Podcasts about AmeriCorps

Did you know Donald Trump plans to eliminate  Head Start the preschool program? Did you know he gutted Americorps? Have you heard what he did to the National Weather Service? Rachel Maddow rounds up stories that would be huge news in normal times but may have slipped by unnoticed by many Americans in the shadow of Trump's daily wrecking ball spectacle. 

Ryan Jury, Assistant Division Director for Operational Excellence with the Department of Health and Human Services in North Carolina, tells us what he has learned from the ASTHO Leadership Institute and the ASTHO Spring Leadership Forum; Justa Encarnacion, Commissioner of Health for the United States Virgin Islands, details a recent interagency leadership team convened by ASTHO; and on Thursday, April 3, an ASTHO webinar will focus on how AmeriCorps is shaping Public Health across the country. ASTHO Web Page: ASTHO Leadership Institute ASTHO Webinar: Public Health in Action – How AmeriCorps is Shaping Public Health in Indiana and NACDD ASTHO Web Page: Subscribe  

Success can be exhilarating, exhausting, even emotional.But even if you have it, you get a niggling feeling you could achieve more.In this episode I am joined by Laura Gassner Otting, author of Wonderhell. We talk about the complexities of success, fulfilment, and personal growth.Laura shares the importance of recognising the emotional challenges that accompany success, and how to navigate them effectively. She discusses the significance of aligning personal goals with values, and the importance of recognising this as a practice for all areas of life not just your work.Whether you're riding high, full of self-doubt or wanting to get back to your A-game, there is a lot to learn from Laura.“Fix the goal, don't fix you” - LauraYou'll hear about:How to use your emotions as catalysts for growthWhy you need to align goals with personal valuesFulfilment and the roles balance and success play to achieve itReinvention as a lifelong process not just in your workAbout Laura Gassner:Laura's secret superpower is seeing your greatness and reflecting it back on you, so that you can get “unstuck” — and achieve extraordinary results. A regular contributor to Good Morning America, the TODAY Show, Harvard Business Review, and Oprah Daily, Laura is the Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of three books, Wonderhell, Limitless, and Mission-Driven. Laura's 30-year resume is defined by her entrepreneurial edge. She served as a Presidential Appointee in Bill Clinton's White House, helping shape AmeriCorps; left a leadership role at respected national search firm to expand a tech start-up; and founded, ran, and sold her own global search firm, partnering with the full gamut of mission driven corporate and nonprofit executives.Laura is turned on by the audacity of The Big Idea and that larger-than-life goal you just can't seem to shake. She's an instigator, motivator, and provocateur, and she's never met a revolution she didn't like. Just ask her enduringly patient husband, two almost-grown sons, and two troublesome pups with whom she lives outside of Boston, MA.Resources:• Profile: https://lauragassnerotting.com/meet-laura/• 'Limitless Leader' report: https://lauragassnerotting.com/resources/#report• ‘Hello Tuesday' Newsletter: https://lauragassnerotting.com/resources/#newsletter• ‘Wonderhell' and ‘Limitless' Books: https://lauragassnerotting.com/resources/#booksMy resources:Take my new Becoming a Strategic Leader course (https://bit.ly/3KJYDTj)Sign up to my Every Day is a Strategy Day newsletter (http://bit.ly/36WRpri) for modern mindsets and practices to help you get ahead.Subscribe to my YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/3cFGk1k) where you can watch the conversation.For more details about me:●      Services (https://rb.gy/ahlcuy) to CEOs, entrepreneurs and professionals.●      About me (https://rb.gy/dvmg9n) - my background, experience and philosophy.●      Examples of my writing https://rb.gy/jlbdds)●      Follow me and engage with me on LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/2Z2PexP)●      Follow me and engage with me on Twitter (https://bit.ly/36XavNI)

Everyone knows John Fetterman here in Western PA — he was the Democratic mayor of nearby Braddock, rose to lieutenant governor under Tom Wolf, and now he's the commonwealth's senior U.S. Senator — in part, because he rode a progressive blue wave. But these days, the Harvard-educated AmeriCorps alum is increasingly aligned with MAGA Republicans. Ahead of a ticketed event in Pittsburgh this weekend, we're teaming up with City Cast Philly's Matt Katz and Philadelphia Inquirer political reporter Julia Terruso to talk about Fetterman's evolving priorities and what they could mean for us here in Pennsylvania. Fetterman's event will be co-hosted by fellow U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) to promote McCormick's new book about mentorship, “Who Believed in You.” The location is still TBD, possibly because some groups in Pittsburgh are planning to protest. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Free Store, founded in 2012 by Gisele Barreto Fetterman, who is also on the schedule to attend. Former Congressman Conor Lamb, who lost the Democratic primary against Fetterman in 2022, has been a vocal critic of Fetterman's lately. He's holding his own town hall in State College on Saturday with the Centre County Democratic Committee.  Learn more about the sponsors of this March 27th episode: Pittsburgh Opera History UnErased Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelly Anderson-Thomas, Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, explains why ASTHO's Leadership Institute has been so helpful; Ali Grossman, Prevention and Intervention Section Supervisor at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, tells us the benfits of having a Public Health AmeriCorps service member on site; an ASTHO resource looks at modernizing public health data while also protecting privacy; and it's a perfect time to sign up for ASTHO's next INSPIRE: Readiness webinar which will take place on April 17. ASTHO Web Page: ASTHO Leadership Institute ASTHO Webinar: Public Health in Action – How AmeriCorps is Shaping Public Health in Indiana and NACDD ASTHO Web Page: Modernizing Public Health Data and Protecting Privacy ASTHO Webinar: INSPIRE: Readiness – Navigating AI-Enabled Community-Inclusive Preparedness  

Amelia Poulin, Assistant Director of Emerging Infectious Disease at ASTHO, gives an update on public health's battle against tuberculosis on World TB Day; Moses Pretrick, Assistant Secretary for Health for the Federated States of Micronesia, tells us how ASTHO's Executive Leadership Forum helps the island areas; ASTHO will host a webinar focused on how AmeriCorps is Shaping Public Health in Indiana on April 3. CDC Web Page: 2025 U.S. TB Elimination Champions ASTHO Webinar: Public Health in Action – How AmeriCorps is Shaping Public Health in Indiana and NACDD ASTHO Web Page: Stay Informed  

In this episode, we catch up with Nick Speed, the founder of Ujima, a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing food justice and empowering youth in St. Louis. Nick shares an update on the Sunflower Institute, Ujima's flagship program that provides a comprehensive approach to youth development, covering areas like urban farming, outdoor education, culinary arts, professional development, and mental health support.Nick discusses the recent HBCU Climate Change Conference in New Orleans, where the Sunflower Institute team had the opportunity to learn from and connect with a diverse group of students, farmers, and activists. He also highlights the organization's expansion plans, including increasing the program's capacity and providing more robust year-round support for participants, addressing challenges like housing and financial aid.Notably, Nick emphasizes the importance of the Sunflower Institute's mental health initiatives, including the implementation of the Team Mental Health First Aid training. This certification program equips both the Sunflower Institute staff and the broader community with the skills to support young people's mental health needs, a critical aspect of holistic youth development.Throughout the conversation, Nick's passion for empowering the next generation shines through, as he shares his personal journey and the driving force behind Ujima's mission. This episode offers valuable insights for those interested in personal and professional development, urban farming, outdoor education, teen mental health, first aid, housing, and entrepreneurship.Follow Nick:Nick's Previous Podcast Episode - https://youtu.be/mcBAZp8gpec Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrnickspeed/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nickolas.speedLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickolas-speed-7b368558/Follow Ujima:Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/ujimastl/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/UjimaSTLLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ujima-stlYouTube - https://youtube.com/@ujimastl?si=z6-lIQLhJi3VhG2k Newsletter - https://ujimastl.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=d684fd04a4462757d465ab902&id=ee7c5e38b3Email - ujimastl@gmail.comResources & Shout OutsDr. Brittany Conners - Optimistic Theory - https://www.optimistictheory.com/ - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-brittany-conners-a6b48218/ Brittany's Previous Podcast Episode - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3HAkNsU67bV4iJdvioexhI?si=d5478420e52e4b5c Earth Dance Organic Farm School - https://earthdancefarms.org/Big Brothers, Big Sisters - https://www.bbbsemo.org/Zion - @cucumbacool IG - https://www.instagram.com/cucumbacoolKim - @liberatedrootsco IG - https://www.instagram.com/liberatedrootsco/Roots Oasis - https://liberatedroots.com/Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girl's Club - https://www.bgcstl.org/mathewsdickey/AmeriCorps - https://www.americorps-stl.org/United Way - https://helpingpeople.org/George Washington Carver Farms - https://ujimastl.com/gwc-farmsYouth In Need - https://www.youthinneed.org/STL Youth Jobs - https://www.stlyouthjobs.org/Community Healthcare Workers - https://www.stlchwcoalition.org/homeAlign With Anna®️ is a holistic healing and wellness company dedicated to guiding individuals, families, and organizations toward alignment, ease, and transformation. Through sound healing, intuitive coaching, and immersive experiences, Anna creates safe spaces for self-discovery, deep healing, and authentic expression. Learn more about Align With Anna®️ at https://www.alignwithanna.com/linksFree Discovery Callhttps://calendly.com/alignwithanna/discoverycall YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaeTf6THAIjZtNdxUmhXnZg Bloghttps://www.alignwithanna.com/blogNewsletterhttps://www.alignwithanna.com/contactAffiliate Linkshttps://www.alignwithanna.com/affiliatesBecome an Affiliatehttps://alignwithanna.com/get-paidWork With Me https://alignwithanna.com/services Shop Aromatherapyhttps://alignwithanna.com/wholesale

Host Dave Fiore speaks with Emily Saras, CEO and data scientist with Knowli Data Science. The self-described overachiever with a nerd persona loved field hockey in high school and was her class valedictorian in her hometown of Hopedale, Massachusetts. Emily entered prestigious Wellesley College with plans to be a doctor, only to make a significant pivot to study anthropology and opera singing. Wanting to connect with her family heritage, she earned a scholarship to study ethnomusicology and opera performance in Lithuania under the nation's top soprano. Emily spent two more years studying in Europe before returning home as an AmeriCorps fellow, where she worked with underserved Boston teens. It was there that Emily was recommended for a position at Florida State, which she took thinking it would be a short-term stop on her life journey. She was wrong. Emily would go on to earn her Ph.D. in sociology from FSU, fall in love with Tallahassee and get connected to Knowli, a women-owned company that translates big data for policy makers in a variety of fields, including health and human science agencies and educational institutions across the Southeast. Emily says her journey to CEO has been a “joyful challenge,” and she greatly appreciates the opportunity to serve as the company's cultural ambassador.

Data scientist Emily Hadley on navigating AI in healthcare, offering practical advice for maintaining patient agency amid algorithmic decision-making. Summary This interview with data scientist Emily Hadley examines the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare through a deeply personal lens. Hadley's journey began when her own health diagnosis coincided with her graduate studies in analytics, revealing how algorithm-driven systems often affect patient care—especially through insurance claim denials and clinical documentation. The conversation offers practical guidance for patients navigating AI-influenced healthcare, including reviewing AI-generated clinical notes for accuracy, challenging algorithmic insurance decisions, and insisting on human intervention when automated systems fail. Hadley advocates for preserving patient agency and rights within increasingly automated systems while highlighting how algorithm review boards are striving to provide governance in this largely unregulated space. The interview concludes with resources for staying informed about developments in healthcare AI, emphasizing that while AI tools are rapidly advancing, patient advocacy remains vital. Click here to view the printable newsletter with images. More readable than a transcript, which can also be found below. Contents Table of Contents Toggle EpisodeProemA Data Scientist AwakesBuilding Guardrails with AI GovernanceHallucinations and Validation with AI in ResearchPrompt Engineering-Conversational AIVerification and VigilanceStaying InformedReflectionRelated episodes from Health Hats Please comment and ask questions: at the comment section at the bottom of the show notes on LinkedIn  via email YouTube channel  DM on Instagram, TikTok to @healthhats Production Team You know who you are. I'm grateful. Podcast episode on YouTube No video Inspired by and Grateful to Eric Pinaud, Laura Marcia, Amy Price, Dave deBronkart, Links and references Prompt Engineering Algorithm Review Boards at RTI Dave deBronkart's Patient's Use AI Episode Proem This year, I switched from Medicare Advantage to Traditional Medicare. I still needed to purchase a supplemental commercial plan to cover what Medicare Part B didn't. However, the supplemental commercial plan denied some services the previous Medicare Advantage plan covered. Why? What algorithms did each plan use to determine coverage? How can I manage this? Welcome to the third installment of Artificial Intelligence Can Work for You. We've explored how I use AI in my podcast productions and delved into some AI basics with Info-Tech leader Eric Pinaud. I asked Emily Hadley, a data scientist at RTI specializing in AI algorithms for insurance coverage decisions, to join us. Early in her graduate studies, Emily was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. This led to her interest in studying insurance algorithms. A Data Scientist Awakes Health Hats: How did you gain expertise in AI? Emily Hadley: Great question. I was diagnosed right as I started a graduate program in analytics. In my undergraduate studies, I studied statistics in public policy. I liked the idea of using data to shape how policymakers make decisions, especially in the US. I had done some work with AmeriCorps and then went to grad school to really hone those skills. Being diagnosed at the same time that I was in grad school meant that I was navigating to new, informative, and educational areas. And I think that that's when I really came to realize the power of data and the power of AI in shaping the way that organizations and people make decisions. We live in a really algorithm-fueled society. We constantly encounter technology and AI systems, even when we don't realize it. An example I give is that I've faced many problems getting insurance to cover the things it is supposed to. I didn't realize until a couple of years ago that this is ...

Listening to her college-aged daughter making calls for AmeriCorps in 2020, Laura Nelkin was surprised at how many people in her community faced food insecurity and hunger every day. A problem that had seemed far away suddenly felt much closer to home, and Laura wanted to find a way to help. She had a feeling that other knitters would want to help, too, so she dreamed up a group effort: the Knit for Food Knit-a-Thon (http://www.knitforfood.com/). In its first 4 years, the effort has raised over $1.25 million for Feeding America, Meals on Wheels, No Kid Hungry, and World Central Kitchen. 2025 is poised to be the largest event yet, with more teams and knitters joining the effort every day. How does it work? Until Saturday, April 5, 2025, crafters register to participate, either as members of a team or solo. Participants reach out to friends, loved ones, colleagues, and other contacts to make a financial pledge to support the effort. Then from 10 am to 10 pm Eastern Time on April 5, participants pick up your craft of choice and knit (or crochet or stitch or whatever you like). Some teams and local craft groups organize public meetups for support. Anyone raising at least $100 receives a link to online events including stretching and knitting ergonomics, live music, games, and presentations from the four benefiting charities. At the end of the day, you've enjoyed 12 hours on your favorite craft, strengthened the fellowship of crafters, and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars that directly feed hungry people. Laura (and her saucy alter ego, Lola) develop dozens of innovative ideas every year, from original designs to bead-knitting techniques to a brilliant method for swatching to knit in the round while knitting flat. She documents her ideas and experiments on her YouTube channel, offers kits and mystery knit-alongs, and invites knitters to join her in real life on knitting-related tours and cruises each year. The Knit for Food Knit-a-Thon brings that spirit of fun and inventiveness to a much-needed cause, building the spirit of community with every stitch and donation. Links Knit for Food sign-up page (https://givebutter.com/knitforfood25) Knit for Food FAQ (http://www.nelkindesigns.com/index.cfm/page/knitathon/knitathon25.htm) Check out a list of ideas for charities (https://nelkindesigns.blogspot.com/2021/03/10-ideas-for-charity-knitting.html) for handknitters. Laura Nelkin's website (http://www.nelkindesigns.com/) Laura's YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/lauranelkin) Nelkin Designs Ravelry group (https://www.ravelry.com/groups/nelkin-designs) Nelkin Designs on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/NelkinDesigns/) This episode is brought to you by: Treenway Silks is where weavers, spinners, knitters and stitchers find the silk they love. Select from the largest variety of silk spinning fibers, silk yarn, and silk threads & ribbons at TreenwaySilks.com (https://www.treenwaysilks.com/). You'll discover a rainbow of colors, thoughtfully hand-dyed in Colorado. Love natural? Treenway's array of wild silks provide choices beyond white. If you love silk, you'll love Treenway Silks, where superior quality and customer service are guaranteed. KnitPicks.com has been serving the knitting community for over 20 years and believes knitting is for everyone, which is why they work hard to make knitting accessible, affordable, and approachable. Knit Picks responsibly sources its fiber to create an extensive selection of affordable yarns like High Desert from Shaniko Wool Company in Oregon. Are you looking for an ethical, eco-friendly yarn to try? Look no further than Knit Picks' Eco yarn line. Need needles? Knit Picks makes a selection for knitters right at their Vancouver, Washington headquarters. KnitPicks.com (https://www.knitpicks.com/)—a place for every knitter.

In this episode of The Caring Economy, we sit down with Michael D. Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps, to explore how national service is shaping the future of leadership, social impact, and civic engagement. With over 200,000 AmeriCorps members serving across 40,000+ communities, the organization is tackling some of the nation's biggest challenges—from education and disaster relief to public health and climate action.Michael shares his personal journey from growing up in a working-class Massachusetts town to leading one of the most influential service organizations in the U.S. We discuss the business case for volunteerism, how service can be a powerful career accelerator, and why corporate leaders should embrace community engagement as a strategic advantage.As we move into 2025, where purpose-driven work is becoming the norm, this conversation challenges us to think about the role of service in leadership, workforce development, and social cohesion.

In this engaging episode, Jenn takes us on a personal journey from her early days at Warren Wilson College to her transformative experiences with AmeriCorps, and ultimately into the dynamic world of nonprofit fundraising. She opens up about how these formative chapters shaped her passion for service and provided the foundation for her career in the sector.During our conversation, Jenn dives into several compelling topics, including:Debunking Fundraising Myths: Jen discusses the biggest myth about nonprofit fundraising and shares what it truly takes to succeed in this field.The Value of Relationships: She explains why strong, authentic relationships are the cornerstone of effective fundraising and long-term nonprofit success.The Significance of CFRE: As a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), Jenn outlines what this credential means for her career and why it matters for nonprofits.Asheville's Resilience Post-Helene: Jenn also reflects on how Asheville and the surrounding areas have been faring since Hurricane Helene, providing a unique perspective on recovery and community resilience.Join us as we unpack the highs and lows of nonprofit fundraising, and gain actionable insights from a leader who's navigated the challenges and celebrated the triumphs along the way.Visit Conversing Carolina at https://conservingcarolina.org/Call to Action: Don't miss this inspiring conversation! Subscribe now and share your thoughts with us on social media.

