMES 
((TRT:  10:56)) 
((Topic Banner:  A Pandemic Move)) 
((Reporter/Camera:  Arturo Mart’nez)) 
((Map:  San Diego, California; Incline Village, Nevada)) 
((Main characters:  1 male)) 
((Sub characters:  2 male;  5 female)) 
((NATS/MUSIC)) 
((Popup Banner: 
One in 20 U.S. adults moved in 2020, either temporarily or 
permanently due to the pandemic.   
*Pew Research)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
My name is Luke Derrin.  I'm a financial professional.  My 
office is here, at home, because I'm working 
remotely.  COVID happened and we were like, all right, 
everything is shutdown.  We are going to homeschool.  I'm 
working from, in a common space in the condominium 
common area, and I've been working here since COVID 
started.  
((NATS:  Luke and Shayna)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
Hey, Shayna.  
((Shayna Yellon, Financial Professional, LukeÕs 
colleague)) 
Hey, Luke.  How's it going? 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
Good.  It's hard to imagine, like, it seems so natural for us to 
be on Zoom all the time now.  
((Shayna Yellon, Financial Professional, LukeÕs 
colleague)) 
Right.  I mean, it's like our new life, but... 
((NATS)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
IÕm finding myself so much more productive because I've got 
blinders on.  There's none of this kind of hanging around the 
water cooler, talking, talking.  And I finish an appointment, 
and I turn, and my kids are right there, and then back to my 
work.  It's not getting stuck in traffic.  
((NATS)) 
((Kristin Derrin, LukeÕs wife)) 
Hey!  
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
Hey, what are you guys doing?  You have some books? 
((Kristin Derrin, LukeÕs wife)) 
In this one, I think the bear is going to Lake Tahoe.  
Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the United States. 
ItÕs on the border of two states.  
Where are we going to live?  Right up here.  
((NATS)) 
((Kristin Derrin, LukeÕs wife)) 
We're moving to Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, in Nevada. 
We're moving out to have a different lifestyle, more nature, 
simpler lifestyle.  I can't wait to pick up and, you know, we 
felt like those sort of dreams and goals were down the 
track.  They were like five years, 10 yearsÕ time, we can 
maybe go do something like that.  But now, it's like, all right, 
we can do that now.  So, all we have to do is just pick this 
thing up and plug it in somewhere else.  
((NATS)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
What I won't miss is the traffic.  
((NATS)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
You live in the city but then obviously COVID happened, and 
I couldn't have access to all the things that I wanted to.  I 
can't go to the restaurant.  I can't even go to the movies.  ItÕs 
a struggle to find a babysitter these days.  So, I'm living in 
the city for all these reasons, and I don't have access to it. 
((NATS)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
So, this is our office here.  I haven't been here since the 
lockdown basically.  All up and down youÕll see like, office 
spaces for rent.  Two signs there, one sign here.  Every 
block.  Another sign there.  This parking lot would always be 
full.  
((NATS)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
Shaka, brah.   
Yeah. 
((NATS)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
When IÕm at the beach, itÕs the only time I start to question 
the move because I'm like, ÒOh, my God, this is so good.Ó  I 
mean, look at this.  This is paradise.  People would give the 
whole life to be able to do what we are doing right now.  Are 
weÉ..but then, and then reality kicks in and you count how 
many times we've been to the beach in the last month.  
((Kristin Derrin, LukeÕs wife)) 
I know, not that many.  
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
Not that many.  
((Kristin Derrin, LukeÕs wife)) 
I don't know.  I just feel in Tahoe, it's easy.  The mountain is 
five minutes away.  The beach is five minutes away.  The 
park is five minutes away.  The shops are five minutes 
away.  I think for where we are with kids, we want to do 
things together and we see that as being a much more 
possibility if he's working from home and we have, 
everything is closer proximity and a lot more simple.  
((NATS)) 
((Kristin Derrin, LukeÕs wife)) 
Say, bye-bye sun.  
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
Bye-bye sun.  Bye-bye. 
((NATS / MUSIC)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
This way, guys. 
LetÕs run.  Come on. 
((Kristin Derrin, LukeÕs wife)) 
Good running. 
((NATS)) 
((Kristin Derrin, LukeÕs wife)) 
This is it.  I'm really excited, like it's weird when you have a 
vision and a dream for so long, and then you see it and 
you're like, ÒOkay, this is it.Ó  And I think that's the blessing in 
COVID, is it's allowed us to do this a lot faster than we 
thought.  
Yeah, there's the Chickadees.  You're right.  
Every morning, we come down here after breakfast and go 
for a little walk with the kids andÉ  
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
It's a nice change in trying to cross the railway tracks and a 
busy, busy highway and fight the traffic.  And just the scene 
of seeing my kids, like running down towards the lake, I just, 
I felt so good.  It felt so right.  
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
Let's go over here. 
((Kristin Derrin, LukeÕs wife)) 
Show me the way. 
((Jaden Derrin, Luke and KristinÕs son)) 
