Curiosity Collective

Join us as Bongiwe Grace Seleka joins us from Cape Town, South Africa to share some of her most difficult challenges as a college student during the pandemic, what she's learned, and where she's headed next.Gracie (she/her) lives in South Africa, Cape Town.  She is a recent masters graduate, majoring in hydrogeology.  She has always found the environment fascinating, particularly how everything functions together.  She finds great joy in life exploring the outdoors.

Join us as Nicola shares his experience navigating the pandemic from the  first Italian red zone to being quarantined alone in the Dolomite Mountains, how his perspective and faith have evolved over the last two years, and how he cultivates joy and delight in his daily life. As a big man with an even bigger heart, 45 year old Nicola Maj (he/him) lives in Casalpusterlengo, works in Parma,  and stays visits Primiero in the Dolomite Mountains as often as possible. He loves basketball, guitar, carbonara, and beers with friends. Nicola is a nomad, an enthusiastic globetrotter, and is fascinated by the human soul, God's creation and nice girls. He is half psychologist and half IT service analyst, so considers himself capable of handling  just about anything! You can connect with him on a variety of social media platforms.Contacts:http://www.facebook.com/nicolamajhttp://www.facebook.com/nicolamajiihttps://twitter.com/NicolaNomadehttps://www.instagram.com/nicolanomadewww.linkedin.com/in/nicolamaj

Pete and Joyce share their Kiwi pandemic experience, including how New Zealanders' fierce independence helped eradicate coronavirus from the island, how they navigate grief and longing through creativity and connection, and what brings them hope.Content warnings include mass shootings and gun violence.From Christchurch, New Zealand, Pete & Joyce Majendie have spent a large chunk of their lives exploring faith and art, in particular, installational art in public spaces.  The 185 Empty White Chairs Earthquake Remembrance Installation (https://www.185chairs.co.nz/) has been an ongoing project for 10 plus years, and is listed by TripAdvisor as the city's top landmark attraction.Peter is currently Artist in Residence at a large local church and Joyce is enjoying retirement from working in mental health.  They are fortunate to have all of their children and grandchildren living nearby and find them a source of hope and joy.

Solo world-traveler Rhys MacLean (she/her) joins us from the Pacific Crest Trail to share about her counter-cultural lifestyle living on the road, the adventure of traveling in some of the most remote parts of the planet, and what it's actually like to hike the most famous trails on the globe.Content warnings include disordered eating.Rhys is a world traveler, thru-hiker, and writer.  She has explored more than 50 countries and has hiked more than 5000 miles on trails around the world.  Follow along on Instagram @somedayisnow_rtw, or visit her blog at https://somedayisnowrtw.com/. 

Join us as Roberta (Jenkins) James (she/her) shares how she's harnessed and embodied deep self-worth, confidence, and an abiding sense of Black joy while navigating white supremacy culture, how she's attained success in an industry dominated by white men, and why she parents her children to shoot for the stars.Content warnings include racism, redlining, and misogyny. Roberta James was born in Savannah, GA, moved to York, PA as an adolescent, and graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor's degree in Media Studies & Communication.  Roberta is now a successful Financial Advisor, and resides minutes away from Tampa Bay with her husband, three daughters and one son. They enjoy traveling, sports, and supporting their children's academics.

Join us as Dylan Julian (he/him/his) shares his unique experience navigating the complexities of gender identity and expression as a Trans man, the work he's doing to support the LGBTQIA+ community as a coach, and what gives him the courage to embrace the tension of the unknown.Content and potential trigger warnings include abuse, transphobia, homophobia, and misogyny.Dylan Julian is a trans man and mindset coach. He's creating a legacy of love and empowering members of the LGBTQ+ community to do the same by helping them break generational curses and live their best life without guilt and shame. Follow him on Facebook and Instagram @_dylan_julian.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we're lucky enough to have special guest and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Jessie Timmons (she/her) to help us navigate the wilds of our shared collective trauma, share themes she's observing as we emerge from our respective quarantine bunkers, and the realities of navigating shifting relationships in the midst of it all. Content warnings include acute and chronic trauma, global pandemic, and long-term isolation.Jessie Timmons, LCSW is a therapist in private practice with extensive experience in a variety of outpatient settings including community mental health, agency and hospital work. She has been an adjunct and full time instructor at Temple University's School of Social Work, in addition to developing and teaching many professional development courses related to ethics, clinical social work and supervision. As former president of the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work (PSCSW) she has experience with and passion for leadership and culture change work. Jessie has focused her clinical career on relational work with clients and has prioritized work with people in LGBTQ communities and those who have struggles with substance use. www.towardhealing.org

Join us as Melissa shares her unique parenting experience homeschooling 7 children including several with special needs, honestly reckoning with race in a multi-racial household, and the realities of navigating her own mental health in the midst of it all. Melissa Mowry (she/her) is a homeschooling mother of seven children, aged 8-22, four of whom have special needs of one sort or another.  She taught elementary school for four years before having her first child Hannah and becoming a stay-at-home-mom.  While it was never her intention to homeschool, she is now the middle of her thirteenth year doing so.  She has been married for 26 years to her husband Brad, and lives with her family in Frederick, Maryland.Content warnings include ableism, racism, and transracial adoption. 