this one is for everyone that knows the crushing guilt of going somewhere new or eating at a fancy restaurant and being heartbroken your parents have never experienced it. when classmates were talking about their lawyer or doctor parents, and feeling ashamed to say what your mom or dad did for a living, even if they were the hardest working people you knew. for those who carry the weight of their family with them everywhere they go. we chatted with Biyeni, a first-gen student, as well as Leo Gonzalez to hear about what it's like growing up as a first generation American. Follow GrownKid on Instagram: @Grownk1d @gaelaitor @_kaylasuarez JOIN OUR SOCIAL CLUB IN LA: https://form.typeform.com/to/eBSho4lE Featured Guests: Leo Gonzalez: @leogonzall, Mexican-American comedian and content creator Biyeni: First-gen USC student About Our Partners: GrownKid is made possible by the Schultz Family Foundation, dedicated to helping young people unlock their full potential and successfully navigate to fulfilling careers. GrownKid is made in partnership with Joy Coalition where purpose driven content meets powerful storytelling. From 13 reasons Why to unprisoned, Joy Coalition projects are made to bridge generations and drive groundbreaking conversations. Interested in a career in mental health? Check out the Youth Mental Health Corps – a new program created by the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest and AmeriCorps - where anyone with a high school degree can gain experience, skills, and a credential during a year of paid service in the mental health field. Learn more at youthmentalhealthcorps.org Resources: What is OppNet? The Opportunity Network is a New York City-based national nonprofit organization that ignites the drive, curiosity, and agency of underrepresented students on their paths to and through college and into thriving careers, powered by our commitment to access and community. Through our programs, students gain access to educational resources, professional networks, and career opportunities. Visit opportunitynetwork.org for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

they're not putting away their dishes, so do you put them away for them or let the mold grow? through interviews, we talk with self-proclaimed "bad roommates" and individuals who have firsthand experience dealing with challenging living situations. We whether those deemed as "bad roommates" are aware of their impact on shared living spaces and ask the question we all wish we could ask: “Why are you like that?” we also talk with healthy communication and boundaries expert and “Difficult Conversations” author Douglas Stone to help us figure out the best way to deal with bad roommates. you might want to send this episode out to a few people… Follow GrownKid on Instagram: @Grownk1d @gaelaitor @_kaylasuarez JOIN OUR SOCIAL CLUB: https://form.typeform.com/to/eBSho4lE Featured Guests: Sabrina Brier: @sabrinabrier comedian, influencer Deke: self-proclaimed bad roommate About Our Partners: GrownKid is made possible by the Schultz Family Foundation, dedicated to helping young people unlock their full potential and successfully navigate to fulfilling careers. GrownKid is made in partnership with Joy Coalition where purpose driven content meets powerful storytelling. From 13 reasons Why to unprisoned, Joy Coalition projects are made to bridge generations and drive groundbreaking conversations. Interested in a career in mental health? Check out the Youth Mental Health Corps – a new program created by the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest and AmeriCorps - where anyone with a high school degree can gain experience, skills, and a credential during a year of paid service in the mental health field. Learn more at youthmentalhealthcorps.org Resources: What is OppNet? The Opportunity Network is a New York City-based national nonprofit organization that ignites the drive, curiosity, and agency of underrepresented students on their paths to and through college and into thriving careers, powered by our commitment to access and community. Through our programs, students gain access to educational resources, professional networks, and career opportunities. Visit opportunitynetwork.org for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

now that everyone is about to go party for new year's, we thought it'd be a good time to talk about our experience with substance use and highlight the importance of TESTING YOUR DRUGS! we discuss how the rise of fentanyl has changed the landscape of drug use and the essential measures needed to prevent overdoses and talk to health experts and community leaders about practical steps and resources available for intervention and support. so remember: COOL KIDS CARRY NARCAN! Follow GrownKid on Instagram: @Grownk1d @gaelaitor @_kaylasuarez JOIN OUR SOCIAL CLUB: https://form.typeform.com/to/eBSho4lE Featured Guests: Dr. Terry Church: Associate Professor in Regulatory and Quality Sciences at the University of Southern California. Sheila Scott: Founder of Luke Love Foundation About our Partners: GrownKid is made possible by the Schultz Family Foundation, dedicated to helping young people unlock their full potential and successfully navigate to fulfilling careers. GrownKid is made in partnership with Joy Coalition where purpose driven content meets powerful storytelling. From 13 reasons Why to unprisoned, Joy Coalition projects are made to bridge generations and drive groundbreaking conversations. Interested in a career in mental health? Check out the Youth Mental Health Corps – a new program created by the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest and AmeriCorps - where anyone with a high school degree can gain experience, skills, and a credential during a year of paid service in the mental health field. Learn more at youthmentalhealthcorps.org Resources: End Overdose: Opioid Overdose Courses + more coming soon: https://endoverdose.net/courses/ https://harmreduction.org/issues/supervised-consumption-services/overview-united-states/benefits/ https://www.lukelove.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are all of our friends broke and in credit card debt or are they actually just that wealthy? We talked with young adults with various degrees of credit card debt to figure out how they found themselves in debt, if they have a path out, and later, bring on a financial therapist to help us understand our relationship with money. We explore the underlying psychology behind impulsive spending, the nuances of consumerism, and gain valuable tips on fostering money self-control. Additionally, we dive into the art of budgeting, offering practical advice to empower you in making informed financial decisions and securing a stable financial future. SOCIAL LINKS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grownk1d/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grownkid Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3C6oJYFLbesR2ELhXIk7dz?si=6acdcba455dc4323 JOIN OUR SOCIAL CLUB: https://form.typeform.com/to/eBSho4lE About Our Partners: GrownKid is made possible by the Schultz Family Foundation, dedicated to helping young people unlock their full potential and successfully navigate to fulfilling careers. GrownKid is made in partnership with Joy Coalition where purpose driven content meets powerful storytelling. From 13 reasons Why to unprisoned, Joy Coalition projects are made to bridge generations and drive groundbreaking conversations. Interested in a career in mental health? Check out the Youth Mental Health Corps – a new program created by the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest and AmeriCorps - where anyone with a high school degree can gain experience, skills, and a credential during a year of paid service in the mental health field. Learn more at youthmentalhealthcorps.org Featured Guests: Aja Evans: ajaevanscounseling.com, Licensed mental health counselor specializing in mental health and financial wellness. Order ‘Feel Good Finance' out on 12/3! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/759700/feel-good-finance-by-aja-evans/ Resources: Young Invincibles: Empowers young adults by particularly focusing on issues such as healthcare access, higher education, and financial health. https://younginvincibles.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

whether it's because of a language barrier, political views, or sexuality, many of us have had moments where we wonder if our family truly gets us. if you've ever felt the need to set clear boundaries or even go no contact with your family, this episode is for you. while family is forever, maybe we should get to choose who that family is for us. SOCIAL LINKS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grownk1d/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grownkid Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3C6oJYFLbesR2ELhXIk7dz?si=6acdcba455dc4323 JOIN OUR SOCIAL CLUB: https://form.typeform.com/to/eBSho4lE Featured Guests: Jonathan Van Ness: Emmy Award-winning television personality, comedian, New York Times best-selling author, podcaster, hairstylist and founder of JVN Hair. Dr Joshua Coleman: Psychologist, Author, Speaker and Media Expert offers Innovative Expertise on Parental Estrangement, Alienation & Relationships. About Our Partners: GrownKid is made possible by the Schultz Family Foundation, dedicated to helping young people unlock their full potential and successfully navigate to fulfilling careers. GrownKid is made in partnership with Joy Coalition where purpose driven content meets powerful storytelling. From 13 reasons Why to unprisoned, Joy Coalition projects are made to bridge generations and drive groundbreaking conversations. Interested in a career in mental health? Check out the Youth Mental Health Corps – a new program created by the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest and AmeriCorps - where anyone with a high school degree can gain experience, skills, and a credential during a year of paid service in the mental health field. Learn more at youthmentalhealthcorps.org Resources: Together Estranged - About: "Family challenges can really hurt. Our mission is to support and empower those estranged from family, while working to destigmatize estrangement in the public sphere. We acknowledge people who've lost family relationships due to childhood trauma, abuse, lack of acceptance for being who they are, promoting their strength and inner healing." https://www.togetherestranged.org/ Adult Child Podcast - About: "Adult Child illuminates the impact and symptoms of growing up in a dysfunctional family, and offers support and guidance for healing." https://www.adultchildpodcast.com/ The LGTBQ+ Center NYC - About: "The Center is a safe and affirming community center for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers to access lifesaving services and make meaningful connections." https://gaycenter.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you considered quitting therapy? Well, it might actually be a great idea. In this episode, we explore the idea that therapy isn't necessarily a lifelong commitment but rather a dynamic tool to be used when needed. We debate constant introspection may do more harm than good, questioning the fine line between healthy self-awareness and potentially damaging over-analysis. We chat with our friend, Karan Brar, to explore the motivations behind self-reflection, investigating whether it serves as a genuine quest for personal growth or merely as a coping mechanism to navigate the psychological intricacies surrounding the fear of being perceived as flawed, examining societal pressures and the internal narratives that drive this apprehension. Follow GrownKid on Instagram: @Grownk1d @gaelaitor @_kaylasuarez JOIN OUR SOCIAL CLUB: https://form.typeform.com/to/eBSho4lE Featured Guests: Karan Brar: @karanbrar, best known for his roles in Jessie and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, shares his personal journey with therapy and mental health. Dr. Dakari Quimbly: https://www.developyourmental.com/about-me, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist based in Los Angeles California, with 9+ years of experience providing trauma-informed, strength based, and culturally responsive services. About Our Partners: GrownKid is made possible by the Schultz Family Foundation, dedicated to helping young people unlock their full potential and successfully navigate to fulfilling careers. GrownKid is made in partnership with Joy Coalition where purpose driven content meets powerful storytelling. From 13 reasons Why to unprisoned, Joy Coalition projects are made to bridge generations and drive groundbreaking conversations. Interested in a career in mental health? Check out the Youth Mental Health Corps – a new program created by the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest and AmeriCorps - where anyone with a high school degree can gain experience, skills, and a credential during a year of paid service in the mental health field. Learn more at youthmentalhealthcorps.org Resources: The American Counseling Association (ACA) advances mental health and well-being through advocacy, education, and research, supporting professional counselors and promoting access to quality care. https://www.counseling.org/ HelpGuide.org is a nonprofit offering evidence-based mental health resources to empower individuals and families to improve well-being and make positive life changes. https://www.helpguide.org/ Bring Change to Mind (BC2M) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness. https://www.bringchange2mind.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

does growing older just mean more worries, stress, and problems? or does aging come with more happiness and fulfillment in life? in this episode, we explore what it means to be happy, how to live a life with purpose, and how to face failure without letting it crush your spirit. we talked with people older than us and asked them about their own journey with happiness, failure, and purpose. so if you're worried about aging or making sure life goes the way you want, well, maybe it doesn't actually matter that much in the end. You'll find happiness anyways! Follow GrownKid on Instagram: @Grownk1d @_kaylasuarez @gaelaitor JOIN OUR SOCIAL CLUB IN LOS ANGELES: https://form.typeform.com/to/eBSho4lE Featured Guests: Betsey Johnson: American fashion designer & icon best known for her feminine and whimsical designs. Ellen Galinsky: Researcher and author known for her work in family-related studies, specifically parenthood and child-care. Laurie Santos: @lauriesantosofficial Yale Psychology professor and Host of The Happiness Lab, expert on happiness and well-being. About Our Partners: GrownKid is made possible by the Schultz Family Foundation, dedicated to helping young people unlock their full potential and successfully navigate to fulfilling careers. GrownKid is made in partnership with Joy Coalition where purpose driven content meets powerful storytelling. From 13 reasons Why to unprisoned, Joy Coalition projects are made to bridge generations and drive groundbreaking conversations. Interested in a career in mental health? Check out the Youth Mental Health Corps – a new program created by the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest and AmeriCorps - where anyone with a high school degree can gain experience, skills, and a credential during a year of paid service in the mental health field. Learn more at youthmentalhealthcorps.org Resources: The Human Condition: The Human Condition is a digital platform for mental health, personal growth and wellness. They strive to be a compelling, comprehensive resource for people who want to live healthier, more balanced, and more fulfilling lives. They equally and rigorously emphasize science, humanity, and compassion and offer practical tools to help people make informed decisions about their health and well-being in both personal and professional contexts. Action For Happiness: The mission of Action for Happiness is to help people create a happier world, with a culture that prioritises happiness and kindness. They do this by helping people get together regularly (face-to-face where possible) to learn evidence-based skills for happier living, feel a sense of belonging and commit to personal action to create more happiness, both for themselves and others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

will you be forever broke and careerless if you don't go to college? turns out you'll probably be okay. in this episode we talk about the alternative options to a financially stable career that doesn't require a 4 year degree because rising college costs, doubts about the payoff, and selective admissions are causing many to reconsider traditional higher education paths. we talk with people that have made a living without a degree and ask about how they did it, if they have any regrets and then later bring on david deming as an expert who can guide us on the value of a college degree.  so maybe the key to a good life isn't a business degree but simply a career as a plumber or IT worker. life gets so much simpler (and less expensive) if you realize that early lol Follow GrownKid on Instagram: @Grownk1d JOIN OUR SOCIAL CLUB IN LOS ANGELES: https://form.typeform.com/to/eBSho4lE About Our Partners: GrownKid is made possible by the Schultz Family Foundation, dedicated to helping young people unlock their full potential and successfully navigate to fulfilling careers. GrownKid is made in partnership with Joy Coalition where purpose driven content meets powerful storytelling. From 13 reasons Why to unprisoned, Joy Coalition projects are made to bridge generations and drive groundbreaking conversations.   Interested in a career in mental health? Check out the Youth Mental Health Corps – a new program created by the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest and AmeriCorps - where anyone with a high school degree can gain experience, skills, and a credential during a year of paid service in the mental health field. Learn more at youthmentalhealthcorps.org Featured Guests: David Deming: https://www.daviddeming.com/ –  David Deming is the Isabelle and Scott Black Professor of Political Economy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Christopher Zara: https://christopherzara.com/about/ – Christopher Zara is an author and journalist at Fast Company. dave baldwin: @davebaldwin_ - a trade worker and musician under the name Vineland. Dave is the property manager for multiple a-list celebrities in Hollywood and beyond. Amanda Southworth: @am.nda - Amanda Southworth dropped out of high school at 16 and now has a career in internet and tech safety. Marco Gudino: Chose not to attend college due to concerns about financial debt and now works as an office administrative assistant.  SOCIAL LINKS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grownk1d/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grownkid Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3C6oJYFLbesR2ELhXIk7dz?si=6acdcba455dc4323 Website: grownkid.com Resources: Career Village: 'Reddit for careers'. Anyone can head to the site, ask any career-related question, and get crowdsourced answers from real, verified professionals. CareerVillage.org's mission is to democratize access to career information and advice for underrepresented people. Code Path: CodePath is reprogramming higher education to create the most diverse generation of engineers, CTOs, and founders. They deliver industry-vetted courses and career support centered on the needs of Black, Latino/a, Indigenous, and low-income students. Skill Up: SkillUp is a nonprofit that enables job seekers to break into new careers regardless of their degree-holding status. They focus on careers that pay a living wage, feature high-quality trainings with low risk and high returns, and are dedicated to educating how to achieve promising career paths. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens if you take a gap year, or two, or three, or however many you decide you need? Will reapplying to school get more difficult? What things should you know before taking a gap year? And will you ultimately end up in a better place having taken one than without? In this episode we explore if gap years simply a way for rich kids to travel the world without worry or perhaps they serve a crucial purpose in the lives of low-income youth and their path towards a meaningful career. We talk with students about their gap year experiences and with a previous undergraduate advisor at stanford university to help us better understand gap years, how to decide if they're right for you, and how to approach your parents about your decision to take one. Follow GrownKid on Instagram: @Grownk1d @gaelaitor @_kaylasuarez JOIN OUR SOCIAL CLUB IN LOS ANGELES: https://form.typeform.com/to/eBSho4lE About Our Partners: GrownKid is made possible by the Schultz Family Foundation, dedicated to helping young people unlock their full potential and successfully navigate to fulfilling careers. GrownKid is made in partnership with Joy Coalition where purpose driven content meets powerful storytelling. From 13 reasons Why to unprisoned, Joy Coalition projects are made to bridge generations and drive groundbreaking conversations. Interested in a career in mental health? Check out the Youth Mental Health Corps – a new program created by the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest and AmeriCorps - where anyone with a high school degree can gain experience, skills, and a credential during a year of paid service in the mental health field. Learn more at youthmentalhealthcorps.org Featured Guests: Julie Lythcott-Haims: @jlythcotthaims, Former undergraduate advising officer at Stanford University, author of How to Raise an Adult — advocate for compassionate parenting and self-discovery. Paige Censale: @paigeee.c, took three gap years to explore different career paths and gain extensive hands-on experience, to help discover her passion. After accumulating valuable practical knowledge, she was accepted into Brown University to further pursue her professional goals. Resources: The Opportunity Network - supports underrepresented students through college access programs, career development workshops, professional networking events, and mentorship opportunities. Its goal is to provide students with the tools they need for career success and growth. The Gap Year Association - promotes the benefits of structured gap year experiences by offering program directories, guidance for planning, accreditation for gap year programs, and research on their advantages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

how do you prevent your life from falling apart when you don't feel like doing anything? Can we even afford a mental health day? we hear from individuals who have juggled their mental health challenges with professional life, learning about their coping mechanisms and the support systems that have helped them persevere. we discuss practical self-help strategies that go beyond traditional therapy, such as engaging in hobbies, utilizing third spaces for relaxation, and the benefits of peer-to-peer support networks. we also talk to Dr. Jessi Gold about how not to let life unravel when facing mental health issues. SOCIAL LINKS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grownk1d/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grownkid Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3C6oJYFLbesR2ELhXIk7dz?si=6acdcba455dc4323 Website: grownkid.com JOIN OUR SOCIAL CLUB IN LOS ANGELES: https://form.typeform.com/to/eBSho4lE About Our Partners: GrownKid is made possible by the Schultz Family Foundation, dedicated to helping young people unlock their full potential and successfully navigate to fulfilling careers. GrownKid is made in partnership with Joy Coalition where purpose driven content meets powerful storytelling. From 13 reasons Why to unprisoned, Joy Coalition projects are made to bridge generations and drive groundbreaking conversations. Interested in a career in mental health? Check out the Youth Mental Health Corps – a new program created by the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest and AmeriCorps - where anyone with a high school degree can gain experience, skills, and a credential during a year of paid service in the mental health field. Learn more at youthmentalhealthcorps.org Featured Guests: Dr. Jessi Gold: @jessigoldmd, Chief Wellness Officer for the University of Tennessee System. Order ‘How Do You Feel?' out on 10/8! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/How-Do-You-Feel/Jessi-Gold/9781982199777 Elio Kennedy-Yoon: Viral internet personality, Harvard Student, Singer Reid Hensen: @reidhensen, Writer, Producer, Director @ Joy Coalition Resources: Active Minds - Encourages students to talk about mental health and seek help. Provides peer support, education, advocacy training, and resources for awareness campaigns. The Jed Foundation (JED) - Works to protect emotional health and prevent suicide among teens and young adults. Offers program assessments, educational resources, peer support training, and suicide prevention efforts for schools and communities. Born This Way Foundation - Focuses on youth mental health and promotes kindness. Provides mental health resources, anti-bullying campaigns, and youth-led community programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us as we speak to Americorps member Lydia Hains about her journey at Davenport Junior Theatre, from Homeschool classes to Mainstage to Junior Staffer and now Americorps member.

How does a small community in Athens, Ohio, turn local produce into a thriving business ecosystem? Join us as we unravel the evolutionary tale of ACEnet, a pioneering force in community-based economic development, through the eyes of our insightful guests Adam Cody, Cameron Chastain, and Izzy Stichik. Discover the origins of ACEnet, once known as the Worker-Owned Network, and its transformation into a beacon of innovation and support for food businesses in Central Appalachia. Inspired by models from Northern Italy, ACEnet's journey includes launching the Athens Food Venture Center, a hub that has empowered countless entrepreneurs since 1996. Our conversation sheds light on the collaborative efforts between ACEnet, AmeriCorps, and local farmers, which have reshaped food access and education in Athens County. From transformative programs like the Veggie Van to educational initiatives that teach children about agriculture and cooking, listeners will hear firsthand how ACEnet is making a difference. The episode highlights the critical role of business incubation services in rural settings, providing aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge and resources needed to flourish, and the role resources like community-scaled equipment provide for building solidarity and resilience. With stories of shared resources and financial empowerment, we delve into the supportive networks that ACEnet nurtures, including tool libraries and financial guidance. Hear about the power of community networking, and how personal experiences, from starting a mushroom farm to engaging in business counseling, reflect ACEnet's impact on local entrepreneurship. Finally, we cast an eye on the future with ACEnet's exciting participation in the Regional Food Business Center program, a USDA-funded initiative poised to revolutionize regional food economies across Central Appalachia, offering new markets and transformative opportunities. Check out ACEnet's work here: https://acenetworks.org/# https://www.indianag.org/intertribalfbc https://www.appalachiarfbc.org/   For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: www.poorproles.com For PPA Native Plants, visit: www.nativenurseries.org To hear Tomorrow, Today, our sister podcast, visit: www.tomorrowtodaypodcast.org/   Key words: Community-driven, Economic Empowerment, ACEnet, Worker-Owned Network, Rural Entrepreneurs, Athens, Ohio, Food Access, Business Counseling, Local Economies, Shared-Use Kitchen, Agricultural Producers, Food Entrepreneurs, Community Collaboration, Resource Sharing, Transformative, Food Systems, Community Economic Development, Northern Italy, Athens ACEnet Food Venture Center, Thermal Processing Room, AmeriCorps, Local Farmers, Rural Action, Fresh Produce, Schools, Agriculture, Nutrition, Business Incubation, Business Support, Rural Setting, Business Knowledge, Entrepreneurship, Business Structures, Cooperative Models, C-corp, S-corp, Equitable Ownership, CEO-led Models, LLCs, DBAs, Cost Considerations, Processing Sunchokes, One-time Intake Fee, Regulatory Processes, Privilege of Failure, Safety Net, Commonwealth Kitchen, Shared Resources Model, Tool Libraries, Community Networking, Financial Empowerment, Financial Literacy, Veggie Van Program, Food Accessibility, Healthy, Local Produce, Underserved Communities, Food Sovereignty, Food Justice, Career Paths, Regional Food Business Center Program, USDA, Technical Assistance, Appalachia Region, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, New Markets, Business Builder Sub-A

