Podcast appearances and mentions of andi johnson

Episode Summary In this powerful episode, we sit down with Jon and Felicia Rohman to share the remarkable journey of their daughter Hadlee, who underwent a life-saving heart transplant in 2020—right amid a global pandemic. What began as a terrifying health issue became a testimony of faith, resilience, and appreciation for the incredible gift of life. Years later, Hadlee is thriving, healthy, joyful, and full of gratitude. Join us as Andi Johnson interviews the Rohmans, who open up about their challenges, the community that rallied around them, and the beautiful, beating heart of their daughter's second chance at life.   ✨ Episode Highlights Andi Johnson welcomes Jon and Felicia Rohman, a husband-and-wife team and proud parents of four. The conversation centers around Hadlee, their third child, who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Felicia recounts Hadlee's birth in 2017 and the significant right-sided heart failure she experienced by late 2019, which made organ donation the only viable option. Jon discusses the mental and emotional preparation required as they faced the reality of a potential heart transplant. The couple acted quickly, getting Hadlee placed on the transplant list in January 2020. She received her new heart on May 28, 2020—coincidentally, their son's birthday. Jon reflects on the emotional toll of the process, including a failed donation and navigating the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Felicia shares the complexity of maintaining infection control while managing the needs of their other children. During this time, Jon resigned from his job to be with Hadlee full-time at the hospital. Jon honors Felicia's strength as she worked two jobs—80 hours a week—while homeschooling and caring for their children at home amid the pandemic. Today, Hadlee is flourishing with a new baby sister and enjoys activities such as swimming, soccer, and dancing. The Rohmans express deep gratitude to the donor family, highlighting the life-changing impact of the transplant. Felicia reflects on how their faith sustained them through hardship and the emotional conversations they had with their children. The couple emphasizes the vital importance of organ donation and the hope it brings to families in need. Jon encourages other families to lean into their communities and be open to receiving help. They also speak to the power of social media in spreading Hadlee's story and building a network of support. The Rohmans express appreciation for organizations such as Donate Life and Network For Hope for amplifying their journey and giving them a platform to share.

Episode Summary In this episode of This Thing Called Life, Andi Johnson interviews Means Cameron, a successful entrepreneur from Cincinnati and the founder of the clothing brand BlaCkOWned™ Outerwear. Means shares the inspiration behind launching BlaCkOWned™ Outerwear in 2011, influenced by his cultural experiences and the importance of representation. He discusses the significance of community ownership, legacy, and his personal connection to organ donation. Cameron highlights the impact of organ donors on his friends' lives, including a fraternity brother who received a kidney transplant. He also addresses common misconceptions about organ donation within the Black community, emphasizing the need for education, trust, and personal storytelling to make the topic more relatable. The discussion underscores the power of local narratives in raising awareness about organ donation and encourages open conversations within families and communities. Episode Highlights Origins of BlaCkOWned™ Outerwear: Means Cameron shares how the brand was born out of his desire to embrace identity, cultural heritage, and community pride. Meaning Behind the Brand Name: "BlaCkOWned™ wasn't just about a Black-owned business—it was about owning who we are as a people, our culture." Legacy and Impact: Means expresses his vision for his legacy: "Fostering Black creativity and dialogue, and showing people they have options." Connection to Organ Donation: Means discusses his personal experiences with organ donation, including friends and family members who have received transplants. He highlights the challenges of mistrust and misinformation about organ donation in the Black community. Addressing Misconceptions: Many individuals fear that becoming an organ donor could put their lives at risk in medical settings. In reality, only 1% of registered organ donors pass in a way that allows for organ donation, while thousands remain on transplant waiting lists. The Importance of Storytelling: Means emphasizes the need to humanize the organ donation process by sharing real-life experiences to build trust and awareness. Encouraging Open Dialogue: Andi asks Means how he would approach someone hesitant about organ donation. Means stresses the importance of respecting different perspectives while sharing personal experiences to help others make informed decisions. Final Reflections: Andi expresses gratitude for the meaningful discussion and appreciates Means' insights on business, legacy, and organ donation advocacy.   Key Takeaways: Means Cameron's journey as an entrepreneur reflects his deep commitment to identity, community, and legacy.  His personal experiences with organ donation have fueled his advocacy for increasing awareness and addressing misconceptions. Andi and Means then dig deeper into educating ourselves and others about how organ donation can help address mistrust and save lives and the importance of humanizing the organ donation process by sharing personal stories and the faces who make it more relatable and trustworthy. Tweetable Quotes:   “Cincinnati needed something for the culture, something that spoke to our culture, to give us something to be proud about, to speak about our heritage, and for not to just be in private rooms, but for us to be able to take it out into the world. “ - Means Cameron “So the idea of BlaCkOWned™ came out of me, wanting to have ownership of who I am and never losing it.” - Means Cameron “And so BlaCkOWned™ wasn't just about a black-owned business. It was about owning who we are as a people, our culture and the name black owned, just came to me. “ - Means Cameron “One of the most challenging things in our community is that we believe that if we become organ donors, that someone is going to take our organs if we ever are sick or in a doctor's bed and our life is on the line.” - Means Cameron “ I guess the best thing I can do for anyone that is on the fence is just to share with them my own experiences. “ - Means Cameron Resources: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/ https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO https://www.youtube.com/@NetworkforHope. https://aopo.org/

In this episode of This Thing Called Life, Andi Johnson sits down with Joel Chase, Vice President of Organ Services at Network for Hope, to discuss his role and how it has evolved following a recent merger. Joel shares insights into the integration of two smaller Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) into Network for Hope, the strategic changes that followed, and how he is leading a growing team. Joel walks through the organ donation process, from the initial referral to organ recovery, emphasizing the importance of supporting donor families, transplant recipients, and OPO staff who navigate these complex and life-changing moments. He also reflects on his career journey, the challenges of balancing leadership with personal life, and the impact of medical advancements on the field of organ donation.   Episode Highlights: Joel's Role & the Organ Donation Process: He oversees the entire donation process, from organ referral and evaluation to allocation and recovery. Navigating Growth Post-Merger: The transition from 32 full-time employees at Legacy Life Center to over 90 at Network for Hope has required new leadership strategies. Evolving Case Timelines: The duration of cases has expanded from 24 to over 50 hours, depending on testing and logistical challenges. What Drives Joel: He is motivated by mission-driven work, helping people, and witnessing his team's success. Biggest Leadership Challenge: Time management in an organization that never stops and balancing work with family life. Leadership Philosophy: Leading with openness, support, and grace while prioritizing an inclusive leadership style. Memorable Moments: Joel shares a powerful story of how a leader's critical decision helped save three lives, a defining learning experience in his career. Public Awareness: He encourages open conversations about organ donation with loved ones and addresses concerns from those hesitant to register. Key Takeaways: Leadership in Organ Donation: Joel shares insights into leading a non-profit OPO, managing growth, and the importance of learning through challenges ("failing forward"). The Organ Donation Process: Understanding how OPOs evaluate, allocate, and recover organs while collaborating with hospitals to ensure successful transplants. Encouraging Public Awareness: Addressing misconceptions about organ donation and why open conversations with family are essential. Tweetable Quotes:   “I've always been fascinated with medicine, so you get to kind of play nurse or doctor without necessarily having to have the license. So I thought that that was just a great, intriguing career.” - Joel Chase “We are there to help facilitate, to make donation happen in the best way possible, and in these 24 hour shifts that a lot of the team members are working and all the things that they're doing, it's very hard to expect perfection when a lot of staff want to do their best all the time, and it's just not possible. We're all humans, and we have to have some grace for each other too.” - Joel Chase “I think that we should learn from our experiences, whether they're good or bad. If we don't learn from them, then I think that's more of a failure. Otherwise, it's an opportunity to improve and do better the next time. So I definitely like that mindset, and it kind of ties into knowing that we're not perfect people, and I don't think we're ever going to have a perfect A to Z case” - Joel Chase “It's the OPOs job to evaluate the patient's medical record and their current clinical condition for organ donation potential. A lot of times that could mean that the patient ends up surviving their injury, and they go through the rehabilitation process” - Joel Chase Resources: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/ https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO https://www.youtube.com/@NetworkforHope. https://aopo.org/

Renee Shaw hosts a discussion about the economy, jobs and business issues with Andi Johnson, chief policy officer, Commerce Lexington; Jason Bailey, executive director, Kentucky Center for Economic Policy; Andrew McNeill, president, Kentucky Forum for Rights, Economics & Education (KYFREE); and Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates.

Episode 106: The Donation Coordinator's Responsibility within the Donation Process of the Organ Procurement Organization, with Christienne King   During this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson talks about the donation process from the OPO (Organ Procurement Organization) lens. This week, Andi is speaking with Christenne King. She is the Senior Donation Coordinator. She meets family in very difficult times. Tune in to hear about her experiences as it relates to the important process of organ donation.  Episode Highlights:  Many people believe that organ, eye, and tissue donation is just a service of the hospital but Andi shares how it is much bigger than that and requires the collaboration of many. Christenne has been with the Life Center for over 20 years and is currently the Senior Donation Coordinator. She explains her role as one of the individuals who handles the evaluation, medical management, organ placement, and logistics of the operating room for an organ donation. Andi asks Christenne to share what kind of training and background is required to do work as she does. Christenne shares her personal experience with organ donation about her sister, Adrienne King who had epilepsy and cerebral palsy. What does brain dead mean? Christenne shares facts that listeners may not be aware of. She explains the difference between that and a vegetative state or coma. Organ donation and the education around it have grown significantly over the years.  Christenne explains her connection to Network For Hope and how meaningful it has been to her on several levels. Christenne put herself to paramedic school and applied as an organ coordinator. Andi asks Christenne how she prepares for her day and meeting with families in desperate times.  What happens at the bedside to evaluate potential organ donation? Christenne shares that some cases have changed her forever and how it has been a blessing. What goes into supporting the families who are in contact with them? Andi talks about how COVID-19 caused many people to reflect and seek more meaningful jobs. Andi asks Christenne to share what a typical workday looks like for a donation coordinator.  Logistics and time frames are very important in the process; Christenne explains. A lot of communication is required for this job because of the many pieces that must come together. An average case lasts about 72 hours so that the right thing is accomplished with the donor. Christenne talks about when organ gifts are placed in other locations. The donation coordinators are very passionate about giving each individual the best preservation options. Have you thought about registering to be a donor? Find out more at https://lifepassiton.org/ 3 Key Points Christenne shares her personal experience with organ donation when her sister, Adrienne King passed away and saved several other lives. Organ donation happens through the collaboration of many. Andi and Christenne talk through the organ coordinator role and the piece it is in the overall process. Emotional taxation is high in the role that Christenne has. She talks about the challenges, and blessings, and how she perseveres through them.    Tweetable Quotes: “Organ, eye, and tissue donation does not happen without collaboration.” -Andi “There are intricacies of this life-giving, life-saving process.” -Andi “When someone has been deemed as potential to help someone through donation, a donation coordinator will be onsite for 24 hours/day through the end of the process.” -Christenne “For those who do not know, when a person is declared brain dead, it is a legal pronouncement of death, it is the time that will go on their death certificate.” -Christenne “My sister was one of only 39 organ donors in Cincinnati in 1992. It was so rare.” -Christenne “Donation can have such a  positive effect on those that are donor families. “ -Christenne “This role requires you to be strong and sensitive to the fact that a family is going through the worst possible time.” -Andi “We are intimately involved with the families in the room and with the donors in the room, it is difficult.” -Christenne “Other than being a parent, this job is the most rewarding thing I will do in my life.” -Christenne Resources Mentioned: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/ https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO

A Transplant Surgeon's Journey To Help Others, with Dr Madison Cuffy During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson speaks with Dr. Madison Cuffy, an Associate Professor at UC Health. Dr. Cuffy has built trust-filled relationships with his transplant patients throughout the years and loves nothing more than to see them live their lives to the fullest after getting their transplant.   Episode Highlights:  Dr. Cuffy started his medical journey back in 2002 which led to a multi-organ  transplant fellowship at New York Presbyterian. Growing up in Brooklyn, Dr. Cuffy was first introduced to Cincinnati by Talib Kweli and Hi Tek. As a 14-year-old, Dr. Cuffy became interested in medicine while volunteering in a hospital cleaning instruments. Even to this day, no one in Dr. Cuffy's family has experience in medicine, nor any clue what a transplant surgeon does. Dr. Cuffy was born in the Caribbean and grew up with his great aunt in New York. One of the most common misconceptions surrounding organ donation is that the medical community will let you die. After being in transplant and seeing how one can help create life during a time of despair, Dr. Cuffy became an organ donor. The medical community is not out to harm organ donors in order to harvest their organs, contrary to popular belief. According to the statistics, on average, 22 people die every day waiting on an organ transplant. While most of his focus is on kidney transplants, Dr. Cuffy does work with all transplant organs. There is an access problem for people who need a kidney transplant and are on dialysis. Dr. Cuffy facilitates living kidney donation as the best option to treat end-stage renal disease. Andi has noticed that people of color tend to shy away from sharing their donation needs with other people. Socioeconomic issues and disadvantages can make it more difficult for certain patients to share their stories. People who don't want to share their stories need a donor champion to do it for them. There are different forms of literacy, so Dr. Cuffy makes sure his patients know that there is no stupid question. It's important for patients to speak up about their questions to their doctor so that they don't get misinformation from another source. If your physician is too busy to answer your questions now or in the future, you may need to find a different provider. Dr. Cuffy feels rewarded by his job when he sees his patients experiencing life after their transplant. His grandmother's advice was “Always be yourself”, even when things get tough, this message helps Dr Cuffy get through hard days. Raised without his parents in Brooklyn, Dr. Cuffy knows first hand that you can do anything you set your mind to. Dr. Cuffy has always had an extra gear that has allowed him to outwork everyone around him. When he goes back to Brooklyn now, Dr. Cuffy gets a different kind of respect from the people he grew up with. Dr. Cuffy thoroughly enjoys going to J. Alexanders in Cincinnati because of the sheer amount of professional African Americans that go there. 3 Key Points: While volunteering at a hospital with the hopes of staying off the streets as a 15-year-old boy, Dr. Cuffy had the opportunity to watch a kidney transplant up close, and that's how he chose the transplant route. Unlike in other cities that have multiple transplant programs with different surgeons, Cincinnati has a single transplant program where the doctors act as one unit. Living donor kidneys last anywhere from 15 to 20 years, recipients don't have to wait on a list to get one, and the quality is usually very good. Resources: https://www.networkforhope.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/ https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO https://getoffthelist.org/ https://www.uchealth.com/en/transplant Dr Madison Cuffy  

Welcome to today's episode of This Thing Called Life, where we delve into the ever-evolving care plan of organ, eye, and tissue donation. In this episode, we're joined by Andi Johnson and Dr. Jordan Bonomo to explore a key recommendation from the 2021 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report aimed at transforming organ donation and transplantation practices to create a more equitable system. Dr. Bonomo shares insights into a groundbreaking initiative—the establishment of a donor care unit within UCMC's new Flex ICU. This innovative, first-of-its-kind model is designed to improve organ donation outcomes by providing comprehensive, compassionate care to both donors and their families. Tune in for this important conversation on enhancing the donor experience and advancing the future of organ donation.   Episode Highlights: Introducing Dr. Jordan Bonomo. He is a physician at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He's the Medical Director of the flex ICU and a professor of Emergency Medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, and neurocritical care. He is also the attending physician for anesthesia, critical care, and ECMO, and he's the medical director for donor management, for Network For Hope, formerly Life Center.  Dr. Bonomo explains the long-term development of the Flex ICU, emphasizing its multifaceted purpose to serve critically ill patients and enhance organ donation capacity. The Flex ICU aims to provide specialized care for organ donors, improving the yield and survival rate of donated organs. Specialized units can focus on the needs of the donor from a physiological standpoint and the needs of the family from an emotional standpoint. This aims to provide a much more synchronized environment and holistic care for the families and adhere to the donor wishes. All the staff are fully trained and they're vetted and vested at the same time in the process of donation.  The purpose is to have the best donor care unit available anywhere in the country. The unit is staffed 24/7 by dedicated teams to support the mission of Network for Hope. The unit is limited to donors who have been declared dead by neurologic criteria. Note that in the month of October, the first month of the launch of Flex ICU, there were zero patients declared brain dead in the region. Dr. Bonomo explains the intentional design of the unit to accommodate donor families, offering them the option to be with their loved ones or to step back as needed. The Flex ICU aims to respect the wishes of donors and families, facilitating their involvement in the donation process. Dr. Bonomo discusses the potential impact of the Flex ICU on organ donation The goal is to optimize the process for donors, families, and organ recipients, balancing the need for timely transplantation with the potential for increased donation. Andi adds that the DCU, which is housed within the flex ICU, has been discussed as a key part of the flex ICU with providers, nurses, and physicians who will be working in this unit. The team is committed to doing right by donors, recognizing the privilege and obligation that comes with their role. The Flex ICU has attracted dedicated professionals who are passionate about improving organ donation and transplantation. The process of establishing the unit has been lengthy, involving multiple stakeholders and legal considerations.  He shares that this is an organ procurement organization initiative that really is somewhat independent of the healthcare system. The belief that donation can bring healing and good from tragedy has been a driving force for Dr. Bonomo.  Dr. Bonomo has a strong foundation in bioethics, having earned his undergraduate degree in the field. Throughout his career, organ donation has been a central focus of his work in biomedical ethics. Dr. Bonomo invites listeners to ask questions and seek education about the organ donation process. The importance of accurate information and understanding the process is important for effective collaboration and support. 3 Key Points:   Dr. Bonomo explains the long-term development of the Flex ICU, emphasizing its multifaceted purpose to serve critically ill patients and enhance organ donation capacity. The Flex ICU aims to provide specialized care for organ donors, improving the yield and survival rate of donated organs. The unit is limited to donors who have been declared dead by neurologic criteria. So brain dead donors, and brain dead vernacular term death by neurologic criteria. Dr. Bonomo explains the intentional design of the unit to accommodate donor families, offering them the option to be with their loved ones or to step back as needed. The Flex ICU has attracted dedicated professionals who are passionate about improving organ donation and transplantation. The team is committed to doing right by donors, recognizing the privilege and obligation that comes with their role.   Tweetable Quotes: “Dr shutter explained to me that we do our best to save them, but when you can't, your obligation doesn't end, and the opportunity to donate is an absolute good when done well…” - Dr. Bonomo “So the the flex ICU has been in design and development for a really long time, I mean, north of 15 years, and we've had fits and starts, and we finally were able to construct it…” - Dr. Bonomo “We have teams that are dedicated to supporting the mission and network for hope, formerly Life Center…” - Dr. Bonomo “I think every family is interested in knowing that their loved one is well cared for and that their wishes are being respected.” - Dr. Bonomo Resources: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/ https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO https://www.youtube.com/@NetworkforHope. https://aopo.org/