In this episode, my dear childhood friend Candice Shakur generously shares her experience as a Black girl growing up in small white Pennsylvania town, her current reality navigating the myriad challenges and  complexity of white supremacy culture as a Black woman, wife, and mother, and where she finds her hope.Candice Shakur was born and raised in York, PA. She is a private person who would rather keep her stories to herself, but as an avid listener to this podcast, she couldn't help but admit that sharing your story can sometimes be a good thing to do. Candice currently lives in the Midwest with her husband and 3 kids, and works as a professional organizer. You can find more of her work at moreroomathome.com.  Content warnings include racism and racial slurs, microaggressions, and white supremacy.

Join us as historian and scholar Dr. Emily Seitz shares the complex and nuanced history of obstetrics in the 19th century, including when women began entering the workforce as physicians, the complexity of language and legislation of birth, and some of the the origins and intricacies of abortion and reproductive justice. Content warning include miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion.Emily Seitz (she/her) earned a PhD in history and women's, gender, and sexuality studies from The Pennsylvania State University in 2021.  By day she's a non profit fundraiser, and with her husband, Mat, toddler-wrangler extraordinaire to her three children, Isla, Benjamin, and Nathaniel.  In her spare time she's trying her hand at creative writing.  You can find her on Instagram @emilyseitzwrites. Print ResourcesWhen Abortion was a Crime (academic book, though very accessible!) written by Leslie ReaganOur Bodies, Ourselves (resource for women who want to   know more about their health and sexuality, including abortion), by the Boston Women's Health CollectiveTrans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource By and For Transgender Communities, 2nd Edition by Laura Erickson-SchrothWeb ResourcesGuttmacher InstituteNational Network of Abortion FundsAbortion Liberation Fund of PASisterSongACLUNational Advocates for Pregnant WomenLiberate AbortionAnd of course, if anyone is a history nerd, I want to give a shout-out to the Drexel Legacy Center.  They have a very cool website where people can learn more about early medical education for women and have done such a nice job of making these resources accessible to the public.

Join me and one of my oldest friends Jen Balsbaugh as she shares her family's experience of the rare genetic condition of Trisomy 9, including navigating the world of medical specialists, pediatric therapy, and special education, and the many joys and delights it is to have a baby Nora.Jen Balsbaugh (she/her) is wife to Colin, mom to Gus (7) and Nora (3), and former science teacher from northern Indiana.  In her free time, Jen enjoys reading, taking walks, and working in her garden.

When she was only 29 years old, Avni Tokhie was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a rare disease of the Central Nervous System that affects both the brain and the spinal cord.  Join us as she shares how she has adapted as a mother of young children, and her passionate advocacy to spread awareness and find a cure.Avni Tokhie (she/her) was born and raised in Michigan.  Since being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2015 at the age of 29, she has become a passionate advocate, educating and spreading awareness of this disease that affects at nearly 3 million people across the country. Avni resides in Michigan with her 2 children, dog & loving husband. Content warnings include ableism, healthcare accessibility, and cognitive decline.

Join us as Keturah shares what it means to her to come from Old Order Amish heritage, what it was like growing up Beachy Amish Mennonite in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and a little about her palliative care work with infants and families as a nurse at the Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg, Pa.Content and potential trigger warnings include death and dying of children, genetic birth defects, and religious language.Keturah Beiler (she/her) works as a nurse at the Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg, Pa where she does palliative care for infants and children in Amish and Mennonite communities.  Experiencing death and dying with these families Keturah has learned to be present for, and even embrace life's joys and pain.  Keturah's roots are Old Order Amish/Mennonite, which honors by raising her children with the same values while also allowing them broader opportunities.  She is married with three children, ages 17-23, and lives in the farmhouse where her husband was born and raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  The old house has taught them that progress is messy, not often linear or static, and that there's always another task right around the corner (or living in the corner!).  And such is life: the work and joy of living and learning.  