Jane Brewer grew up in a diverse neighborhood in the heart of New York City, with a constant heart for people and service and adventure.  She signed up for AmeriCorps to work in support of Habitat for Humanity projects, and at 22 revealed that she didn't have a driver's license when asked to drive a truck and trailer to a project!  A few short years later she drove herself to Crested Butte, Colorado for a job on a ski hill, and worked a series of small jobs before landing in 911 dispatch.  Her journey turned after a beneficial season with a local chiropractor, and an encouraging word - and she landed in the Front Range of Colorado fresh out of chiropractic school in Atlanta.  This year, she's celebrating 10 years of growth, and the purchase of a new office location!  Jane has been a member of LoCo Think Tank for over 5 years, and hers is a story of steady growth, constant love for her clients and community, and building healthy lives on strong foundations.The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. Volunteer West Virginia offers grants for AmeriCorps programs…West Virginia Northern Community College receives funding to boost manufacturing and production skills…and West Virginia's “snow bowl” offers the ultimate winter sport experience…on today's daily304. #1 – From VOLUNTEER WV – ​Volunteer West Virginia announces a funding opportunity through AmeriCorps State Formula grants for eligible applicants. Potential applicants will apply to operate an AmeriCorps program solely in West Virginia utilizing at least five AmeriCorps members beginning in fall 2025 or spring 2026. Volunteer West Virginia, the state's commission for national and community service, challenges West Virginians to strengthen their communities through service and volunteerism. The commission administers West Virginia's AmeriCorps service programs in cooperation with local and state grantees.  To apply, visit volunteerwv.gov. Learn more: https://volunteer.wv.gov/Grants/Pages/AmeriCorps-Formula-Funding.aspx   #2 – From WTOV9-TV – West Virginia Northern Community College has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor as part of the Strengthening Community Colleges Initiative. The funding aims to create more job opportunities for students by developing pathway programs that lead to living-wage careers. The college's initiative, known as M.A.P.S. 2.0, will focus on manufacturing and production skills. Students entering the advanced manufacturing career and technical education program from high school will develop skills in advanced manufacturing while earning dual credit. The grant is focused on redesigning programs to ensure the production of workers needed by employers like Form Energy. As unique economic opportunities unfold in the Ohio Valley, the hope is that students will be able to stay local, enter the industry, and earn competitive salaries. Read more: https://wtov9.com/news/local/west-virginia-northern-community-college-secures-15m-grant-to-boost-job-opportunities   #3 – From WV EXPLORER – High in the Allegheny Mountains in eastern West Virginia lies a scenic valley with a Canadian-like climate in which it can snow 10 months out of the year. Though only two hours from the Washington beltway, the Canaan Valley receives more snow than the snowiest reporting station in Maine and a shorter growing season than Fairbanks, Alaska. Scientists have determined that elevation, position, and orientation are all contributing elements that notably support the valley's three ski areas. More specifically, the cold temperatures, increased precipitation, and the valley's similarity to a “huge bathtub” conspire to create its remarkably wintry conditions.  Want to experience this phenomenon for yourself? Plan a ski getaway to Canaan Valley Resort State Park, Timberline Mountain or White Grass Ski Touring Center. Check out wvtourism.com or wvstateparks.com for more information on snow sports in Almost Heaven.  Read more: https://wvexplorer.com/2025/01/03/strange-phenomena-canaan-valley-wv-west-virginia/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Travis Sackett was an experienced traveler with a passion for service.  He dedicated years to volunteering with AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, working in Peru and Guatemala, and most recently, lending a hand in Ecuador. In February 2021, just two months into his stay in Ecuador, Travis set out on what should have been a routine hike. The trail wasn't particularly challenging, and witnesses reported seeing him during the day. But he never returned. Was it a tragic accident along the path? Or could something more sinister have occurred? Despite extensive searches, no trace of Travis has ever been found. To this day, his disappearance remains a mystery.  What really happened to Travis Sackett? Listen as we dive into Ecuador, the case of Travis Sackett, and how to stay alive on vacation. We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/ And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast   Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter Sources: https://www.facebook.com/FindTrav/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ecuador/comments/lw1i6m/missing_travis_sackett/ https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/public-safety/2021/03/06/family--friends-ask-for-help-in-finding-batavia-man-who-went-missing-in-ecuador https://www.einpresswire.com/article/539580852/lauth-investigations-international-joins-the-search-for-missing-person-travis-sackett-who-disappeared-from-ecuador https://havanatimes.org/diaries/alfe/ecuadors-missing-persons/ https://www.thelcn.com/news/local/batavia-native-missing-in-ecuador/article_fab9130b-2522-5d7a-ac4a-585102724707.html https://www.thedailynewsonline.com/top_story/batavia-native-missing-in-ecuador/article_cc3c0a16-d8a8-5cb4-be4b-e135f5d5c5fc.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VONdmH-v4dc https://www.lahora.com.ec/etiquetas/travis-joseph-sackett/#google_vignette https://missingamericans.ning.com/m?id=4224332:MobilePage:32028 https://www.facebook.com/turismopimampiro.imbabura/ https://insightcrime.org/news/ecuadors-kidnapping-epidemic-told-by-a-survivor/ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/ecuador-travel-advisory.html

From "Best of 180PODCAST": Join Mike Fazio, Co-President of Workforce180 and Metrix Learning, as he speaks with Kendra Moesle, Director of Workforce Development at the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP), about transforming farmworkers' lives through job training and career development. Drawing from her personal connection to farming and experience with AmeriCorps, Moesle discusses AFOP's mission since 1971 to empower farmworkers through the National Farmworker Jobs Program. The conversation highlights common misconceptions about farmworkers' skills, the challenges of migrant life, and the program's success in helping participants transition into sustainable careers like trucking, welding, and healthcare.

Deb Simmons went studied nutritional science and biology in college and went on to work with Americorps and the Peace Corps. When she left those jobs, she started working in restaurants in the seacoast NH area. She worked for Row 34 and became a GM and then for The Green Elephant, becoming a GM there as well. Then, in 2019, she started cake. vegan bakery. Restaurant Unstoppable - EVOLVE! - Eric of Restaurant Unstoppable is now taking consultation and coaching calls! Book a consultation today! Schedule your call to become UNSTOPPABLE! Check out the website for more details: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve Today's sponsors: Meez: Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for you. Organize, share, prep, and scale recipes like never before. Plus, engineer your menu in real-time and get accurate food costs. Sign up for free today and get 2 FREE months of invoice processing as a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast. Visit getmeez.com/unstoppable to learn more. Restaurant Systems Pro: When you join Restaurant Systems Pro through February of 2025, They will handle your 2024 books at no charge. Here's what you get: Organization of all invoices and expenses;AI Scanning of products so you know the usage; Reconciling your accounts; Tracking inventory and labor costs; and Providing detailed P&L reports Head to RestaurantUnstoppable.com/RSP and be sure to mention this special offer.   Let's make 2025 the year your restaurant thrives. Contact the guest: Website: https://cakeveganbakery.com Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share!  We are on Youtube: @RestaurantUnstoppable

Sime folks have been wondering what happened to AppTT. Danny explains the somewhat new direction that AppTT will be taking, and how exciting these changes will be. Appalachian Table Tales is brought to you by Erik Hubbard, Executive Director of Backroads of Appalachia and Americorps VISTA, as well as Danny Potter, Owner and host of the What's up World Podcast. Danny is the Digital Storytelling Coordinator for Americorps and Appalachian Table Tales is a spin off series of the wildly popular What's up World Podcast.     In these episodes Danny highlights the underdog, and far too often forgotten Appalachian spirit that helped mold America into what it is today. With the help of Erik Hubbard and Americorps, these episodes bring you tales from the hills and hollers of rural America with emphasis on the roots of Appalachia. These stories are unfiltered and unedited to bring you the most raw and purest form of Appalachian culture and heritage possible. Please join us in recalling stories of the past and we do hope you enjoy them.  

The North Minneapolis program trains people in energy efficiency and weatherization. Learn more at https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/ 

What if the discomfort of success isn't a breakdown, but a breakthrough? Laura Gassner Otting challenges us to embrace this idea in what she calls “Wonderhell”—the space where new success unlocks untapped potential while also bringing doubt, anxiety, and bigger goals. Laura's journey is a testament to bold reinvention. From dropping out of law school to working in the White House, founding a global executive search firm, and becoming a bestselling author, she's built a career anchored in core values and fearless decision-making.Her story is more than a career blueprint; it's an invitation to rethink how we view success. Laura believes that passion lies in what you're willing to fail at until you master it and that aligning with your values can transform uncertainty into growth. She reframes midlife as a liberating time to hone skills, grow quietly, and then make your biggest impact. Laura's insights are a rallying cry to anyone ready to push through discomfort and claim their full potential.Key Highlights:Rethinking Passion: Passion is what you're willing to fail at repeatedly until you succeed.Wonderhell Explained: Success reveals untapped potential but also brings doubt and ambition, creating space for growth.Core Values Matter: Staying rooted in your values helps guide decisions and build authentic success.Midlife Opportunity: Laura sees midlife invisibility as a time to refine and prepare for major impact.Leveraging Skills: Past experiences and transferable skills are key to creating new opportunities.About Our Guest:Author, Catalyst, and Executive Coach Laura Gassner Otting inspires people to push past the doubt and indecision that keep great ideas in limbo by helping audiences think bigger and accept greater challenges that reach beyond their current, limited scope of belief.She delivers strategic thinking, well-honed wisdom, and perspective generated by decades of navigating change across the start-up, corporate, nonprofit, political, as well as philanthropic landscapes. Laura dares audiences to find their voice, and generate the confidence needed to tackle larger-than-life challenges by helping them to seek new ways of leading, managing, and mentoring others.Laura's rebellious and entrepreneurial edge has been well-honed over a 25-year career that started when she dropped out of law school to join an unknown southern governor's presidential campaign, and ended up as a Presidential Appointee in Bill Clinton's White House, where she helped shape AmeriCorps.She left a leadership role as the youngest Vice President at a nationally respected search firm when she realized that her boss's definition of success didn't align with hers and, instead, founded and ran one of the fastest growing search firms in the country, partnering with the full gamut of mission-driven executives, from start-up dreamers to scaling social entrepreneurs to global philanthropists. In 2015, Laura sold that firm to the team who helped her build it, both because she was hungry for the next chapter and because she held an audacious dream of electing our nation's first female president. (Whomp whomp.)Since that time, Laura has appeared regularly on Good Morning America and the TODAY Show, and her writing has been seen in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, HR Magazine. Laura is the author of Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life (2019), which debuted at #2 on the Washington Post bestseller list (right behind Michelle Obama), has been translated into Arabic, Korean, Turkish, Portuguese, and German, and which Good Morning America'sRobin Roberts chose as one of her Favorite Books of 2019, as well as Mission-Driven: Moving from Profit to Purpose (2015). Her latest book,...

Laura's secret superpower is seeing your greatness and reflecting it back on you, so that you can get “unstuck” — and achieve extraordinary results. A regular contributor to Good Morning America, the TODAY Show, Harvard Business Review, and Oprah Daily, Laura is the Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of three books, Wonderhell, Limitless, and Mission-Driven. Laura's 30-year resume is defined by her entrepreneurial edge. She served as a Presidential Appointee in Bill Clinton's White House, helping shape AmeriCorps; left a leadership role at respected national search firm to expand a tech start-up; and founded, ran, and sold her own global search firm, partnering with the full gamut of mission driven corporate and nonprofit executives. Laura is turned on by the audacity of The Big Idea and that larger-than-life goal you just can't seem to shake. She's an instigator, motivator, and provocateur, and she's never met a revolution she didn't like. Just ask her enduringly patient husband, two almost-grown sons, and two troublesome pups with whom she lives outside of Boston, MA. To learn more about Laura, go to her website: www.lauragassnerotting.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lyndsay-dowd/support

Hello Libration Nation! In this week's episode I'm chatting with David Crowley, nonprofit leader and podcaster, about The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger and Mark Schultz. Over a glass of Longevity Cabernet Sauvignon, we explored the Harvard study's core finding: strong, meaningful relationships are key to happiness and health. David shared insights from his work with Social Capital Inc., which combats social isolation, and his personal journey maintaining relationships throughout various phases of life. Together, we reflected on building deeper connections in a digital age.David Crowley founded Social Capital Inc. (SCI) over 20 years ago in his hometown of Woburn, Massachusetts. Under his leadership, SCI has grown to serve communities across the region while continuing to make a difference in Woburn. Prior to SCI, David was the Executive Director of Boston-based Generations Inc. (now Literations). He has been involved in AmeriCorps since the program began in 1993, and served as the founding Director of the Kentucky Community Service Commission, which oversees the program for the state. David graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Government. Unsure of his long term plans, and after many service activities in college, David set out to do a year of service in rural Kentucky, which began his career serving his community! In his free time, he enjoys cooking for his family, reading and walking nearby Horn Pond. He also shares his kitchen creations on his food & wine blog, Cooking Chat. He also hosts two podcasts: Cook Local, Eat Local and SCI's Cultivating Connections podcasts.DrinkLongevity Cabernet SauvignonLongevity WinemakersIn this EpisodeSocial Capital Inc.Cooking Chat (David's Food & Wine Blog)Cook Local, Eat Local PodcastSCI's Cultivating Connections PodcastBowling Alone by Robert D. PutnamRecent NYT interview with Robert Putnam (not mentioned in the episode but really interesting read on loneliness)

Kendall Cloeter's passion for affordable housing and community revitalization shines through in her work with the Renovation Alliance. As a self-described "social worker by trade," Kendall brings a deep understanding of the challenges low-income homeowners face in the Roanoke Valley and a commitment to making a difference.Under Kendall's leadership, the Renovation Alliance has grown from a small group of 50 volunteers rebuilding just five homes 25 years ago to an organization that now aims to serve 100 homes annually. Kendall's dedication to preserving affordable housing and empowering homeowners to age in place with dignity is genuinely inspiring. Through a combination of volunteer labor and skilled professional partnerships, the Renovation Alliance tackles a wide range of critical home repairs, from simple tasks like installing grab bars to more complex projects like HVAC replacements.Kendall's insights into the impact of the Renovation Alliance's work are both heartwarming and eye-opening. By preserving homeownership and the equity that comes with it, the organization is helping to address issues of generational wealth and social justice. Moreover, the Renovation Alliance's focus on prioritizing the needs of older adults, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and single-parent households with young children underscores their holistic approach to community revitalization. Kendall's passion for this work shines through as she shares the stories of homeowners who have regained their independence and sense of pride in their homes while strengthening the fabric of the Roanoke community.About Kendall:Kendall Cloeter, a native of Roanoke, Virginia, is deeply connected to her community, where she now raises her family. Holding a Master of Social Work degree, Kendall discovered her passion for affordable housing while serving in AmeriCorps with Renovation Alliance, the organization she proudly rejoined in 2023. Her work in AmeriCorps ignited her commitment to preserving affordable housing and enhancing housing quality.During her time in Richmond, Virginia, Kendall spent five years addressing housing and homelessness issues with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. This experience broadened her understanding of housing challenges and strengthened her dedication to making a difference. Returning to Renovation Alliance, Kendall applies her expertise to support her community and advocate for improved housing solutions.Kendall resides in Roanoke County with her husband, two children, and their dog, Franklin.Support the showConfessions of a Reluctant Caregiver Sisterhood of Care, LLC Website: www.confessionsofareluctantcaregiver.com Like us on Facebook! Tweet with us on Twitter! Follow us on Instagram! Watch us on Youtube! Pin us on Pinterest! Link us on LinkedIn!Tune in on Whole Care Network

Navigating Nonprofit Growth Amidst Political Shifts: Insights from Whole Whale In this episode of the Nonprofit News Feed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler at Whole Whale, and Nick Azulay, Senior Strategy Manager, dive into the evolving landscape of the nonprofit sector. They discuss how historical trends might mirror the potential growth and challenges nonprofits face in light of political shifts and economic changes. Key Topics and Insights: Historical Context and Future Predictions: George Weiner draws parallels between the nonprofit boom of the 1980s and the anticipated growth in the 2020s, driven by government restructuring, workforce transformation through AI, and a significant wealth transfer. The conversation highlights the importance of nonprofits adapting to potential reductions in government social services and leveraging increased funding opportunities. Legislative Concerns: A critical discussion centers around the controversial bill HR 9495, which could allow the Department of Treasury to unilaterally revoke nonprofit status by labeling organizations as terrorist-supporting. This has sparked widespread opposition from major nonprofit coalitions due to concerns over executive overreach and lack of due process. Volunteerism Rebound: Encouraging news from AmeriCorps reveals a significant rebound in formal volunteering rates post-pandemic, with 75.7 million Americans participating in 2023, contributing nearly 5 billion hours of service. Philanthropic Movements: Mackenzie Scott's recent donation of Amazon shares signals another major round of charitable giving, emphasizing the importance of nonprofits telling compelling stories to attract such transformative funding. Community Impact and Seasonal Giving: The episode closes with a heartwarming story from Valley Santa in Pennsylvania, which is gearing up to provide Christmas gifts to thousands of children in need, showcasing the spirit of giving during the holiday season. Call to Action: Nonprofits are encouraged to prepare for upcoming changes by strengthening their storytelling, engaging with digital tools, and actively participating in advocacy efforts against potentially harmful legislation. Reflection: This episode underscores the resilience and adaptability required of nonprofits in navigating political and economic landscapes. It highlights the potential for growth and the critical role of strategic planning and community engagement in sustaining impact.

Navigating Nonprofit Growth Amidst Political Shifts: Insights from Whole Whale In this episode of the Nonprofit News Feed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler at Whole Whale, and Nick Azulay, Senior Strategy Manager, dive into the evolving landscape of the nonprofit sector. They discuss how historical trends might mirror the potential growth and challenges nonprofits face in light of political shifts and economic changes. Key Topics and Insights: Historical Context and Future Predictions: George Weiner draws parallels between the nonprofit boom of the 1980s and the anticipated growth in the 2020s, driven by government restructuring, workforce transformation through AI, and a significant wealth transfer. The conversation highlights the importance of nonprofits adapting to potential reductions in government social services and leveraging increased funding opportunities. Legislative Concerns: A critical discussion centers around the controversial bill HR 9495, which could allow the Department of Treasury to unilaterally revoke nonprofit status by labeling organizations as terrorist-supporting. This has sparked widespread opposition from major nonprofit coalitions due to concerns over executive overreach and lack of due process. Volunteerism Rebound: Encouraging news from AmeriCorps reveals a significant rebound in formal volunteering rates post-pandemic, with 75.7 million Americans participating in 2023, contributing nearly 5 billion hours of service. Philanthropic Movements: Mackenzie Scott's recent donation of Amazon shares signals another major round of charitable giving, emphasizing the importance of nonprofits telling compelling stories to attract such transformative funding. Community Impact and Seasonal Giving: The episode closes with a heartwarming story from Valley Santa in Pennsylvania, which is gearing up to provide Christmas gifts to thousands of children in need, showcasing the spirit of giving during the holiday season. Call to Action: Nonprofits are encouraged to prepare for upcoming changes by strengthening their storytelling, engaging with digital tools, and actively participating in advocacy efforts against potentially harmful legislation. Reflection: This episode underscores the resilience and adaptability required of nonprofits in navigating political and economic landscapes. It highlights the potential for growth and the critical role of strategic planning and community engagement in sustaining impact.