That way. 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
No, no.  We're going to go over to the water, Jaden.  
((Jaden Derrin, Luke and KristinÕs son)) 
No. 
((NATS)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
I donÕt think we have to explain why he moved here 
though.  I mean, look at that.  It's not just here that people 
are moving to.  It's like all these other locations and they're 
moving there for the natural environment.  They're not 
moving there because it's got the best strip malls and the 
best restaurants and all that sort of stuff.  
((NATS / MUSIC)) 
((Whitney Sesma, Bartender at The Local)) 
A lot of people from the [San Francisco] Bay Area have been 
coming in, living more full time, which is great for 
business.  But it's also, it's a different, I don't know like 
feeling, you know, like it's not the same that it's always been.  
((NATS))  
((Keyla Heidenresch, College Student and Waitress)) 
Like people are seeking the outdoors, which is cool, but the 
amount of influx of people and exposure to like one small 
little area, like Lake Tahoe is not ready for this.  So, if 
everyone's going to come up here and leave their trash 
everywhere, I don't think anyone is really truly benefiting 
from that. 
((Corey Skaggs, College Student and Outdoor 
Adventure Guide)) 
The housing has been a very difficult thing to just find for us 
college students and just people that are moving here.  I 
know people that had to move down into Carson and Reno, 
and they are students and/or they work up here, and they 
have to commute every day because there's no housing up 
here.  
((Andrea Tatengo, Receptionist)) 
Yes, it has been getting crowded.  I have seen a lot more 
cars and a little bit more traffic.  A lot of people have been 
pushed out or some just decided to move out due to the 
increase of rent because they can't afford it.  
((Kristin Derrin, LukeÕs wife)) 
We're lucky we got a rental.  A lot of people, there's no more 
rentals.  I mean, your place is definitely smaller, which we're 
saying is cozier.  It is less as well.  But we didn't have many 
options.  I mean, rentals were really tight.  It was one of 
those things where it was like, either this price or twice the 
price.  And we just thought, you know, with everything going 
on, this is perfect.  
((NATS))  
((Kristin Derrin, LukeÕs wife)) 
So, what else?  Do you have work today to do? 
Yeah, I have to call Emily, just try to get people on a meeting 
tomorrow. 
((NATS / MUSIC)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
We're looking at some condos in Incline Village.  I think it's 
around $850,000 condos, $900,000, because we were 
interested in obviously buying, eventually, next year.  
((NATS)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
Hunter. 
((Hunter Platte, Realtor)) 
Hey.  
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
Hey buddy.  How are you doing? 
Good to see you, man. 
((Hunter Platte, Realtor)) 
You, too.  Come on in. 
Let's go up and then we'll come back down.  
((Hunter Platte, Realtor)) 
Business has been really good and I'm very, very grateful 
and blessed.  I mean, people literally couldn't keep up with 
all the people that want to buy property.  I've got clients in 
New York.  I have clients in the Bay Area, in L.A., and even 
though, depending on the person that you're talking to, 
they're like, ÒOh man, you know, prices are kind of expensive 
here in InclineÓ, which definitely is, but this just kind of funny 
because if you get people from the Bay Area, they come 
here and they're like, ÒWow, prices are cheaper, you know.Ó 
So, it's interesting and to be honest, I think, that's definitely a 
factor in what's pushing up prices as well.  
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
This is already getting close to a million dollars.  Is this going 
to be 1.5 in six months?  Is this going to be two million?  Am 
I going to be priced out or priced down into a smaller place if 
I want to stay here? 
((Hunter Platte, Realtor)) 
Prices in this area will always appreciate.  
((NATS)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
I feel itÕs, I feel they are all overpriced.  ItÕs still condo living.  
We're in no rush.  We don't know what's going to happen.  
((NATS/MUSIC)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
I donÕt see myself going back to a normal office, and I donÕt 
think IÕll be the only person.  I think people have got a taste 
of the Promised Land and they're like, ÒWhy have I been 
grinding it out for so long?  Why have I been living that when 
this life is so much better?Ó 
((NATS)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
I feel grateful.  I feel ÒprivilegedÓ is something like itÕs been 
given to me, but this hasn't been given to me.  I've worked 
my butt off for it.  I've taken chances.  I've dealt with a lot of 
stuff like having to deal with stress.  So, it's not something 
that's been given to me over someone else.  Because I know 
anybody could be in my shoes right now.  If their priorities 
are buying a house and living in the suburbs, that's 
great.  But that hasn't been my priority.  My priority has been 
more to be able to make sure I can take my family and put 
them somewhere safe and take my family and show them 
what life is about, not the things that we own.  
((NATS)) 
((Luke Derrin, Financial Professional)) 
Come on, guys.  LetÕs get in this one. 
((Kristin Derrin, LukeÕs wife)) 
It looks like my hair is his.  
((NATS)) 
 
