This show captures all of the meaningful stories inside the world of Fleece & Thank You and provides an outlet for children and their families in the hospital to engage with content that supports their journey.
Thank you, Bruce and Scott, for your unwavering commitment to kids in the hospital and for your undaunted spirit to make this world a better place.
Thank you for spreading light and positivity in the world, David!
Thank you, Alyse Perkowitz, for being a grateful human!
Thank you, Patrick Murphy, founder of Maket, the "Canva of Home Architecture"
Thank you, Manny, for taking the time to share all the things that you're grateful for.
"We would do well to take advantage of the opportunities that come across our path."Awenate, thank you for a great conversation about taking advantage of opportunities as they come and not always waiting for the next best thing. Your story to where you are and the courage you showed on the journey are inspiring, and I'm grateful for the time that you shared with me talking about it. Awenate's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/awenate/
The conversation covers Ryan Neal's journey from childhood medical challenges to a successful career in music and keynote speaking. It explores the themes of gratitude in adversity and self-taught music production, highlighting the impact of early experiences on shaping Ryan's perspective and career path. Ryan Neal shares insights on resilience, nonconformity, gratitude, and the impact of a strong support system. His journey from childhood challenges to a successful music career is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of a strong support system. Ryan's definition of gratitude emphasizes the opportunity to make life better for oneself and others. He also recommends his song 'Up My Sleeve' and shares details about his upcoming music release.TakeawaysGratitude in adversitySelf-taught music productionResilienceSupport SystemChapters00:00 Passion for Music and Keynote Speaking30:31 Learning from Super Fans36:09 A Day in the Life of Ryan Neal52:32 Defining Gratitude and Its SignificanceConnect with Ryan at https://www.ryannealmusic.com/
As told by Kroger, here is what they stand for! "Every day we open our doors and welcome millions of hungry people. But they're not just hungry for food. They're hungry for something that can make their lives healthier, easier, brighter and a bit lighter. They're hungry to feel good, do well, to go from anxiety to inspiration.So whether we manufacture, market, stock, check, deliver, or manage, we all try to make their experience as uplifting as possible. Just like Barney Kroger did when he brought together the butcher, the baker, dry goods, and produce all under one roof. We've always been about value, convenience, and making customers' lives simpler.To lift them up, we keep our hands, hearts and minds open so we can be attentive to their needs and provide true Kroger hospitality and generosity. Because every time someone crosses our threshold we get a fresh chance to make an emotional connection, lighten their load and lift them up.It's a simple truth that our world is hungry for uplift. It's a universal need, as powerful as our need for food or fuel.That's why our Purpose is To Feed the Human Spirit™."
Parkside Credit Union is proud to be a Michigan nonprofit organization since 1953. Parkside Credit Union offers unequivocal benefits and services to its members. With no hidden fees, competitive deposit dividend rates, and low loan rates, they help their members afford their dreams. Parkside offers 350+ local surcharge free ATMs, and the convenience of free online, mobile, and text solutions.
Paul Davis is a grateful human. He loves Reeses Pieces and Gummy Bears, and something that recently made him smile was seeing his dog Bane be tired out after playing with a younger pup. Paul is Partner at Podium Group.
Direct from Julia's site, Yoga By Julia... "This place was meant to be. I could make a movie of the miraculous things that led to the opening of this studio.We're not talking one or two incidents. We're not talking a season of life where everything fell into place.I mean thing after thing after thing after thing over the past 25+ years that led to here.I didn't understand what was happening for most of the time, haha. It was a total walk of surrender and faith. I never ever ever ever EVER would have taken the path I did if God hadn't so UNDENIABLY led me through every quark-level detail of every step.From how I found yoga (before I knew it was yoga) to why I opened the studio (when the thought had not previously crossed my mind AT ALL) to how our programs and plans came into being (some of these ideas have been in my heart since elementary school) . . . these are stories that will be saved for another day.Suffice to say I now understand ALLLLLL of the parts that didn't make sense. And it BLOWSMYMIND how unfathomably, masterfully, PERFECTLY God was writing the story, 100% of the time.From the huge dreams in my heart that I always knew would be my future to the tiny ones I was okay with never having . . The whole range of it is my reality now, in more abundant form than I ever knew to dream! Specifically because of the things I went through that were devastating at the time.Yoga and the studio are not the only things I love in life or the only part of my future plans, but they satisfy a HUGE portion of what I've always wanted most. Even though while it was all happening it seemed like the OPPOSITE of everything I wanted. My Mission is “to help people live lives of fulfillment and purpose, that allow them to fully be who they are”. That's what yoga and the studio have done for me. That's what I hope it will do for YOU, too!!I have HUUUGE plans for this place. Come along . . . and stay tuned!!!"