As all blind and visually impaired people know, some of our most enriching experiences come from interactions with like-minded peers. Overbrook School for the Blind, a renowned school for the blind and visually impaired in the Philadelphia region, recognize just how important these opportunities are for blind and visually impaired youth. To fulfill this need, they created the AmeriCorps mentorship program, which connects youth mentors in higher education, or those succeeding in the workplace, to students exploring their path of possibilities ahead of them. Join White Canes Connect contributor Simon Bonenfant, as he sits down with Bethany Johnson, Program Director, as well as Dauad Yasar, student mentor, as they discuss how the program was formed, benefits to both mentors and mentees, and more.  From the AmeriCorps Website: “The OSB AmeriCorps Program improves the work-readiness of visually impaired Pennsylvanians ages 16-28. OSB AmeriCorps will enroll 16 visually impaired Pennsylvanians as AmeriCorps members who will deliver a work readiness curriculum and serve as mentors to 60 visually impaired Pennsylvanians per year. This AmeriCorps program is unique in its design. AmeriCorps members and the students they serve are close in age and share the experience of living with visual impairments. This creates especially powerful near-peer mentoring relationships and develops work-readiness of 60 young Pennsylvanians and the AmeriCorps members. In each session, lessons and virtual mentoring will be delivered during afterschool and evening hours to be most accessible to students. Lessons will be conducted in group settings, maintaining the small student to instructor ratio. To meet student needs, AmeriCorps members may offer lessons multiple times per week to allow students to attend the lessons that fit their schedule. Lessons will be 60- to 90- minutes each, and be a combination of presentation, discussion and reflection activities.”  Interested in applying for the AmeriCorps next step skills program? Applications for the winter session close on Friday November 22nd. Students can apply using this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1fiw1Za7wVPt4dzulL_Ee6G1hiaAOwzOx5BVRzG4nVRY/viewform?pli=1&pli=1&edit_requested=true  Listening after November 22nd? Check back on the AmeriCorps webpage, as they have several application enrollment periods: https://www.obs.org/what-we-do/osb-americorps.cfm . You can contact the program by emailing osbamericorps@obs.org Find them on Facebook and Instagram, or give Bethany a call at: +1(802)363-0296.  Show notes at https://www.whitecanesconnect.com/116    An Easy Way to Help the NFB of PA Support the NFB of PA with every purchase at White Cane Coffee Company by going to https://www.whitecanecoffee.com/ref/nfbp. When you use that link to purchase from White Cane Coffee, the NFB of PA earns a 10% commission! Share the link with your family and friends! Listen to Erin and Bob Willman from White Cane Coffee on episode 072 of White Canes Connect. Donate to the NFB of PA If you want to donate to the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania, visit https://www.NFBofPA.org/give/. Contact White Canes Connect Have you benefited from a mentorship experience that's helped you grow to the person you are today?? We'd love to hear from you! Send us an email at whitecanesconnect@gmail.com or give us a call at: 267-338-4495 Follow White Canes Connect Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/white-canes-connect/id1592248709  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YDQSJqpoteGb1UMPwRSuI  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pablindpodcast   