Welcome to today's episode of This Thing Called Life, where we explore the evolving landscape of organ, tissue, and eye donation. Join us as we chat with Andi Johnson, featuring Jennie Wright, a double lung transplant recipient, and her daughter, Siri Imanin.  Jennie, diagnosed with sarcoidosis and pulmonary hypertension, waited a year to be listed for a transplant and another two years to receive the lungs. She recounts the challenges, including antibiotic-resistant infections and the emotional toll on her family. Siri shares how her mother's journey influenced her music and activism, emphasizing the importance of organ donation education in the Black community. They discuss the need for proactive health awareness and the impact of supportive networks on their recovery.   Episode Highlights: Andi Johnson introduces the mother-daughter duo Jennie Wright and Siri Imani, and asks Jennie to share her transplant journey Jennie shared that she had sarcoidosis, and as a result, her lungs were severely damaged, which caused pulmonary hypertension. So before the donation, she had a backpack that had oxygen and a fanny pack that had a heart pump. It took a year to get Jennie listed and two years before she got her transplant Jennie recounts the emotional and physical challenges, including contracting antibiotic-resistant infections and the decision to postpone the transplant due to her condition. Andi asks about the support journey for both mother and daughter Siri, Jennie's daughter answers that she was happy once everything was settled because she recalls the long period where her mother's life felt limited and the journey they had to go through in organ donation. Andi asks Siri, who is an artist, creator, activist, & cultivator, how the journey influences her music and the work that she does from a creative standpoint. Siri answers that it influenced everything and that she grabs inspiration from her mother and grandmother in every way. Siri shares that when they first got the diagnosis, she documented and made music about it. Andi asks Siri to share her favorite memory with her grandmother Andi asks what they would like to share with others, particularly in the black community, after just living through this experience. Siri shares her personal journey of overcoming misinformation and distrust, emphasizing the need for education and awareness. Andi questions what they would like to say to their donor family. Jennie expresses her deep gratitude to the donor family for their selflessness and the opportunity to continue living. Jennie and Siri discuss the activities and experiences they can now enjoy, such as walking and attending events. 3 Key Points: Jennie shared that she had sarcoidosis, and as a result, her lungs were severely damaged, which caused pulmonary hypertension. So before the donation, she had a backpack that had oxygen and a fanny pack that had a heart pump. It took a year to get Jennie listed and two years before she got her transplant because there were certain conditions to be met for her to get the transplant. Siri, Jennie's daughter recalls the long period where her mother's life felt limited and the journey they had to go through in organ donation. Siri is also an artist, creator, activist, & cultivator, and she found inspiration in her mother's journey. Siri shares her personal journey of overcoming misinformation and distrust, emphasizing the need for education and awareness. The conversation touches on the historical context of distrust in the medical system within the Black community and the importance of updating that narrative. Tweetable Quotes: “...with that waiting process, the stars have to be perfectly aligned, because you have to be, to be at the top of the list, you got to be the sickest of the sick, right? But you can't be too sick.” - Andi Johnson “My faith helped to sustain me, and I feel like God showed me a moment on the other side of this. And I just kind of held on to that.” - Jennie Wright “I think a lot of our work with people experiencing homelessness just came from the understanding early that life could take you anywhere, no matter what type of person you are, no matter where you come from, you can place where you just need people.” - Siri Imani “I was always planning on making sure, like, people knew who my mama was, people knew who my grandma was, and really remember because they made it clear who they were in their lifetimes.” - Siri Imani Resources: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/ https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH https://aopo.org/

In this heartfelt episode of This Thing Called Life Podcast, host Andi Johnson sits down with Mario Jarrett and his mother, Kesia, to discuss Mario's incredible journey following a cardiac arrest at just 16 years old. They share the challenges and miracles that shaped his need for a heart transplant, highlighting the unwavering love and support that surrounded him throughout this life-altering experience. Mario's story is a testament to resilience, faith, and the determination to embrace life fully. Join us as they delve into the power of hope and the importance of striving for personal growth every day. Don't miss this inspiring conversation!   This episode is dedicated to Mario's Heart Donor Amanda and her family! Episode Highlights: Mario Jarrett shares what led to his need for a Heart Transplant.  Mario was a high school Athlete participating in Baseball, Football, and Track & Field. Mario's cardiology team thought he suffered mini heart attacks over a period of time without knowing it.  Mario indicated he felt like he was just dehydrated. In May of 2021, while preparing for the state track and field competition, he went into cardiac arrest. Doctors told Mario and his family that he needed to have a heart transplant. Mario received a heart transplant at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati on July 26, 2021. Mario talks about how his Faith helped him get through his Health Crisis. Kesia Jarrett, Mario's mom, shares her gratitude for the donor's family, health providers, pastoral family, and all the family and friends who were there for her family. Kesia reveals that Mario's Doctors thought his health issues were stemming from Asthma but never expected it was his heart. Kesia remembered her spiritual nudge to seek a specialist for Mario. Kesia shares her family's motto to Live life and remember to help others in any way you can. Andi encourages Mario and Kesia to continue to share their story because it will help many understand the need for Organ Transplants.    3 Key Points: Even young athletes can experience health conditions, that require the need for an Organ Transplant. Remember self-care if you are a caregiver for someone going through a health issue. Share your gifts and create access and awareness of necessary resources for those in need, because, in the blink of an eye, it could be you.  And always remember we are meant to be in community with one another.    Tweetable Quotes: “Step out of your comfort zone every day.” - Mario Jarrett “I am grateful for every opportunity that we get to spread more light and awareness for individuals to consider being a donor for children like Mario.” - Kesia Jarrett “I am not bitter.  I know it happened for us…not to us.” - Kesia Jarrett “Stay in the space of understanding that even though you are going through this journey it is not the end… until it is.” - Kesia Jarrett Resources: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/ https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/ https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH https://aopo.org/  

Welcome to today's episode of This Thing Called Life, where we explore the evolving landscape of organ, tissue, and eye donation. Join us as we chat with Dorrie Dils, the CEO of Gift of Life Michigan and the new President of the AOPO. In this episode, Dorrie and Andi Johnson delve into Dorrie's journey as a female CEO in the transplant field, discussing the challenges and triumphs she's faced along the way. They'll also highlight the significant increase in donations following expanded donor criteria, reflect on Dorrie's impactful speech, and uncover the steps that led her to this pivotal role. Don't miss this insightful conversation! Episode Highlights: Dorrie Dils, president and CEO of Gift Of Life Michigan and the new president of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations, shares her experience in her inaugural year as president.  Dorrie shares that she has been in this field for 33 years, and there's been tremendous pressure from Congress, the White House, and outside entities to drive donation forward. There have been concerns due to change in metrics which may cause a rise in decertified OPO's and what that will do for patients who are waiting and for donors and donor families who wish to donate.  There has been a lot of change but Dorrie shares that she feels better today than ever before. Dorrie shares that the other big thing, which can't be denied, is just the massive increase in donations after circulatory death or ECD. Andi asked Dorrie what other positions she has worked in the OPO, Andi wanted to take a minute to have Dorrie share, as a woman in this field, what she did to reach her position of leadership today. Dorrie shares that she was in Critical Care Nursing, then a Donation Coordinator, and at times needed to be in hospital development, PR and Public Education.  Leadership opportunities led her to becoming procurement director then Chief Clinical Officer, before becoming the president, and CEO. Dorrie talks about her speech and what motivated her to talk about correlating the Barbie Movie (2023) and the need to be perfect in the transplant world.   3 Key Points: President and CEO of the Gift Of Life Michigan and the new president of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations, Dorrie Dils shares her experience in her inaugural year of presidency, and the challenges due to changes. Dorrie shares that the other big thing, which can't be denied, is the massive increase in donation after circulatory death or ECD. Dorrie shares her years of experience, the steps that she had to take before stepping into her leadership role as a woman CEO, and the role of her deep passion for her working field.    Tweetable Quotes: “I've been in this field for 33 years, and it truly is the biggest change I've ever seen in our work, and there's been tremendous pressure from Congress and the White House and outside entities to drive donation forward, which has been a good thing.” - Dorrie Dils “We have in the world, have the best system for organ transplantation. And I think sometimes that gets forgotten.” - Andi Johnson “But I think the biggest ‘aha' moment is just how I've always been a hard worker. I've always felt in control of my success.” - Dorrie Dils “This field has evolved so much, and one of the things that I really hope will be my legacy is the evolution of how women are seen and treated in this field.” - Dorrie Dils Resources: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/ https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH https://aopo.org/

"Uniting for Hope: The Merger Transforming Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation” We're thrilled to be back after our summer break, kicking off with exciting news about a transformative merger aimed at enhancing access to life-saving transplants. In this episode, hosts Andi Johnson, Julie Bergin, and Barry Massa delve into the merger between Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) and LifeCenter Organ Donor Network. Both organizations have a rich history of excellence in organ donation advocacy, and together they will rebrand as “Network for Hope.” This partnership will harness their combined strengths to bolster advocacy and community outreach efforts. Join us as Julie and Barry share their inspiring personal journeys and reveal how their leadership has shaped this merger, paving the way for a brighter future for organ recipients in need of support. Don't miss it! Episode Highlights: Andi Johnson introduces guests Julie Bergin and Barry Massa and the upcoming merger of KODA and LifeCenter. Barry explains the merger journey, starting with their initial meetings at airports heading to national conferences, and the proximity of each organization. The conversation about the future of organ procurement organizations eventually led to discussions about merging the two organizations. The boards of both organizations were supportive of the merger. Julie shares her experience as a new leader in the industry and the support she received from Barry. Julie highlights the synergies between the two organizations, even before the merger conversation began. Barry discusses the smaller size of LifeCenter compared to other organ procurement organizations and the potential for both organizations to flourish together. Andi asks about the challenges faced during the merger process. Barry discusses the unique nature of organ procurement organizations and the need to work through nuances. Julie talks about the challenge of change and the importance of reassuring staff that the changes are for the betterment of the mission. Andi asks about the meaning of "Network for Hope" and its significance. Julie explains the importance of the word "network" in "Network for Hope," highlighting the collaborative nature of the mission. Barry adds that the name "hope" is crucial, as it represents the hope brought to donor families and recipients. Andi asks what advice Barry and Julie have for other OPO's who are aiming for the same goal of merging. Barry says it is important to pick the right partner. The guests share their own experiences about some of the donors who have benefited from the gift of donation. Both Barry and Julie highlight the importance of community engagement and meeting people where they are. Julie brings up the special team that supports donor families. She also stresses the importance of one-to-one connections and providing resources for staff to better connect with families. Julie shares a personal story. Barry discusses the importance of providing emotional support. Resilience is a leader's responsibility and emotional support is crucial for staff to continue to work effectively. 3 Key Points: Andi Johnson and guests Julie Bergin and Barry Massa discussed the merger between Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates and LifeCenter Organ Donor Network. Barry and Julie discuss the unique nature of organ procurement organizations and the need to work through nuances. They also talk about the challenge of change and the importance of reassuring staff that the changes are for the betterment of the mission. They (Barry & Julie) express optimism about the future of Network for Hope and the importance of everyone working together to achieve their goals.   Tweetable Quotes: “Barry was somebody who I was able to lean on as a new leader in this industry…” - Julie Bergin “So I think we realized that there was synergies there, even before the conversation turned to to merge our organization.” - Julie Bergin “We see an opportunity to really do things better…” - Julie Bergin “None of us do everything exactly the same…” - Barry Massa “Change in general is really hard for people, and our staff have had to deal with constant change, or the assumption that it's going to change, that has been a huge challenge, helping to inform them, reassure them, guide them.” - Julie Bergin “I think that's the thing that people probably fear most, is losing that culture that each had. And yeah, it's going to change a little bit, but it's going to be better in the long run, right?” - Barry Massa “Our whole job is to come to where they are, you know, see what their needs are, and to work with them to to allow donation to happen and still be respectful and mindful of the needs that they have as individuals.” - Julie Bergin Resources: https://getoffthelist.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/ https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH https://aopo.org/

Special guest host Alan Stein fills in for Kruser as he talks to Andi Johnson and Gina Greathouse from Commerce Lexington about the Regional Competitiveness Plan in hour 2.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Mottola is in his fifth decade as a Republican media consultant, with nearly 400 campaigns under his belt - including seven presidential campaigns and working with eleven US Seantors and six governors. His client list includes the highest echelons of GOP names like Bush, Dole, McCain, Giuliani, Specter, Rubio, Pataki, Sununu, Frist & many more. In this conversation, we talk his nearly lifelong passion for film, the non-political techniques he's brought to his political work, what drew him into campaigns, lessons learned from some of the smartest operatives who preceded him, and the stories behind some of his most memorable campaigns and effective TV ads.IN THIS EPISODEChris's roots as a Philly kid…The movie that ignited Chris's passion for film at age 7…Chris breaks down his embrace of “formalism” in filmmaking…A memorable first press conference in his first real political job…Handling over 50 spots in one cycle as a young NRCC production staffer…Chris tells lessons learned from legendary admakers Bob Goodman and Charles Guggenheim…Chris on the influence of “his favorite person on campaigns" , pollster Arthur Finkelstein…Chris talks some of his signature wins in Wisconsin and Florida as he establishes himself as a media consultant…Chis explains how a narrow loss to Patty Murray in the 1992 Washington Senate race that spurred his growth as a consultant…Chris's work for longtime PA Senator Arlen Specter and the drama around his 2009 party switch…Chris's time riding the campaign bus with Bob Dole in 1996…Chris on his work for colorful Montana Senator Conrad Burns…The story behind Chris's creation of the first gay rights spot for a Republican Senator…Three techniques that make Chris's spots a little different…Chris's 1970s moonlighting as an offensive football guru…How Chris embraced women voiceover artists…Why Philadelphia over-indexes on political media consultants and production talent… AND 80/20 questions, Adagio for Strings, JJ Balaban, the barbers' union, Brian Bellick, Ed Blakely, Don Bonker, Bertolt Brecht, Tom Brokaw, Buckely v. Valeo, the C&S Club, the Capitol Hill Club, Jimmy Carter, Alex Castellanos, Ronald Castille, Rod Chandler, commuter schools, Gary Cooper, Earl Cox, Mouse Davis, Dickens' novels, Fund for a Conservative Majority, David Garth, Tony Earl, Wilson Goode, Rod Goodwin, Bill Green, Gary Hart, Jesse Helms, Bernard Herrman, Edward Hopper, the Houston Gamblers, Asa Hutchinson, Peter Jennings, Andi Johnson, Ted Kennedy, laundry lists of grievances, Connie Mack, Buddy MacKay, Joseph Mankiewicz, David Marsden, George McGovern, Sally Mercer, Michealangelo's Pieta, Jack Mudd, Mike Murphy, Patty Murray, Neil Newhouse, old auctioneers, Neil Oxman, George Pataki, pearl clutching, potato peelers, Hester Prynne, Jerry Rafshoon, Dan Rather, Resonance Theory, the run-and-shoot, Tony Schwartz, Doc Schweitzer, seersucker suits, Judy Shepard, Matthew Shepard, Saul Shorr, Don Sipple, Gordon Smith, Bob Squier, Greg Stevens, stick time, Temple University, Tommy Thompson, Pat Toomey, the Voight-Kampff test, Bill Walsh, the World Football League, you bet....& more!