 
TEASE  ((VO/NAT)) 
Coming up 
((Banner)) 
Words of Encouragement 
((SOT)) 
((NATS))  
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))   
It just kind of started honestly from the ground up.  I mean 
from way ground up.  I built all of this knowledge myself.  I 
never took any classes.  

BREAK ONE                                                                    
BUMP IN  ((ANIM))                          
 
 
BLOCK B   
 
 
((PKG))  A PANDEMIC ESCAPE - FALCONS  
((TRT:  03:14)) 
((Banner:  Urban Falcons))  
((Reporter:  Michelle Quinn)) 
((Camera:  Matt Dibble, Michelle Quinn))  
((Adapted by:  Zdenko Novacki)) 
((Map:  Berkeley, California))    
((Main character:  1 female))  
((NATS)) 
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of 
California, Berkeley))   
There's a couple, Annie and Grinnell, as they've come to be 
known, and they have been breeding in the Campanile for 
four or five years now.  I think that they first started in 2016, 
but the cameras have been in place since 2017.  And that 
was really the moment when the campus community got 
involved with this pair of birds.  So, they've had a clutch each 
year since then and because they're also banding the birds, 
weÕre able to follow the fates of those birds and learn a little 
bit about their offspring.  
((NATS)) 
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of 
California, Berkeley))   
These organisms, in part, they have rebounded a bit 
because of their ability to nest in cities, which is also a little 
bit of a special thing.  So, they typically nest in cliffs, but 
they've been able to take advantage of skyscrapers and tall 
structures like the Campanile.  
((NATS)) 
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of 
California, Berkeley))   
There's nature in the city.  There are wildlife in the city.  And 
that interacting with these organisms, viewing these 
organisms, whether it's through the critter camera or right 
outside your window, has these positive benefits for us.  It 
can be very soothing, very calming.  And, in fact, that's been 
shown through research.  There's a kind of a growing body 
of research emphasizing just the positive benefits of 
interacting with nature and interacting with nature and 
wildlife.   
((NATS)) 
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of 
California, Berkeley))   
It's like our daily dose of nature.  We can check in on them.  
We can see their feathers coming in.  We can see them 
exploring the windows, getting ready to take that next step, 
which is going to happen later this week.  
((NATS)) 
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of 
California, Berkeley))   
I'm just sort of fascinated with wildlife in urban areas.  As the 
human population has become increasingly urbanized, we've 
also become increasingly disconnected with nature.  And I'm 
very interested in efforts like this one that try to re-engage 
the public with the wildlife in our midst.  
((NATS)) 
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of 
California, Berkeley))   
These organisms, their struggle for survival really involves 
avoiding being eaten and eating themselves.  And so, I think 
in some ways, our simplified existence right now is perhaps 
more similar to what these critters are going through on a 
day-to-day basis.  And maybe that's part of why we can, it 
resonates with us in this moment.  
((NATS)) 
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of 
California, Berkeley))   
Grinnell is banded and now all of the chicks are banded.  
And thatÕs part of a mark and recapture study so that we can 
follow the fates of these animals, understand where they go 
when they leave this nest.  So, for example, one of the 
chicks, a few years ago, has apparently set up a nest on 
Alcatraz and this will be the first year that she'll be using that 
nest.  
((NATS)) 
((Stephanie Carlson, Professor of Biology, University of 
California, Berkeley))   
In this particular moment in time, a lot of people are 
recognizing that or recognizing the importance of those 
interactions, not just with their community but with the wildlife 
outside of their windows.  
((NATS)) 
 