"Gratitude is like a light. It can change a room, an interaction, or an everyday situation." Grateful to Oracle Netsuite's Carly Nesson for joining us on this show!
It's a conversation where we talk about twins, Abraham Lincoln quotes, and gratitude...join us! Special thanks to Travis and Virtuous for the great work they do.
Imagine how it would feel when all the traditions and ceremonies of your high school senior year were halted in an instant. For Ally, Ella, and Michael, they were the "Class of '20" HS Seniors who had their lives turned upside down with the onset of the pandemic. Fast forward to today, as graduates and soon-to-be-graduates, is it possible they actually found something to be grateful for among the change and uncertainty? Find out here!
Key NuggetsCold showers can change your daily routineAlmost anything great is the sum of many, many great things that came before itConsistency and endurance are traits and strengths to focus onYou could never script where life is going to take you
Monika Niemasik, MA, TLLPWhen children and adolescents misbehave, withdraw, or fail to meet expectations, there is typically a reason. Although as adults we may not immediately understand or appreciate their intentions, it is in Monika's experience and understanding that these behaviors are communications. It is her goal to understand these communications and to encourage parents and their children to move forward with empowered perspectives, utilizing practical strategies for growth and improvement. Monika graduated with a Master of Arts in School and Community Psychology with an Advanced Graduate Certificate in School Psychology from Wayne State University. She received my Bachelors of Arts with Honors in Developmental Psychology from the University of Windsor. Monika primarily works with children, adolescents, and their families in the identification and treatment of behavioral, emotional, social, and academic challenges. Her experience as a school psychologist and psychotherapist provides her with a unique and comprehensive understanding of the multitude of stressors that youth face during their development. Monika's holistic and play-based approach to therapy provides a space for your child to best communicate their thoughts and feelings, as well as a place to develop healthy coping strategies. In partnership with you, she looks forward to helping your family maneuver through this exciting, yet sometimes challenging, journey of your child's development.In addition to practicing child psychology and working towards becoming a Registered Play Therapist,
Associate Professor of Health Communications Nick Iannarino shares with us what he has learned from his research about family caregiving and the Sandwich Generation.
For more information on Fleece & Thank You, you can visit fleeceandthankyou.org.
Important to note: empathy is NOT just about walking in someone else's shoes, it's also about how you communicate back what you learned on that walk.Connect with Nick and his research on LinkedIn.
Executive Director of Fleece & Thank You Nicholas Kristock talks with Ned Spektor about origins, Make a Blanket Day: 2019 Rochester, and how to pursue your passion. Theme from this talk: Share Your Energy!
We are talking about Make a Blanket Day: Rochester, New Volunteer Shifts, Upcoming Podcast Guests, and more!