Andi Johnson, a partner at GPS Impact, is a veteran Democratic media strategist who has been a trailblazer as one of the first women in Democratic media. She's worked for leading Democratic political figures for over 30 years...names like Obama, Klobuchar, Leahy, Inslee, Bob Casey Jr, and many more. In this conversation, Andi talks growing up in a political family in Eugene, OR, how she somewhat accidentally found a path into political media, mentoring under the late Democratic admaker Joe Slade White, some of her favorite races she's worked on...from Ben Nighthorse Campbell (as a Democrat) in 1988 to helping elect Cherelle Parker Mayor of Philadelphia just a few weeks ago. This is a great talk through a fascinating career with a groundbreaking woman in media consulting and one of the most successful admakers in Democratic politics. IN THIS EPISODEAndi grows up in a politically-minded family in Eugene Oregon…A teenage Andi rubs shoulders with Senator Ted Kennedy and his 1980 presidential campaign staff…Andi remembers the politics of her native Oregon in her formative years…Andi's fortuitous intersection with two iconic media consultants, Roger Ailes and Joe Slade White…Andi talks the "two revolutions" in production of political media…Andi on what she learned from her early colleague Joe Slade White…Andi talks an early key race for (then Democrat) Ben Nighthorse Campbell in Colorado…Andi distills her approach to admaking…Andi talks one of her favorite ads for VT Senator Pat Leahy…Andi breaks down the appeal of two of the most memorable ads she produced for the Obama 2008 Presidential…Three Bedroom Ranch and Rearview Mirror…Andi's memories working for the Klobuchar 2020 presidential campaign…Andi talks the recent success of her client Cherelle Parker, the next mayor of Philadelphia…Andi recalls a groundbreaking ad she helped write in 1998 for then Congressman Jay Inslee…Andi talks what she learned from longtime partner Saul Shorr…Andi discloses her strangest work habit and her advice to budding media consultants…Andi goes deep on her experiences as a traiblazing woman in political media & how the business has changed on that front over the past generation... AND audible gasps, Michael Bennet, Kit Bond, bungalows, Ken Burns, George W Bush, The Cascades, clean young men, Bill Clinton, Christopher Close, Coro Fellows, Dr. Ruth, the Daisy Ad, John Danforth, Danish mothers, Darlingside, David Dixon, Anita Dunn, The Eugene Weekly, Sandra Feldman, Norma Ferrer, The Foreign Service, Booth Gardner, Neil Goldschmidt, Mandy Grunwald, Charles Guggenheim, The Harriman Center, Sincere Harris, Mark Hatfield, Hillman & Carr, Peter Hoagland, Jay Howser, Val Hoyle, Tom Jones, Bill Knapp, Monica Lewinsky, Loony Tunes, Al Lowenstein, Dottie Lynch, MTV, Tom McCall, John McCain, Gunn McKay, Barbara Mikulski, Wayne Morse, the naked word, Janet Napolitano, Bob Packwood, Aren Platt, Prince, Questlove, Ed Rendell, The Responsive Chord, Will Robinson, rum raisin ice cream, Bill Sarpalius, Sawyer Miller, Tony Schwartz, Bill Sheffield, Shep Sherbell, Soundhound, Bob Squier, Ken Swope, Roy Temple, Tom Udall, Greta Van Fleet, the voice of God, WHYY, wandering in the desert, Jim Weaver, Randi Weingarten, Rick White, Williams College, Harriet Woods & more!

Todos Pueden Ser Donantes   During this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson speaks with Courtney Schapier, a liver donor, the sister of a liver recipient, and one of the Organ Donation Coordinators at LifeCenter. Upon learning about her brother's need for a liver, Courtney made the incredibly brave decision to make a difference. Her story is simply amazing!   Episode Highlights:    Courtney has been an Organ Donation Coordinator at LifeCenter for the past 6-7 years. Donation Coordinators handle the medical management and evaluation for organ donors. Amongst other responsibilities, Courtney plays a large part in matching organs to donors. Sometimes, organ donation acts as the silver lining to families that are going through an incredibly hard time. Donation coordination is a 24-hour job because donation does not run on a 9-5 schedule. From the time that a case opens to the time it closes, Courtney is on the clock for 36 hours. Courtney uses CrossFit and a great support system as outlets for the high stress levels of this job. With such a high-stress job, it's no surprise that there is a high level of turnover. There have been times where the stress of the job has made Courtney question her desire to be here. COVID brought everything to a screeching halt when it first exploded back in March. The sheer amount of unknown information has made the ongoing global pandemic that much scarier. Things have finally begun to get back to normal, meaning more lives are being saved via organ donation. In 2016, Courtney's brother discovered a huge mass on his liver that required a transplant. Unfortunately, Courtney lost her father when she was only 2 months old, so her brother acted as a father to her. Courtney was informed that she was a donor match for her brother while supporting a family that was pulling life-support. The weight of the situation started to feel heavy when Courtney sat on the pre-op table. Sitting outside the OR doors on the pre-op table, Courtney was rolled back for surgery after only 20 or 30 minutes. There were a handful of signs that something was wrong with Courtney's brother's liver long before the doctors caught it. After everything was said and done, it took a 10-hour procedure for Courtney to donate over half of her liver. The first thing that Courtney can remember is getting sick immediately after surgery. Courtney finally got to see her brother when she was transferred to the ICU. It was a complete shift in lifestyle for Courtney from the moment that she found out she was a donor match for her brother. Finding living liver donors is more rare than finding living kidney donors. Both Courtney and her brother fully recovered and are as healthy as they can be today. TX Jet was kind enough to donate its services to fly Courtney and her family out for surgery. After her donation, Courtney was sure that she was at the right job at LifeCenter. Courtney was comforted by the knowledge that everything in her life made her the perfect donor for her brother. This year, Courtney is focusing on being more present when she is with loved ones. The amazing thing about donation and transplantation is the opportunity to potentially save a life.   3 Key Points: Organ Donation Coordinators manage everything from the moment a donor decides to donate, to the time that the organ is sent to its recipient. It takes a very special person to not only manage the responsibilities of being a Donation Coordinator, but also the rollercoaster of emotions that come with the job. Courtney donated just over 50% of her own liver, which was oversized, to begin with, to save her brother's life.   Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter (website) (Facebook) (Instagram) (YouTube) (Twitter) Andi Johnson (website) (LinkedIn) TX Jet (website)

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, Andi Johnson speaks with Aimee Cordrey. She will be sharing the gift of life that her son, Nicholas has given to many recipients and how influenced others to do the same. She will also be reflecting some light upon the life of her son and sharing her story of grief and pathway to healing. Tune in now for this special story. Episode Highlights:  Aimee Cordrey is married to Darren Cordray. They have been married for over 20 years and been together for a little bit longer than that. They met in college, and they have two sons Richard, a 19 year old, and Nick, who would be 17, but he is forever 15. Both of them are athletes, very different yet very similar in their interests and just how they approach life. In the middle of the pandemic Aimee and her family had been quarantined like everyone else for quite some time. School had just ended. Nick had just finished freshman year of high school and it was Memorial Day. Nick and Aimee went shopping that day to get some hamburgers and some vegetables and different things to grill out. Nick hadn't seen his friends because of quarantine. Aimee allowed him to go meet some of his friends at a local ice cream shop that was within walking distance of their house because one of his best friends was leaving for vacation the next day and she was going to be gone for two weeks. Nick decided to take a shower at night. All of a sudden Aimee heard the water go on and then they heard some really heavy, intense breathing, they were shocked. They thought it was our other son Richard, playing video games. She went to the basement, but it was not Richard, it was Nick. Nick loved life and he approached everything with this attitude of – "I can do it." His family really believed he was going to be okay and pull through. Aimee explains how and when they went about the conversation of Nick being an orgn donor. The hospital staff acknowledged all the protocols that they have in place, and they contacted Life Center. Nick had not yet been able to get his temps. He would have been eligible for them. The month that everything happened, he had actually registered as an organ donor. The letter that Aimee received said that Nick saved five people with seven organs, and probably impacted 40 to 50 others. The only thing Nick was unable to donate was his intestines, which they initially believed he was going to be able to do until they started doing the surgery. Aimee shares her thoughts on what it all meant to her, Darren and Richard to know that Nick helped so many people by donating his organs.  “Learning that sometimes bad things happen to good people and learning to be ok with that and it is not even being ok with it, it's just accepting it- that is one piece of it. The donation piece brings that pride.” -Aimee Aimee thinks that being able to talk about organ donation enables her to talk about Nick.  Andi feels like Aimee is doing so much just to help people understand the magnitude of the donation and its impact. Andi asks Aimee about the project that she is working on at his school in his honor.  One of Nick's friends, Grayson, started a change.org petition. He wanted to have the school board name the soccer field after Nick. There isn't a lesson here when it comes to losing a son. The only lesson that Aimee has learned is that bad things happen to good people, and she has learned that when you encounter a loss like this you integrate it into your life, you don't overcome it. Grief is something that has stages and some stages may be re-visited at times. It is ongoing. Nick loved everything. All of the time he was researching,  reading to understand deeply, caring deeply, everything was with passion, everything was with full intent. He didn't do anything without truly caring about it. If he was gonna do it, he was doing it 100% all in and that's what Nick was, and he is. 3 Key Points: Nick had a brain aneurysm that his family didn't know about. Nick did not complain of a headache that day. He didn't have any signs of anything that day. He had an amazing day, and it was that quick. They called 911. They were very quick, they took him to the hospital, his aneurysm ruptured three times. At the hospital, they did surgery on him and for 9 days his family thought Nick was going to make it.  Aimee tells the listeners how Nick was able to help other people through the gift of life that he was able to give.  Each one of us is different. Unique as people, Aimee thinks everyone's grief is very unique. She needed to be around other people. Aimee thinks that the donor family council is amazing. They are a source of strength. They are unshakable.   Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website    

On this episode of This Thing Called Life Podcast, host Andi Johnson is going to talk to Shelly Sherman and Stephanie Jackson. They are discussing kidney health and an exciting new project that is being launched to shed light on kidney disease as well as prevention. No doctor or medical expert will kill you for your organs; In fact, no medical professional is aware of your donor status until your death is declared. Tune in for more information! Episode Highlights:    Host Andi Johnson has a few big asks. Will you join us and be a part of this interconnected life sustaining community by registering to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor? Will you make the commitment to become more educated about living donation and championing the donation cause? Shelly is associated with the Cincinnati, Ohito chapter of The Links, Incorporated and she served as the Health and Human Services Facet Committee chair. The Ohio central chapter was granted an award by Baxter International for increasing the awareness of kidney health in the communities in which Shelly lives and primarily in the African American community. What is GFR? Shelly has been working hard in the community to make sure people know where they are regarding their GFR, which lets them know how well their kidneys are functioning and what they can do to maintain kidney health. The Links organization was founded in 1946 on the premise of friendship, and Shelly wants to uplift and elevate people by providing health information. Stephanie and Shelly first met through collaboration with The Center For Closing the Health Gap.  Shelly had goals in mind based on the grant they received regarding the number of people that they needed to touch and the number of community partnerships that they needed to do. Shelly and Stephaine share the experiences they have had with training sessions and connecting in the community. They hope people will continue to listen to the podcast and continue doing some things and spreading the word in their communities. When people are ill, you can see it on their skin and eyes. You can notice the effects of kidney and liver illness on the skin and other body systems. Garlic is great for decreasing inflammation; It has Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and Manganese, a great alternative for your seasoning. If you want to decrease your psyllium, you can add more garlic, which is great for your heart and your kidney. The one thing is to avoid canned and packaged chicken breast because those can contain sodium and other preservatives. Raising awareness and making small changes goes such a long way in promoting healthier lifestyles. There is a great ripple effect too when you share information like this with those in your family and circles.  3 Key Points: Blueberries are an important food for kidney patients. They serve as antioxidants and are very good for healing. In addition, they help your body to increase urination. People talk about dialysis and transplant, and these are things that you want to avoid. By opting for a healthier lifestyle and changes in the food you eat, you can do that.  There are so many ways you can just move your body, and Stephanie always tells people 15 to 20 minutes is sufficient. Make sure that your body is doing something that it doesn't do every day. Tweetable Quotes: “Whatever we are putting in our body, the body is going to use, and if we don't put in things that our body can use, then our body is not going to be able to function the way it's supposed to.” – Stephaine “Your body does need fat but only healthy fats because it helps everything stay lubricated and work well in all facets.” – Stephaine “So much of what happens to us is preventable, and a lot of it is due to a lack of information that is sometimes missed in our community.” – Shelly “Sometimes, we do have a mistrust of the medical systems, and we don't get some of the information that we need to have, but we can share it and start to educate each other.” - Shelly   Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website https://www.cincinnatilinks.org/black-kare-initiative https://www.facebook.com/CincinnatiLinks https://www.instagram.com/cincinnatilinks/ https://www.yoursweetestlife.com/ https://www.facebook.com/yoursweetestlifewithstephaniej https://www.instagram.com/yoursweetestlifewithstephaniej/

March is National Kidney Month. On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson talks with Mike McConnell about kidney health and community outreach.         Resources: https://lifepassiton.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/ https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH https://aopo.org/

March is National Kidney Month. On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson talks with someone who saw a vital need and acted on it in regards to living kidney donation, Brett Milam. Tune in to hear his journey as a living kidney donor. Episode Highlights: Andi previews National Kidney Month and the importance of education. Kidney disease, diabetes is often referred to as the silent killer.  There are more than 37 million Americans who have Kidney disease and high blood pressure which often leads to kidney failure. More than 90,000 people are waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant. To get more information about kidney health and prevention, please visit lifepassiton.org or nkf.org today. Guest, Brett Milam, shares when he first thought about kidney donation. He saw a fellow journalist through Instagram who made it seem really doable. Andi asks Brett to talk about the process to become a donor. He went through UC Medical Center.  Brett says you don't pay anything to be a living donor and the commitment was not overwhelming. The Medical Center even reimbursed his parking tickets. Andi talks about the safeguards in place for routes of discrimination. How long do you need to be off work? Brett shares what it feels like when your organs are reconfiguring after surgery. Brett has visited dialysis centers and talks about what it is like. What if your family needs a kidney after you have previously donated? The fall after his surgery he went skydiving for the second time in his life. He talks about the drawal to do it. He overcame his fear of public speaking to champion this cause and in 2022, Brett decided to work for Life Center. Andi asks Brett to talk about mental health. He had a personal journey with depression that he navigated through and what helped him overcome. What is talk therapy? If you are struggling with mental health, Brett has advice for you. He said do not fear telling your primary care physician that you are struggling mentally. You may have to go through different therapists and/or medications but it is very worth it. Andi talks about recognizing managing new normal after covid and how Life Center decided to offer counseling to their staff. Brett loves to read. He talks about what he enjoys reading. He recently read Stranger In The Woods. Brett did not know who his donor recipient was but it was still such a fulfilling experience. Andi reminds listeners that there are 103,933 men women and children who need life saving organ transplants. What can you do to help?   3 Key Points: March is National Kidney Month. Many Americans have kidney disease and high blood pressure which often leads to kidney failure which then in turn requires dialysis or kidney transplant. It is important to be educated to be out in front of the disease in prevention. Brett Milam shares that it was a simple calculation for him to decide to be a living kidney donor.  Life Center's mission and purpose drew Brett in. He thought he would work in journalism forever until a perfect turn of events led him to use his skills for this specific organization.   Resources: https://lifepassiton.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/ https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH https://aopo.org/