Transcript: So, honestly what I'm thinking, I'm in a really unique situation and nobody is often open when they are in this situation.   Kenzie and I, we made some money with our business.   I successfully put it into some tech stocks, made some money with it and then instead of putting it back in the US dollar or keeping it in stocks when it just seemed, it was in July of this year.   We were down in California filming and I'm like, this seems unsustainable.   I'm almost parking my assets, my capital into clothing which is harder to liquidate but I feel like I have a higher impact on it rather than like, I don't have an impact on Apple stock worth.   But for the first time in my life, I'm slightly over leveraged.   I mean, I've had student loans my whole life so I've been in debt my entire adult life which is a fascinating thought, isn't it?   Well, it depends.   For some people, that's normal.   For others, it's not.   That's what I'm learning.   I'm just trying to be open with it with people because I've always, aside from student loans which are on pause and forbearance and whatnot, I've always had money but now I'm slightly in debt and it's a situation that most people don't speak openly about which it doesn't seem like it really benefits many people.   So I'm just curious like throughout your life, have you ever leveraged yourself or when you've been like, I mean, you talked with, my understanding of what you do is you talk with business owners kind of frequently.   You may have experienced people in that position a lot.   I'm curious your thoughts on leverage, essentially.   Yeah.   Well, in general, I mean, it's clear from the work that I've done and the life I've lived that there's different levels of leverage, if you want to call it that, that people are willing to extend and their comfort is very stew.   So some people don't mind going to the ultimate and spending whatever it is that they want to do thinking that that's going to be important to them and other people aren't willing to take that kind of a risk.   So they withhold that and on the other end of the spectrum, they're actually looking at a situation where you have not much, but you don't want to spend it with the idea that you'll pay for it as it goes as opposed to using credit, for example, and that would be what I've experienced anyway with people.   Move that just a little closer.   So you said if you'd use the term leverage, would you use credit or debt or I'm curious?   Yeah, I'm more comfortable with that.   I understand leverage is just another word that describes the circumstance and it may be more favorable for some people to use the word leverage.   Well, a lot of people buy a house and they're like, cool, I own a house, but I'm like, no, you took on a $300,000 debt.   They're heavily leveraged in what's it called, the housing market, not retail, it's real estate.   Oh, real estate market.   They're just heavily leveraged with all their capital in real estate.   Okay.   And that's true.   But it's helping them achieve what they want out of life, that they want to have a house that they can call their own, even though technically it belongs to whoever holds the paper on the house until that loan is paid off.   Yeah.   Yeah.   In your experience, do you think it's better to go, like my understanding is of what you said, correct me if I'm wrong, is when you say it goes slower, you just mean bootstrapping, which and like I'm someone, you can't offend my feelings.   I'm not hurt.   I'm speaking openly because I just want more people to talk openly about finances so it's less of a taboo.   Okay, again, my personal values are to pay as you go.   And so I'm most comfortable with that.   But I also felt that at a certain point in my life, I did want to have a home and so I did borrow money to do it.   And that's probably the only time I've really borrowed money is to buy a home.   And then pay it off as fast as I can.   That's really how I looked at it.   I just don't like to be in debt.   I don't feel like I want to owe people or anyone something.   I'd rather just say, I can't have this right now and that's just the way it is.   That's how I've been my entire life.   But I think maybe having student loans, so a negative net worth my whole life almost numbed me out to it or something, but at a certain point is just an opportunity presented itself where the financials on purchasing these and then really the reason why I haven't sold them out so I'm just preparing them is once I sell them, I can't use them for my deal goal, which is B, I want to show a manufacturer that actually has the scale and a design house.   Hey, here's a way to add a full design to close.   It's cheaper than tie-dyeing.   It's quicker, less like labor man hours.   It has a higher fidelity design because all of these clothes in here, the cotton's grown in the U.S. and it's sewn in the U.S. and I really want to hopefully reach out, connect with and work with them almost as an exit of sorts.   But as the fallback, I can sell it, which is very fortunate.   I'm very fortunate.   But it's weird having my money frozen in a very non-liquid asset.   Right and of course because the market changes, you're hoping that it changes to your favor as opposed to going the other way because it's just like the stock market goes up and down and so our changes is however you want to call it.   No, so I'd really agree except for there's nothing like what I've made.   So I'm on the forefront of bleach, like bleaching clothes in an interesting way where everyone who see like on the internet and so I've given some to friends who come on the show and people and they always just say like, hey, a friend wants to buy it.   They don't know how much like it's worth because something like what it's worth is up to marketing or like essentially like Gucci, Balenciaga, like really fancy ones like not that I would want to.   But they charge a really high premium even though the product isn't as high of quality.   So the market is just, the market's fugazi in a way.   Well the market is what it is and it changes.   That's all.   And sometimes you ride the wave and it's a good market and sometimes you fall off the board and it's, you're in trouble.   So what is that?   What could you play out that scenario for like if you'd help me?   Because essentially I'm in a unique, like my entire life I've been like I don't want to be in debt beyond student loans.   So this is a new thing.   Like literally even up till this most recent month I've paid off all my credit cards in full but I'm looking at the next month I'm like, okay, my credit's going to have a slight amount, like I mean just a couple hundred dollars on it but I can see because we do have a video client, we have a part-time like video client but I definitely did just take on a calculated risk.   I figure rather than being afraid of debt my whole life I want to confront it at a small manageable scale early just to see what because I keep thinking every big company had to leverage or had to take on debt in order to scale.   So I'm just curious, yeah, what are the scenarios?   Well I'd like to go back to your opening statement where you said you took on a lot of student debt with your ability to go to school and today that's vastly different than it was in my day because the amount of debt I took on was almost none and I was able to work and pay it off very quickly because of that.   Student debt today is at a far higher level and it's much more onerous because of that and the reason why I'm going back to that in your situation is because that's where it all began.   It's not like all of a sudden you're in debt, it's that you created that debt for a good reason in order to get an education but the way we operate today is different than 40-50 years ago and so you can't compare the two, that's all I want to say about that.   Yeah, but I will say looking forward to where you are now and where you're trying to avoid being caught up in a debt ridden situation, that's the part that I think you are most concerned about and rightly so.   I don't know that there's an easy answer to that other than to say there's two ways you position yourself financially.   One is you create more income, however that is, or you don't spend as much and so those are the only two methods that help you reduce it and of course it goes faster if you get a combination, if you reduce expense but also increase income.   So the only thing I'll say is everyone's different, every situation is different and you sort of have to look at your entire life and see what contributes to your decisions that cause you to spend money.   What are the values that you're kind of playing towards?   Well that comes from, yeah, your value system initially but you may have a certain set of values that are compromised by your circumstances and you know, we all have things that come up in life you don't plan on, I mean we all know people that have gotten very ill and they weren't expecting it and all of a sudden they have this great debt because they have to take care of themselves in order to survive.   And so I would just say that's a prime example of someone today who tended to not get into debt but found themselves in debt because it was far beyond anything they could anticipate.   Yeah, so if we could bring it to you, I mean I'm curious, what are your kind of core values or guiding, I mean is just avoiding debt, that's like a further down, you know, touch point of I assume how you want to live your life.   I'm just curious how you think about money, like you essentially deal with money for a living and we all deal with money in our personal lives.   You're someone who I would assume for a great deal of time, even more than I've been alive, I've just thought about the concept of money and I would just love to get your thoughts on it.   I mean you're, yeah.   Well I'd like to give you an answer that would qualify in every case but I can't.   What I'm going to say is the ability to manage your way of living is built upon what your hopes and dreams are really and if you can somehow coordinate what it's going to take to cause you to reach those goals and dreams then maybe you can plan it better but I can't say every situation is different, that's what I really have to say on that.   It's not a clear picture that one size fits all but I will, I know that you have talked about how do the values fit in with the way you operate in terms of your day to day existence and that's really, I think maybe the first thing to do is really to establish what's important to you and then to build a budget around that so when I say that it's important to get a sense about in the next year, maybe you could use it as a New Year's resolution or something and just say I'm going to have a plan for this next year and see how it works out and then you can evaluate that plan even six months into it to see if it's working and if it is at the end of the year you renew yourself and see how you can continue to move in that direction but setting up a budget means you have to know where you tend to spend money and then also what's important to you and how much money it's going to take to get to that level that's going to allow you to do what you want to do and those are the estimates that you have to come up with and a sheet of paper is a starting point and then you have to talk about well where's the money going to come from and so you have to analyze you've given me some ideas of how you earn income now well use that as your thought process and write down all the ways that you can earn income that you presently do and then ways that you expect to earn additional income and see how that matches up and the end of the year if you're in in the black that means you've got a little more income than what you've spent hopefully that'll go into some kind of savings or investments and doesn't mean that you don't spend money to do that because maybe you decided to buy a home so you put it into a fund that allows you to put a down payment on a home that would be one example another idea would be to that money that is hopefully in the black it will allow you to think of different ways to use that maybe you have a chance to just do something simple like open up a savings account or you may have an investor that you could talk to that you feel they're giving you some options that will allow you to make a little more than you might get in a bank situation for example but I will say this every year your goals which are built on your values will help you determine what your next year is going to look like if you put it down in front of you and sort of think it through and then the tough part is the discipline you have to be committed to that plan otherwise it'll never work it's I don't think it's any different than if you were taking weight loss classes or something it's going to help you to say okay my goal is to knock off ten pounds and in order to do that I'm going to have to do this this and this but I have to be dogmatic about it and do it the same way each time for try it for three months and see how that works and if you move it along that that gives you encouragement to continue on I'd say all of what you're saying makes a lot of sense and it's how I've lived my life up until this most recent year okay but so a large part of what brought this on is so we do video work for a living right but with AI the advent of it pretty much all digital jobs are up for they could disappear if you know like like I'm trying to hedge in a physical way and also again this is my way of parking money so I put it some investment yeah so successful stocks I essentially I took the money out that I put in just the gains right I put into cotton and bleach because at the end of the day clothing will all like and really really high quality clothing just will always be valuable to someone but it's it's just an interesting it's it's I don't think that people today have the luxury of planning so much a year out I think a lot of young people today are taking kind of bigger risks because just money I mean money inflation's what three percent a year but the amount of money that might or the amount of house that my money could buy like if I had a hundred thousand dollars and then a year from now it's I can buy 80% as much house so really like the US dollar is not a stable place to just kind of park capital yeah is the world we're living in it seems like to me I'm curious well everything's built upon trust that things are going to continue on yes and you and I both know if you just look at the news from day to day that could change any moment I mean look at the hurricane folks back in the southeast what they're dealing with who could have I mean generally speaking yeah there's gonna be hurricanes North Carolina who would have seen that yeah if I had done all this in North Carolina and hurricane came and flooded and I lost it all I couldn't reply what would I do it's so well hopefully you have insurance that would help pay for some of that but even the insurance companies are going they're in a difficult situation themselves because they can't even plan for that worst-case scenario and that's what happened and the US government and whole is is so in debt and so leveraged or you know however it's gonna be that it almost just seems like I mean just the numbers it's like I'm most likely not gonna have and what's it called when when I turned 65 so security yeah like social security is gonna run out unless some radical changes happen so I just I'm just at a point in life where I think I mean most people are on some sort of drug to stay sane I'm very fortunate in that I'm not on an anti-anxiety or an SSRI but my only like my way that I can make that happen is I'm like I have to have faith that I have a chance at success in life and it's just becoming a situation where the stable getting you know getting like a traditional job I mean like a lot of government jobs even could be automated the way quite easy like I mean like just trying to think of what feel because I went to school for physical therapy so that initial debt the initial sin that brought me into this whole place was towards something I was an 18 year old I had no no idea what any of it meant my parents said go to college I had horrible chronic pain at the time so I went to be a physical therapist just because I was like I'm going to figure out how to fix my own pain and I'm very fortunate that it happened but then the actual is funny was my third year into college my first day at a PT office and I was like oh this is not what I want to do the rest of my life but then I'm already 18 grant in debt and then just to finish out that last year of mostly extracurriculars you know so I'm like I've been $25,000 in debt since I've been an adult I see since I've joined the workforce in life right so you know the position I'm in it's funny I'm not like I don't have an anxiety I don't have a concern about it I definitely could overcome it but I just want to be open to the idea that the majority of successful businesses use look I mean like you know like you sell a house and then people say oh you you know you take a lean against it you buy two like people are very leveraged in today's society but it's something that it's taboo to think about being in debt so I'm just trying to bridge that gap in my mind of how to kind of think of those two yeah I again your value is to maybe not be in debt well there are some people that don't see it that way and they and they they as you say leverage one for another with the idea that you know ultimately if they do it well enough they'll have more than enough money to pay it all off that's their hope reality may not go with that but that's their hope and in the end we all act on our hopes yeah hope fears a lot of fear based well exactly but I fear comes into it when all of a sudden hope doesn't look so hopeful so I just say try to look at it in bite size bits as opposed to one big item that you have to take care of as soon as possible because the reality is unless you're winning the lottery or there's some kind of a windfall that comes from something yeah from the windfall exactly unless you have that you're gonna have a you won't have the ability to pay those debts off and I did want to comment about you're right about one thing when it comes to business anyway there's a time when debt makes sense and you have to know that and maybe the best way to look at it is a business that has a seasonal base so let's say they do a lot of crops in the summer they harvest them in the fall and then you know over the winter things are a little slack as far as the money coming in and but they have to pay people to keep the equipment up to get ready for planting and so forth so they take out what we call a line of credit and it's really an ability for cash flow to be there when you need it and then you pay down the line of credit when the money starts coming in from your sale of your products if you could look at that angle in business it makes sense for them to have debt and then while you're not using it you're not gaining interest on that it's strictly only on the balance that that's left so if you pay off that line of credit when your money starts coming in you have zero interest but you have access to it as you need it that would be a to me a good use of debt there are other businesses that I know about that if they want to buy equipment and and it's good tax reasons to do it at a certain time of year and the accountants will will validate that they'll just say you have you've earned this much and you're gonna need this equipment next year and in order to get full benefit of your depreciation and so forth now's the time to buy so maybe you you don't have the cash right then and there so you borrow money for the equipment and then later you pay it off but you've made a good decision because you've got what you need to continue to grow your business to pull it back from money because I don't want to you know pigeonhole you let's take a quick breather of just who you are what are some foundational things that have happened in your life that kind of formed who you were events like decisions to take that job or to move there to meet a partner I'm just curious kind of you know some framing behind all of what you're saying okay well I mean really we're all part and parcel of our upbringing and our values that are imparted to us by people close to us so you know that's certainly part of my life too so breaking news your parents were a big part of your life yes I know what you're saying but in this case for me it was my parents and I was raised in a very typical American household the second generation Irish American in Boston and and so I I was raised in neighborhoods where you know there were four to ten kids in the family it depends on that and so everyone was struggling usually the the fathers worked my father was a railroad car cleaner so what did he do he cleaned railroad cars for 44 years he he also was involved in bringing the troops onto Omaha Beach as a coxswain in the Navy and he had some medical issues that came from that so he wasn't able to progress in his career like a lot of folks were but he certainly was a model for me in terms of understanding what he valued and you know he taught me a lot through that method and my mom stayed at home raising five children and and it was a case of we always had enough to eat and so forth but it was tight and I had to get scholarships in order to go to school and stuff so that was my way of helping to pay the costs and I worked from the time I was 13 on this sort of like well well it seems young my dad actually started it when he was eight we were both caddies we caddied and and which taught me the value of service and and the fact that you if you wanted a dollar you had to earn it you know and that was and I actually look forward to it I I know you don't hear that so much anymore especially when you're looking for people wanting to work they just don't seem to have that interest interest it's it's an interesting I mean the idea that I have the freedom to try to create a good or service that people want to on their own volition spend money on right is the most driving force in my life it's it's a beauty well that's a wonderful gift and as you point out not everyone has it but if you do I know you'll be successful because you'll feel good about yourself number one and number two you'll help other people feel good about themselves so what after high school and college I went into a program that some people are familiar with today's it was called AmeriCorps and I worked in Appalachia which in the coal mining towns that were built way back in the early 1900s and I worked on the subject of housing even then housing was pretty bad for the people that lived in those towns and so but I did that for a while and then I later worked in social work setting helped to establish a mental health facility in Humboldt County and in fact it was the first one and was able to work as a bookkeeper for them but I did all the fundraising for him too to get him going and so that was very interesting yeah that's sort of like well there was a big gap in service in those days that was in the early 70s and so I had a chance to first of all learn to do things I never dreamt of doing while I was in school and again college schooling in general is is very valuable in terms of understanding the theory but the practical application of that theory is what pays you and so you have to try to figure that out and so that was one thing I did and then went back to graduate school and got a degree and I thought I wanted to do counseling and elementary education so I did that and then finally we came to Cottage Grove where I got a job in the school district and worked there for a while and worked for the Catholic Church and their education program and then I said you know I'm really most interested in community relations it took me that many years to sort of sort out what is it I was really interested you're held by that age but so I was about 29 when I realized that so I was about 29 when I realized it and then I started applying for positions that met that criteria and I was able to go to work for Pacific or which is an electric utility in the Northwest and I ended up working in customer relations and sales and I did that for 32 years ultimately I ended up being in charge of the energy efficiency programs for five states and and residential energy efficiency throughout those five states and it was a very interesting job in that sense because that sort of the framework in which we're operating today because first thing you want to do is save it and then you can grow it from there but and we do need to grow it because we have more needs for it but so become as efficient as possible that's kind of the net fit in with my value systems too that I was talking to you earlier that was a kind of a from that I ended up going into public office for about 14 years and that was interesting too because that gave me another dimension to my understanding of how the world worked and also how you can make a difference in people's lives and so I'm curious to delve into that so it's funny you realize that when entering the bureaucratic machine that is the government yes is when you realized the impact you could have helping people yes yeah I'm curious but now you don't work for the government I'm curious I don't you know yeah I'm still doing it helping people yes it seems easier to do not at the government well different yeah maybe let me explain what I I don't know if you have you ever taken a course called junior achievement never heard of it okay well it's actually a nonprofit organization that's established somewhere many years ago and it's basically privately funded and they are they operate in different locations I assume they have it in Eugene now but at the time in Cottage Grove they had junior achievement and some local foundations paid for a director to come in and teach you how to work with children and and older kids too on the issue of our our capitalism for for the United States what it's built on and really the best learning I ever got I felt in in terms of business understanding was how important it is for business and government to have a place in society because they actually I know it feels antagonistic many ways but if it if it does its job right the government provides a level playing field for business to be successful and if you don't have that you're in a country that you know you can't make it or it's owned by the country and and so you don't have capitalism yeah and so I'll just say this it's really that was a basis of my learning that I felt again was in line with my values that said you know we want to have a place where people can take an idea and run with that idea and hopefully make a living off that idea and not only that but the society benefits because no one else has thought of it either and so we all learned from that and so I felt like that was a major learning step in in my process and and so if I'm there right now yeah I have an idea and and I ran and it was of use to society our videography marketing business and now I have a second shot on goal a second one because as a hedge against just as a hedge against AI because it's very just you know first off I love video I hope to be able to do it continually forever right but just we've been meeting some clients who are like I just take a bunch of stock footage with an AI voice over like they just have it do it all for them right so just just being pragmatist and saying what's currently happening rather than just saying oh I hate it or oh I'm gonna fully use it because I really don't like the impact it has in terms of the only thing that's really of true value in life is human-to-human connection right and having an AI or just like some word salad kind of jumbled up in the middle it seems to always usually obfuscate the real core message of the communication so it's it's it's something I use you know in parse but it's not like a wholesale item that I'm like AI is like the backbone of my thing but just getting away from tech that's also how I've stayed sane and managed to not be you know anxious in a world that's every day or talent with climate change is gonna kill you so even if you're financially successful right you know the plan is gonna be done especially by your kid's age so it's like Jesus how do you deal with that and then you know all the jobs are getting on it's like and then you're like there's there's so much that could fill it so just getting away from that and making a really unique but like man I just the most conviction I've had for any financial shot on goal or anything that I've set my assets into is is this it really has helped just to get away from your computer for a little while but what's the space that you're talking about you said building a space where people can take an idea and run with it mm-hmm what's what's the well that's the entrepreneurial spirit in the United States I feel and I don't say it's not in other places obviously most democracies have very successful businesses but I'm gonna say it's the generation of the idea that comes with diversity I think and I say that because I know some people feel like diversity is a bad word or something I don't feel that way at all I feel like if you're part of a group of people you want people to look at things differently and out of that will come some ideas that will generate income because you create a product or a service that many people want and and sometimes they don't even know they want it because it's a I wish I had an example right off the top you can probably help me with that but just think of something that no one ever knew about or thought they needed paperclip okay yeah I know paperclips are dying it seems like but I still use them from time to time but I'm gonna say for a while they're pretty pivotal there in the world right I mean that's and whoever came up with that I knew that the world benefited by it but no one else knew about it you know until they start seeing well yeah I can do this with it you know I saw just say it's it's sort of like what makes us uniquely human is our ability to think and I love the idea that people can invent things and that's part of my joy and the things that I do in life is I find myself talking to people that have done that or I've demonstrated it and it gives me hope that we can solve problems because we have that diversity of thought that allows unique solutions to come about it's a very interesting thing just diversity of thought like Kenzie and I just my partner and I like we've just running a business for going on two years we've just realized that almost any new problem or challenge that we face we just we have almost diametrically opposite modes of thinking yeah and it's just been really fascinating to be like okay well what's the best of the both options or what's the middle ground it's there can be diversity of thoughts and two people who are probably twins but maybe one of them had a unique situation just it's it's very interesting just diversity of thought really does allow just new ideas to enter the mix yeah I mean and frankly people some people are highly paid for those new thoughts and I would just say what it's it's what keeps things moving and if you look at the history of humankind it's really in order to survive you had to keep moving and whether it's always good or bad is secondary it happens because it's required to move on and that's really ultimately the things that are bad get dropped off and things that are good are enhanced or grow into something else but we're fortunate I think that's why I really love the United States is because we're built on that spirit of people coming here to make life better for themselves and I I can speak for my own family that way so I I feel like most families would say the same thing and that word hope is really the ability to take you to that next level because if it's too far out there's no hope and you give up mm-hmm and so what you want is an element of hope what do you hope for today but you know it's changed over the course of your life right I'm curious what like today is your hope my hope for the future well it's hard to talk about it right after the election last night but I'll just say I hope that the United States can somehow find a way to realize that the values that made us what we are the values that will help us in the future too and not to lose sight of those values and you and I have just talked about some of those values but I in the end you know I'll speak as if looking at my grandchildren you know what I would like them to be able to have is a sense that life can be challenging but exciting and that there is a hope that you can actually enjoy life mm-hmm and and as long as you can do that you'll want it for other people after you you know so I don't know if that's the answer but that's kind of what I'm thinking I'm continually hopeful about that I think I do my best work when I'm mentally at peace with myself and and and feel good and I'm enjoying it and it's just I'm I'm persistently trying to remind everyone around me at all times nobody's making like nobody can force you to be upset today like like at the end of the day you really can just it's really hard to say some people have horrible situations but right they're born into it actually but a lot of people in pretty good situations make you know their own little living hell fun but essentially just the idea that being happy I said I mean I believe you mentioned that you grew up Catholic or as part of it and Catholic guilt is a phrase that has been around in society so a lot of people just kind of internalized the idea that like being happy will have an equal and opposite negative at some point in life like people feel that like happiness is unsustainable it seems like this that's kind of the the general idea that I get from a lot of people but I personally just think I have I build my best relationships I do my best work when I'm happy or relative happiness you know so I'm curious kind of how you came around or did the Catholic guilt never quite stick for you and you've you know here's yeah I'm not here to speak for the Catholic Church but I can say this that whatever faith or whatever way of life you're raised in you know if that's the basis of your value system which it typically is there's good and bad and what I want of course is to try to do as much as possible the good sometimes I fail but I also know that life is full of ups and downs and I would like to be happy hundred percent of the time but I don't think the human individual is capable of a hundred percent happiness 24-7 I'm just saying you it's more like a trend as opposed to a complete ability so you want to be moving in the direction of happiness to feel like you have that hope to enjoy things in life and yet so you say you've been happier over the year yeah I feel I feel that way myself do I have my moments absolutely just like everyone else I have every every same same emotions that everyone else has you know and some of them they're all valid but the they aren't necessarily what you want at the time but you deal with it the best you can I think it's important to sustain yourself with good people around you too because there are moments when I maybe I can't handle something very well and someone else can and you talked about Kenzie and you and your decision-making with your business and so forth and I I thought of my my spouse how the same reason that we have come from a similar value system we have a complete opposite approach to it and with but I say to her is the same reason we get together and argue and disagree on things is the same reason why I think we make mostly good decisions and that's from a 360 degree look as opposed to a 180 look and that's all I'm saying is find that find something that you trust the other person and that trust sustains you during the difficult times that's about it and that's where that's where we have a very similar value set yeah but then it's just the approach to every every situation is just like it's almost like mind-blowing the first like handful of time and not even just with her it's with everyone right it's really kind of mind-blowing the first time you like see someone's thought process to a situation it's like I would have never considered that or gone there and you know sometimes it's better than the way like I currently thought about it sometimes it's like oh like it's the exchange of ideas really is the ultimate like goal of what kind of elevates all of a community or a family or you know humanity right and we know that there'll be times when it's just not gonna go the way it you would like it to go but in the end you just have to get through that time period and that comes from support as well as your own self mobilization you know your ability to pass something any examples of times in your life that have been like that like you know you feel okay talking about I assume in hindsight as far as you know be a difficult time you mean yeah you've been bringing it up a couple times I'm curious what that like when you're like you just got to get through it it's well I try to compare myself to my father and I think I have nothing to compare you know what he dealt with not and I gave you one example of his life but he grew up in a family of 11 children and when he was eight or nine he was actually given away to his aunt and uncle to raise him because they they didn't have enough food in the home and I didn't have that I grew up in a pretty solid environment even though he had some challenges for himself and I think my mother had to take on a lot more responsibility because of that but I admire her for that you know her ability to do that for myself I have the same disappointments everyone else has which is you know I didn't get a job I wanted or I didn't have I didn't get a good score in my tests that I wanted you know I I have the same or I didn't make that basket when I should have you know those are the things that come up on a daily basis that are sort of annoying looking back on it but it's right that's just the way it goes you know and hopefully you know I've had some times in my life that are I can't think of any that would be dramatic and other than the time I was dealing with my brother he he had juvenile diabetes and he was they were they actually needed to get a kidney transplant for him and so all of our all of his siblings tested for it and I happened to have the best match and so it's so this is 40 years ago now and so and so when you know it I'm 3,000 miles away everyone else is back there you know and I'm thinking to myself well you know if it's meant to be it is and but the problem was they assigned a doctor who was my advocate and he had an advocate and the idea was that you had to make sure you wanted to do this or else it would be one of those things that you'd regret and so I'll just tell you this much that I think it was about February March that we started the process and and the doctor kept questioning me and making sure that I was okay I was getting annoyed because it was taking so long you know and of course I had a cold right when it all started and about nine months eight months nine months later I finally said to the doctor you know I know you are playing my advocate to the ultimate but I'm gonna fire you I said that meaning I have to have another doctor because you're not letting me do this and I think I should and so that was a tough time for me dealing with that and after the operation my cold was gone so for nine months I had a cold and I realized it was all stress-related because what wondering when is this going to happen and having to put it off and then have to fly back of you know and actually they wanted to do it in Portland but I I said I'm not gonna take a chance of my kidney not making it back there and then and then being inserted so we laid next to each other back in Boston and that's when the operation took place that was a it affected you know my family and everyone else in it yeah so being in stress for nine months yeah much less right the end of it you run kidney down that's oh I didn't realize how much of it until I until the day after and I said my cold is gone you know mm-hmm so I said to myself that tells you what stress does yeah stresses it's working in the background it may not it may not be right there you're gonna you like your car is gonna hit something and you know it's gonna happen that's a different kind of stress but something that's operating in the background so that would be one example I have since that experience have you been able to recognize it better when you're under or is that the most extreme stress you've been under or like if well I do I'll give you another example like have you recognized it and been able to be like oh I think this is stress whereas yes I have to answer your question yes I have I mean that's again part of life's lessons you know you just learned what works and what doesn't yeah that's a good way to look at it it's a science you're right I was gonna say signs like signs are just being able to just hey maybe I'm avoiding thinking about something you know and maybe that's just cuz no I think you you have a good sense about it that's what I would say yeah yeah but we all have those stories you know it's not the same story for every person but we're all dealing with so from a health standpoint that was something that and I was only about 35 at the time so that's a big decision at 35 to give a kidney for a brother that's yeah surreal that's a situation most people will never experience right and I mean but most people would do it if they had the opportunity it's just that maybe it didn't come along so you don't maybe they did something else you know what I mean we all have something that we faced with you know so it seems like from because many times throughout this episode we're close to an hour you've mentioned values but you haven't explicitly said yours my guess if I were to like ad hoc after hearing all that you said say my guess is family and community would be pretty much your paramount and hope hope faith belief in a better belief in the things getting better and then community and family I'm curious if you have a third or if I'm if I'm you know how am I how my guess is I think you described pretty concisely exactly what most of my life has been like and I I feel like most people other than having differences in each of those would have the same story but I can't think of anything else off the top anyway that would make a difference in terms of values that the one thing I'll say about the community aspect was that my my commitment to the community whether it's through work or through public service was I always felt I was it was an extension of my family so I viewed that as my family also so the combination is really and everyone does it differently I know there's some people in the community that have the best-looking yards that you'd ever want to have which I don't have but they do and it adds beauty to the community that's not me but maybe I could help in a different way and so I found that's my interest in public service was in working through policies and procedures that made life better hopefully for the community and today you get you're getting to do that I'm doing this in my job by helping well my goal would be to help every business be successful and if they are successful that means they'll create jobs for other families and the community benefits because now you have healthy economic families that are able to move in a direction that they want to to make it a little bit more precise in what way do you help businesses succeed because that's a that's a very it's an open it's a very broad statement but the way I would do it is the way you do do it and well that's right you're right thank you for clarifying I would sit and listen to someone tell me about their business and what they want to do sometimes it's a startup sometimes it's an existing business and and then I'll just say you know what are the challenges you're having about that and then they'll tell me and then sometimes I I may have some ideas that they hadn't thought of that make a difference sometimes I don't but I will say in every case they can count on me being able to provide insights that they might not have had and maybe even connections with parties that can help them further their goals and and that's what I get my enjoyment out of the current position I'm in it's one of the most joyous things in life is connecting two people when you know it'll benefit their life and it reflects well on you to both of them because you connected them it's truly one of the like the most like subtle but like profound joys in life is like this would benefit everyone if you two got together and it doesn't always work sometimes you introduce them and even though it's seemingly a perfect match there are slightly different fields or like interests or you know it's it's it doesn't always work but when it when it does work and you know it's it's really beautiful well I'm glad you feel that way because that's you summarized it very well thank you yeah closing thought this is my first episode back it's so this is sorry if I was a little rough and tumble you're very well spoken I have one question for you though okay all right eye contact I think when we met at Lane Small Business Development Center fair you had an amount of eye contact that I don't normally get much in life part of the reason I started the show was I didn't aside from Kenzie I wasn't just sitting and talking to people like people just don't sit and talk to people very much anymore where we're not like checking the phone or eating or like some distraction but on the show you've had a level of like less eye contact some people do none the whole show right which is an oddity but you clearly are comfortable with eye contact I'm curious if there's just a level of deep thought oh here I go yeah I think part of part of my thinking on that is I'm trying to think of how to respond if I'm just having a natural conversation with you and I know you're trying to set it up that way and that's a good format I think but I'm not necessary practiced in what I'm doing and I'm trying to think through how can I say it in a way that makes sense to not just you but your listeners you know and so it causes me to look to the side to give myself focus on how can I say this you know whereas opposed to having just a conversation with you no cameras yeah so how could I do you think better achieve that goal of that because that is my intended goal right because who listens to this it's it's it's it's I mean the most impactful person who could listen this podcast would be your grandkid in 30 years yeah and be like wow and just just that familial connection yeah you know like the reason I'm doing this is tenfold documentarian of people and their place in life for some people it's not working or getting ideas out for everyone it's different but my intended goal is just to document an authentic just conversation of two people sitting in a location okay like are you cut is there enough room this is my previous room with the you know the episode you watched we had more room behind us so I'm a little bit closer to the wall I wanted you to have some room are you comfortable in here I'm comfortable in this space yeah and then yeah some people might not be but I am and let's see I'm not sure how I could help you make sure others have just you know me yeah what may have made a difference maybe the topic I should have started with personal and then transition I think that would have helped yeah again I'm a little it's been a whole year since it's okay and I'm you know I'm much more able to talk more personally like most human beings than I am professionally but I'll say that would help mm-hmm it would get me probably started on the right foot mm-hmm that that's a good time I'm not sure what else you could do other than say upfront to someone you know you just explained to me why you're trying to do this and and that helps me understand why it's important that I paid look to you when I'm talking that's probably the best thing you can do because it's a starting place for people and then in the end you're learning what works for most people I think none not just but then start with a personal so I would say those two steps are probably gonna help you with other people beautiful I appreciate that I've workshopped what to tell people before the show so many times and some like just sometimes it can be read wrong and then people think it's a certain thing so it's really hard because it's not only am I confirming hey do you have time to meet to people do you also have time to meet in person and are you okay recording it right and it like so it's like there's so many checks right to get someone on a like on an episode and just communication has such an opportunity to create confusion right and my main goal with communication is to reduce confusion and just you know so it's it's the pre like preamble I will I'm gonna give it another attempt of just saying does that what you mean by preamble yeah yeah maybe what I text you about the show or what I tell you or before we start hearing just and he's anything that's setting the stage because I will say diversity of ideas not telling people anything about it right how I've played off of some people's energy like some people just take the reins they're like they've been waiting for an opportunity to be on there they've just been dying for it I'm like cool you can do whatever you want with it like you have a video recording of yourself and I've learned and I've actually adjusted what I do on the show because of them so it's an interesting thing of leaving that open right by not kind of defining what I want it to be right because yeah it's not necessarily an interview although the goal of it is to get your ideas like you see your story for maybe some ground like grounding about who you are but really it's like your way of thinking you know just capturing that I think is right goes back to the exchange of information that's what helps people have better lives the end you got a couple of nuggets in here I appreciate it thank you for coming on thank you for talking to Sharon yeah that was a it was a joy okay well thank you for asking me and hopefully I'll be anxious to hear where you go with your business you know because you've given me some insight as to what you're trying to do and I know you have to physically move as your next major step but after that hopefully you'll be in a position to grow your business appreciate it yeah it's it's an interesting situation my quip is nothing's for sale because a lot of people have been like hey can I buy some but I didn't buy and then die at all just to trade it back for money I just traded money to put it into this because cotton doesn't go bad right it's funny vintage teas are actually worse significantly more although I'm not surprised I know it's people really crave that texture I'm curious if you feel like this kind of cotton shirt just like it's just thick it's comfortable it's comfortable that's what I would say mm-hmm the word is comfortable because I can't I remember this guy when I first came to Cottage Grove 50 years ago I went in to get some shoes you know and he said do you do you want some socks with those shoes and I said oh no I got socks he said well do you have the kind that are you know you buy at the store that are polyester polyester and so forth I said yeah how did you know he says well most people do mm-hmm and he says well what I have is cotton yeah and I said yeah but cotton doesn't last as long he said yeah but it's a lot more comfortable it breathes and he says what he said he said you'll come back to me in ten years and you'll want cotton yeah that's what he said to me and did you are you well I do now yeah I choose I prefer that I when I say cotton it's it may be a mixture a mix I don't I don't look yeah I have more natural socks I'll use that so I would say January of this year I didn't own any I wore mostly hand-me-downs yeah I wore I had no idea the makeup or none of no specific brand I wore random clothes but I had a chronic physical pain oh and I started wearing just cotton shirts and it's purely the the breathability the heat retention would cause me to start messing with it and then activating the muscle would generate heat yeah which would then get trapped again huh and I didn't know I was trying to find all these are my dehydrated what's the cause of this chronic physical it's not pain what I deal with that with earlier before I went to school was pain this is more of just like a motor tic or like an annoyance or fatigue I said it was for a couple of years and then so finding the answer to that well was so like transformational of like oh this can not only my comfort my just because when I'm comfortable I just feel better I'm not thinking about something something isn't distracting my thought when I'm comfortable and especially the ability to like the fact that it removed pain in my life was I'm like oh this is this has value this is you know what is value value is something that improves people's lives right that that's a good way to look at it but they have to understand that value I mean you can say all you want but if they don't get it it's you know this value and maybe science knows this value but if they don't get it then they're not gonna buy because they have to understand it so that's the secret I think how do you help people see that what you have is gonna help them mm-hmm yeah it's really tricky because I mean marketer it's I think about all the time but specifically online you can't tell someone how it feels right you just can't right and every company is like we have a super soft and then you look at the materials and it's a hundred percent polyester and it's just it's it's not the same fortunately the designs that have been adding to them look high quality enough that people have a lot of interest in purchasing them and then I have the faith that then them having a hundred percent cotton that's of substantial quality will then make them want to get more later on when are you gonna sell those are are you those right there are ones that have picked off but the amount I think about the amount of time and energy would take to you know wrap it up wrap it up ship it shipping costs but essentially the majority of them I want to keep because my real driving goal is to find an existing manufacturer that has the workers they have the place because I mean this is smart yeah this is one person with a small backyard made over 500 pieces where the entire the entire article of clothing has designs on it and it's it's significantly higher than tie-dye I did some tie-dye as examples because like that's what a manufacturer should probably base it against most people have like a hippie association with tie-dye or whatever it is but essentially if you just look at the fidelity of like tie-dye gets kind of blurry I see that and this doesn't and it doesn't it goes down to the individual level and it's takes a tenth of the amount of time and the actual like taking a clothing and then altering it it costs significantly less because tie-dye you have to let it sit for 24 hours the dye is expensive you have to soak it in soda ash so the the fibers react whereas I've just everyone's fear-based not bleaching clothes or they bleach it in a certain way but I just saw this glimmer of what it could look like and it's just been this progression of every single one that I did it'd be in a different method or a slightly different way and it just kind of built out into being this thing where I could reliably and consistently get designs that all looked quite different and so those are hoodies if you believe it or not no but like oh I see yeah this as like clothing like it just it doesn't necessarily exist on the market you can have polyester that's printed with like a faux design but then at the seams like it won't match up so it's the fact that this is like it's I've created a new thing for the marketplace and I don't want to rush into exchanging it back for US dollar like I put all the energy and time into exchanging US dollar for this you know do you have it patented I don't think it's a patentable idea I don't know that it is or it isn't that's why I'm asking and your technique might be that's why I'm asking um funny enough I'd I'd almost teach it out of the just like I'd open source it like I'd meet the manufacturer and say I'd love to just like teach you this and then I'd love to clearly this should show my drive and passion for this industry I don't think that this is the tip like the edge of the iceberg like this isn't the end of my knowledge like I say if if I have more like capacity to to test and to try new things I mean I've done all this without even sewing or hemming or anything like much much less like cutting and adding like these things so clothing just took me out of the blue I was always digital my whole life I I wrote like a book and a screenplay I put an album out like I was in a music I was into writing video really took me and then that's the one that actually could make a career with so this is my first physical venture and it's it's really rewarding in the sense that nothing that I've ever done people have been able to hold in their hands nothing people nothing's created as much of a positive feedback of people are just like out in the blue just like just down the world of like can I get that or where can I get that um well let me tell you why I'm asking the question because I don't really know a lot but I would just say I would talk to a patent attorney and just see if if it is reasonable but in the end you created an idea you're you're the entrepreneur I was describing and um by the way who did this I made the table it's that's awesome I appreciate that yeah all my life I've just been consistently aren't funny R&Ding whatever I've been I've been had at my at my disposal so I made this five or six years ago so the epoxy on top starting to crack I think right there so you know it'll it'll have to be replaced at some point in life but but yeah well it's funny that is it on paper or is it on cloth this is a butcher block yeah um and then I took acrylic paint oh with oh it's right on the block right on the block and then epoxy over it okay yeah it's funny I'm just now putting together how similar of kind of a design pattern these have and that comes from I didn't just before I bleached before I bleached I would screen print so I make designs I put them on screens and then I put them all over clothes and like this is glow in the dark some of it's reflective where it's actually like the light will shine back at you this is so laborsome to do oh it's it's I mean I could do 25 things where the entire thing has a design in the same amount of time it would take me to do two or three I see articles of clothing like this yeah and clearly like I had a path I had to drive to cover the whole thing in some way yeah so this was just like oh hey I figured out how to scale it because for years people were like you should figure out how to scale clothing and I'm like no I'm just doing it because I want the clothes that I wear I want to them to be unique and you're like mine right and then I would gift them to people like the ones that I'm like that one slightly doesn't fit me this or that um but then the bleach and then the highest quality ones I'm just going to add a couple designs onto such as you know this is a yeah this is a bleached article of clothing but then it has a couple like so they're all tests and at the end of the day um with the patent office I think someone could try reverse engineering but there's a bleach has existed and clothing has existed for a long time there's the reason why someone hasn't made this um I don't know I it blows my mind it took a lot of tooling around and playing with it I I had probably 30 piece 30 shirts that had holes in it and rips because the bleach would eat away at it yes so it took a long time to first off realize how to make it so the bleach wouldn't do that affected yeah affected yeah so yeah no it's it's it is my driving passion in life I am that I am that um entrepreneur in a way oh yeah I would say um well again the reason why I brought that up is if you didn't want to get into the actual manufacturing of it but you could find someone that would do that that you take a percentage of everything that they sell as opposed to you know it just becomes a source of income for you well that's a good size looks good on you I appreciate it this is one of the earlier ones I guess that is my goal and my hope was the goodwill in people a lot of my most profitable like business relationships started by doing free work for them or like coming with value in the hand um teaching people so they could teach their team certain things so my hope was that that's possible in the retail world but it might be too large a scale it might need to be but I don't I don't know if it'd be like the time and energy it would take to patent it to like be like make sure no one can do this when it so you know like it's it's a very interesting nebulous kind of concept of how what I should do or the other idea is just to set up a consulting business and you are paid for your knowledge and you're hired by certain companies to provide them with that expertise that might be another way to take advantage of your knowledge because that's what it is it's knowledge uh people people don't know about it or they don't have the ability to create something that good and you've got examples of it and that's they're always looking for something yeah that's part of the reason I'm not selling all of them or the majority of them is I'm like well I don't want to yeah I change it back and then it's like ah like the whole goal of it is to show that it's like one person can do this level of scale and the amount of mess-ups I have is so low so it's like like all these ways that would speak to a manufacturer and a like a scale facility like I'm trying like speak in terms of like hey like financially makes sense less labor less cost like the actual material um it's a new thing in the marketplace that has so I'm going to sell some to show that there's a proven market for them but yeah I'm excited to update you where I do go with it yeah I well and the other thought I had I mean just I don't want to keep you from doing what you're trying to do but I I'm thinking of it was one of the thought I had you had oh do you ever read have you ever read Dr. Seuss um yeah and just if you can move the mic you can move but if you just move the mic with you oh I'm on live yeah we still we haven't cut it if you're hey I'm like you know I didn't know okay well I'm just saying to you um Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss do you read okay there's a story in one of his books it's a great story for you because of what you're trying to do with your shirts um it's about the star bellied snitches okay and uh I wish I had a copy of it with me because I don't remember all the details I just remember this um people are attracted to certain things and the people who have the money and power can get what they want it seems like and so one day oh sorry I'm actually you can manhand you can grab it and go like this okay I tell you at the end sorry so I'll just say one day this guy comes to town he has this machine with him and in this town there's two kinds of people the ones that have it all and the ones that don't have much and you see that in life so it just appears that way anyway so he's he says to the people without their heads are down they're they're they're miserable in life and he says so what's wrong you know and they said well you see those other guys over there you notice they have stars in their bellies and they're going around with their heads up in the air and they're telling everyone how great they are and so forth well we want to be more like them so so he says well I can help you with that and they said really how well you just give me a dollar and then you come into my machine and when you come out of the other end of the machine you'll have a star in your belly just like those guys so the first guy goes in he does that and he comes down wow I'm like these guys and my head goes up and all of a sudden the world looks hopeful and I'm excited and so one of his friends comes over and says what happened to you and he says well I'm not like you anymore I'm like them and he said I know but how did you do that he says you see that guy over there in the machine you just give him a buck and then you go through the machine and so he's okay so he

