The Soul of Diabetes

My next guest is Julie Schumann She is a type one diabetic, a mom, and a sound healer. Julie was diagnosed at the age of 14. She became a mom at a young age (20) and says she is very grateful for the opportunity to have had 3 babies and proud to say she is healthy and was very healthy in all of her pregnancies. Julie has been through some tough relationships rooted in mental health and substance abuse. She has learned so much and continues to work behind "the chair " making people beautiful, as a hair stylist, doing sound baths, energy clearings and coaching people with their food and daily lifestyle. Julie is 43 years old, and says she's as healthy emotionally and physically as she has ever been.  "Each day comes with a new choice and sometimes a challenge. I am free to make the choices to be happy, find joy and want to share my success with  everyone I can." You can find Julie online on Instagram @unleash_your_soul

Finally got the opportunity to have a chat with my friend Tonya Hegamin. Tonya and I have known each other for some time now and we've had conversations about diabetes before. But now we got to record it! This introduction is from her website tonyacheriehegamin.com: "Tonya C. Hegamin, MFA (she/her/hers), is a queer, (dis)abled award-winning author of Most Loved In All The World, M+O 4evr, Pemba's Song and Willow. Her honors include the Ezra Jack Keats' New Writer Award and The Christopher Award. Her books have received starred reviews in Publisher's Weekly and been featured in USA Today, The Washington Post, Ebony, and Essence. Hegamin is an Associate Professor and Chairperson of the English Department at CUNY Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY. She also serves on the CUNY-wide Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board as well as on the Narrative Medicine Track of Distinction Advisory Board for CUNY's School of Medicine. Hegamin has been a victim and patient advocate since 1998, working as an educator and counselor for organizations like Women Against Rape, Police Athletic League, JPMorgan and Johnson& Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceutical." I hope you enjoy our chat as we cover everything from diabetes in the black community to Bobo her diabetes alert dog.

On this episode of The Soul of Diabetes podcast I'm talking with my friend and diabetes coach Christel Oerum. Originally from Denmark and now residing in California where she owns and operates the website DiabetesStrong.com. From her website: "Christel struggled to find easily accessible information about exercise and healthy nutrition with diabetes online, so she decided to create a website where she could share her own advice and invite experts from the diabetes community to contribute." "The goal of Diabetes Strong is to provide a platform where people living with (any type) of diabetes can find all the information they need to live healthy and active lives." Christel is a great advocate who works with several diabetes orgs to bring healthy awareness and most of all she's a great friend. You can also find Diabetes Strong on social media Instagram: @DiabetesStrong Facebook Group: Diabetes Strong YouTube Channel: Diabetes Strong

Davis Knight is an award winning executive chef, podcaster, creator of Diabetic Savvy and Type 2 diabetic Davis uses his culinary expertise to help other people living with diabetes select and create healthy food choices that are diabetes friendly. No need to feel restricted with your diet with Davis' help! This was a really fun episode and it was a pleasure getting to know someone I've seen and followed online but never got a chance to talk to. Be sure to check out his website at DiabeticSavvy.com and you can also find him on social media under the same name. Thanks for listening!

Dr. Arleen Tuchman author of her current book Diabetes A History of Race and Disease is a professor of History at Vanderbilt University specializing in the cultural history of medicine. She is the author of Science, Medicine, and the State in Germany and Science Has No Sex: The Life of Marie Zakrzewska, M.D. https://www.amazon.com/Diabetes-History-Arleen-Marcia-Tuchman/dp/0300228996/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1621920044&sr=8-1

This episode is my interview with Mike Roberson AKA Glucose Gang Mike on Instagram.   Mike is a Type 1 diabetic, diabetes mentor and entrepreneur.  Michael was diagnosed with T1d at age 7.  His journey from hiding his diagnosis to embracing thriving in the face of T1D has inspired him to empower other living with the disease that they too can accept and overcome the challenges of T1D and live out their dreams. You can follow Mike on Instagram @GLucoseGangMike where you can join him on his IGLive shows

In this episode I talk with Cameron Hall. He's a Type 1 diabetic, advocate and volunteer for T1International Global and USA.

Brandon A. Denson is a business owner and diabetes advocate for everyone. A graduate and former walk-on star linebacker at Michigan State University, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice. After graduation, Brandon played for three years in the Arena, Canadian, and National Football League and went on to become an Assistant Defensive Coordinator at Detroit's Voyageur College Prep before pursuing a professional career in community engagement and entrepreneurial ventures. In 2018, he launched Society 77 (A streetwear line that advocates for people living with diabetes, and co-founded Bolus Maximus, a (nonprofit) to help (Support, Educate, and Motivate) men living with diabetes. A health and fitness buff, Brandon competed on season (8) of NBC's hit TV show, American Ninja Warrior. Brandon was the first African-American to be aired nationally as a type 1 diabetic.

THIS IS MY FIRST EPISODE!!! So what better way to kick it off than an introduction of your host. (Me of course!) This is my story of how I was first diagnosed and what lead me to becoming a diabetes advocate and podcaster

This is a quick introduction of the show Thanks for listening!!