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson highlights March as National Kidney Month.  Kidney disease is often referred to as the “silent killer” because so many people have experienced it and complications that cause it without knowing it for an extended period of time. Tune in so you can be educated about this important topic and proactive with your own health.    Episode Highlights: Do you know what Kidney health is? Do you understand your family history as it relates to kidney disease? Andi says, “More than 37 million Americans have kidney disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, all of which lead to kidney failure often.” What does that mean? More than 90,000 people in the US are waiting for life saving kidney transplants. Andi lists the signs of kidney disease and encourages the listeners to visit nkf.org for more information. How can you create generational health? In Cincinnati, LifeCenter is working with The Links Incorporated and Closing The Health Gap and will be holding their first ever forum on this issue of diabetes and kidney disease.  Andi says they have seen an increase in children being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and that is the wrong way to be trending. Andi says the partnership forum will open the conversation for physicians and others who have been through the experience so that everyone can be educated to take steps they need to for generational health. You can find out more about Closing the Health Gap at https://closingthehealthgap.org/ There will be a lot  more content coming on the podcast this year. For previous episodes visit https://lifepassiton.org/ Tweetable Quotes: “More than 37 million Americans have kidney disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, all of which lead to kidney failure often.” -Andi “More than 90,000 people in our country are waiting for life saving kidney transplants.” -Andi “This is a great month to start the conversation about kidney health and understand if this may impact you.” -Andi Resources:  https://closingthehealthgap.org/ https://www.kidney.org/ https://aopo.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/ https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson finishes up the series of exploring all the parts and roles in the donation process at the OPO. There is one final position to cover, the Executive Director of Life Center, held by Barry Massa. He is also President of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO). Tune in.   Episode Highlights: Donation truly takes a community. Andi reviews how many entities come together to make everything happen. Barry Massa is the Executive Director of Life Center and has had that position since June of last year. Life Center is part of 56 Organ Procurement Centers across the United States; 48 of those are members of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO). Barry explains what AOPO does. Andi asks why some centers aren't a part of AOPO. Andi asks Barry what some of his biggest challenges are. “The whole donation and transplantation system has been under the microscope as of late”, says Barry. Barry talks about their positive outlook and taking on the focus to a more proactive stance and educating where misinformation is happening.  The National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine was asked by Congress to do a  research study on the entirety of the donation and transplantation system which was reported in February 2022. Barry talks about the results  Some people who need to be on the transplant list are not because of one reason or another. Barry explains. An executive order by former President Trump addressing issues with transplants and encouraging more transplants to occur stirred the change. Barry said it started as a Kidney Health Initiative. Barry talks about the trends over the last 5 years. He also talks about taking a systematic approach to ensure that organs are used and don't have to be discarded. What changes do hospitals need to have? What government agencies need to come together to dialogue more change?  What does donation and transplantation look like in the next 5 years? Andi asks Barry to share the biggest misconceptions he hears. Andy defines Barry as a bridge builder who desires to do the very best he can to improve everything. 3 Key Points: Barry explains how AOPO works and the beauty of working together to save lives. Every OPO has looked to see what they can do better. Organ donations and organs transplanted have gone up over the last 5 years and many are working to continue that. In 5 years, Barry envisions a much more cohesive donation and transplantation system that allows more people to get transplanted.     Resources: https://aopo.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/ https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH

During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson speaks with Donna Jones Baker who recently received the gift of life through the donation of a kidney and a heart. Donna has learned to appreciate organ donation and its ability to help save so many lives!   Episode Highlights:    February 14th is National Donor Day, a day to honor all those who have been affected by organ donation. Donna was originally born in Paducah, Kentucky and went to Murray State University. After getting married, Donna lived in Baltimore for 22 years before moving to Cincinnati to become the CEO of The Urban League. Had it not been for the heart attack that she suffered, Donna believes she would still be at The Urban League. Initially, Donna received a Z-pack for what she thought to be a cold or a flu. Donna was able to make it to the hospital after suffering from a heart attack where she was equipped with an LVAD. Doctors wanted to give Donna a heart transplant, but couldn't because they discovered cancer on her kidney. After doctors removed her kidney, Donna was placed on the transplant list for a new heart and kidney. According to the numbers, people of color suffer disproportionately from the effects of COVID. The months between her kidney removal and kidney/heart transplant were very scary for Donna. Doctors feared that Donna's remaining kidney would not be able to support her and that she would have to go on dialysis. The same doctor that fixed Donna's LVAD performed her heart and kidney transplant. Donna had to be careful with the medications that she took because the heart and kidney don't want the same things. With the help of her husband, Greg, Donna was able to make it through a transplant during a pandemic. Donna advises those going through a similar situation to try not to think about it all the time. The gifts of life and grandchildren keep Donna grateful for every day that she opens her eyes. Through the pandemic, Donna has remained in touch with her children and grandchildren via Zoom. Working in organ donation is a tough job, but one that saves many lives. Donna hopes to schedule a trip to Baltimore to visit her grandchildren once the pandemic is over. Right now, there are over 100,000 people in need of a life-saving transplant surgery. 3 Key Points: After initially thinking she had the flu, Donna agreed to host a round table event on Friday the 13th. That following Sunday, she suffered a heart attack from Giant Cell Myocarditis. Many African Americans decline to become organ donors out of a fear that if someone of note needed an organ, doctors would take it from them without consideration for their lives. To stay in touch and grow with her family members, Donna has started a Sunday night Zoom Bible study.   Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter (website) (Facebook) (Instagram) (YouTube) (Twitter) Andi Johnson (website) (LinkedIn) Donna's Story Urban League Of Greater Southwestern Ohio

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson finishes up the series on  ‘The Donation Process Through The Lens Of The OPO', exploring how things work and who is involved. There will be two additional guests for the series that will join in to share what they do within the OPO. Today, Matt Niles joins the show to discuss his new role at Life Center as the Chief Operations Officer. Tune in!   Episode Highlights: Andi reminds the audience that she has interviewed people in every department of the OPO because each one plays a critical role in the donation value chain. You can check out any of the interviews from previous episodes at : https://lifepassiton.org/ or wherever you listen to your podcasts. It truly takes a community to facilitate donation. Andi reviews everyone who is involved. The purpose of this series has been two-fold: 1) to explain more about the OPO's role and functionality so that the audience understands how the organ, eye, and tissue donations come to be as well as the intricacies of the life-saving and life-healing process. 2) If you are considering a career change, especially to something with deeper meaning to you, you can learn more about the different roles to the piece of the puzzle. Andi introduces Matt Niles who is new to Life Center specifically but not new to the OPO world.  Matt Niles shares his background in Organ Procurement. He has been in the donation field since 2001.  Matt is from a small rural town in Pennsylvania. His family was very big on volunteering and he volunteered in their small community hospital when he was in junior high school. At age 14, he saw a pamphlet about organ donation in the hospital. He filled out the donor card that evening with his parents. Matt has been with Life Center for 3 months. Previously, he has been in many different roles that ultimately led him to being the COO here.  Matt shares his goals as he has taken over the role of CEO with Life Center. He says a lot of changes are happening in the industry and he wants to best prepare everyone for moving forward in those changes. The field of transplant is relatively new, only being around for about 40 years so there are a lot of innovations and changes everyday.  Matt has had friends who have received transplants and he has had a friend who passed away waiting on the National Transplant Waiting List and he is a donor family. He is very passionate about it being his life's work. Organ transplantation doesn't happen without donation so it is an incredibly important process. Matt talks about everything that he oversees. Andi asks him to share the expertise that he brings. Matt shares the personal story of his grandfather who was a donor. Donor families and the people waiting are Matt's WHY and focus.  Andi talks about the value of Matt's outside perspective and ability to challenge Life Center for growth.  Matt has the perspective of a donor family, as an ICU and ER nurse where he cared for patients at their bedside, and as a clinician being a part of the process when the OPO comes in and provides the opportunity of donation to a family. He started out as a donation coordinator at the OPO in Pittsburg, PA When he wanted to go back to grad school he switched over to a large hospital as a director of the medical ICU and dialysis centers. He remained the chair of the hospital donor committee. After grad school, he had the opportunity to return to OPO as a director in Washington D.C.  Andi asks Matt to share what a day in his work looks like and how it starts.  What about the philosophy of some people in the community who believe that if they are a registered donor they will be killed for their organs? What does it take to qualify to be a donor? There are so many misconceptions in healthcare in general and even more in donation and transplants. Matt says it is their responsibility to acknowledge the doubts and fears but also bring the powerful truths and educate so families can make the right decision for them. Andi asks Matt to share what he finds most challenging about his role today. What does it take to be a COO at an Organ Procurement Organization? Andi reminds everyone that there are 104,398 men, women, and children who need a life-saving organ. Learn what being a donor really means or register as a donor at https://lifepassiton.org/or https://registerme.org/  3 Key Points: Matt Niles shares that his school of thought has always been that he won't need his organs anymore when he is gone so he should give them to someone who does; It has been a very straightforward decision for him since he was 14 and led him to his career and where he is today. Transplant is a relatively new field, only having been around about 40 years. Matt says there are innovations and changes everyday that they need to stay on top of and ahead of and ultimately eliminate the deaths that are occuring on the waiting list. Matt clarifies what it takes to qualify to be an organ donor and that the hospital always 100% of the time tries to save all patient lives.   Resources: https://aopo.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/ https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson winds down the series on  ‘The Donation Process Through The Lens Of The OPO', exploring how things work and who is involved. If you missed the previous episode in the series, you can find them at lifepassiton.org or wherever you listen to your podcasts.  Today, Andi talks with Maryanne Krumpleman, the finance manager. Tune in to hear how this piece of the puzzle comes together. Episode Highlights: Andi explains how Life Center works with so many different entities to facilitate organ donation. The United Network of Organ Sharing houses the waitlist of the more than 100,000 people waiting for an organ. Andi reminds the audience of the ‘book ends' to this process and that it is the people. The people who designate themselves to be donors or their families…it all begins with that yes and that is how everything unfolds. If you're thinking about a career change, as many look to do something with more meaning, organ donation is a wonderful career path; They give back every single day. Maryanne Krumpleman is the finance manager of Life Center. Prior to COVID in 2019, she made the decision to leave corporate America where she had spent most of her career. She says it was the best decision of her life to start working for Life Center in 2020. Five years ago, Maryanne's best friend's husband was in need of a kidney. It turns out his wife was a match to be a donor which is very unusual. They went through the transplant process in 2017 and are doing very well today. What does the finance department do at the Life Center? Maryanne explains that they are a nonprofit organization but structured similarly to a hospital. How do all of the employees get paid as well as health insurance, insurance on the building, all other vendors that are included? After a family gives the authorization, Life Center's finance department takes on the cost of donation.  Andi asks Maryanne Krumpleman to explain the aspects of finance. There are many parts to the ‘checks and balances' of the finances for Life Center. Maryanne explains how many things must get approved by the board of directors and Executive Director as well as audits and aligning with all government regulations. What is a sack fee?  Healthcare in general is expensive and Andi explains there is a cost to make everything operate efficiently and appropriately. Maryanne explains that there is a pay scale for different types of tissues. Andi asks Maryanne what the most challenging aspects of her job are. All of the managers have a great passion for the overall mission. Maryanne explains that in a corporate world, all the meetings were about how much money could be made, the bottom line, etc. She shares how it is truly a breath of fresh air at Life Center because the focus is not on money but on the mission of saving and enhancing the lives of people. What kinds of skills would you need to fill a similar role to Maryanne's? Maryanne talks about how they receive memorial contributions and how their responsibility is to use those funds to spread the word and utilize them well.  Andi says the generosity of the community has been overwhelming to see over the years and the importance of educating the community in return. home at the end of the day.” -Maryanne “Today there are 104,869 men, women, and children who are in need of a lifesaving organ and also today 21 of those individuals will die because the organ they needed was not available,” says Andi. She explains how you can help. 3 Key Points: Maryanne's eyes were opened to how many people are on the list waiting for kidneys specifically when she was alongside her best friend and her husband going through the transplant process. There are many aspects of the finance department. Maryanne explains all aspects from weekly, biweekly, monthly, quarterly, etc. and how all the monitoring and auditing works as well as in accordance with the government. Life Center is passionately committed to the mission of saving and enhancing lives. It is challenging and very rewarding. The organization is set apart by how all of their functions work together for the overall goal and truly making a difference.       Resources: https://aopo.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/ https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson continues the series on  ‘The Donation Process Through The Lens Of The OPO', exploring how things work and who is involved. If you missed the previous episode in the series, you can find them at lifepassiton.org or wherever you listen to your podcasts.  Today, Andi talks with Katie Wright,  a family aftercare coordinator with Life Center. . Tune in to hear her personal connection to the organization as well as her career path. Episode Highlights: Katie, a family aftercare coordinator introduces herself. She has been with Life Center for nine years. Andi asks Katie what led her to begin working at Life Center; She shares that her brother was waiting on the transplant list and ended up passing away while he was waiting. He went on to be a tissue donor. He was young at 32. Katie used to work in the communication department and she actually started up the aftercare department when Life Center wanted to make a bigger support system for donor families. What exactly does aftercare do? Katie talks about outcome letters which thanks families and explains what they know about what their gifts and how they helped. What is the communication process between recipient and donor family? “Every recipient and every donor family handles their grief and their survivor's guilt and medical bumps in the road differently”, says Katie. She explains that some families want the letter and sometimes they don't. Their department balances that to meet the needs of what people want and need. Andi asks Katie to talk about how Aftercare helps in bereavement.  Katie talks about events and live streaming to reach families and give opportunities for them to connect with other families. Andi shares her perspective on families interacting with each other as she has seen it play out. Families receive a memorial gift from Life Center too to celebrate and remember their family members. What is the Donor Family Council? Andi asks Katie to share how her family personally remembers her brother. Katie and Andi talk  about The Path Of Life located in a local park, Mt. Echo. Families receive ribbons of remembrance to tie on trees if they choose. Andi asks Katie what the most rewarding part of working at Life Center is. There are many people struggling with grief; Andi says lifepassiton.org has a lot of resources and encourages checking it out.     3 Key Points: How  does the Family Aftercare Department contribute to the value chain of organ, eye, and tissue donation? Andi and Katie discuss what they do and how it impacts lives. Katie's personal experience with her brother being a tissue donor at 32 after passing away waiting on the organ transplant list which prepared her to be the one who actually helped start up the aftercare department which Life Center specifically created to provide more comprehensive care and support for donor families. Recipients and donor families sometimes do want contact and others do not. The aftercare department helps facilitate the communications if/when it is appropriate to meet everybody's needs.   Resources: https://aopo.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/ https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH

During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks to Debbie Hayes. She is a healthcare leader in Cincinnati, and specifically she leads a number one ranked hospital in the Cincinnati region. Tune in to hear her experiences and perspective on kidney donation. Episode Highlights:  Debbie began as a nurse at Christ Hospital. She worked her way up to being CEO, also led the Board of Directors at LifeCenter Organ Donor Network for 9-10 years.  She started her career 34 years ago as a student nurse aide. The one thing that always amazed her about this organization is that you are given opportunities to grow and develop your talents. The pandemic was one of the most challenging times in the history of healthcare, but it has also been one of the most rewarding times. Because of the extraordinary efforts of an incredible team of people working they have still kept that mission of the organization at the forefront of everything that they do despite every challenge. “We are definitely grateful for all of our hospital partners throughout our service area who are able to facilitate organ, eye, and tissue donation”, says Andi. Many people who have organ failures of any kind are not able to fully experience what life is all about,which is why Debbie is passionate about this. Andi inquires, during the pandemic, “Did that affect patients waiting for kidney transplants at Christ Hospital?” One of the trends that she has noticed during her time at the Life Center is that living kidney donation continues to increase. Debbie explains her thoughts about why we are seeing more people making that choice to be a living kidney donor. Andi had the opportunity to interview a young woman who was actually waiting for a kidney, and she was listed at Christ, and she just could not say enough about what a positive experience has been with her team there. There are probably a million-plus surgeries that occur in the country requiring donor tissue, which is very interesting.  Andi recalls a story about  a young woman who was a volunteer and ambassador, and she has been waiting for a kidney for about three years, and unfortunately, she passed away. But she was able to be a cornea donor, and it just meant so much to her husband and young daughter.  Debbie talks about who/what experience has helped shape her into the leader she has become. Andi asks Debbie to give advice to someone who is just starting out in their career in healthcare and may be inspired to lead a healthcare system down the road.  3 Key Points: Debbie shares how she maintains the passion for the work that she has been doing. She was recently named CEO of the Christ Hospital after serving as interim for a period of time, and just as an outsider looking in, it seems like health care leaders don't tend to stay put with this same place for so long. She shares what it is that kept her at Christ all of this time. During the pandemic, things at the LifeCenter were quite dramatic. Debbie talks about the changes they have had to undergo during this time to attract people to sign up to be donors.  There are about 750,000 people a year in the United States that have kidney failure. If we could get a transplant for every single one of those patients when they needed it, wouldn't that really make an impact in the United States?       Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website  https://www.donatelife.net/nmdam/