 
((PKG))  MAKING A STATEMENT          
((TRT:  06:10)) 
((Topic Banner:  Making a Statement))  
((Reporter:??Faiza Elmasry))? 
((Camera/Editor:??Adam Greenbaum))  
((Map:??Gainesville, Virginia))??  
((Main characters:??2 female)) 
((Sub characters:  2 male))   
((NATS))   
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))   
My name is Dessirae Mantas and I am the owner of 
the Rustic Texan Woodshop.     
((NATS))   
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))   
Business started as an accident.  I just wanted to make 
signs for myself, give them as gifts to friends, family.    
((NATS))  
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))  
IÕve always loved the idea of giving a unique piece to 
someone, not just a candle or something like that, something 
that people would love and cherish.  I think the whole 
concept of my business is I just want to create custom and 
unique pieces for people out of wood.   
((NATS))  
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))    
There was a sign I created a couple of months ago.  It was 
about a guy that moved to Colorado.  He was in and out of 
drug rehab and was just piecing his life together and moved 
to Colorado for a fresh new start with his partner, was going 
on hikes and was enjoying life in different ways than he had 
enjoyed it before.  And his sister came to me, wanting to 
make him a sign to showcase this new chapter in his life.   
((Courtesy:  Dessirae Mantas))  
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))  
We came up with a piece.  It was a round sign with 
mountains and trees and we put a quote that he used on 
Instagram a lot.  That was her gift to him, and she told me 
that it was probably the most important piece in his life.  He 
looks at that as a reminder of, ÒThis is where I'm at now and 
life is good.Ó    
((NATS))   
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))  
I just let it all come naturally to me.  There really is no 
specific process.  I canÕt have a specific process because 
then everything would look very similar.  I just let 
my customers talk, give me ideas of things that they want to 
incorporate and then I just try and mesh it as well as I can.   
((NATS))  
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))    
It just kind of started honestly from the ground up.  I mean 
from way ground up.  I built all of this knowledge myself.  
But no, as far as classes, no, I never took any classes.   
((Courtesy:  Dessirae Mantas))  
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))   
I just read a lot.  I YouTubed a lot.  Pinterest a lot.   
My dad was not any type of craftsman, but although I didn't 
learn anything from him about woodworking, I did learn a lot 
of life lessons.   
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))   
And he told us constantly, ÒIf you don't know how to do 
something, you better figure it out.Ó   
((NATS)) 
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))   
I started my business at the beginning of 2018 as just a 
hobby.  It was just, you know, little, little things here and 
there.   
((NATS:  Dessirae Mantas husband and sons))  
You going to come to lunch? 
Yep.   
Alright. 
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))   
And my husband has always been on board with it.  ThereÕre 
days when I spend all day in the shop and he's inside with 
the kids, but he does alleviate a lot of pressure for 
me.  So, I'm thankful for that because while he's not in here 
working with me, he helps me in other ways.  
((NATS))  
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))   
One of the biggest challenges that I have with being a small 
business owner and a stay-at-home mom is I don't have  
((Courtesy:  Dessirae Mantas))   
all the time to be with my kids.   
((NATS))   
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))   
I have to kind of balance the two out.  And in the beginning, 
that was really hard.  I didn't understand how to do those two 
things, but over time, I quickly learned to incorporate my kids 
into my work.  Let them see what it is I'm doing.  
((NATS))  
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))   
I hope that my story can encourage other people that are 
just beginning or discouraged by everything that, you know, 
they may be facing and that you don't have to know 
everything about anything to start out.  You just have to have 
the will, the want, the confidence and you have to believe in 
yourself.  And I would not have made it this far if I did not. 
((NATS/MUSIC)) 
((Dessirae Mantas, Woodworker; Owner, The Rustic 
Texan Workshop))   
Perfect! 
((NATS/MUSIC)) 
 