This one is a doozie!!  Join us as Mya helps to break down and explain so very many myths and stigmas related to diet culture, disordered eating,  the extraordinarily junk science of the body mass index and SO MUCH MORE!!  If you've ever been swept up in shaming your body or punishing yourself for eating that delicious treat, this one is definitely for you! Content warnings include fat shaming, medical weight stigma, disordered eating and eating disorders.Mya ("Mee-ya") is an Anti-Diet Dietitian and holds a Master of Public Health in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Washington.  She helps life-long dieters break away from toxic diet culture and empowers them to build trust with their own bodies.  Her signature on-line program called "Body Respect" has helped hundreds of women break the cycle of food guilt & body shame and instead find food freedom and body appreciation. In addition to her on-line practice, she is a nutrition faculty at Seattle Pacific University.She is a strong anti-diet advocate and believes that all bodies regardless of weight and size deserve respectful and compassionate care.  She can be found on Instagram @foodbody.peace or her websitewww.foodbodypeace.com References Cited:The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylorthebodyisnotanapology.comLynne Hurdle-Price TedXWomen 2012https://youtu.be/ZMkQi8aPk6c

Curiosity Collective is back!Host Katie Langley is joined by her dear friend Steph to launch season two of the Curiosity Collective Podcast!  Together they chat about where the Collective has been, where it's headed, and what Katie's learning, struggling with, and delighting in along the way.Stephanie Frysinger (she/her) is a residential Realtor in central Pennsylvania with a Master's Degree in Social Work. She is a Mama to Lincoln (6) and Olivia (1) and happily resides in the Hamilton Park neighborhood in Lancaster City. In her spare time she can be found on her bicycle, catching up with friends, or with her hands in the soil.  She delights in the unknown, and thinks knowing all the answers is rather boring.

Join us as Lindley generously shares her experience and wisdom as an autistic fat person, how she has catalyzed her rage into hope and change for thousands through her fat liberation activism and photography, and the challenges navigating accessibility, medical weight stigma, and finding clothes that fit.  Content warnings include body and neurodivergence shaming, fat phobia and medical weight stigma.Lindley Ashline creates photographs that celebrate the unique beauty of bodies that fall outside conventional "beauty" standards. She fights weight stigma by giving fat people a safe place to explore how their bodies look on camera and by increasing the representation of fat bodies in photography, advertising, fine art and the world at large.Lindley is also the creator of Body Liberation Stock (body-positive stock images for commercial use) and the Body Love Shop (a curated resource for body-friendly products and artwork). Find Lindley's work and get her free weekly Body Liberation Guide at http://bit.ly/bodyliberationguide.The Body Liberation Guide newsletter: http://bit.ly/bodyliberationguideWebsite: http://www.bodyliberationphotos.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodyliberationwithlindley/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bodyliberationphotos/Weight bias in healthcare:- https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-018-1116-5?fbclid=IwAR0n2iAShDgo9foHzNbJ7PoL3mOYl8lTX8TWz6_DFbqk9-numQdyxYC8UBg- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6650789/?fbclid=IwAR3VbYgE-szL05OsZhUaICDtCC8nle4Rh2og3kKP1Vk3brk4eWD7hN9fUT0- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4381543/?fbclid=IwAR0o1FroNobVWLQdpQd3yGB2wlzh0vaVQ-20dDfUBGAjNW4y6eTk9cIJ3GE

No matter where she lived growing up military all over the world, Gozá learned over and over through racist beauty standards and toxic purity culture that she was ugly, and never enough.In this episode Gozá shares her erotic exploration from embodied trauma and shame to wild power, freedom, and joy.  Gozá Parks is an artist, speaker and coach from Chicago. She has a psychology background and a passion for empowering Black women. Content warnings include childhood sexual abuse, eating disorders, fat phobia, religious trauma, purity culture, and racism.

Like many boys, Frank learned young that boys don't cry, but that it better (and safer) to repress his feelings in silence and shame.  In this episode, Frank bravely shares his experience confronting childhood sexual abuse, his path through addiction towards recovery, and the beauty in being surprised by hope.Frank Sheffer (he/his) is a 44 year old father of two from central Pennsylvania who strives daily towards redemption, gratitude, and joy in every moment.Content warnings include childhood sexual abuse, suicide, and addiction.National Sexual Assault Hotline1-800-656-4673National Human Trafficking Hotline1-888-373-7888Rape, Abuse & Incest National Networkrainn.orgPennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violencehttps://www.pcadv.org/Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rapehttps://pcar.org/Refuge Recoveryhttps://www.refugerecovery.org/