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson talks with Sarah Kepf to continue the series on “The Donation Process From The Lens of The OPO” where she has been taking listeners through step by step how the donation process works and all of the different departments and people involved within the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO). If you want to know more about how the gift of life comes to be through donation, tune in now!   Episode Highlights: Andi reviews the previous speakers in this series of exploring the process of donation through the OPO- Organ Procurement Organization.  The Process begins in Donation Support services with donation coordinators as the following step. There are also the family services coordinators, organ recovery specialists, and tissue recovery technicians. Andi has interviewed people in each of these departments - if you missed it be sure to check the episode list! Organ, eye, and tissue donation is deeply collaborative. It takes a community of hospitals and staff, transplant centers, the OPO, sometimes the coroner, and funeral homes. Did you know that a donor can have an open casket? Andi says, “The body of a donor is treated with the utmost care and integrity.” The Quality Assurance Department is critical to the donation chain. They ensure that the OPO is compliant in the recovery process as well as all policies are correct. They work closely with regulatory agencies to make sure that the organization is working in line with them.  Sarah Kepf introduces herself. She has been with Life Center for 11 years; She started as a tissue chart reviewer and is now the Quality Assurance Manager. Fresh out of nursing school Sarah joined The Life Center. She shares how she journeyed through her career to where she is now.  Andi asks Sarah to talk about The Quality Department's role in the donation value chain. Sarah's department works closely with auditors and surveyors from a regulatory standpoint. There is also a safety standpoint of the Quality department;  Sarah is the safety officer. If an event occurs, she is interviewing staff members or she is testing different incidents.  Sarah says they are also heavily involved in process improvement which is up and coming to ensure that the organization is running as smoothly as possible and staying up to date with any new changes.  The Quality department started with two people and they now have eight.  Sarah talks about how they continue to stay true to the mission of enhancing lives and honoring all in the very important process they follow. Andi asks Sarah to give examples of incidents that she may have to investigate. If an error occurs it is a chance for improvement. The other departments have an understanding of how Quality is improving work for everyone. How can someone get involved in the quality department? Sarah shares that it is beneficial to have a medical background as well as attention to detail and ability to critically think. Andi asks Sarah what is most challenging about her role.  Healthcare is ever-changing so Quality really has to stay on top of changes and who the changes will impact as it could be one department or could trickle down to another as well. Sometimes people question how regulated organ donation is. Andi and Sarah discuss myths people believe. Sarah brings up how they have laws that heavily regulate everything. If you are interested in life center career opportunities or becoming a donor, you can check at https://lifepassiton.org/   3 Key Points: Organ, eye, and tissue donation takes a community working together. Hospitals and their staff, transplant centers, many in the OPO, coroners, and funeral homes. The Quality Assurance department ensures that the organization remains audit ready and that they are compliant with their regulatory and government bodies. Sarah shares how they do that. The Life Center continues to grow and flourish with their mission to enhance lives through donation while honoring those who gave. Sarah and Andi talk about how it is done in such a way that looks out for everyone.      Resources: https://aopo.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/ https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH

During this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson speaks with Chamoda Palmore, a father to a son that was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident on his way to football practice in 2014. As a man, Chamoda knows that he might grieve differently than other people, but as someone going through his own journey of grief, he knows it's important to find a way to grieve.   Episode Highlights:    Chamoda is a business owner that lost his son, Chamoda Kennedy-Palmore, to a motorcycle accident. Throughout his journey of grief, Chamoda has experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. It takes a lot of patience to get through the grieving process. Chamoda has leaned heavily on his faith, friends, family, and various support organizations. After meeting a woman who lost 2 children to a car crash, Chamoda was able to put things into perspective. Even 6 years later, it doesn't feel real to Chamoda, it feels like someone is missing. Chamoda found it difficult to engage with other people, staying away from family functions and gatherings. If you have other children or people that depend on you, it's important to find some level of normalcy again. Giving back through Chamoda's Candy Cafe and Chamoda's foundation has helped Chamoda heal. Right now more than ever, people all over the world need support and care from anyone that can give it. Chamoda's 2 daughters and wife have all dealt with Chamoda's death in different ways. When tragedy first strikes, it's like the rainy season in April and it moistens up your heart to bloom in May. It's important to plant the right things, love, support, passion, during the initial phase of grieving. Chamoda understood that it was a slippery slope to turn to a path of destructive behavior if grief is not handled correctly. For about 2 months after his son died, Chamoda couldn't open the bible. Chamoda is comforted by knowing that as a tissue donor, Chamoda's death was able to help many people. The local driver's ed has incorporated Chamoda's organ and tissue donation into its program. It's hard for men to speak about their grief, but it's important to find someone to talk to about their feelings. Men feel that they have to be so strong for the family but that doesn't mean they can't let it out somewhere else. Around the holidays, it's important to find different ways to express your grief. Chamoda helped more than 30 people as a tissue and cornea donor. When his son died, Chamoda felt like an infant that just needed to be held. Have patience with those in your life that has lost someone; eventually, it will slow down, but for now, listen.   3 Key Points: Chamoda likens his journey of grief to that of a baby's journey of learning to walk. Right now, he is holding onto the banister as he guides his feet. Giving back to other people out there that are hurting can help someone heal and get through their own grief. Chamoda's organ and tissue donation, now a part of their local driver's ed video, has helped encourage others to become donors.   Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter (website) (Facebook) (Instagram) (YouTube) (Twitter) Andi Johnson (website) (LinkedIn) Chamoda's Candy Cafe (website, Facebook) What's Your Grief Grief In Common Refuge In Grief The Center for Loss

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, Andi Johnson speaks with Aimee Cordrey. She will be sharing the gift of life that her son, Nicholas has given to many recipients and how influenced others to do the same. She will also be reflecting some light upon the life of her son and sharing her story of grief and pathway to healing. Tune in now for this special story. Episode Highlights:  Aimee Cordrey is married to Darren Cordray. They have been married for over 20 years and been together for a little bit longer than that. They met in college, and they have two sons Richard, a 19 year old, and Nick, who would be 17, but he is forever 15. Both of them are athletes, very different yet very similar in their interests and just how they approach life. In the middle of the pandemic Aimee and her family had been quarantined like everyone else for quite some time. School had just ended. Nick had just finished freshman year of high school and it was Memorial Day. Nick and Aimee went shopping that day to get some hamburgers and some vegetables and different things to grill out. Nick hadn't seen his friends because of quarantine. Aimee allowed him to go meet some of his friends at a local ice cream shop that was within walking distance of their house because one of his best friends was leaving for vacation the next day and she was going to be gone for two weeks. Nick decided to take a shower at night. All of a sudden Aimee heard the water go on and then they heard some really heavy, intense breathing, they were shocked. They thought it was our other son Richard, playing video games. She went to the basement, but it was not Richard, it was Nick. Nick loved life and he approached everything with this attitude of – "I can do it." His family really believed he was going to be okay and pull through. Aimee explains how and when they went about the conversation of Nick being an orgn donor. The hospital staff acknowledged all the protocols that they have in place, and they contacted Life Center. Nick had not yet been able to get his temps. He would have been eligible for them. The month that everything happened, he had actually registered as an organ donor. The letter that Aimee received said that Nick saved five people with seven organs, and probably impacted 40 to 50 others. The only thing Nick was unable to donate was his intestines, which they initially believed he was going to be able to do until they started doing the surgery. Aimee shares her thoughts on what it all meant to her, Darren and Richard to know that Nick helped so many people by donating his organs.  “Learning that sometimes bad things happen to good people and learning to be ok with that and it is not even being ok with it, it's just accepting it- that is one piece of it. The donation piece brings that pride.” -Aimee Aimee thinks that being able to talk about organ donation enables her to talk about Nick.  Andi feels like Aimee is doing so much just to help people understand the magnitude of the donation and its impact. Andi asks Aimee about the project that she is working on at his school in his honor.  One of Nick's friends, Grayson, started a change.org petition. He wanted to have the school board name the soccer field after Nick. There isn't a lesson here when it comes to losing a son. The only lesson that Aimee has learned is that bad things happen to good people, and she has learned that when you encounter a loss like this you integrate it into your life, you don't overcome it. Grief is something that has stages and some stages may be re-visited at times. It is ongoing. Nick loved everything. All of the time he was researching,  reading to understand deeply, caring deeply, everything was with passion, everything was with full intent. He didn't do anything without truly caring about it. If he was gonna do it, he was doing it 100% all in and that's what Nick was, and he is. 3 Key Points: Nick had a brain aneurysm that his family didn't know about. Nick did not complain of a headache that day. He didn't have any signs of anything that day. He had an amazing day, and it was that quick. They called 911. They were very quick, they took him to the hospital, his aneurysm ruptured three times. At the hospital, they did surgery on him and for 9 days his family thought Nick was going to make it.  Aimee tells the listeners how Nick was able to help other people through the gift of life that he was able to give.  Each one of us is different. Unique as people, Aimee thinks everyone's grief is very unique. She needed to be around other people. Aimee thinks that the donor family council is amazing. They are a source of strength. They are unshakable. Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website

During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks to Dr. Govil,who has been in health care for many years, specifically working in the area of kidneys and kidney health He is a professor of medicine at UC Health as well as Director of Transplant and Chief Section of Transplantation.    Episode Highlights:  Dr. Govil shares has been in this field for over 20 years and he has dedicated more than 15 years of that time to take care of patients needing kidney transplants. Dr. Govil shares why he chose this area of medicine to practice in. One of Dr. Govil's first exposures as a medical resident was with a patient who had trace protein in the urine. All of them, as residents, ignored that component of lab finding and did not realize that their finding was a world-renowned figure in diabetic kidney disease. One in six of the US population is at risk for kidney disease, and more importantly, one in 10 out of the US has some element of kidney disease or chronic kidney disease. Dr. Govil says kidney disease is very silent. You may only have pain in the kidneys when you have physical problems like kidney stones or any cyst that is hurting you.  The only way you discover kidney disease is through the blood test and routine numbers analysis. Diet does play a role in making kidney disease worse or stable, but a lot of that has to be done with how we manage our primary disease, which is causing kidney disease.  It is very difficult to ask one patient to stop eating salt because everything we eat around us is loaded with salt, and it is very difficult to break that cycle, says Dr. Govil. Andi asks, “Is this kidney disease more prevalent here in America, or is it more prevalent in other parts of the world?” There are definitely certain aspects of kidney disease that we do not understand, which means that they may have familial clustering, says Dr. Govil. As we progress, we now can identify certain genes that make one more prone to have kidney disease, which does not mean that everyone who has it will present with it. Andi asks about Dr. Govil's experience specifically, “Do you see more of Caucasian patients? Do they seem to have more success in identifying living kidney donors? And if so, why do you think that is?” When we look at the transplant or people who are receiving dialysis, 1/3 of them are African American, which means that there is definitely more propensity of any disease in this group of patients than any other group. Dr. Govil says, “When we look at the number of people on the list compared to the people who get transplanted and then compare it to the number of people who are on dialysis, they just don't add up completely.” Dr. Govil clarifies the myth that kidney donation can harm a donor in the short run and in the long term. As per Dr. Govil, education is the key, and that is what he feels when he goes to multiple outreach clinics in the tri-state area, and he realizes a lot of these barriers are related to misinformation. Dr. Govil gives recommendations for keeping your kidneys healthy. Don't count on kidney pain as one of the symptoms because kidney pain really is not a symptom of kidney disease -that is just a mechanical problem, which could be because of a stone in the kidney or some cyst. Diseases are frightening in many aspects; These are things that could be prevented if we took the proper steps and proactively saw our doctors. Changes in organ allocation will generally increase some of the volume, but it will definitely increase the volume for certain centers to do more transplants. A donor that may have hepatitis is now able to give organs to the patient in need of a transplant, and then that can be treated, says Andi. The dialysis survival is really dismal over a period of time. So, a 10-year survival on dialysis is around 10%.   3 Key Points: Dr. Govil explains what leads someone to having kidney failure. We have to realize that the kidneys are affected by a lot of things that happen in our body, whether it be high blood pressure, diabetes, or any other changes that may be related to some problems happening at the level of the kidney itself. Kidney disease means we are in a tier of the kidney, which is a very silent process and so essentially, your kidneys really do not have to hurt and actually they do not hurt at all when you fail your kidneys over a period of time. If we have a healthy, balanced diet to stabilize our diabetes and high blood pressure, it will indirectly help keep our kidneys happy and healthy. Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website  https://www.donatelife.net/nmdam/

On this episode of BPR, Ash and I sit down to reflect on why she started therapy and what it has taught us. ⠀ That's right. It wasn't just beneficial for Ash. Her journey in therapy has been incredibly helpful in our marriage too. ⠀ We've learned how to better communicate with one another, the value and importance of margins (i.e. personal space), and finding fulfillment in ourselves as opposed to the other person. ⠀ If you're wondering who Ash's therapist is, she's one of the most wonderful, wise, and insightful humans on the planet, https://www.instagram.com/andi_ruth/ (Andi Johnson). ⠀ If you're interested in working with Andi, you can join her waitlist https://andi-ruth-llc.mykajabi.com/1-1-waitlist (HERE).

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson is talking with Sandra Wright. She has a special testimony to share. The goal of this podcast is to help listeners understand what organ donation is and isn't and how it truly impacts others. February is Black History Month and American Heart Month. Sandra is a transplant survivor and the founder of The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association. Tune in now for her special story! Episode Highlights:  Sandra is a heart transplant recipient. In 2014, she contracted a virus that was never named but lingered and left her with a side effect of shortness of breath. Later that year, she was on vacation when it all kind of climaxed. She shares her story of going to the hospital and the dire state she was in. She was told she had Heart Failure but she went into immediate denial. She cautions the listeners against denial because then you don't do what you need to do. There will be a book coming out to tell Sandra's full story in the future to help many. Christ Hospital in Cincinnati set her on the path of her life being saved.  Prior to Sandra's visit at Christ Hospital, every two months she would go for maintenance care to control the edema but other than that she wouldn't take the medicine or change her lifestyle until 2017 when her heart would no longer serve her. Sandra shares how her faith got her through the scary time of being in need of a heart. The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association was created by Sandra to help provide others support, to create a community where they feel respected, heard, and understood. She shares about the services and her vision for down the road. For those who hear they have CFH, Congestive Heart Failure, that is all they are going to think about and can come unexpectedly and at vulnerable times.  Andi shares how the healthcare system is not accessible for all and how detrimental it is for many, especially people of color.  Sandra shares a sad story of talking with her granddaughter who said she ‘hated being black' and how that ideology fuels her heart and mission to create an environment of support for the African American Community. Andi asks Sandra to share any encouraging thing she is experiencing or new strength she sees in the community. Andi reminds listeners that today, 106,494 people are waiting for life saving organ transplants and more than 3,400 need heart transplants. Can you think about your decision to be a donor and save a life?   3 Key Points: Sandra shares a shocking story of her journey with heart failure and the danger of being in denial of the diagnosis.  The African American community is at the highest risk and has the greatest fatality which led Sandra to create The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association as a community of support. Sandra shares that living 65 years in this world, we are beginning to understand the necessity of working together and supporting each other and that is encouraging and exciting. Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website Sandra Wright   |swright.gcaaha@gmail.com |513-484-4772  The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association

Your life is going to change after listening to today's episode of the Shamelessly Ambitious Podcast. Maybe this is you… You achieve your goals, you get something you really wanted, yet you still feel unhappy or unfulfilled.   What if I told you that the universe can bring you everything that you've ever desired in the easiest, simplest, most fun way possible? Would you believe me?   Join me and my dear friend, real-life therapist, Andi Johnson, in this transformational conversation on alignment, success, and achieving your goals. As I said in the episode, “In order to do what you were called to this Earth to do, you first get to be YOU.”    Thanks for listening. Thanks for being here.   TOPICS DISCUSSED   Understanding the concept that “Success is NOT circumstantial” What you can do to regulate your nervous system Self-trust and self-devotion are the code that unlocks it all What “inner healing” really is Why women may hold themselves back from what they know will take them to the next level Differentiating between your intuition and fear All about the unique experience that Andi and I have created for you - tune in for a special offer   If you want to catch up with the first episode I did with Andi, you can find it here: Episode 25: Therapy Reimagined With My Real-Life Therapist Andi Johnson.   THE REVIVAL RETREAT   Andi Johnson and I decided to come together and create an experience unlike any other, and what better place to do it than in Florence, ITALY? This will be your next opportunity to join me, IN PERSON. This October 2022, we are hosting THE REVIVAL RETREAT.     Do you want to connect to yourself in the deepest way? Do you want the being and the inner trust and the inner knowing, which translates to all the goodness that does exist outside of you? Then this is 100% the next step for you.    PS. If by the time you listen to this episode the Revival Retreat is fully booked or has already passed, I invite you to click the link below for other ways to work with me and stay tuned for the next opportunity to join me live and in-person in another epic program in the future.   CLICK HERE FOR MORE: https://ashmcdonaldmentoring.com/links    THE LIMITLESS CEO BUNDLE   "HAVE YOU HEARD?! The Limitless CEO Bundle is still available. You can now get all of my program suite as one Bundle at no-brainer pricing. This bundle includes 6 go-at-your-own-pace programs, including my signature cycle-syncing course THE FLOW LAB, and so much more.   I AM HERE TO HELP YOU TAP INTO YOUR LIMITLESS BRILLIANCE. YOU ARE UNIQUE & YOUR BUSINESS GETS TO MATCH THAT."    ENROLL HERE: The Limitless CEO Bundle - this pricing won't last long!   CONNECT WITH ANDI   Instagram: @andi_ruth TikTok: @andi_ruth   CONNECT WITH ASH   Instagram: @ashmcdonald Website: ashmcdonaldmentoring.com  