In this episode of The Nonprofit Insider Podcast, we sit down with Nicki Fiocco, host of the AmeriCorps Connections Podcast and a passionate advocate for community service. With over 66 episodes under her belt, Nicki's work highlights the stories and impact of AmeriCorps members worldwide.Join us as we explore:- The rich history of AmeriCorps and the challenges it has faced in securing national funding.- Insights into Nicki's journey from leading statewide volunteerism initiatives as Executive Director of the National Service State Service Commission to her current role at Transform Mid-Atlantic, where she champions civic engagement.- A candid conversation on the differences between working in government versus the nonprofit sector.- A special #NonprofitHorrorStory where Nicki shares how burnout can threaten the very heart of nonprofit work.Tune in for an engaging discussion packed with lessons for anyone in the nonprofit space or interested in service-driven work.Nicki Fiocco, based in Maryland and an alum of the University of Maryland, brings years of experience and a mission to make service impactful, inclusive, and enjoyable.Links:- [Nicki Fiocco Linkedin] (Nicki Fiocco | LinkedIn]-AmeriCorps Connections Podcast, Apple [AmeriCorps Connections Podcast - Apple Podcasts]#NonprofitInsiderPodcast #Fundraising #Philanthropy #Nonprofit #Podcast #Maryland

I'm so excited to share this special 20 min episode stack as a highlight with a powerful message. I'm publishing this curation to help you make the most of your time. The episode features segments from the episode 044, 045, & 046 featuring Laura Gassner Otting and the following Aftercast & Solocast. https://richie.libsyn.com/laura-gassner-otting-limitless ====== Richie Norton interviews Laura Gassner Otting and they discuss success and happiness in life and business surrounding the principles in her book Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life. "Laura helps readers discover their consonance  —  how they align  what they do  with  who they are  — to  achieve their limitless potential. With lessons learned over 20 years of interviewing hundreds of  nonprofit, corporate, and government leaders, all of whom were in the midst of massive career change, Gassner Otting helps  readers discover their greatness and encourages them to forge ahead and become the best versions of themselves." This powerfully helpful conversation dives deep into The Four Elements of Consonance (Calling, Connection, Contribution, Control) and how you can create greater freedom, success and happiness even amidst hard times like COVID19. Laura Gassner Otting is a serial entrepreneur and a globally touring professional   speaker  (from colleges to conferences to corporations around the world--from the US Army base in Japan, to a   TEDx  stage in Boston, to   The TODAY Show  and   Good Morning America). She is the founder of   Limitless Possibility, a niche consulting firm working with entrepreneurs, philanthropists, executives, and thought leaders to get them unstuck and achieve extraordinary result. Laura is also the founder and CEO,   NPAG  (executive search firm serving nonprofits, foundations, universities, advocacy orgs) and former  Political Appointee to The Clinton White House (helped found the national service program,  AmeriCorps, in which more than 1M Americans have now served). Get Limitless book here:  https://amzn.to/2A7Lf9Y Get Laura's online Limitless course here: https://lauragassnerotting.com/limitless-course/ Continue the conversation here: RICHIE NORTON SHOW COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/richiepodcast RICHIE NORTON SHOW NOTES AND RESOURCES: http://www.richienorton.com/ RICHIE NORTON SOCIAL: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/richie_norton LINKEDIN: http://www.linkedin.com/in/richardnorton FB: https://www.facebook.com/richienorton TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/richienorton