Joanie Wolf (she/her) was born in Oil City, a small western Pennsylvania town and raised in Mechanicsburg, a suburb of Harrisburg, PA.  A former Kinesiology major, Joanie first dreamed of becoming an Elementary Phys Ed Teacher.  She graduated from West Chester University in 2008 with a degree in Liberal Studies with concentrations in Health and Education. With 15+ years' experience working alongside adults and children in various capacities such as at-risk youth, youth with autism and working in the juvenile justice system, she now works serving victims of trauma.  Joanie has been at the YWCA York for over 6 years, where she ensures internal staff are trained in best practices to maintain their Confidentiality Privilege (confidential communications between victims and advocates). She supervises volunteers and interns, coordinates the holiday program, and conducts community awareness advocacy training.  Joanie is passionate about helping others and serving her community,  and enjoys being outdoors and spending time at home with her husband, daughter, and dog Dobby.National Sexual Assault Hotline1-800-656-4673National Human Trafficking Hotline1-888-373-7888Rape, Abuse & Incest National Networkrainn.orgPennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence https://www.pcadv.org/ Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rapehttps://pcar.org/YWCA York (24/7 Confidential Hotline) 717-846-5400 www.ywcayork.org Loveisrespect.orgfurtureswithoutviolence.orgSafesecurekids.orgiHollaback.orgPolarisProject.org (Anti-Human Trafficking Non-profit)

SEPTEMBER IS WOMEN IN MEDICINE MONTH!Meet Dr.Deon,  Pediatric Rehab Physician in Chicago!  Join us as we talk about disability access, using your voice and finding your power as a woman, and choosing curiosity as our hope for healing.Dr. Deon graduated magna cum laude from Xavier University in New Orleans, LA and attended the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis, TN where she obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree. She completed a PM&R residency at UT Southwestern in Dallas, TX and a fellowship in Pediatric Rehabilitation at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rush University Medical Center and La Rabida Children's Hospital. She is double boarded in adult rehabilitation and pediatric rehabilitation. She is also the course director for the Health Equity and Social Justice Leadership Course at Rush Medical College and was previously the Co-Course Director for the Readings in Special Populations Course on Disparities in Healthcare Research at Rush Graduate College.Dr.Deon can be contacted via email at Laura_Deon@rush.edu

Welcome to  Women in Medicine Month!!Join us as Dr.Yee shares her experience as a woman in the male-dominated field of pain medicine, why representation matters so very much, the reality of treating patients through a global pandemic, and how she takes care of herself and finds her joy in the midst of it all.  Dr.Catherine Yee is double-board certified physician in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) and in Pain Medicine.  She began her residency training in Internal Medicine in Rochester, NY, her advanced training is in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in Chicago, IL, and her subspecialty fellowship training in Pain Medicine in Iowa City, IA.  Dr.Yee's primary training and clinical focus in managing chronic pain is with minimally invasive procedures.  She approaches managing chronic pain through physical therapy, pain psychology, lifestyle changes, multimodal analgesic therapy, and interventional procedures.  Dr.Yee is a strong advocate for opioid minimization in chronic pain management by helping patients with alternative pain management methods that are safer, healthier and more evidence-based.  She also encourages people to take charge of their healthcare through improved health literacy as a Medical Advisor to WXXI's "Second Opinion" television program.

Join us as Jillian shares her experience working as a Speech Pathologist in one of the country's most revered medical institutions at the height of the global pandemic.  Content includes pandemic trauma, fear, and death.Jillian (she/her) was raised and educated in Illinois, before moving to Maryland in 2012 where she now lives with her husband and 2 small boys. She enjoys quiet morning coffee, cooking, music, fitness, architecture and culture. She's worked in hospitals for the last 14 years as a medical Speech Language Pathologist, where she learned to believe in karma or something like it.  Jillian's greatest strength (and weakness!) is that she gives the benefit of the doubt until proven wrong. Go Bears!

Join our grand bestie reunion as Ticia shares her experience growing up in small town Pa as a multiethnic woman of color, and what it is to cultivate joy, creativity, and self-acceptance in the midst of it all.  Content includes racism and hate speech.Ticia Albano (she/her) is a fun-loving, creative human who has a predilection for malarkey and shenanigans with her beefcake skateboarder husband and warm-hearted, whimsical, live-in BFF. A firm believer that great hugs, amazing friends and good conversation are necessities for survival and all things in life should be celebrated with laughter, love and whiskey.  