In this episode of the Shamelessly Ambitious Podcast, I'm talking to the amazing Kelli Moore about the importance of showing up as who you really are and claiming what makes you truly happy. Thanks for listening. Thanks for being here.   TOPICS DISCUSSED  Kelli's epic story of burning down her old life and finding what actually makes her happy Life doesn't always look the way you imagined (it's even better) Letting go of the “bungee cords” that hold you back The question I ask myself every day and you should too Learning to say YES to yourself The importance of showing up and showing off who you really are   THE LIMITLESS CEO BUNDLE "HAVE YOU HEARD?! The Limitless CEO Bundle is here!! It is my most ABUNDANT offer of the year. For a limited time, you can now get all of my program suite as one Bundle at no-brainer pricing. This bundle includes 6 go-at-your-own-pace programs, including my signature cycle-syncing course THE FLOW LAB, and so much more. Unlock the energetics to be your best self by understanding your emotional power, become the CEO of your dreams, learn to build your business in such a way that the strategy feels like magic, rise shameless & radically confident, illuminate possibility, amplify ease, and rewire your brain to work with you.  I AM HERE TO HELP YOU TAP INTO YOUR LIMITLESS BRILLIANCE. YOU ARE UNIQUE & YOUR BUSINESS GETS TO MATCH THAT."  ENROLL HERE: The Limitless CEO Bundle » Powered by ThriveCart   THE REVIVAL RETREAT The next opportunity to join me, IN PERSON, is happening at a special retreat in ITALY, this October 2022, that I'm hosting with my dear friend (and real-life therapist!!) Andi Johnson.  Limited space left.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE: https://ashmcdonald.thrivecart.com/revival-retreat/   CONNECT WITH KELLI MOORE Instagram: @kellitmoore Website: soulfireproductionsco.com Podcast: Ok, Babe.   CONNECT WITH ASH Instagram: @ashmcdonald Website: ashmcdonaldmentoring.com

In the last episode of the Shamelessly Ambitious Podcast, we talked about expectations. More importantly, we talked about lowering expectations in your business, and ultimately giving you permission to make life and business easier, simpler, and more fun. If you have not already listened, I highly suggest you tune into episode 44, it was a good one.    But today, I want to dive just a touch deeper. I want to talk about expectations when it comes to creating offers, selling offers, and showing up in your business. As I said in the episode, “you can't fuck it up unless you quit.”    Thanks for listening. Thanks for being here.   TOPICS DISCUSSED   Defining, trusting, and embodying success If you desire it, trust that it's already yours What I do when I create a new offer and I'm about to launch Letting go of expectations and embodying trust What I think about pivoting The ONE question you should ask yourself before a launch   CONNECT WITH ASH   Instagram: @ashmcdonald Website: ashmcdonaldmentoring.com   THE LIMITLESS CEO BUNDLE   "HAVE YOU HEARD?! The Limitless CEO Bundle is here!! It is my most ABUNDANT offer of the year. For a limited time you can now get all of my program suite as one Bundle at no-brainer pricing. This bundle includes 6 go-at-your-own-pace programs, including my signature cycle-syncing course THE FLOW LAB, and so much more. Unlock the energetics to be your best self by understanding your emotional power, become the CEO of your dreams, learn to build your business in such a way that the strategy feels like magic, rise shameless & radically confident, illuminate possibility, amplify ease, and rewire your brain to work with you.    I AM HERE TO HELP YOU TAP INTO YOUR LIMITLESS BRILLIANCE. YOU ARE UNIQUE & YOUR BUSINESS GETS TO MATCH THAT."    ENROLL HERE: The Limitless CEO Bundle » Powered by ThriveCart   THE REVIVAL RETREAT   The next opportunity to join me, IN PERSON, is happening at a special retreat in ITALY, this October 2022, that I'm hosting with my dear friend (and real-life therapist!!) Andi Johnson.  Limited space left.    CLICK HERE FOR MORE: https://ashmcdonald.thrivecart.com/revival-retreat/

Pour yourself a cup of coffee and pull up a chair for episode 75. This episode is just like a coffee chat where we catch up on each other and what's been going on in our lives. I've been feeling a little writer's block, so I decided to free flow this episode and share a few things with you that are more personal and things that I'm really loving currently. Things mentioned in today's episode: * The most epic water cup ever made HERE. * Links to follow Ash McDonald & Andi Johnson, my mastermind leaders, on Instagram. * Email or DM me if you have a need for more support and would like info on working with me. *Free 5-day meal plan HERE!! Recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, & snacks for a full five days.

Is there anything in your business that you dread doing? That makes you feel like: “Oh, my God, I do NOT want to do that! Like, seriously. Give me anything else to do.” If you have something like that which, let's be honest, we all have, make sure to turn the volume up.   In this episode of the Shamelessly Ambitious Podcast, I'm talking about those times when things feel hard or like a burden and how it doesn't have to be this way. I'll walk you through some practices and questions to help you bring things into alignment – making them fun, simple, and easy.   As I said in the episode, “things do not have to be hard in order to be successful.” When things are done in alignment, they get to feel good, they get to feel easy, they get to be easy. Thanks for listening. Thanks for being here. You're exactly where you're supposed to be. TOPICS DISCUSSED   The importance of auditing pieces of your life and business and one of my favorite audit practices Social Media, Motherhood, and other energy drains How to go from dreading something to finding it aligned, fun, and easy One of my greatest tricks to keep me motivated and on the right path  Doing what's right for you in each season of your life and business To explore more about energy leaks, be sure to tune into Episode 41:  Energy Leaks: Are You Giving Your Power Away? [Inside DEVOTED]. CONNECT WITH ASH   Instagram: @ashmcdonald Website: ashmcdonaldmentoring.com THE REVIVAL RETREAT   The next opportunity to join me, IN PERSON, is happening at a special retreat in ITALY, this October 2022, that I'm hosting with my dear friend (and real-life therapist!!) Andi Johnson.  Limited space left.    CLICK HERE FOR MORE: https://ashmcdonald.thrivecart.com/revival-retreat/

In this episode of the Shamelessly Ambitious Podcast, I'm coming to you with part two of Your Next Best Business Strategy. So, if you haven't already, listen to episode 42 (part one) before tuning into this one.    Today, we're talking about the non-negotiables I have in my life and business. Now let's be honest, I don't have a lot of business non-negotiables. I don't find business, strategy, or messaging to be the most important things in my life. My non-negotiables are typically around my personal life.    But I do have a couple of business standards that I absolutely implement and attribute to my success. I very much believe that having these practices, honoring them, following them, loving them, and learning to trust them, has been one of the greatest reasons behind my abundance.   In this episode, you'll hear me say… “I've learned to love my experience of service… And this is one of my incredibly important non-negotiable business standards every single day – to serve.” In practice, this looks like honestly not caring if someone EVER pays me, I'm still going to serve and over-deliver to my audience every single time. The free value I provide is just as important as the individualized, juicy experiences that my one-on-one clients receive.   Thanks for listening. Thanks for being here. TOPICS DISCUSSED   My non-negotiable daily practices My two non-negotiable business practices What I see people doing when it comes to social media A practice you can use whenever you feel lost or unsure about how to show up online How I figured out showing up on social media in a way that feels authentic, aligned, and EASY     CONNECT WITH ASH   Instagram: @ashmcdonald Website: ashmcdonaldmentoring.com THE REVIVAL RETREAT   The next opportunity to join me, IN PERSON, is happening at a special retreat in ITALY, this October 2022, that I'm hosting with my dear friend (and real-life therapist!!) Andi Johnson.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE: https://ashmcdonald.thrivecart.com/revival-retreat/

You get to create whatever business you desire to create, in whatever way you desire to create it. And if for any godforsaken reason, you are living within this belief that it only works if it's been done before (and it's been successful), in this podcast episode, we're going to release that limiting belief.   As I said in the episode, “Success is not circumstantial. It's not based on anything outside of us, it is purely based on what happens within us.”   Thanks for listening. Thanks for being here. TOPICS DISCUSSED   Redesigning your business to meet the lifestyle you desire Having more fun with my business and what that looks like now The power of leaning in and trusting your intuition (even when it's something no one has ever done before) ENERGETICS come before STRATEGY Going inwards: 3 questions to find your next best business strategy CONNECT WITH ASH   Instagram: @ashmcdonald Website: ashmcdonaldmentoring.com THE REVIVAL RETREAT   The next opportunity to join me, IN PERSON, is happening at a special retreat in ITALY, this October 2022, that I'm hosting with my dear friend (and real-life therapist!!) Andi Johnson.    CLICK HERE FOR MORE: https://ashmcdonald.thrivecart.com/revival-retreat/ 

During this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson continues the series on the full donation process from beginning to end; If you have missed the previous episodes in this series, you are encouraged to go back and listen to get the full picture. Today Andi speaks with Jen Malof, who is a Family Services Coordinator.  Tune in. Episode Highlights:  Andi reviews the speakers in this series and the collaborative process of the organ donation process.  Jen Malof has been with Life Center for just over a year. Andi explains how the Family Services Coordinators are the third critical piece in the donation cycle. What does a Family Services Coordinator do to facilitate donation? Andi asks Jen what led her into this field.  Jen was looking to do something that felt larger than myself and helped other people, and working on a team. What is the training and background needed for someone who is a Family Services Coordinator? Jen shares about the variety of backgrounds that make up the current team they have. Jen explains how they set realistic expectations in the interview process and also shares that it is a very supportive culture. Family Service Coordinators are on call a certain number of times. Jen explains how it works. Andi and Jen discuss the unique dynamic of the role of Family Service Coordinator. It all begins with the family. You are a nurturer as a Family Service Coordinator. Jen explains the importance of the team members noting and setting up the next one who will carry on with the family in a successful way. Andi asks Jen what she considers to be the most challenging part of her role. There are office responsibilities, trainings, and on call for the position. Donation actually brings meaning and something positive to the donor families; In a way it brings some peace, comfort, and benefit to them. Jen explains how they see and experience that from the up close relationship with the families. There is extreme caution and care with analyzing the health of a potential gift and  never move forward unless it is healthy enough for recovery. In rare cases, a dcotor can be in surgery and realize the organ is not viable. Jen explains the heartbreak and challenge that is. Organ donors all have after care no matter what the circumstance. Andi asks Jen what is most rewarding about her job and Jen says she doesn't have enough time to share all of the ways. What is the honor walk in honor of the donor? There are other memory making support services; Jen shares about them. What is the skill set of a Family Service Coordinator? There is a lot of information to communicate in real time and a lot of non-verbal skills as well. Families have to receive a lot of stats and information and there is a lot of paperwork and recording that has to take place also. Jen shares that she is a long time breast cancer survivor and how her life experiences help her relate to the families she works with.  For more information, check out https://aopo.org/   3 Key Points: The organ donation process begins with a person who designated themselves to be a donor or their family who made the decision for that individual to be a donor.This life saving and life-changing gift all begins with that and is a collaborative process from start to finish. Family Service Coordinators fulfill the role of being the main point of contact for that family whose loved one has either chosen to be a donor or if that family makes that decision to move ahead with donation: to support them , to educate them, to answer their questions, adn to be with them throughout the entire process. Donation actually brings meaning and something positive to the donor families; In a way it brings some peace, comfort, and benefit to them. Jen explains how they see and experience that from the up close relationship with the families. Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter (website) (Facebook) (Instagram) (YouTube) (Twitter) Andi Johnson (website) (LinkedIn) https://aopo.org/

Welcome back to the Shamelessly Ambitious Podcast. Today, I am bringing you another incredible Voxer training from one of my favorite programs, DEVOTED. It was a Voxer Intensive where we got deep INTO it. We got into exactly what it looks like to truly develop and curate devotion to yourself (first) and your business that allows you to take your life to a whole new level.    This specific training was all about energy leaks. In this training I'm specifically asking one question: are you giving your power away?   The truth is…everything that we experience – personal life and business – is either giving us energy or it is taking energy. Within this training, I hope to guide you through the process of clarifying where you are experiencing equal energy exchanges and where you are not.    When you trust yourself fully, you start listening to your intuition, and that will guide you along the way to your most abundant life. Thanks for listening. Thanks for being here.     TOPICS DISCUSSED   Signs you're experiencing energy leaks What you can change today to claim your energy back “When this happens, I'll finally…” – Are you living by this rule? BEING before DOING or HAVING     CONNECT WITH ASH   Instagram: @ashmcdonald Website: ashmcdonaldmentoring.com     THE ACCELERATORS   If you're liking what you're hearing, you'll LOVE my Accelerators. The Accelerators are intimate & expansive containers each featuring an in-person retreat in a unique location.   DM the words ‘PODCAST ACCELERATOR' to @ashmcdonald on Instagram to snag a very special discount for podcast listeners only. We can chat about all the juicy details you need to know!    The Accelerators look a little different right now >> the next opportunity to join me, IN PERSON, is happening at a special retreat in ITALY, this October 2022, that I'm hosting with my dear friend (and real-life therapist!!) Andi Johnson. CLICK HERE FOR MORE: https://ashmcdonald.thrivecart.com/revival-retreat/      POTENT   I've already hosted this program once & it was so popular I'm bringing it back for a second round! Attract clients with ease, show up on social media with clarity and confidence, and create the most potent & magnetizing content aligned with your personal energy & cyclical power.    Social media is SUCH an incredible platform and when you truly feel that way on the inside, it is reflected on the outside. You'll notice the ease with which aligned connections flow to you when you find yourself loving the space you're holding online.   You'll feel EXCITED to show up on social media, confident in who are & what you offer, totally aligned with what you're sharing and why you're sharing it, in love with the process of selling, and find yourself with an inbox overflowing with the most soul-aligned clients ever.    AUGUST 1-7 VOXER INTENSIVE {daily trainings, real-time coaching, live support}   ENROLL HERE: https://ashmcdonald.thrivecart.com/potent-round-2/   

Trigger warning: child loss. Before introducing today's guest, I want to warn you that this is a very sensitive episode, and there's no shame if you feel like this is too much for you right now. I honor where you are now, and next week I'll have a new episode for you.   In this episode, we're talking about loss, grief, and how it changes the way you do business. To have this conversation I invited Lauryn Laszczak: somatic business coach, three-time female founder, devoted wife, and mom of three. She has spent over a decade building businesses and guiding women into a deeper exploration of themselves and the impact that they're capable of having. Thanks for listening. Thanks for being here.   TOPICS DISCUSSED   Lauryn's personal story around loss and grief Moving through shame and guilt when facing hard times Letting go of control as women and business owners What coaching and motherhood have in common The changes in Lauryn's business after her loss How flexibility  and freedom can be often mistaken CONNECT WITH LAURYN   Instagram: @iam_lauryn Website: laurynlaszczak.com CONNECT WITH ASH   Instagram: @ashmcdonald Website: ashmcdonaldmentoring.com THE ACCELERATORS   If you're liking what you're hearing, you'll LOVE my Accelerators. The Accelerators are intimate & expansive containers each featuring an in-person retreat in a unique location.   DM the words ‘PODCAST ACCELERATOR' to @ashmcdonald on Instagram to snag a very special discount for podcast listeners only. We can chat about all the juicy details you need to know!    The Accelerators look a little different right now >> the next opportunity to join me, IN PERSON, is happening at a special retreat in ITALY, this October 2022, that I'm hosting with my dear friend (and real-life therapist!!) Andi Johnson. CLICK HERE FOR MORE: https://ashmcdonald.thrivecart.com/revival-retreat/  POTENT   I've already hosted this program once & it was so popular I'm bringing it back for a second round! Attract clients with ease, show up on social media with clarity and confidence, and create the most potent & magnetizing content aligned with your personal energy & cyclical power.    Social media is SUCH an incredible platform and when you truly feel that way on the inside, it is reflected on the outside. You'll notice the ease with which aligned connections flow to you when you find yourself loving the space you're holding online.   You'll feel EXCITED to show up on social media, confident in who are & what you offer, totally aligned with what you're sharing and why you're sharing it, in love with the process of selling, and find yourself with an inbox overflowing with the most soul-aligned clients ever.    AUGUST 1-7 VOXER INTENSIVE {daily trainings, real-time coaching, live support}   ENROLL HERE: https://ashmcdonald.thrivecart.com/potent-round-2/   