 
TEASE  ((VO/NAT)) 
Coming up 
((Banner)) 
Cowboy for Life 
((SOT)) 
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy))   
Even though I'm not personally riding and roping 
anymore, I am a cowboy.  I am carrying on the cowboy way 
of life.   

BREAK TWO                                                                   
BUMP IN  ((ANIM))                          

 
BLOCK C  
 
 
((PKG))  CONNECT WITH Ð CODY GARNETT 
((TRT:  03:22)) 
((Topic Banner:  Connect With Ð Cody Garnett))  
((Reporter/Camera:  Deepak Dobhal))  
((Map:  Pawhuska, Oklahoma))    
((Main character:  1 male))  
((MUSIC/NATS)) 
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy)) 
Howdy, IÕm Cody Garnett from the best small town in 
America, Pawhuska, Oklahoma. 
Welcome to my museum, the Ben Johnson Cowboy  
Museum.  
((MUSIC/NATS)) 
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy)) 
I grew up in a family of cowboys.  My dad was a cowboy, 
professional cowboy.  His dad was a cowboy.  So naturally,  
I became a professional cowboy.  It was a very serious thing  
around our house, this rodeo.  
It wasn't all fun and games, growing up.  I came from a poor,
poor, rodeo cowboy family.  We had zero money.   
Every dollar we got,  
went to the rodeo, you know, we, it's not free. 
The gasoline to get to them isn't free. 
The feed you feed your horses isn't free.  When you get  
there,  
you have to pay an entry fee, you know. 
It's hundreds and hundreds of dollars for each one, 
you know.  That's not free.  
So, you know, we saw a lot of hard times. 
Watching your dad, knowing they need to win, you know, to  
provide for the family, sometimes that was a little stressful.  
But we all saw 
a lot of great times.  We saw a lot of great times.  We lived 
half a mile [0.8 km] off the Arkansas River. 
Some of my best memories growing up is 
we take our horses down to the Arkansas River.  
We would just ride up and down the Arkansas River and  
it was  
just like riding back in time.  
((MUSIC/NATS)) 
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy)) 
I had a friend from Stillwater, Oklahoma, 
a good friend of mine.  I was, kind of, 
helping him out with his roping 
a little bit, and we became real close friends.  He was a  
professional business fella.  And he asked me, 
"Cody, if you had to pick a business, what business would  
you go into?"   
I said, "Well, the local pawn 
shop closed down in our little town. 
I think that might be a good business, Larry."  I said, "Well, 
that's all fine and dandy, Larry.  But I'm a broke cowboy. 
I couldn't even open a lemonade stand on the corner, much l
ess a pawn shop in our town."   
He said, "You get all the paperwork done and everything, 
Cody.  I'll be your partner." 
He was a real, real great thing that was brought into our lives
and changed me and my wife's life. 
Since then, I retired from rodeoing.  I'm a professional  
business  
guy here in town.  We own the Ben Johnson Museum, 
which I get to hold on to our cowboy roots here.  
((MUSIC/NATS)) 
((Cody Garnett, Former Professional Cowboy))   
I always had big dreams.  Everybody had big dreams. 
I wanted to be a world champion cowboy, growing up. 
I never accomplished that goal.  But you live and you learn. 
Not everybody gets what they want in life.  So, 
but I had a lot of great years in the professional rings.  
Even though I'm not personally riding and roping 
anymore, I am a cowboy.  I am carrying on the cowboy way 
of life.  I'm teaching my kids the cowboy way of life, 
teaching them the rodeo life.  And we're also just living the  
dream here.  
((MUSIC/NATS)) 
 
CLOSING  ((ANIM)) 
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BREAK THREE                                                                       
BUMP IN  ((ANIM))                          
 
 
CLOSING  ((ANIM)) 
voanews.com/connect 
 
 
SHOW ENDS