Join us as Nicole shares her experience as a cancer survivor, including the joys and challenges living wholeheartedly amidst the unknown.  Content includes cancer, loss, death and dying.Nicole Mills (she/her) is an oncology nurse, spiritual director, cancer survivor, nerd, and contemplative. She is a graduate of Majestic Way Elementary School, UC Davis and Johns Hopkins University; however, her true knowledge has come through the pain, wonder and holiness of the previously listed roles. Nicole has a secret desire to be a nun or a double-dutch jump rope champion. Not being Catholic or able to jump two ropes poses significant hurdles, but she remains hopeful. Nicole is single, has a plethora of books, and holds great love for redwood trees, the mystery of God, and horses (in no particular order). She lives with her dog, Pax. She loves him, too.

Join us as Chi Chi (she/her) shares her experience as a first generation eldest Nigerian American daughter, her heart for social justice and Black liberation, and what it feels like to find freedom and love outside the bounds of organized religion.Chi Chi Okwu is an advocate, speaker and nonprofit leader.  Her work and passion live at the intersection of social justice and human connection and she is committed to building a world where everyone can thrive.  For more than a decade, Chi Chi has been responsible for strategic partnership development, fundraising, empowering teams, and implementing programs to address local and global  justice issues. She is currently the Executive Director of EverThrive Illinois, a reproductive justice advocacy organization working to eliminate racial and economic inequalities in healthcare. She is also the co-host and producer of The Next Question, a web-based talk show dedicated to moving the race conversation forward. Chi Chi is a graduate of the University of Alabama and has a Master's Degree in Public Health. She currently lives in Chicago with her partner and their cat. She enjoys traveling, reading, cooking and sharing a great meal with friends and family. 

Join us as Debbie shares her experience creating a life centered on the pursuit of equity, relationship, and curiosity.  Content includes white privilege, racism, and LGBTQIA+ identity.Debbie Gable grew up in Chester County, went to Penn State to earn a Bachelor's degree and then moved to York, Pa. where she has lived ever since. She loves to swim, read, spend time with children, and walk in the woods. She is committed to moving through the world in a way that is uplifting and encouraging to others. 

Join us as Jasmine shares her experience navigating young motherhood, entering the professional world as Black woman in the midst of a pandemic, and her heart full of plans to create a better world for her son Preston.  Content includes racism, sexism, and classism.Jasmine Berry (she/her) is a mother first and foremost, a Penn State Graduate and an athlete.  She is a proud  strong Black woman, determined to break through every barrier with her dignity intact while she builds her legacy and creates a better world.  

Join us as Ellie shares the challenges and joys living freely and fully within the Trans experience, and her passion for creative connection, relationship, and  joy.  Content includes transphobia and homophobia.Ellie Cochran (it/she) is a Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based new media designer, musician, adjunct professor, and futurist digital artist. Named one of the Keystone State's next generation of Queer leaders and nominated for a Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania Women in Technology Award, its recent work focuses on designing interactions for augmented and virtual reality. Currently, Ellie is developing a workshop on the history and modern applications of synesthesia in art for the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, and acting as the Creative Director at Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition.

"The true mark of strength is how open you can be with your weakness". Join us as Tory shares his experience of depression, anxiety and addiction into a life of hope and recovery.  Potential trigger warnings include addiction, panic attack, depression, anxiety, toxic masculinity, and suicidal ideation.Tory Fry resides in Philadelphia with his lovely wife Ticia, ding-dong dog Lula and friend Josh. He's an avid skateboarder of 31 years, and also enjoy studying neuroscience and how it applies to psychological disorders and their future treatments. He's been sober now for two years, and enjoys commiserating with other individuals new and old in recovery. He hopes by telling his story that it will bring comfort to someone during their struggles

Join us as Kat shares a little of her immigrant experience, navigating anger in the midst of injustice, and the joys and challenges of cultivating our transracial soulmate friendship. Content includes racism, rage, and medical system power abuse.Kat (she/her/hers) resides in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband and three sons. She is currently finishing up a graduate degree in clinical and mental health, which is simply a reflection of her lifelong fascination with the human experience. She enjoys reading, planting, conversing, laughing, and eating. 

Welcome to the Curiosity Collective Podcast. Join host Katie Langley with her first guest and oldest friend Jessie Timmons as they unpack Katie's heart behind the Curiosity Collective.Jessie Timmons is a therapist in private practice with extensive experience in a variety of outpatient settings including community mental health, agency and hospital work. She has been an adjunct and full time instructor at Temple University's School of Social Work, in addition to developing and teaching many professional development courses. As former president of the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work (PSCSW) she has experience with and passion for leadership and culture change work. Jessie has focused her clinical career on relational work with clients and has prioritized work with people in LGBTQ communities and those who have struggles with substance use. She is a recently trained yoga teacher in the Ashtanga tradition offering group and individual yoga practices and workshops, and co-hosts a podcast about relational therapy, Seeking Connections.Towardhealing.org