Our guest this time, Danielle Marshall, is an executive coach especially in the nonprofit sector. As she tells us she also works with small businesses to help them build a stronger foundation for working within their organizations as well as with customers and elsewhere. Danielle grew up in Queens and describes her childhood as living in an apartment building among many and diverse cultures. This experience helps her even today to understand and embrace the differences between all of us.   Danielle attended Howard University where she received her Bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology. However, she never got a job in that field. She went on in her studies and received a Master's degree in industrial organizational psychology.   After working in Americorp and other nonprofit agencies for many years, the pandemic forced her to open her own full-time coaching business in March of 2020. She still coaches nonprofit leaders as well as others to help them better understand and actively support people no matter their cultural and other differences.   I get to have a GREAT discussion with Danielle about how all of us, no matter our differences are all part of the same environment. While Danielle mainly concentrates on racial differences she clearly recognizes and understands that race is not the only issue she must address. She is quick to point out, for example, that persons with disabilities are just as part of the racial makeup of society as race itself. As she says, while she is not an expert on disabilities, when she encounters in her work someone with a disability she seeks out a partner more knowledgeable on disabilities to help her.   I found Danielle to be very open minded, curious and very willing to help create a more inclusive world for all. I think you will be inspired by her and hopefully some of you will reach out to her.       About the Guest:   A dedicated advocate for equity and inclusion, Danielle is the founder of Culture Principles and a Certified Diversity Professional. Her career is focused on guiding organizations to integrate Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion into their operational frameworks. With an insightful understanding of industry trends and a commitment to collaborative growth, Danielle develops tailored strategies that enhance team dynamics and problem-solving skills. Her influential work includes a partnership with the Conscious Collaboratory, where she co-created the program Reimagining Racial Equity, aimed at helping business leaders incorporate racial equity into their organizations.   Danielle also excels in coaching senior leaders to develop their cultural competencies, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to lead inclusively in diverse environments. Her approach involves personalized coaching sessions and workshops that focus on understanding and appreciating cultural differences, fostering empathy, and enhancing communication skills within multicultural contexts. As a compelling speaker and ICF-certified Executive Coach, Danielle's engaging presence inspires audiences globally. Holding a Master's degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, her deep commitment to equity and inclusion has established her as a respected thought leader and agent for meaningful change.   Ways to connect with Danielle:   Website: https://www.culture-principles.com/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danimarshall/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultureprinciples/       About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Well, hi and welcome to another edition of unstoppable mindset. We are really, I think, blessed today, I have a person who is our guest. Her name is Danielle Marshall, and Danielle has a background in industrial organization psychology, not sure about the organization. You're going to have to help with that, but that's okay. She's been involved with dealing with nonprofits and concerning children for 20 years, and she saw a disconnect between narratives about children and her actual on the ground experiences, and I'm really fascinated to learn about that she does a lot in the world of diversity, equity and inclusion, dealing with race and so on. So we'll have to see how much she does with disabilities. Just to pick on her a little bit, that'll be fun. But we don't really like to pick on people too much unless they're politicians, and then the rule is you got to pick on everybody. You can't just pick on a few. So we don't deal with politicians because it's just way too much fun to pick on politicians anyway. Well, Danielle, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here. Michael,   Danielle Marshall ** 02:35 thank you. I'm not sure I've ever had an introduction quite like that.   Michael Hingson ** 02:40 Don't you think it's true, though, that we ought to just pick on all politicians,   Danielle Marshall ** 02:43 sure what they pick on themselves.   Michael Hingson ** 02:46 They do a good job, and then they leave all these openings for the rest of us. Right? Absolutely, and it's true of all of them. So as I tell people, I'm an equal opportunity abuser, so it's really better to just stay away from it. We have too much fun doing other kinds of things anyway, which is exactly what unstoppable mindset is all about. But I'm really glad that you're here. Then seriously, it'll be fun to hear some of the stories and to hear about the things that you have done and why you do what you do, and the observations that you've made. I think it's really pretty fascinating. But why don't we start, if we can, and if you will, why don't you tell us kind of about the early Danielle growing up, and some of that stuff always good to start that process.   Danielle Marshall ** 03:33 Sure. Well, I grew up as a 70s child in New York City, so that was my, sort of, my origin story. And I think it lends itself, quite frankly, to where I've ended up today. New York is one of the most diverse cities in the US, and definitely was true when I was growing up, also large, you know, large metropolitan area. And so where in New York I grew up in Queens, predominantly in Queens city. And, you know, when I think about the exposure I had to things as as a child, it really is telling that I would end up doing this work. You know, I grew up in an apartment building, and literally, everyone lived in the apartment building with us. You know, we had people from different racial groups and ethnic ethnicities, and there was Spanish music playing and Indian food cooking. And so, you know, my childhood really was a a broad opportunity to just dive in and talk to people and learn about their cultures and just really get familiar. And so I think it was interesting for me, because I don't feel like I ever grew up tolerating people. It was just we accepted each other, we lived amongst each other,   Michael Hingson ** 04:44 yeah. And was kind of an environment where, well, a very heterogeneous environment by any standard. And you, you learned up front, I would presume, pretty much how to get along,   Danielle Marshall ** 04:55 yeah, for the most part, yeah. I mean, no different, though, and I will put this caveat out. Out there that as kids, you know, we, no matter if it is a heterogeneous group or homogeneous, we're still going to have conflict, right? That's people. That's human nature. And the difference, though, and I'm really excited that I had this opportunity at such an early age, is that we learn to navigate the conflict within those groups early on. So, you know, it was never isolated to we only deal with our own community literally. And I know this is not true for everyone that grew up in New York, but it was definitely my experience. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 05:28 your community was everyone, everyone and all sorts of different kinds of people, which was so cool and something that it'd be nice to see a whole lot more of, and people really learn to understand the whole lot more of all sorts of different kinds of   05:43 people, for sure.   Michael Hingson ** 05:45 So when you were in New York, did you ever eat at Peter Lucas?   Danielle Marshall ** 05:50 I actually did not have a memory of it, perhaps, but I don't remember that.   Michael Hingson ** 05:57 I always liked Ruth's Chris steakhouse better than Peter Lucas, but I've been to Peter Lucas on a couple of sales presentations, so I've eaten there twice. And I don't know was it's, I wonder if it's still there, just with everything that happened during the pandemic. You know, who knows? I know. Tavern on the green after September 11 closed for a while, and then it finally reopened. But it's just really too bad, and Hurley's saloon had to relocate because their lease went way up. Hurley's was one of those restaurants that started well, when it started, the Hurley brothers leased the space, and then the Rockefellers wanted to put up NBC and Rockefeller Center, and they put it up, but they wanted to buy out Hurley's, and Hurley said, No, we're going to keep it. And they had a 99 year lease. But unfortunately, when the 99 year lease was over, the rent quadrupled, and they ended up relocating over to a place on what was it? It was on 48th between I think it was Broadway and eighth, or eighth and ninth, right in that area, but I was always liked Hurley's, that was a fun place. So many stories because NBC, when they did build the facility in Rockefeller Center, some of the reporters ran a phone line from some of the places in NBC to Hurley. So they hung out in Hurley's and stayed at the bar, and then if something came in, their phone rang under the bar, and they grabbed the phone and went off and did what they did. Sure, sure, lovely history, only in New York.   Danielle Marshall ** 07:36 Many things happen in New York and nowhere else.   Michael Hingson ** 07:39 Well, so what got you? So you went to college, and where did you do that?   Danielle Marshall ** 07:45 Where I went to Howard University. So I came down to Washington, DC, okay? And while I was there, I ended up serving as a AmeriCorps member for two years with a program called jump start for young children. And it was, I think, really the beginning, if you will, of this journey as I understand it today, at least, it started to come to the forefront for me. Because what happened while I was in service is we were working in a number of Head Start schools around the District of Columbia, and I was serving primarily black and brown children in in the schools. And it was the first time I had really heard this narrative that would then follow me, regardless of where I live throughout the country. And the narrative was very much centered on who the children and families were that we serve. So, you know, there were often stories about the outcomes that they would achieve in life, what what levels of success they would be able to to get to who their families were, etc. But what I distinctly remember is that many of those narratives that I was hearing were not coming from people that were representative of that community. They didn't live there. They didn't represent the cultural groups we were serving, so they sort of had an outside perspective about who these community members were. And what was really disheartening for me at the time is that the narratives were very negative and, you know, and again, they didn't serve this community, but also misguided in the sense that they came from outsiders. And so I remember, even at that time, wanting to spend more of my efforts around narrative shifting, which is a big feature in the work that I do right now, because it began to dawn on me, though I yet, I yet to have, like the words at that moment, that it was never about the the children or the families. It was it was really about the systems. It was something broader that was leading to the outcomes that these kids were experiencing, not any default or deficit within them.   Michael Hingson ** 09:49 You know, it's interesting, because I can equate that to disabilities and specifically blindness, the same sort of thing, the narrative all the time is what blind people can. And can't do. Mostly can't, and it comes from people who are not blind, who have never tried being blind, and unfortunately, all too often, the so called professionals in the industry who have no real clue nor expectations about what people who happen to be blind can and cannot do. And the reality is, mostly we can do anything that we choose to, if given the opportunity. And so we end up finding the same narrative. I remember one person telling me about a story where they were at a meeting. He happened to be blind and was the CEO of a blindness organization, and somehow they got on to a discussion of the names of the organizations and that they really needed to somehow figure out how to get blind out of the names of their organizations. And this guy said, Wait a minute, what are you talking about? Your blindness organizations? You know, let's let's see. How many of you would really like to take the word blind out of your organization names. And there were, I think, 25 people in the room, and 24 out of 25 raised their hands. And of course, most all of them were not blind, but they wanted to take blind out of their organization name, just because of the view that they had. And as this person pointed out, you are serving and dealing with blind people. How could you ever consider taking blind out of the name of your organization? Blind isn't the problem. It's your attitudes and your perceptions. Yeah, so it seems exact same sort of thing? Yeah,   Danielle Marshall ** 11:34 absolutely. It's funny that even as you say that I'm having a I had a little bit of a reaction, because I hear that so much when people say, Well, why do you have to talk about race, or why did you have to say that this was a black person or a white person or an Asian person? Well, that's because that's who they are, right there. It doesn't change because you are uncomfortable having that conversation. It's still representative of that individual.   Michael Hingson ** 11:59 And it also doesn't mean that any of them are less capable than anyone else. Well, 100%   Danielle Marshall ** 12:04 like that. That goes without saying for me, but I think I am appreciating your point right now, because it needs discussion, because some people still believe that an association with a particular group, whether it be cultural ability level, etc, means that that narrative that exists in their mind that's negative is true, and   Michael Hingson ** 12:23 unfortunately, when we talk a lot about diversity and inclusion, especially the whole area of diversity, diversity usually centers around race, gender, sexual orientation and so on, and it Never centers or really brings in disabilities, even though we as a minority are much larger than all of the other minority groups that you can talk about. And yet we don't see disabilities being brought in. And it reminds me of a story. There's a book called all on fire by Henry Mayer. Have you ever read it?   Danielle Marshall ** 12:56 I haven't read that one.   Michael Hingson ** 12:58 So it's about William Lloyd Garrison, the abolitionist in the 1840s and he was looking for people to really join the movement and help in the abolition movement. And there were some two sisters, the grim K sisters, who were very much involved in women's suffrage. And he told his people, we really need to get them to come and be involved in what we're doing. And they said, Well, why would we do that? They're not interested in this. They're all interested in women's efforts and so on. Why would they even be interested in in in what we're doing? It would just kind of really divide off, and it would completely separate from what what we're about. And and Garrison said, you really don't get it. It's all the same thing. And it's unfortunate that we don't see that. So even the people who are involved in diversity, all too often decide they're going to specialize in one thing, but in reality, it's all the same thing.   Danielle Marshall ** 13:58 Yeah, I, you know, I I think that there are certain people who have niched down so like, my focus is racial equity, but I will tell you this, I don't miss disability or ability levels in my conversation, either, because what I'm more focused on is I pick a central part to start, which, for me, happens to be race, right? But what I would say to anyone who brings into the conversation, well, we have to talk about, we have to talk about gender, and we have to talk about, you know, I, you know, I'm a gay person, or I am in a wheelchair, all of these things start to come in for people in the conversation. And what I would say is that if I were to center on race, and even more specifically, let's say I picked a particular racial group that I'm centering on. If I centered the conversation on blackness, please understand and this is really, I think, important for listeners, viewers, today, for every racial group or any cultural group that you deal with the intersections that are out. For them cross every other identity. So if I chose a black person or a blackness as a racial group, there are going to be people who are, you know, they have different sexualities, they have different ability levels, they have different religions. And so, you know, as I'm thinking, different genders, you name it, different social, economic status. So no group is a monolith on its own. So if you are doing this work with intentionality, you are bringing in the other identities. And I understand it's not everyone out there that's doing it, but to me, there is very much a there's a place in this conversation for all of us, because I have chosen to center on one thing, and for me, I center on race first, because it's one of the conversations we have a very difficult time having in this country. Yeah, but we do build that muscle, but it is not to the exclusion of every identity other than a racial identity, because we all exist within, you know, a particular race.   Michael Hingson ** 15:55 And, you know, I've had a number of people come on the podcast who talk about diversity and so on. And very, very seldom do people say exactly what you just said, which makes perfect sense. I mean, there's nothing wrong with the fact that you focus mainly on race and particularly niches, but you would not do it to the exclusion of other things, and that's the important part. I've had some people who came on and they, and I've asked them to define diversity, and they say, oh, it's all about sexual orientation, race and gender and so on. And I said, What about disabilities? Oh, that's, that's social justice. No, it's not. It's not social justice. It's a completely different sort of thing. And that's, that's what's so unfortunate that we really don't understand that there's so many aspects of it. I mean, from that standpoint, in parts of the world, you could say the same thing about Caucasian people who happen to be a minority, and probably in other areas, are just as misunderstood in some ways.   Danielle Marshall ** 17:00 Sure, sure, you know, I would add something I think that's valuable, you know, if we're to think about expanding this conversation. So I don't think it's enough to simply say, I'm going to include information about, you know, disability and in this, in this discussion. But what I would say, as someone who focuses on racial equity, my expertise in disability isn't as strong. Sure, that's not my area. However, if done well, I can bring in a partner who does focus on that exactly. So now we have a stronger opportunity to really dig in and to do the work I have an opportunity right now that I'm working on where there's another gentleman in as part of the group who has a visual impairment, and he was teaching me a little bit about the technology. So if we're using zoom, what he has access to, what he doesn't have access to, access to. And so that's been really important to me, because these are things that I could very easily overlook. I tried to stay up to up to date on making sure that all the technology I personally use is accessible. But because technology changes so quickly, and this is not my area of specialties, literally, I need someone else who focuses on this to be like, Hey, have you heard this new update? Are you aware this thing is happening? Here's a new technology you can build into your own practice.   Michael Hingson ** 18:19 Sure, and that is exactly the way it ought to be. And, oh, by the way, just, just to point out, visual impairment is is a horrible term. It's like deaf people being called hearing impaired. You know, they they would execute you on the spot if they could, if you said hearing impaired. And the reason that visual impairment is bad, and it was created by the experts, the so called experts. First of all, visually, we're not different. You don't look different simply because you're blind. But the big issue is impaired, because immediately you're equating a person who doesn't see or doesn't see as well. You're equating their level of eyesight to people who have perfect eyesight. So the better term is blind and low vision, as opposed to visually impaired, for the obvious grammatical and logical reasons. But again, you wouldn't know that unless somebody talked to you about it, and other people wouldn't. But we really need to grow and recognize that all too often, words matter in so many ways, which is why we don't say Indians anymore. We say Native Americans or something like that. And, you know, in so many different ways, but, but the reality is, of course, you wouldn't know all about zoom you wouldn't know about screen readers and those, those kinds of technologies. And I'll tell you right now, if I can never help, all you have to do is yell.   Danielle Marshall ** 19:43 I will most certainly reach out. So Michael, you know what you did is you just offered me a gift in this moment. So I appreciate the feedback and the reframing of the language, because I think that is what this work is about. I am not bothered that you have just corrected me in this moment. I'm welcoming, welcoming in this session. An opportunity to learn.   Michael Hingson ** 20:00 It's not so much a correction, isn't Yeah, I'm sorry, go ahead, but to me, it   Danielle Marshall ** 20:04 is a correction, and that's okay, right? Like we have to get comfortable with the fact that sometimes, even as a professional in this space, I am going to mistake misspeak at times, and that is okay because I can own it and then really incorporate that into my work. And so the reason I am even focusing on this right now is one. I am offering this back as gratitude to you. But the second is, for all of us out there that are afraid to lean into this work, one of the reasons people tend to be so afraid and shy away from it is that there, there's a fear of getting it wrong. All too Go ahead, please.   Michael Hingson ** 20:39 All too often today, there's still lots of blind folks who say, I'm visually impaired, and no, you're not, because we haven't, as as a group, really totally learned and understand it. Some people because they had eyesight and they lost it, and they regard themselves as being impaired, but they're not, and then the fact that they think they're impaired is the problem. But even totally blind people from birth sometimes think, well, I'm visually impaired, because they've learned that it's all about how much eyesight you have or don't have. So let's, let's do this a different way. Do you have a disability?   Danielle Marshall ** 21:18 I do? I have a hidden disability, okay,   Michael Hingson ** 21:20 which is,   Danielle Marshall ** 21:22 I am a diabetic. Okay,   Michael Hingson ** 21:25 now let's talk about your non hidden disability. And this is my belief, and I talk about it fairly often on the podcast when I get the chance preaching again, in 1878 Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb. Why he invented the electric light bulb so light dependent people would have a way to be able to function in the dark. It doesn't mean that you don't still have the disability that we have spent so much time making light on demand, available so frequently and so ubiquitously, if you will. I'm not sure that's a good word, but the reality is, one of your disabilities is your light dependents. If the lights go out and you can't grab a flashlight or a smartphone right away, you're in a world of hurt. It doesn't cover it doesn't change your disability. It covers it up, but it's still there. And now getting people to understand and accept that is is a lot harder. But the whole point of it is, we all have challenges. And the reality is disability is not a lack of ability. And I've had some diversity. People say to me, well, but this starts out disability, so of course, it means a lack of ability. Yeah. Well, what do you do with the word disciple, then, or discern or discrete? Let's you know, the reality is, dis has nothing to do with it. It's what we decided is, and we've been so good, especially in the last 30 years, about changing language, it's time to really reframe it. But disability is a characteristic in one way or another that we all have. It just manifests itself differently, and getting people to to recognize that is a different story, but it is still what we really need to do so that people understand we all have challenges, and our challenges may very well be different than most every other person. Then that's okay, but we need to accept people and understand that usually they can help us just as much as we can help them.   Danielle Marshall ** 23:26 Of course, I absolutely agree with that.   Michael Hingson ** 23:30 Well, so you went off to Howard, and what did you What degree did you get at Howard?   Danielle Marshall ** 23:36 I am a speech pathologist. By my degree at Howard, I never actually used the degree. It was not something that I was I was interested in pursuing beyond the the undergraduate level, but I did minor in psychology, and so I went on to get a degree in industrial organizational psychology.   Michael Hingson ** 23:53 Now tell me about this organizational part. I told you I'd have to ask that. It's a great term. It's like an oxymoron, you know, Army intelligence. But tell me about industrial organization psychology.   Danielle Marshall ** 24:03 I think you can just look at it as you know it is, the psychology of organizations like I joke with people often that I think about the world, and in many ways as a case study. And so there are a variety of things that people that are in i o psychology do? They may be, you know, working on hiring and retention. They may be working on culture surveys, how we streamline our workforce, like there's a number of things that they do. What I have done, though, is pull on this thread of culture Well, being in organizations and really thinking about equity. For in particular, bipoc leaders, staff members, etc.   Michael Hingson ** 24:46 So how have your experiences made you kind of uniquely able to deal with what you do? Because clearly our experiences will usually lead us to do what we do. And so in your case, how. Did experience really make that happen?   Danielle Marshall ** 25:03 Yeah, I mean, that's a big question. I feel like everything that I have done over the course of my life sort of led me to this place, but I did not know that this was the destination. And to be fair, this may not be the final destination, right? There's still time, hopefully, that I have to arrive at said destination. But I had a flashback the other day because I was actually reading a book where someone had talked about being an anthropologist, and I remembered, and I hadn't thought about this in years, when I was in high school, and maybe this is Junior year or senior year, I went to my guidance counselor, and I told her, you know, we were we were talking about what we wanted to major in and what we want it to be when we grew up. And I said to the individual, I want to be an anthropologist. And she looked at me and she kind of scoffed, and she's like, No one's going to want to talk about culture and histories like that. That's past it. You'll never get paid for it. And that's crazy. Yeah, yeah. It knocked the wind out of me in that moment, because I'm like, I'm here in the capacity of, like, sharing my dreams, my aspirations with you. You're my guidance counselor. You're supposed to be guiding me. But in that moment, I felt really shut down. And so as a result of that, I made a change when it came to to going to college, right? I changed what I was thinking about. I was looking at this person as you know, someone literally because you're the guidance counselor, you have more wisdom than I do in this area, and so I let that affect how I move forward at the undergraduate level, only to find myself somewhat years later, like I may not be a anthropologist, but I certainly am someone who loves to study culture. I love to understand how people think, why they move, the way they do, what their values and their norms are. And so as I think about that, like they're all of these little touch points along my journey that I would say have brought me to this place, working, you know, in DC, in AmeriCorps program, and hearing the narrative shifts, and again, people talking about the cultural norms and values and getting it wrong about those communities. And so my my goal was like, how do we set the record right? How do we empower people to to not only survive, but to to thrive? And I was like, we have to address the systems. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 27:21 I've always been a believer in that all the experiences that we have help build and help us wherever we go. So how does speech pathology help you? Well,   Danielle Marshall ** 27:36 it has certainly taught me to slow down. You know, one of the things in speech pathology that we did a lot of was repetitive because the people that are coming into the program either they are working on developing speech like if it was a young child, or maybe it's someone who has had an accident or a stroke, and they're they're learning to speak again. There was so much around the repetitive nature of it. There was so much around slowing down, being patient, meeting the client, where they were, that I feel like in a strange way, I suppose. And I had never really thought about that like it does lend itself to where I find myself today. Because when I think about the work that I'm doing, if I'm teaching racial equity principles, if I'm helping groups to understand how to apply an equity lens in their thinking. A lot of this is repetition, making sure that you fundamentally understand the concepts that we've repeated it, that you can see how it might apply in different contexts. The slowing down meeting people at their level, you can't just jump into the conversation and assume people are starting from the same knowledge base that you are. Right? So how do I level set in the moment for that client.   Michael Hingson ** 28:42 There you go. You know, my master's degree is in physics. I never thought that I would be a full time public speaker and doing a podcast and so on. But I also from physics went my first job was doing something not directly related to physics, but it was involving high tech. And the reason physics helped me there is that it really taught me all the values of technology and to be curious about technology. And then, after starting that job, three years later, I ended up going into sales. And one of the things that physics really taught me was, professors always said, you really have to pay attention to all details. Don't make assumptions. That helped me a great deal in sales and then with sales and doing sales for 22 years, until September 11, and I still sale sell, but now it's not technology sales, but still, it was all about being curious, all about paying attention to the details and learning to communicate with people and hello that led to public speaking. So I really do believe that all the things that we do help us build toward whatever it is that we do now and whatever is. Next, whatever that is,   Danielle Marshall ** 30:03 certainly, and it   Michael Hingson ** 30:04 makes perfect sense that I'm, you know, so that's why I was really curious about speech pathology. And I had never thought about the fact that, yes, that you have to really slow down, and that's a very important thing in all the things that you're doing today, because it also helps you be a better listener   Danielle Marshall ** 30:22 that is critical to the work that I do. And you know, Michael, I'm also an executive coach, and so listening feels like it falls into the very essence of my work. I am there to ask people questions and obviously listen to their responses, or maybe not so obviously, but that is what I am I'm doing is I'm listening to hear maybe the things that go unsaid as well. What am I noticing in the conversation that might be helpful for the client to ultimately get to this place of greater understanding by just listening back to their own words   Michael Hingson ** 30:56 and maybe echoing them back and making them listen to them?   Danielle Marshall ** 30:59 Yes, so sometimes I have to stop and just say, I want to, I want to offer a noticing with your permission, right? And I'd like to repeat back to you something that you said, like, how does that land on you? So when we're having those conversations, you know, we we talk so much as people that we don't often listen to ourselves as we're saying that, you know. And I kind of joke with people in that game show that was around years ago. And people would say, like, Is that your final answer? Yeah, because I want you to really make sure that you've had time to think about what you've said. And yeah, and make modifications if you need to.   Michael Hingson ** 31:34 The more it seems to me that you think about what you say, then the better you are at saying what you really want to say more quickly because you've really thought about it. And you, you develop that mind muscle, which is so important,   Danielle Marshall ** 31:49 yeah, I hadn't thought about it that way, but it does lead to a different level of efficiency, for sure, yeah, for sure.   Michael Hingson ** 31:55 But still, even even so, sometimes you say things and you, you didn't think them through, and it's a mind muscle that a lot of times we don't really develop very well, or not nearly as well as we could, but it makes a lot of sense to do it. Yeah,   Danielle Marshall ** 32:12 I think it speaks to our ability to really dive into introspection, right? And to self reflect as a normal practice in our world. Very few people that I talk to spend much time on it, like they will do some self reflection, but it's not a normal practice for them. And the thing is, when I consider, for instance, for me, it's writing, when I need to get clear on something I write, and the Writing helps me. It helps for my my business, because I'm able to publish lots of articles and blogs so forth. But the reason that they're coming out at the speed that they are is because I'll be gnawing on a question, right? Or I'll have had a conversation as as I'm digesting that I'm like, I just need to get it on paper so I can get out of my head and then look back at the notes that I've taken and say, does this actually jive with how you feel in this moment? Is there something that you might adjust to your way of thinking? And so regardless of whether you're doing the thinking in your head or on paper or, you know, out loud in conversation, there needs to be an opportunity to really sort of digest what your experiences are, to process them, because to the point that you made like you can call on the words a lot faster, because you're clear on your position, right? I know what my position is. I don't actually have to sit back and say, Hmm, I wonder about that, because I've thought about it already. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 33:32 I am a firm believer in introspection. I'm writing, well, I've written, and later in August of this year, my new book, live like a guide dog. True Stories from a blind man and his dogs about being brave, overcoming adversity and walking in faith, will be published. And one of the things that I talk about a lot is the whole concept of introspection, because I believe, and I've learned not to say I'm my own worst critic anymore, because I think that's so negative, but rather, I'm my own best teacher, and I only can teach myself when I really sit down and think about it. I've never been a great journalist, but typically I can do it by thinking about it, and then eventually, when I write something down, I'm writing it down because I'm creating an article or preparing for a podcast or whatever, and I'll look at it, and I might tweak it even then, but I do like to spend a lot of time thinking and looking at what I do and thinking about what I do, because I think it's so important, and I wish more of us would do more of that.   Danielle Marshall ** 34:38 Yeah, absolutely. I think there's just so much potential for growth. You know, when we're spending that time reflecting, how did I show up in the moment? You know, am I walking in alignment with my own values right now? Is there something I want to learn? There's just so many spaces that we could enter in when we quiet our minds long enough to just be present with what feels real for us   Michael Hingson ** 34:59 and. Is always time to do that. So many people I've heard say, but I don't really have time. Of course, you do. It's a matter of priority. Yeah,   Danielle Marshall ** 35:08 I'm laughing because I just talked about this earlier. I am in my world when people say they don't have time, it is often related to whether it is dei or leaning into cultural competencies and learning more about different cultures. And I would say to them, like, Hey, you develop these goals. Tell me a little bit about where you are. And oh, well, you know, I got busy, and so it didn't happen. But as a coach, my job is to probe a little bit deeper. And so as I'm listening to them say I got busy, I'm like, Well, what does that mean? And the reality is, we start to uncover some other things, and they're like, Well, you know, I have to have this really difficult conversation with someone at work, and that makes me uncomfortable. You know what? I'm too busy to handle this, right? Or they, they may default to something else where they're like, hey, you know, to learn more about cultural awareness, I actually have to examine my own culture and some of the elements that I may not like as much about my own cultural group. I don't want to do that. I'm really just too busy to dedicate the time, and so at the end of the day, it's kind of amusing, because I'm like, busyness is the default statement, but it is often the excuse, not the actuality of what's happening. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 36:16 that makes sense, and I buy that 100% makes perfect sense. How does cultural competency play into all that you do in terms of developing teams and working with organizations and so on?   Danielle Marshall ** 36:31 Yeah, cultural competency is is really core to the work at the end of the day. Because when we talk about this, and just for a pretty simple definition, for people who have not heard this before, is when we're talking about cultural competency. It's our ability to communicate, to interact, to work across cultural difference, you know? So if we're talking about culture again, it could be everything from disability. I will start with that now. Thank you, Michael,   Michael Hingson ** 36:55 you know, no pressure. You don't have to. That's okay. No, no   Danielle Marshall ** 36:59 pressure at all. But I, the thing is, I want people to see themselves in this, right? So any group, cultural group, where there are shared norms, patterns, values, right? How do you work across difference when you you're not a member of that group? How do you interact with people effectively? How do you communicate with them? And so cultural competence, competency is the ability to do just that. So when, when I think about the work that we're doing, that's really important, because people often will come in to the work and they believe that there is a particular right way to do things, and the fastest way to sort of negate that is, I'm like, I want you to actually think about your own culture. What's your background, what are the beliefs, the patterns, the norms that you grew up with, and also to be able to hear from other people, what are the you know, the norms, the values, the patterns that they grew up with? It's not that one is right or wrong, it's just the one that's familiar to you, thus is often your preference. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 37:55 yeah. And, and the the reality is that you're not the only game in town,   Danielle Marshall ** 38:01 exactly, and we are to work across difference. To be able to collaborate together, I must be able to recognize in you, okay, maybe we do move differently through the world, and even though it is a different choice than I personally might make based on my cultural background, it isn't right or wrong, it's simply different, different   Michael Hingson ** 38:19 I've thought a lot about disabilities, and one of the things that I felt was a challenge for people with disabilities, and you just made me think differently about it, is that the problem with with disabilities is that, in reality, the needs and most all of the issues regarding, let's say people who are blind are different from people who are in a wheelchair or different from people who are deaf or who may be on the who may be autistic or whatever. But the reality is, what I really just figured out, and should have figured out a long time ago, I have to hit myself upside the head later, is it's just as true for race, for for black or for Asian or whatever, it's the same thing. So it really isn't any more of a weakness for disabilities, other than maybe in some senses, physically, there are a lot more things that appear different, but the but the fact of the matter is, we all have differences in what we do, and that's the cultural differences,   Danielle Marshall ** 39:20 absolutely, and it's important, I think, for people to understand that no group of people is a monolith. Yeah, there are always going to be differences within us, you know. And I often for people that really can't see their way out of that, I will ask them to consider for a second, you know, if I said to you, Michael, are all blind, and I'm going to be very specific men the same, your answer would be, what? No, absolutely not, right? And yet we Yeah, make an assumption about other groups, like, well, you know, that's just how they are. And I'm like, Who's Who's they?   Michael Hingson ** 39:57 Who's they? Yeah, and. The reality is, a lot of people would say, well, all blind men are the same, and they're not,   Danielle Marshall ** 40:03 but, and that's exactly the problem. If we would not say within our own cultural group that everyone is exactly the same, we're familiar with it, right? We know we are not the same. I am not the same as every other black woman. You are not the same as every other white man. Like there are differences about us, and yet we are so quick to ascribe similarity to people that are different from us. I   Michael Hingson ** 40:26 know I'm a real oddity in things, but having never seen colors, personally, intellectually, I've never understood why people have a problem with race based on color. And I mean, I can really say that about myself, having never seen it and having not grown up. It's a really, I know, a strange feeling, but I know for me, it is strange to to see so many people looking down on people of a different color. I mean, I understand color. I understand the concept of it. Hey, I can talk about it in terms of wavelengths and Angstroms and all that all day long, but it's never been something that I really understand. Why do we even pay attention to it?   Danielle Marshall ** 41:11 Yeah, this is about dominance. I mean that. Yeah, that's true. Simple of it, yeah, when you think about race, race is a social construct, there is nothing that divides us. We may physically look different, but genetically, people are people. We are all the same in that way. But when we talk about the social construct of race, a person created this. People created this construct of race to establish dominance of certain groups over others. But here's the thing. So, you know, people will say really quickly to me, if it's socially constructed, why does it matter? And I'm like, it is a social construct that has real world implications, yes. And that is why we must continue to have this conversation about race in this country. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 42:01 And the operative part of that is have the discussion. There are those who don't want to have any discussion. They want to just ignore it, because they think they're the only ones who are right.   Danielle Marshall ** 42:14 That is, unfortunately, an ongoing challenge. And I wouldn't even say that just about race. I think there are some think they're right period. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 42:22 I mean, look at, look at different religious organizations. Um, so I'm glad I'm not God, because I'm, I'm with Mark Twain. I wonder if God had been in man because he was disappointed in the monkeys. But I, you know, I It's, it's, it's a challenge, because religiously, so many different religions say, Well, I'm the only one that's really right, yeah. But you know, if you say you believe in God and all that, why do you think that God thinks you're the only one that's right? Show us the proof.   Danielle Marshall ** 42:54 Yeah, it's complicated and but it's another example of why people haven't wanted to lean into these discussions for so long, it was not considered polite conversation to talk about politics, religion, money, those types of things, and yet, I would say the lack of having those conversations have led us to some severe consequences today. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 43:13 and part of it is that we've also forgotten how to really have a good conversation. It doesn't mean that we should take it personally. It doesn't mean that one side is right and the other side is wrong, and that shouldn't be about proving one side right the other side wrong. Should be about understanding. Yeah,   Danielle Marshall ** 43:30 you know, I think it's an opportunity to examine one's motives in the moment. Right listeners, I think it is. But for us to individually do it. What am I hoping to get out of this conversation? You know, for some people, they might want to prove a point. For others, they're going to enter the space, you know, desiring to learn. Others are just, you know, they're they're just filling time. Like, what is your motivation in this? And for me, you know, and I've told many people this at this point, especially doing the work that I do in dei they're like, Oh, don't you get tired of having to convince people about, you know, the different merits of diversity, equity and inclusion. And I'm like, Well, I understood a long time ago that diverse, excuse me, that convincing people is not my ministry. Yeah, I am here to walk alongside of people who want to be on this journey, who want to learn, who want to have curiosity towards the world, towards other groups, to self exploration. And so I think just knowing sort of what the purpose is in the conversation, even if I walk into something like my goal is always to just to learn, to listen, to learn something, even if I have something that I have something that I want to contribute and I have a very strong perspective on it, I still would like to understand what the other person's bringing to the table. And   Michael Hingson ** 44:47 you might change your perspective when you sit down and dwell on what was discussed   Danielle Marshall ** 44:51 absolutely and that that happens every day. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 44:55 I mentioned I have a master's degree in physics. I also, at the same time, got a secondary. Teaching Credential, and I used, and still use that knowledge of being a teacher every day. I use it in sales, because I learned through lessons, I was able to take in learning to be a good salesperson through the Dale Carnegie sales course that the best salespeople aren't really trying to convince you, oh, that may be their motivation. But what they're really trying to do is to teach you and guide you, and at the same time, deciding, is my product the best product for you or not? And the really good salespeople, if their product isn't the one that's going to work for you, will be honest enough to tell you that? Yeah,   Danielle Marshall ** 45:41 absolutely. And as we see with salespeople, there are many different approaches people take. And so, you know, you're if it's not my particular way, there's someone else out there that may offer a different perspective, a different philosophy on these things, and I think that's okay, that we have multiple sort of entry points into this work. I   Michael Hingson ** 46:01 love watching other sales people in action. I've learned every time I do. And as you said, it's all about learning. It's my motivation as well. I love being on these podcasts because, as I've told many people, if I'm not learning at least as much as everyone else, I'm not doing my job very well. And it's so fun to be able to have meaningful discussions and learn so much from so many people who come from different perspectives and have their own knowledge bases which are different than mine, and I get to at least be allowed to share in that with them, which is so cool,   46:38 absolutely.   Michael Hingson ** 46:41 So one of the things that and I mentioned, live like a guide dog, and live like a guide dog really is motivated as a book to teach people that they can control fear and that that fear doesn't need to blind you, as I put it, or paralyze you or overwhelm you. You know, September 11 happened, and I wasn't afraid. And I wasn't afraid because of the fact that I learned in advance how to deal with emergencies at the World Trade Center, because I moved into the to the complex, and we opened our office in August of 2000 but even before then, while we were setting it up, I knew that there had been a bombing in 1993 and I decided early on, you know, if there's a gonna be another attack on the World Trade Center, I better know all I can about this year place. And so I learned where everything was, but I also spent a lot of time talking to the emergency preparedness people, the fire people, the Port Authority, police and so on, and I learned what to do. And it wasn't until much later that I realized that all that knowledge helped me develop a mindset that said you know what to do in the case of an emergency. So I really advocate very strongly when I get a chance to talk about being safe and emergency preparedness, don't rely on signs. Learn the information so that you really know what to do, which most people you know, don't they, they figure, I'm just going to be able to see the sign, and that works until you can't because you're in a smoke filled room, but, but fear is, is all around us, and we don't really learn to control it. And I think society, all too often, really, in a lot of ways, encourages us to be afraid, way too much. But fear is is something that people just hate to talk about, like in professional growth and so on. How do you deal with that?   Danielle Marshall ** 48:30 I definitely appreciate that. You know when I when I think about fear? For me, it can be either a catalyst or an inhibitor, sort of a choose your own adventure concept, because you get to decide how you're going to approach it. But you know, when I think about fear, and I'm going to, you know, back this up to the work that I do around Dei, around cultural, culture in general, I think fear has the potential to raise our self awareness. If I walk into something and I'm I'm fearful, all of a sudden, there's someone who's different from me, right? They're a different religion, they speak a different language, they look different. Why am I experiencing that fear in that moment? Right? So I'm raising my self awareness by being able, again, to introspect on this, to really dig a little bit deeper. So that's that's one piece of it, like it points to the things that can help us then to grow we're the places that we need to focus on, you know? And I'll use just an example again, like a common fear is public speaking. And so is that something that you should really be fearful of, or is it simply a acknowledgement that, hey, I could work on my public speaking skills, right? I could practice in the mirror as a starting point. I could talk to a group of friends, you know, and just have a presentation in my living room. It is pointing us to skills we're not necessarily saying you have to get on a stage and deliver a TED talk as an. Example, right? Like, what are the small steps one can take to start to be able to build up those competencies more and so, like, when I think about fear, I think there's, it's, it's an opportunity to grow.   Michael Hingson ** 50:12 I believe that's absolutely correct. Fear is a is a very powerful tool that we can use in so many things that we do in our lives, and that it doesn't need to be the thing that overwhelms us and prevents us from making intelligent decisions. It's a it's a great motivator, it's a great tool, and it's a wonderful gift that if we would embrace it and use it properly, would help us a great deal in all that we do. Yeah, and unfortunately, again, I see in our world, with all the political things going on and so on, so many people are just fomenting and promoting fear. And too many people are buying into it rather than being able to step back from it, because we just haven't ever learned to do that. Yeah, there's   Danielle Marshall ** 51:00 a fear economy. There are people who legitimately profit from fear tactics. So whether that be in our politics, whether it be how we're looking at different medicines that, you know, just remember, yes, exactly, we're still there, you know, by now, because it's the last one, you're not going to put that fear in you, or you're not going to be able to make it through life if you don't own one of these things. And so I don't know there's so many things that come to mind as I make that statement, but I   Michael Hingson ** 51:31 was watching, I watched some old TV in the morning, and I love to watch the commercials, because at least half of them, they say you got to buy this now, because due to supply chain shortage, this is maybe the last time that you can get it, and the commercial has been going on for a year. So, you know, yeah, exactly. It's interesting.   Danielle Marshall ** 51:50 There's one of my favorite department stores that's been having a one day sale every day for as long as I can remember. Yeah, I just kind of think that is ironic. If I should ever come back again into this world, maybe I'm coming back as an advertising psychologist, because I find it quite fascinating. Um, but yeah, fear. Fear, to me, is one of those things that I think that if we are willing to embrace it, if we are willing to be able to think a little bit about what is driving our fear, there's so much potential there, because even in my coaching work, what I see with clients really quickly is like, if you can name the fear, right, give it a name, say exactly what it is, you can start to develop techniques to mitigate that fear, if you will. It goes unnamed. It's really hard to address, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 52:40 because then you're, you don't know what it is you're really dealing with, but if you can think about it, then you can go back and oh, okay, now let's figure out how we deal with that,   Danielle Marshall ** 52:49 yeah, or how I get support in dealing with it. Not everything is going to be within our wheelhouse, yeah? And I was,   Michael Hingson ** 52:55 I was including it all of one lump sing, one lump sum thing. But you're right. There's nothing wrong. And too many people are afraid of this. There's nothing wrong with looking for support, eliciting support from other people. And all too often, we think that, Oh, I got to do this on my own. I wouldn't be as big a person, especially a macho man, if I have to go off and ask for support, that's funk. Yeah, I love teamwork. I have written all of my books in a teaming relationship, and other people have been involved, and I love that. It's so much fun to do, because I learn other perspectives along the way, and I think it makes for better books.   Danielle Marshall ** 53:40 Yeah, I can definitely appreciate that. I mean, so much of my work is centered around including multiple voices and perspectives on things. We cannot be effective in this work if we center it only on a singular voice or a singular group. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 53:55 you've said that pre one precursor to building confidence is being courageous. Where have you had an example of really being courageous or dealing with fear love? A story. Stories are always fun,   Danielle Marshall ** 54:08 you know? I There's so many things that come to mind, like when I, when I hear that question, because it is, you know, and actually, I'm going to go back to high school again. I'll give you, I'll give you two stories here, when I was in high school, I also had that fear of public speaking, right? It terrified me to think that I'd have to get on a, you know, in front of an audience, of whether that would be in front of a classroom or on a stage, etc. And I remember, and this is so interesting, because it's telling of like how I've sort of arrived again to where I am today, but I have this memory of just saying to myself one time, their student government was going to be opening up some positions for the senior class in the upcoming year, and I said, I want to run for my high school treasurer. In order to run for a treasurer, I had to get on a stage. Age, I had to give a speech, I had to talk to the entire student body of our senior class. And I was like, This is the worst idea ever, right? Like, I'm having that moment. I was like, Why did you think this was okay? And I said, you know, I don't know what's going to happen in this moment, but I certainly know this is the one thing I do know about fear. If you do not address it, it is not going anywhere. And so for me, the strategy, even from my high school days, was to lean into things. The issue wasn't that I wasn't able to speak to people, right? I was fine in smaller groups, but it was terrifying to think about getting on a stage and taking, like, a public position on a particular thing. But over the years, I just did a little bit more and a little bit more, you know. So when I started my first job in the in the nonprofit sector, you know, I was a program coordinator, and so I had to train a small team of volunteers on something. And so now I'm taking material that I didn't even create at the time, and I'm making sure I understand them so that I can train these people. And then I went on to, you know, start doing more training at a much larger scale, where I'm I'm traveling around the country, and then it is all of a sudden, oh, I'm standing on stages, and there are 500 people. There are 1000 people in the audience. I'm doing podcasts, and lo and behold, the very thing that I was most fearful of when I was in high school is the thing I've become. I am now a public speaker.   Michael Hingson ** 56:29 Yeah, I remember speaking in small groups or selling. You never know where you're going to be selling on any given day, whether it's to a board of a financial organization or to IT people or whatever, and that taught me to be comfortable in groups. But the first time I was asked to speak about September 11 was when I was called by Minister two weeks afterwards. So it was like on Monday the Well, probably the 23rd or maybe it was even a couple of days before then. And he said, we're holding a service for all the people who we lost in New Jersey, and we'd like you to come. And I said, Okay, well, where? And he said, it's going to be an outdoor service. And I said, Great. And then I I asked the question, how many people are going to be there? Probably about 6000 and you know what didn't bother me, of it, I said, Great. So that was my first speech to 6000 people. And you know, it was fun for a lot of reasons. It was, was very enjoyable. You know, I shouldn't say enjoyable, because it was a sense of sad occasion, but I was able to do it, and hopefully inspired some people, and and my wife and I went down and I did it, and it worked out really well, but 6000 people wasn't bad. It's a good start.   Danielle Marshall ** 57:58 That is a fantastic start. Welcome.   Michael Hingson ** 58:02 So can you tell us a story where you really saw in an organization or some people, just a real transformation, and the success of what you teach about dei and the principles and so on?   Danielle Marshall ** 58:18 Sure, you know, I was, I was thinking a little bit about dei and specifically coaching leaders. I I think what is really important when I think about some of the clients that I've served, is is this idea that talk about fear again, right? What stops them from moving forward, in a lot of cases, has been the fear of the unknown, right? These big issues feeling like they have to fix the world. And so where I've seen success with with certain clients in particular, is that they've been able to figure out how the application of Dei, how the application of cultural competencies, can be contextualized for their organization, their mission, the thing that they are most focused on. And so in in that, whether you are an arts based organization or you are, you know, teaching children how to read, how do the principles of racial equity, of cultural norms and values, how do they apply to the realm of work that you're doin