Nate and Nick dive into the concept of values, empathy, and how to be the best version of ourselves so that we can make the people around us better. About AFSThings change quickly sometimes. Looking at the photo accompanying this story in 2019 might have elicited thoughts about community, or fun events with friends; today the first thing that pops into our minds is a group of people not practicing social distancing. Certainly, life's going to be a little complicated for awhile.Just as it's affected so many areas of our lives, the Covid-19 pandemic has completely changed the way we do fitness. As restrictions loosen and lockdowns are lifted, people will be emerging from quarantine with a very unique personal challenge to solve. How can I keep myself safe while also getting healthier and more resilient? This by in-large will be a highly individualized decision as each person weighs their risk factors, age, and overall health status against the risks of doing the things they want to do out in public. Knowing this is the “new normal” we're coming back to, AFS ensures we have an option for you. Whether you aren't ready to leave home yet, you're chomping at the bit to get back to the gym, or maybe you fall somewhere in between.The base AFS membership, or as it's referred to now: (contactless membership) includes access to the AFS community virtual hub where we host several live workouts each week you can do right from your living room. In home experiences ranging from yoga, to circuit training, even strength and stretching! Base members also get access to our signature outdoor “pop-up” workouts where you can socialize and exercise with friends out in the fresh air. The workout options are topped off with access to our members only forum and guidance from a degreed and certified personal coach we'll pair you up with to ensure you have all the tools you need to get started. For $35 per month you'll have the support you need to get moving again without ever having to set foot into one of our facilities.Feel comfortable coming to one of our physical locations? Enroll in one of our traditional memberships and take part in some of the most highly reviewed exercise experience anywhere in southeast Michigan. Now with updated/scientifically vetted screening, sanitization, and distancing protocols in place.
Title credit to Kaylyn Anders from Cancer is Hilarious.
About Chief Financial Credit UnionChief Financial Federal Credit Union has been meeting the financial needs of our members since 1941. We have proudly maintained locations in Pontiac, MI while expanding into the Dearborn and Greater Rochester areas.The Chief Financial goal is to be more than money. We have placed corporate social responsibility at the core of our foundation and intend to tirelessly work toward making our world a better place.Chief Financial Credit Union is committed to empowering financial success and inspiring creative philanthropy.At Chief Financial Credit Union, "more than money" is not just a tagline. It is the company culture that we have created and the fuel that drives our mission. Our goal is to inspire strategic partnerships between our employees, members, and community partners. We boldly aim to be forever remembered for the good we did, the chances we gave, the opportunities we created and the lives we changed.We believe:Worth is not only measured with a dollar signValue has little to do with a bottom lineWe can change the world one person at a timeTheir core values include:Integrity in all Relationships: Strive to do what is right for the Credit Union, employees and membership with each interactionCollaborate for Growth: Create an environment where everyone contributes equally to the success of the whole and all opinions are given the same weightTransparency on all Levels: Continuous open and honest communication to create trust between the Credit Union, employees and membersSocial Responsibility is Everyone's Responsibility: All employees of the organization should seek ways to help the members of the communities we serve to live a better life each dayDiversity Breeds Creativity: When we open ourselves up to acceptance of different perspectives we allow for new ideas to be createdPerseverance Leads to Answers: Never stop trying to find a solution
The mission of the Cassie Hines Shoes Cancer Foundation is to support young adults with cancer from the beginning of their battle to life beyond cancer. Engaging in support groups involving peer interaction, especially young adult cancer camps, can provide them with tools that will help them manage the emotional side of their battle and allow them to feel like they are back in charge of their own life."In January of 2012, Cassie was told by her oncologist, “There is nothing more that we can do.” The cancer had attacked her liver along with other vital organs and she was beginning liver failure. She went home in the care of hospice. The final 42 days of Cassie's life family and friends surrounded her. We told stories, asked questions, shared our fears, laughed and cried. Cassie wanted every young adult diagnosed with cancer to be able to experience it with the same peer support and sense of adventure she did. We knew it would be our job to make her dream a reality. We walked Cassie up to heaven's gate and she entered on March 1, 2012. Cassie's work here was done but ours was just beginning.While Cassie was at First Descents Camp she wrote a letter to herself that was mailed to her six months after the camp finished. She was at home in hospice care when it arrived. We read the letter together; in it she described the week and then gave herself some advice. She reminded herself to “Stay active, eat healthy but enjoy junk food every so often. Never stop dreaming, when you feel good and even when you feel crappy, make life an adventure.” The advice I liked the best was 'Don't take the easy road, take risks'."Learn more at the Cassie Hines Shoes Cancer website