Welcome back to the Shamelessly Ambitious Podcast! The last time I recorded a personal-update podcast was when we had lived in Costa Rica for just one week. Well, now we have officially been here for over a month and I can honestly say that Costa Rica has changed our lives (for the better). It has changed our life, how we experience life, how we experience one another…it has literally changed everything, including what our future gets to look like.    Costa Rica to me is the definition of doing it differently. And it has been a full embodiment of all the things that I have preached, taught, and fully felt in my soul – which is that you don't have to do things like everybody else in order to have the success that you deeply desire.    Thanks for listening. Thanks for being here.     TOPICS DISCUSSED   Why Costa Rica has been the embodiment of doing things differently for me Our dream of living abroad and why we didn't do it sooner What I realized about motherhood since we arrived in Costa Rica My life-long search for a home and what that looks like for me now Our exciting plans for the next few months The two things I want you to take away from this episode An invitation to come and join me in Italy CONNECT WITH ASH   Instagram: @ashmcdonald Website: ashmcdonaldmentoring.com   THE ACCELERATORS   If you're liking what you're hearing, you'll LOVE my Accelerators. The Accelerators are intimate & expansive containers each featuring an in-person retreat in a unique location.   DM the words ‘PODCAST ACCELERATOR' to @ashmcdonald on Instagram to snag a very special discount for podcast listeners only. We can chat about all the juicy details you need to know!    The Accelerators look a little different right now >> the next opportunity to join me, IN PERSON, is happening at a special retreat in ITALY, this October 2022, that I'm hosting with my dear friend (and real-life therapist!!) Andi Johnson. CLICK HERE FOR MORE: https://ashmcdonald.thrivecart.com/revival-retreat/      POTENT   I've already hosted this program once & it was so popular I'm bringing it back for a second round! Attract clients with ease, show up on social media with clarity and confidence, and create the most potent & magnetizing content aligned with your personal energy & cyclical power.    Social media is SUCH an incredible platform and when you truly feel that way on the inside, it is reflected on the outside. You'll notice the ease with which aligned connections flow to you when you find yourself loving the space you're holding online.   You'll feel EXCITED to show up on social media, confident in who are & what you offer, totally aligned with what you're sharing and why you're sharing it, in love with the process of selling, and find yourself with an inbox overflowing with the most soul-aligned clients ever.    AUGUST 1-7 VOXER INTENSIVE {daily trainings, real-time coaching, live support}   ENROLL HERE: https://ashmcdonald.thrivecart.com/potent-round-2/ 

During this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson continues the series on the donation process from the OPO (Organ Procurement Organization) lens. In the last episode we heard from Erica Randall of Donation Support Services. This week, Andi is speaking with Christenne Wilson, a long time staff member at Life Center; She is the Senior Donation Coordinator. She meets family in very difficult times. Tune in to hear about her experiences as it relates to the important process of organ donation.  Episode Highlights:  Many people believe that organ, eye, and tissue donation is just a service of the hospital but Andi shares how it is much bigger than that and requires the collaboration of many. Christenne has been with the Life Center for over 20 years and is currently the Senior Donation Coordinator. She explains her role as one of the individuals who handles the evaluation, medical management, organ placement, and logistics of the operating room for an organ donation. Andi asks Christenne to share what kind of training and background is required to do work like she does. Christenne shares her personal experience with organ donation about her sister who had epilepsy and cerebral palsy. What does brain dead mean? Christenne shares facts that listeners may not be aware of. She explains the difference between that and vegetative state or coma. Organ donation and the education around it has grown significantly over the years.  Christenne explains her connection to the Life Center and how meaningful it has been to her on several levels. Christenne put herself to paraemedic school and applied as an organ coordinator. Andi asks Christenne how she prepares for her day and meeting with families in desperate times.  What happens at the bedside to evaluate potential organ donation? Christenne shares that some cases have changed her forever and how it has been a blessing.  What goes into supporting the families who are in contact with ? Andi talks about how COVID caused many people to reflect and seek more meaningful jobs. Andi asks Christenne to share what a typical work day looks like for a donation coordinator.  Logistics and time frames are very important in the process; Christenne explains. A lot of communication is required for this job because of the many pieces that must come together. An average case lasts about 72 hours so that the right thing is accomplished with the donor. Christenne talks about when organ gifts are placed in other locations. The donation coordinators are very passionate about giving each individual the best preservation options. Have you thought about registering to be a donor? Find out more at https://lifepassiton.org/ 3 Key Points Christenne shares her personal experience with organ donation when her sister passed away and saved several other lives. Organ donation happens through the collaboration of many. Andi and Christenne talk through the organ coordinator role and the piece it is in the overall process. Emotional taxation is high in the role that Christenne has. She talks about the challenges, blessings, and how she perseveres through.  Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter (website) (Facebook) (Instagram) (YouTube) (Twitter) Andi Johnson (website) (LinkedIn) https://aopo.org/

During this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson speaks with Courtney Schapier, a liver donor, the sister of a liver recipient, and one of the Organ Donation Coordinators at LifeCenter. Upon learning about her brother's need for a liver, Courtney made the incredibly brave decision to make a difference. Her story is simply amazing!   Episode Highlights:    Courtney has been an Organ Donation Coordinator at LifeCenter for the past 6-7 years. Donation Coordinators handle the medical management and evaluation for organ donors. Amongst other responsibilities, Courtney plays a large part in matching organs to donors. Sometimes, organ donation acts as the silver lining to families that are going through an incredibly hard time. Donation coordination is a 24-hour job because donation does not run on a 9-5 schedule. From the time that a case opens to the time it closes, Courtney is on the clock for 36 hours. Courtney uses CrossFit and a great support system as outlets for the high stress levels of this job. With such a high-stress job, it's no surprise that there is a high level of turnover. There have been times where the stress of the job has made Courtney question her desire to be here. COVID brought everything to a screeching halt when it first exploded back in March. The sheer amount of unknown information has made the ongoing global pandemic that much scarier. Things have finally begun to get back to normal, meaning more lives are being saved via organ donation. In 2016, Courtney's brother discovered a huge mass on his liver that required a transplant. Unfortunately, Courtney lost her father when she was only 2 months old, so her brother acted as a father to her. Courtney was informed that she was a donor match for her brother while supporting a family that was pulling life-support. The weight of the situation started to feel heavy when Courtney sat on the pre-op table. Sitting outside the OR doors on the pre-op table, Courtney was rolled back for surgery after only 20 or 30 minutes. There were a handful of signs that something was wrong with Courtney's brother's liver long before the doctors caught it. After everything was said and done, it took a 10-hour procedure for Courtney to donate over half of her liver. The first thing that Courtney can remember is getting sick immediately after surgery. Courtney finally got to see her brother when she was transferred to the ICU. It was a complete shift in lifestyle for Courtney from the moment that she found out she was a donor match for her brother. Finding living liver donors is more rare than finding living kidney donors. Both Courtney and her brother fully recovered and are as healthy as they can be today. TX Jet was kind enough to donate its services to fly Courtney and her family out for surgery. After her donation, Courtney was sure that she was at the right job at LifeCenter. Courtney was comforted by the knowledge that everything in her life made her the perfect donor for her brother. This year, Courtney is focusing on being more present when she is with loved ones. The amazing thing about donation and transplantation is the opportunity to potentially save a life.   3 Key Points: Organ Donation Coordinators manage everything from the moment a donor decides to donate, to the time that the organ is sent to its recipient. It takes a very special person to not only manage the responsibilities of being a Donation Coordinator, but also the rollercoaster of emotions that come with the job. Courtney donated just over 50% of her own liver, which was oversized, to begin with, to save her brother's life.     Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter (website) (Facebook) (Instagram) (YouTube) (Twitter) Andi Johnson (website) (LinkedIn) TX Jet (website)

During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson kicks off a series about how the donation process works from the perspective of the Organ Procurement organization, which is what Life Center is. Andis guest today is a staff member of Life Center, Erica Randall. Have you ever wondered how the gifts of organ, eye, and tissue donations come to be? Tune in for the intricacies of this life-saving and life-healing process.   Episode Highlights:  The LifeCenter of Cincinnati, Ohio is 1 of 47 Organ Procurement Organizations that are under the umbrella of AOPO:The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations.  There are about 56 in total.  The donation process is collaborative; Andi shares about the organizations that are involved and how they are interconnected. Today's guest, Erica Randall, shares her role in donation support services, or DSS. What exactly is DSS and what do they do?  Erica explains guidelines and how they reach out to families.  What does it take to work in the DSS? Andi asks Erica to share what motivates her to go into the DSS everyday and do her work especially when she is meeting with families in tough circumstances who have often unexpectedly lost a loved one. There is a misconception that to be a donor, you have to be in perfect health. That is not the case. Andi asks Erica to explain. Erica's mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer and asked if she could still be a donor. In her case, she was and she was able to give the gift of restoring eyesight for two people when she passed. Erica shares how it changed the perspective for her family. Andi asks Erica to share with honesty what she finds most challenging about her role. There is a major ripple effect in the donation process for all of the families.  The DSS is open 24/7, 365 days a year. Erica explains the shifts and needs. In 2006, Erica's cousin was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver. He became an organ and tissue donor. That is the first time she had ever heard of organ and tissue donation and the first time she had an experience with LifeCenter.  In nursing school, for her senior capstone project, she chose to work with Life Center and sent up a table at the Batavia, Ohio BMV where they were educating people about donation. She knew she wanted to work for LifeCenter at that time. Andi shares about how Erica's cousin's family has done so much in the community to fuel the education efforts that LifeCenter does. Interested in positions at LifeCenter? Visit https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/careers/ Erica speaks from experience and explains how it is so rewarding to work for LifeCenter and be a part of the positive difference. Andi talks about the after-care department that follows families for 18 months after the death of a loved one. In a coming episode, there will be more information about it and someone from that department as well as the in-between pieces with coordinators. There are 106,065 people who are waiting for life-saving organ transplants and about 90,000 of those people need kidney transplants. Your decision to be a donor matters. For more information visit https://lifepassiton.org   3 Key Points: The Donation Support Services (DSS) are at the core of organizing organ, eye, and tissue donation through the stages. They give their all to the families providing comfort and remaining professional while collaborating with hospitals, coroners, etc. Erica shares what motivates her to work in the DSS and the impact that the work has. Andi and Erica discuss the opportunity in donation and how it provides healing and hope for so many involved on all sides.   Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter (website) (Facebook) (Instagram) (YouTube) (Twitter) Andi Johnson (website) (LinkedIn) https://aopo.org/

Veteran Democratic media consultant Neil Oxman is one of the most interesting people working in politics. In addition to his years helping elect Democrats at all levels, he caddies on the PGA tour for golfing legends including Tom Watson. In this discussion, Neil talks the history of political ad-making from the 1950s to today and goes deep inside several of his own high-profile races including PA Governor Ed Rendell, Philadelphia's first Black mayor Wilson Goode, Al Gore's 1988 presidential campaign, and more throughout his career that show the ways TV can help win (and lose) political campaigns. Neil's full presentation on the history of campaign ads was recorded by C-Span in 2016 and can be found here. IN THIS EPISODE…Neil's Philly roots and unusual law school experience at Villanova…Neil gets his foot in the door in politics in the summer of 1976…What leads to Neil opening his own media firm in 1980…Neil talks the roots of television advertising in political campaigns…The 1969 television ad that Neil believes kicked off the rise of political ads in non-presidential campaigns…Neil compares ads from the 70s/80s to political ads of today…The races on which Neil starts to come into his own as a media consultant…Neil helps Wilson Goode beat Frank Rizzo to become Philadelphia's first Black mayor…Neil's role on the Kentucky Senate race in 1984 and the strategic mistake that led to Mitch McConnell's first win…Neil's role as ad-maker on the Al Gore 1988 presidential campaign…Neil's connection to then-mayor of Cincinnati Jerry Springer…Neil helps Ed Rendell become Philly Mayor and Governor of Pennsylvania…The last ad that Neil thinks actually mattered in a presidential race…Neil talks his habit of watching 100s of movies a year…Neil talks moonlighting as a caddy on the PGA tour for greats like Tom Watson…Who's the best golfer in politics?Neil's advice for those who want to get into political media…Neil's recommendation for the best political movies…AND 215 media markets, Roger Ailes, Altoona, Doug Bailey, Birch Bayh, Abe Beame, Homero Blancas, Ed Brooke, Pat Caddell, Frank Capra, Hugh Carey, Bob Casey Jr, Bob Casey Sr, Frank Church, Citizens United, cocktail parties, the Columbus Dispatch, Bob Colville, the Daisy ad, John Dierdorf, David Doak, Mike Dukakis, Dwight Eisenhower, Mike Ford, David Garth, gerontocracy, gigantic piles of polls, Wilson Goode, Bob Goodman, Bill Green, Michael Harrington, Anita Hill, Richard Holbrooke, Dee Huddleston, HUT levels, Andi Johnson, Lyndon Johnson, Julian Kanter, Robert Kennedy, Ed Koch, John Lindsay, the Louisville Courier Journal, Willie Maples, McDonalds, George McGovern, Jack McGregor, Mark Moskowitz, Ralph Nader, Jack Nicklaus, Dan Quayle, process questions, Mark Putnam, Robert Redford, regional agoraphobia, Rosser Reeves, Jim Rhodes, Frank Rizzo, Nelson Rockefeller, Buddy Roemer, Nolan Ryan, Rick Santorum, Mike Schmidt, Allyson Schwartz, Joe Sestak, Bob Shrum, Mark Singel, Arlen Specter, Bob Squier, Clarence Thomas, Danny Thomas, Lee Trevino, troglodytes, Harry Truman, Paul Tsongas, Paul Tully, WASPy establishments, Doug Wilder, Tiger Woods, Tom Wolf, Lynn Yeakel & more!

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, Andi Johnson speaks with Aimee Cordrey. She will be sharing the gift of life that her son, Nicholas has given to many recipients and how influenced others to do the same. She will also be reflecting some light upon the life of her son and sharing her story of grief and pathway to healing. Tune in now for this special story.   Episode Highlights:  Aimee Cordrey is married to Darren Cordray. They have been married for over 20 years and been together for a little bit longer than that. They met in college, and they have two sons Richard, a 19 year old, and Nick, who would be 17, but he is forever 15. Both of them are athletes, very different yet very similar in their interests and just how they approach life. In the middle of the pandemic Aimee and her family had been quarantined like everyone else for quite some time. School had just ended. Nick had just finished freshman year of high school and it was Memorial Day. Nick and Aimee went shopping that day to get some hamburgers and some vegetables and different things to grill out. Nick hadn't seen his friends because of quarantine. Aimee allowed him to go meet some of his friends at a local ice cream shop that was within walking distance of their house because one of his best friends was leaving for vacation the next day and she was going to be gone for two weeks. Nick decided to take a shower at night. All of a sudden Aimee heard the water go on and then they heard some really heavy, intense breathing, they were shocked. They thought it was our other son Richard, playing video games. She went to the basement, but it was not Richard, it was Nick. Nick loved life and he approached everything with this attitude of – "I can do it." His family really believed he was going to be okay and pull through. Aimee explains how and when they went about the conversation of Nick being an orgn donor. The hospital staff acknowledged all the protocols that they have in place, and they contacted Life Center. Nick had not yet been able to get his temps. He would have been eligible for them. The month that everything happened, he had actually registered as an organ donor. The letter that Aimee received said that Nick saved five people with seven organs, and probably impacted 40 to 50 others. The only thing Nick was unable to donate was his intestines, which they initially believed he was going to be able to do until they started doing the surgery. Aimee shares her thoughts on what it all meant to her, Darren and Richard to know that Nick helped so many people by donating his organs.  “Learning that sometimes bad things happen to good people and learning to be ok with that and it is not even being ok with it, it's just accepting it- that is one piece of it. The donation piece brings that pride.” -Aimee Aimee thinks that being able to talk about organ donation enables her to talk about Nick.  Andi feels like Aimee is doing so much just to help people understand the magnitude of the donation and its impact. Andi asks Aimee about the project that she is working on at his school in his honor.  One of Nick's friends, Grayson, started a change.org petition. He wanted to have the school board name the soccer field after Nick. There isn't a lesson here when it comes to losing a son. The only lesson that Aimee has learned is that bad things happen to good people, and she has learned that when you encounter a loss like this you integrate it into your life, you don't overcome it. Grief is something that has stages and some stages may be re-visited at times. It is ongoing. Nick loved everything. All of the time he was researching,  reading to understand deeply, caring deeply, everything was with passion, everything was with full intent. He didn't do anything without truly caring about it. If he was gonna do it, he was doing it 100% all in and that's what Nick was, and he is. 3 Key Points: Nick had a brain aneurysm that his family didn't know about. Nick did not complain of a headache that day. He didn't have any signs of anything that day. He had an amazing day, and it was that quick. They called 911. They were very quick, they took him to the hospital, his aneurysm ruptured three times. At the hospital, they did surgery on him and for 9 days his family thought Nick was going to make it.  Aimee tells the listeners how Nick was able to help other people through the gift of life that he was able to give.  Each one of us is different. Unique as people, Aimee thinks everyone's grief is very unique. She needed to be around other people. Aimee thinks that the donor family council is amazing. They are a source of strength. They are unshakable. Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website