Picture yourself watching TV in your living room when, without warning, you suddenly lose vision in your right eye. People born blind often say “you can't miss what you never had,” but what happens when someone with normal eyesight suddenly or gradually loses their vision? In “Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind,” Marissa interviews Rose West, a junior at Swarthmore College who lost most of her vision at age 12 due to a brain tumor. They discuss the grief, trauma, and frustration surrounding vision loss, and Rose shares how discovering the blind community helped her cope and build confidence.  Rose West is a junior at Swarthmore College studying Political Science. She is an AmeriCorps member who serves at the Overbrook School for the Blind and helps facilitate a work-readiness program for Blind/low vision students in Pennsylvania ages 14-24. She also serves on the board of the Arc Alliance, a non-profit supporting people with disabilities across the Philadelphia suburbs. Nara—a goofy, playful, and lovably dramatic Chocolate Labrador—is Rose's guide dog and best friend.  Connect with Blonde & Blind! Website  - https://www.blondeblind.com/  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/blondeblindgirl/  Facebook - https://m.facebook.com/legallybb/?locale=sq_AL  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blonde-blind  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJz_ng0bHVm0s33plEl5Kpg  X - https://twitter.com/marissa_nissley  Connect with Rose West!  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rose-west-701009279  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rose.briars/ Connect with OSB AmeriCorps Next Step Skills Program! Website - https://www.obs.org/what-we-do/osb-americorps.cfm Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/osbamericorps/  Key Points:  00:00 - Introduction 04:09 - What was it like losing your vision? 08:26 - What are some of the common stereotypes surrounding vision loss? How did they impact your experience becoming blind? 11:33 - Many people think becoming blind is one of the worst things that could ever happen. What was it like going through something people consider tragic? 13:20 - How did you cope with your vision loss? 16:21 - What was it like interacting with people who knew you before your sight loss versus those who only knew you as blind? 18:46 - Many people will say that everything happens for a reason. How do you respond to that? 20:02 - How did you relax and de-stress while coping with vision loss? 23:54 - What do you think about the notion of fighting blindness? 32:03 - What advice do you have for people experiencing vision loss?

On today's episode, Karan Takhar sits down with Yasmeen Shaheen-McConnell, Senior Advisor for the American Climate Corps, AmeriCorps. Yasmeen shares the origin story of the American Climate Corps and how she got involved. They speak about how the Corps recruits its members, how its structured, who can apply, and how an organization wishing to partner with the ACC can do so. Yasmeen then shares how she has been inspired during her time there and how she sees the ACC evolving in the next 5 to 10 years. They end with a lightning round of questions sure to encourage anyone wishing to get involved in the American Climate Corps. Many thanks to Yasmeen and her team for their help in making this episode happen. If you have an organization and want to partner with the American Climate Corps, email acc@americorps.gov. If you want more information about becoming a member, visit acc.gov.   Show Notes:  [1:45] - Yasmeen tells us what superpower the American Climate Corps (ACC) would have if it were a superteam.  [3:10] - Yasmeen shares the origin story of the ACC, and how it came out of a challenge that President Biden responded to while he was running for president.  [6:30] - Yasmeen talks about her background, and why she believes anyone can work in climate.  [7:00] - What the goals of the ACC are, and the progress they are making on those goals.  [9:30] - What it means to serve in the ACC.  [13:30] - What kind of people are members of the ACC, and how organizations can partner with the ACC.  [17:15] - The process of becoming a member of the ACC.  [20:30] - Yasmeen discusses some of the challenges of implementing some of the projects of the ACC.  [23:20] - Yasmeen discusses her work in the government to release funds to organizations outside of the government that are working in climate, like non-profits.  [24:50] - Yasmeen tells us about the surprising amount of people who want to be a part of helping the climate crisis since working with the ACC.  [26:00] - What are the things that the ACC does that people who work in climate across the world can learn from?  [27:40] - Yasmeen talks about how FDR's original CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) has influenced the ACC.  [28:40] - What does the future look like for the ACC?  [31:30] - Lightning round of questions about the ACC - including the number of climate jobs the ACC hopes to create before 2030, unexpected skills members learn in the climate corps, most rewarding aspects, etc.  [34:40] - Yasmeen gives her 25 year-old self one piece of professional advice.    Links and Resources:   Email: acc@americorps.gov  climatecorps.gov acc.gov

843: Planting in the Fall Garden - A Rosie ReplayA Rosie On The House Radio Show ReplayIn This Podcast: Rosie on the House features Farmer Greg and special guest Nika Forte discussing urban farming and the importance of fall gardening. Nika details her role as the Urban Farms Director at St. Vincent de Paul's Urban Farm and their efforts in combating food insecurity through sustainable practices. They also emphasize the significance of healthy soil, appropriate garden placement, and choosing crops that are both enjoyable and cost-effective, with insights into seed preservation. Additionally, Nika introduces her children's book series aimed at promoting diversity in agriculture.Visit www.UrbanFarm.org/840-Rosie for the show notes and links on this episode!Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.Rosie. Rosie on the house. Every Arizona homeowner's best friend.Come on around. Back Arizona Saturday morning, eight o'clock. The outdoor living hour of Rosie on the house. Your Saturday morning tradition since 1988. Here in eight o'clock hour, our outdoor living hour, So we've got Farmer Greg and the urban farm hour talking about fall garden.I'm planting if you're following along and you're Rosie on the House Homeowner handbook and Farmer Greg you've brought in a special guest. I have and I'm very excited to have Nika with us. I've known her for quite a few years and she does some really cool work in the world. Nika Forti is a wife. and mother and loves spending time with family, serving others and working in her garden.She served two years in AmeriCorps program under Public Allies and is currently the Urban Farms Director at St. Vincent de Paul's Urban Farm where she worked for almost nine years. Her mission in life is to advocate for communities that are experiencing food insecurity. And to work every day to educate others on how to grow and give back to the environment in a sustainable and compassionate way.Welcome, Nika. It's nice to have you. Thank you. Thank you for having me. It's good to be here. Quite an introduction. Great. Couldn't have done it better myself. Put you on the spotlight. So for nine years at St. Vincent de Paul, there's been a lot of growth to the urban farm program. It was probably about that long ago was the last time I visited.At that time it was just that one little farm right there on the south side of 10,past the Durango...

we've never publicly talked about this before... i can't believe we're doing this. follow us on Grownkid!! SOCIAL LINKS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grownk1d/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grownkid Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3C6oJYFLbesR2ELhXIk7dz?si=6acdcba455dc4323 Website: grownkid.com About Our Partners: GrownKid is made possible by the Schultz Family Foundation, dedicated to helping young people unlock their full potential and successfully navigate to fulfilling careers. GrownKid is made in partnership with Joy Coalition where purpose driven content meets powerful storytelling. From 13 reasons Why to unprisoned, Joy Coalition projects are made to bridge generations and drive groundbreaking conversations. Interested in a career in mental health? Check out the Youth Mental Health Corps – a new program created by the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest and AmeriCorps - where anyone with a high school degree can gain experience, skills, and a credential during a year of paid service in the mental health field. Learn more at youthmentalhealthcorps.org

Dr. Zach Burns, a board-certified family medicine physician and rising leader in plant-based healthcare, recently joined Dr. Frank Sabatino on the NHA Health Science Podcast for a compelling discussion on the future of medicine. As the Assistant Director of Moving Medicine Forward, an initiative founded by the iconic Dr. Michael Klaper, Dr. Burns is at the forefront of a movement to revolutionize medical education by integrating plant-based nutrition into the fight against chronic disease. In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Burns shared his passion for empowering future physicians to harness the transformative power of plant-based medicine to prevent and reverse the global burden of chronic illnesses. Moving Toward Plant-Based Medicine Dr. Burns' journey toward plant-based living began during his college years, where a class on American food systems opened his eyes to the realities of factory farming. This, combined with his personal background of avoiding red meat for environmental reasons, led him to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle, eventually transitioning to veganism. His philosophical studies also played a significant role in this shift, as he explored the ethics of animal treatment and questioned the superiority humans often attribute to themselves over other species. Addressing Health Disparities One of Dr. Burns' earliest experiences in healthcare came from his work with underserved communities in East Boston as part of AmeriCorps. There, he observed the devastating effects of preventable chronic diseases, particularly within immigrant populations struggling with limited access to education, nutritious food, and healthcare. This experience fueled his desire to tackle chronic disease head-on and led to his focus on the role of diet in health outcomes. The Vision of Moving Medicine Forward Dr. Burns shared the mission of Moving Medicine Forward, which seeks to fill a critical gap in medical education: the lack of training on the role of nutrition in preventing and reversing chronic disease. Medical schools often allocate minimal time to nutrition, focusing primarily on deficiencies rather than how diet can impact chronic illness. Moving Medicine Forward is working to change that by connecting with medical students, helping them form groups and advocate for plant-based education on their campuses. Dr. Burns is passionate about empowering students to create lasting change that will benefit both their future patients and the medical field as a whole. www.HealthScience.org/102-Dr-Zach-Burns 

As AmeriCorps marks its 30th anniversary, CEO Michael Smith, joins the Mo News podcast to discuss the state of volunteerism in America. We explore the recent decline in volunteerism and how AmeriCorps is working to provide opportunities for millions of Americans—ages 18 to 80 and up—to get involved. We also delve into the surprising health benefits of volunteering, especially as the country faces an epidemic of loneliness. This episode highlights the power of community engagement and the crucial role volunteering plays in both individual well-being and societal health. — Mosheh Oinounou (@mosheh) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022. Follow Mo News on all platforms: Website: www.mo.news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mosheh/ Daily Newsletter: https://www.mo.news/newsletter Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@monews Twitter: https://twitter.com/mosheh TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mosheh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoshehNews Snapchat: https://t.snapchat.com/pO9xpLY9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FIRST EP OF OUR NEW SHOW! :D go follow it on spotify but here's the first episode