Fleece & Thank You is the official fiscal sponsor of Warmilu, an infant warming company. Lack of warmth is a huge problem experienced by many populations across the globe. Over 1 million premature infants die annually due to hypothermia-related causes in resource scarce settings. Most of these fatalities are due to a lack of basic access to electric incubators and other life-saving sources of warmth. Warmilu created a patented infant warming blanket (featured left) and is currently warming 10,000 infants born to hospitals in 75 countries around the world, and this partnership will help to increase that reach. You might not know this, but Nicholas and Grace are two founders whose early lives were saved by incubators. Nick was born a twin, and his twin sister was taking up much of the nutrients in the womb. He was born with fully developed organs, but he could not warm himself up. The care team was quick-thinking and put Nicholas into an incubator, which saved his life.In a different Michigan hospital, Grace was born 1-month preterm the day after Christmas. Smaller than a teddy bear, Grace was warmed by an incubator for 11 days to stabilize her and grow her underdeveloped lungs. For days, both founders were separated from their parents. Being isolated made an impression. Grace's parents told her stories about incubator life and only being able to touch her toe. This early challenge instilled a lifelong desire in Nicholas and Grace to make a positive impact and bring people closer together.Today, both Nicholas and Grace are still blown away that their paths intersected in pediatric healthcare, specifically warming children with blankets! The world is a better place when FTY blankets provide comfort to kids and Warmilu blankets provide life-saving warmth to keep infants warm near their parents. Together, blankets from Warmilu and FTY become physical embodiments of love when kids are in their greatest time of need.Our “Wrapped in Warmth” partnership with Fleece and Thank You allows YOU to create comfort and hope for someone going through a difficult time. Every soft, colorful fleece blanket symbolizes the love and support of friends, family, and community. The Warmilu + Fleece & Thank You Blanket Kit is a great way to provide hands-on support to children needing comfort locally and abroad. For every Warmilu + FTY Blanket kit sold, one infant warming blanket will be donated to a hospital abroad, saving THOUSANDS of infant lives.Learn more about the partnership here!
Fleeceandthankyou.org for more info!
The world of clinical trials is shrouded in mystery for many, and in this conversation, Alyssa helps bring us the "simple explanation" of what clinical trials are, how they work, and why they are so important.
ABOUT NURSES INSPIRE NURSESNurses Inspire Nurses is a community of nurses created to inspire and uplift ourselves and each other. It all began when Cat Golden, our founder, was tired, burnt out, and sick of waiting for external circumstances to change to start feeling better.She started doing things to uplift her coworkers and created coffee talks, a safe space outside of work for nurses to come together, have real conversations, and find support. SHE KNEW SHE WANTED TO SUPPORT NURSES IN AN EVEN BIGGER WAYShe knew she wanted to support nurses in an even bigger way and created Nurse Giveback Night, an event for nurses to celebrate themselves and all the hard work they put in each day.When she put the phrase “Nurses Inspire Nurses” on a t-shirt to sell at the very first Nurse Giveback Night, she got an overwhelming response and knew she was onto something.
Nick Iannarino (PhD, University of Kentucky; MA, University of Dayton) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Language, Culture, and Communication at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Nick specializes in health communication, and he is particularly interested in how people in close relationships manage the social experience of severe and chronic illness. His research considers the unique communication practices and challenges experienced by young adult (YA) cancer survivors and their close social network members. He has also studied the use of humor in existing narratives about traumatic illness (e.g., found in YA blogs, comedy performances, comic books), adult siblings who have made health decisions for an aging parent, and family communication patterns among cancer patients and their primary caregivers. Nick also teaches undergraduate courses on multiple topics related to health communication, qualitative and quantitative research methods, interpersonal communication, and public speaking.
Angela helped lead an amazing conversation that talked about finding your purpose, acceptance of others, trusting the process, and leaning on others for support. When Angela's daughter Brooklyn was first born, they immediately knew something was different. Brooklyn was born with a cranio-facial syndrome called Crouzon syndrome that resulted in several other complications. Angela shares what she learned from 8 years of hospital surgeries and treatment stays.
Along with updates on Make a Blanket Week Walled Lake/Novi 2021 presented by Kroger, we are also talking about the F&TY Golf Outing, a big order we received from Discover Credit Card, some open positions we are hiring for, and National Volunteer Week!--Wisdom--“Old is when regrets outweighs dreams.” If you think of life in the concept of 4 quarters, the average life is 79 years. If we call adulthood at 18, what is halftime? 48.5! We get, on average, 61.5 years of adulthood, meaning each "quarter" is 15.25 years. That means your first quarter ends at 33.25, halftime is 48.5, and the third quarter goes until 63.75. The point: Don’t feel like you have to hit a buzzer beater in the first quarter!
From 12p-3p at Suburban Collection Showplace, hundreds of awesome humans will be showing up for an epic drive-thru event to support kids in the hospital! Learn more at fleeceandthankyou.org!
Of course, there is an appropriate planning period important for any long-standing endeavor, but to extend that time period of waiting longer than it needs to be, to freeze out of fear of moving forward, to wait when we need to move, would be our greatest misuse of a valuable resource called time. Listen to my chat with Devin Tarrant from Applied Fitness Solutions as we chat about time and the importance of not waiting to do the things we believe in. seizing opportunities. Applied Fitness Solutions is a sponsor of Fleece & Thank You's work, and they host multiple blanket-making events at their locations throughout the year! You can learn more about Devin and the Applied Fitness Solutions team and vision at their website. Thanks for the inspiration, Devin!
This update episode talks about our new warehouse cutting positionsour lobby renovationvolunteeringspecial events- Make a Blanket Week Walled Lake/Novi presented by Kroger and our Fleece & Thank You Golf OutingMiles for Meaning competitionand as always, some wisdom!Today's wisdom: "The same sunshine that melts the butter hardens the clay."
We are catching you up quickly on Make a Blanket Week: Walled Lake/Novi, our upcoming Golf Outing in May, a call for runners across the country for a big running/walking event we are in, a HUGE event with a major credit card company, and conversation about the measurement of success vs. effort.
Updates on this episode include:Grab n' Go Volunteer Shout Out!New Volunteer Support Position and Communications Intern, AlexisVirtual 'First Wash' PartyGolf Outing 2021Partnerships with: Nurses Inspire Nurses, Oakland University - LEAN, and Fairway
Updates on this episode include Giving Tuesday, the Washing Machine, Virtual Blanket Making, our Holiday Blanket Bundle, and, most importantly, having an attitude of gratitude!
"Discipline will take you places motivation never could." Alyssa and Nicholas break down discipline vs. motivation and how the FTY year has been!
Working for a grassroots nonprofit, you have to wear a lot of hats, and sometimes it can feel like you're juggling swords, fire, and apples all at the same time. Listen to Alyssa and Nicholas talk FTY updates AND have a dialogue about running a small business.
Rabbi G has a story for the books. As an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Wayne State University and the Founder of Kids Kicking Cancer His life's journey has taken him around the world speaking and serving in the area of pediatric illness and helping children cope with pain. Rabbi G and Kids Kicking Cancer is on a mission to bring hope to 1 million kids in the world. This is a conversation you don't want to miss, and he even gives us a power breathing lesson to use in our own life! For more info about Rabbi G and Kids Kicking Cancer, check out kidskickingcancer.org. If you benefit from power breathing, send an email to info@kidskickingcancer.org!
After suffering from heart problems early in life, Tommy was diagnosed with a particular type of leukemia that patients who have had a heart transplant are more prone to. Hear Tommy's story and his tremendous bravery and positive attitude to battle through a childhood cancer journey.
Updates on this episode include:Prank WarsSTEP Birthday KaraokeWasher/Dryer DeliveryChildhood Cancer Awareness MonthMake A Blanket....WEEK!
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