On this episode of This Thing Called Life Podcast, host Andi Johnson is going to talk to Shelly Sherman and Stephanie Jackson. They are discussing kidney health and an exciting new project that is being launched to shed light on kidney disease as well as prevention. No doctor or medical expert will kill you for your organs; In fact, no medical professional is aware of your donor status until your death is declared. Tune in for more information!   Episode Highlights:    Host Andi Johnson has a few big asks. Will you join us and be a part of this interconnected life sustaining community by registering to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor? Will you make the commitment to become more educated about living donation and championing the donation cause? Shelly is associated with the Cincinnati, Ohito chapter of The Links, Incorporated and she served as the Health and Human Services Facet Committee chair. The Ohio central chapter was granted an award by Baxter International for increasing the awareness of kidney health in the communities in which Shelly lives and primarily in the African American community. What is GFR? Shelly has been working hard in the community to make sure people know where they are regarding their GFR, which lets them know how well their kidneys are functioning and what they can do to maintain kidney health. The Links organization was founded in 1946 on the premise of friendship, and Shelly wants to uplift and elevate people by providing health information. Stephanie and Shelly first met through collaboration with The Center For Closing the Health Gap.  Shelly had goals in mind based on the grant they received regarding the number of people that they needed to touch and the number of community partnerships that they needed to do. Shelly and Stephaine share the experiences they have had with training sessions and connecting in the community. They hope people will continue to listen to the podcast and continue doing some things and spreading the word in their communities. When people are ill, you can see it on their skin and eyes. You can notice the effects of kidney and liver illness on the skin and other body systems. Garlic is great for decreasing inflammation; It has Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and Manganese, a great alternative for your seasoning. If you want to decrease your psyllium, you can add more garlic, which is great for your heart and your kidney. The one thing is to avoid canned and packaged chicken breast because those can contain sodium and other preservatives. Raising awareness and making small changes goes such a long way in promoting healthier lifestyles. There is a great ripple effect too when you share information like this with those in your family and circles.  3 Key Points: Blueberries are an important food for kidney patients. They serve as antioxidants and are very good for healing. In addition, they help your body to increase urination. People talk about dialysis and transplant, and these are things that you want to avoid. By opting for a healthier lifestyle and changes in the food you eat, you can do that.  There are so many ways you can just move your body, and Stephanie always tells people 15 to 20 minutes is sufficient. Make sure that your body is doing something that it doesn't do every day.     Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website https://www.cincinnatilinks.org/black-kare-initiative https://www.facebook.com/CincinnatiLinks https://www.instagram.com/cincinnatilinks/ https://www.yoursweetestlife.com/ https://www.facebook.com/yoursweetestlifewithstephaniej https://www.instagram.com/yoursweetestlifewithstephaniej/

Oh my goodness, I am so stinking excited. In this episode of the Shamelessly Ambitious Podcast we're here to talk to my real-life therapist: Andi Johnson! She's a licensed marriage & family therapist and certified coach who works mostly with high-functioning, ambitious women that feel like they just want to live DEEPER and go FURTHER.    We're going to reimagine what therapy can and ought to look like for you and for everybody.   Before we get started, I want you to know (if you don't already) that I, Ash, am a therapist by trade, I've had many therapists, and I'm so so giddy and happy to admit that Andi is by far the best therapist I've ever worked with, which is also why I had to have her on the show.    Get ready to reimagine therapy and understand the duality of being an ambitious woman.    I'm so glad you're here.   TOPICS DISCUSSED   Ambitious women that feel guilty about desiring more Healing as a journey and not a destination Creating content that is impactful and makes your ideal client feel like you're THE ONE Our working definition of “duality” The need to label as a survival response Identity, emotions, and consciousness and how they are all interconnected  Common threads Andi sees when an ambitious woman comes to therapy The isolation that happens when you're an ambitious entrepreneur or CEO Motherhood and ambitiousness   CONNECT WITH ANDI   Instagram: @andi_ruth TikTok: @andi_ruth   Andrea R. Johnson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, certified coach, consultant, and speaker who helps women heal from their past so they can transform their lives and relationships.   Andrea's experience as a psychotherapist and history in the wellness industry has inspired her somatic, holistic approach. Her work shows how an understanding of the nervous system can change the ways we navigate our daily lives.   Andrea believes that everyone can benefit from becoming active operators of their nervous system, allowing them to regulate their emotional experience, connect more deeply in their relationships, and move towards their goals at rapid speed.   Ultimately, Andrea empowers audiences and individuals to understand and befriend their nervous systems in order to help them thrive! ROOTED ASCENSION   Rooted Ascension: a 3-month holistic mastermind where strategy meets energetics and you get to be fully you.    This mastermind is all about embodying & elevating through the power of masculine + feminine energy. We will focus on how the feminine leads (e.g. energetic calibration, inner work, belief systems, being, & the woo), how the masculine leads (e.g. structure, strategy, planning, & aligned action), and on how + why the two MUST show up together for total alignment. This is where you discover your individualized synergistic strategy for ultimate success. Together, we're calling in more ease, more money, more fun, & more sisterhood.    It all begins April 1st! Click here to get started: https://ashmcdonald.thrivecart.com/rooted-ascension-early-bird/  YOUR ACCELERATOR DM the words ‘PODCAST ACCELERATOR' to @ashmcdonald on Instagram to snag a very special discount for podcast listeners only. We can chat about all the juicy details you need to know about my newest 6-week, high-level, containers and retreats: The Accelerators! Offer expires soon, don't wait!

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson is talking with Sandra Wright. Sandra is a transplant survivor and the founder of The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association. She is back on the podcast today to discuss the importance of understanding organ donation because it extends life. Don't miss it!   Episode Highlights:  Andi encourages the listeners to be educated about what organ donation is and how it impacts all of us.  March is National Kidney Month. Andi shares a few helpful ways to keep your kidneys healthy like staying healthy and fit, monitoring your blood sugar, monitoring your blood pressure, monitoring your weight, and more.  Delaying and denying when something is off with your body does you no good. Everyone should be as proactive with their health as possible. Did you know that African Americans make up the majority of people on the National waiting list for kidney transplants. Research shows that african americans may carry a gene that creates a higher salt sensitivity which increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. Last time on the podcast, Sandra shared her story of being a heart transplant survivor. If you missed it, go back and listen! (Episode 40) Andi asks Sandra, “Why do you think so many African Americans remain opposed to organ donation? Sandra shares when she had heart failure what changed for her in her thinking on the path she was on. Andi asks Sandra, “Was registering to be a donor ever talked about around the time you were getting your license?” In the times we live in, we  are now inundated with information. Andi and Sandra share how everyone should take an active role in their health. We have to embrace how precious our lives are and do everything we can to be present. How do we begin the conversation about generational health? Andi discusses the criteria for being able to go with organ donation from a donor. Sandra encourages listeners to take this podcast seriously and if you want to, go do some of your own research. Have you thought about the ability to help others even after you yourself transition? Andi asks Sandra to talk about her organization, The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association. She feels an obligation and is so honored to share information from traveling the journey herself in a real way. She spreads awareness with authentic truth.  Today, over 106,380 people are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and more than 3,000 are in need of heart transplants.    3 Key Points: March is National Kidney Month. It is important to know how to keep your kidneys healthy and the warning signs that they are not. Sandra Wright is a heart transplant survivor who shares her story to educate and give hope to others. She shares about barriers, lack of access, and the importance of understanding your heritage and family history.  There are so many lies mixed in with a little truth that circulates in the community about organ donation and creates mistrust and opposition. Knowledge is key. Get educated about the topic and take a proactive role in your health. Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website Sandra Wright   |swright.gcaaha@gmail.com |513-484-4772  The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson is talking with Sandra Wright. She has a special testimony to share. The goal of this podcast is to help listeners understand what organ donation is and isn't and how it truly impacts others. February is Black History Month and American Heart Month. Sandra is a transplant survivor and the founder of The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association. Tune in now for her special story!   Episode Highlights:  Sandra is a heart transplant recipient. In 2014, she contracted a virus that was never named but lingered and left her with a side effect of shortness of breath. Later that year, she was on vacation when it all kind of climaxed. She shares her story of going to the hospital and the dire state she was in. She was told she had Heart Failure but she went into immediate denial. She cautions the listeners against denial because then you don't do what you need to do. There will be a book coming out to tell Sandra's full story in the future to help many. Christ Hospital in Cincinnati set her on the path of her life being saved.  Prior to Sandra's visit at Christ Hospital, every two months she would go for maintenance care to control the edema but other than that she wouldn't take the medicine or change her lifestyle until 2017 when her heart would no longer serve her. Sandra shares how her faith got her through the scary time of being in need of a heart. The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association was created by Sandra to help provide others support, to create a community where they feel respected, heard, and understood. She shares about the services and her vision for down the road. For those who hear they have CFH, Congestive Heart Failure, that is all they are going to think about and can come unexpectedly and at vulnerable times.  Andi shares how the healthcare system is not accessible for all and how detrimental it is for many, especially people of color.  Sandra shares a sad story of talking with her granddaughter who said she ‘hated being black' and how that ideology fuels her heart and mission to create an environment of support for the African American Community. Andi asks Sandra to share any encouraging thing she is experiencing or new strength she sees in the community. Andi reminds listeners that today, 106,494 people are waiting for life saving organ transplants and more than 3,400 need heart transplants. Can you think about your decision to be a donor and save a life?   3 Key Points: Sandra shares a shocking story of her journey with heart failure and the danger of being in denial of the diagnosis.  The African American community is at the highest risk and has the greatest fatality which led Sandra to create The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association as a community of support. Sandra shares that living 65 years in this world, we are beginning to understand the necessity of working together and supporting each other. That is encouraging and exciting.   Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website Sandra Wright   |swright.gcaaha@gmail.com |513-484-4772  The Greater Cincinnati African American Heart Association

On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson is talking with E. Denise Peoples. She is a comedian, actress, singer, writer, producer, radio host, and motivational speaker. She is a double lung transplant recipient, and most importantly, she is a Christian. African Americans are at a higher risk of heart disease. Research suggests that African Americans may carry a gene that makes them more salt sensitive, which increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. Tune in for her story and great knowledge.   Episode Highlights:  In December 2000, while coming from the second floor of the house, Denise was short of breath, which lasted until February. She went to her primary doctor, and she was treated for pneumonia but nothing got better. Denise got diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which at that time was an older white male smoker's disease. The only alternative is a lung transplant or double lung transplant as this disease progresses. After being selected for a play audition and receiving health-related confirmation from a pulmonologist, Denise learned a lot about her body and herself while in Paris. When they came home at the end of 2003, things just started going down, and the disease was progressing so fast. Denise ended up on oxygen 24 hours a day.  One night around 10 o'clock Denise told her manager that she  was so tired of living like this. Soon she had a call from the hospital and they said, “Miss Peoples, we've got lungs, we need you to get to the hospital.”  The next day after surgery, Denise woke up and felt her face, but the nurse asked, “Are you looking for the cannula? She said it's there, but you are breathing on your own.” These are the absolute best words she had heard in years. Andi asks Denise, “You are with New Jersey Sharing Network, which procures organs and tissue for transplant, and they have 57 OPO's throughout the country. How did you end up there? Andi asks, “What do you believe is the reason why African Americans don't register or think about being a living kidney donor? For COVID vaccination, many of us refuse to be vaccinated because of distrust. We want to roll the dice and do something different, and we are just seeing that's not working, says Denise. When Denise got to the emergency room for the Covid swab test, sitting there and waiting for hours was the worst experience because she wondered, “Why do you have a lung transplant patient sitting with everybody else?” Once Denise returned home after 21 days in the hospital, she was doing good, was never on oxygen, and was always at room temperature. Her oxygen levels never went under 90. But her body was stiff, and she focused on getting her strength back. Andi asks, “

We all carry trauma in some fashion and it is stored in our bodies. Hi I'm your body and I'm speaking you to all the time, are you listening? In this episode, Marc and Claudine bring you Andi Johnson sharing clarity and loving ways to start listening to the body's wisdom. She shares many tools and easy tips so we can heal our lives with deep awareness. Challenge (52:25-53:58) Identify songs that put you in different states and see how your body responds to that song. Upload a response afterward sharing your experience. If you upload it to social media tag us @thebtopodcast and use #breakthroughtheordinarypodcast and #btochallenge or email your video to us at hello@breakthroughmediaco.com. Andi's Bio:Andrea R. Johnson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, certified coach, consultant, and speaker who helps women heal from their past so they can transform their lives and relationships. Andrea's experience as a psychotherapist and history in the wellness industry has inspired her somatic, holistic approach. Her work shows how an understanding of the nervous system can change the ways we navigate our daily lives. Andrea believes that everyone can benefit from becoming active operators of their nervous system, allowing them to regulate their emotional experience, connect more deeply in their relationships, and move towards their goals at rapid speed. Andrea founded the reMIND Healing Masterclass, which offers a trauma-informed life coaching approach that equips ambitious women with education, resources, and tools to promote healing so they can reach their fullest potential. Ultimately, Andrea empowers audiences and individuals to understand and befriend their nervous systems in order to help them thrive! Andi's Social Media Handle:IG @andi_ruth Andi's Programs:reMIND Healing Masterclass, which is a trauma-informed life coaching approach that equips ambitious women with education, resources, and tools to promote healing so they can reach their fullest potential in their lives and relationships.Follow the Podcast: Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breakthrough-the-ordinary/id1579129631 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7L6XsP0M87M8CX7AJ2LRS4 Google Podcasts - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9DQ1V1NVR6ag Amazon Music - https://q4k0kx5j.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fmusic.amazon.com%2Fpodcasts%2F05bbcd2c-1e6b-4d09-934e-4eac42e12362/1/0100017af9eb75aa-8c17c10b-25b5-4300-b24e-c002d99f89b3-000000/lIGTk2xPKpZbRH-tqg7FXsRKud4=229iHeartRadio - https://iheart.com/podcast/85365975/  Follow Us [@thebtopodcast]: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebtopodcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thebtopodcast Twitter - https://twitter.com/thebtopodcast TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thebtopodcast Website - https://btopodcast.com Contact Us - thebtopodcast@gmail.com  About the podcast: Are you ready to commit to your future self---if you are, Marc Chiaramonte, a creative entrepreneur, coach, and adventure seeker, and Claudine Chiarmonte, psychotherapist, coach & joy creator, are ready to take you on a journey of self-discovery to unlock your highest potential! Join Breakthrough the Ordinary to reveal what awaits you on your next quest of exploration, bringing practical strategies, tools, and secret fairy dust that our guests, coaches, healers, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders, will be sharing with you! New episodes drop every MONDAY!

During this episode of This Thing Called Life Podcast, host Andi Johnson speaks with Debbie Pollino, a Donate-Life Ambassador for LifeCenter. Unfortunately, Debbie's experience as an ambassador found its roots in the death of her son Nick after a car crash in 2014. Debbie knows firsthand that grief looks different for everyone and she hopes that sharing her son's story can help others deal with their own tragedies.   Episode Highlights:  In January 2014, Debbie lost her son Nick to a car accident, suffering a brain injury that he could not recover from. Debbie had no idea that her son Nick was very passionate about organ donation until he noticed that she was one on her license. Nick was able to save multiple lives with the organs that were donated from his body. 4 months after the death of her son, Debbie attempted to become a Donate-Life Ambassador, but it was still too soon. After about 18 months of recovering from the death of her son, Debbie started sharing Nick's story at schools. Nick was a very adventurous and outdoorsy person, driving across the country multiple summers in a row to Northern California. After attending Northern Kentucky for college, Nick transferred to a school in Northern California for a forestry program. What was supposed to be a 3-month trip to Hawaii for Nick, turned into a 5 ½ year trip. The Bernie Madoff pyramid scheme collapse brought an end to Nick's trip to Hawaii. Debbie's nephews and nieces were like siblings with Nick in life, children to her after Nick's death. Fortunately for Debbie, her family continued to talk about Nick, keeping his spirit all around them. Nick had the kind of spirit that makes people proud to remember who he was as a person. Debbie had a meltdown recently when she was looking through pictures and realized that she will never have a current one. Nick made it all the way to Lima, Peru on a buddy pass for New Years, sleeping in the airport for a week. The first time that Debbie went to visit Nick in Hawaii, he jumped off a 60-foot cliff and climbed back up. With how up and down the grieving process is, it's important to have people that you can ask for help. Though support groups work for some people, Debbie felt it was more beneficial to be around positive reinforcement. Nick was very spiritual in his own way, using nature as his church, as a way to find peace. Debbie and her family celebrate Nick on a variety of occasions, especially Thanksgiving, his favorite holiday. On August 4th every year, Nick's birthday, Debbie's family throws a party to celebrate his life. Debbie had the pleasure of meeting Nick's heart recipient, Brian, and welcoming his family into her family. Brian looks and acts the same as Nick, with a similar build and a love for outdoor adventure. The pandemic has been especially difficult for Debbie, given how close she is with her family. Though it's hard during the pandemic, don't hide away from other people while you are grieving.   3 Key Points: Debbie lost her 36-year-old son, Nick, after a car accident in January of 2014. Because of his passion for organ donation, he was able to save multiple lives. While most days are good, filled with great memories, some days are rough for Debbie when all she wants is a hug from her son. Nick's heart recipient, Brian, a father of 2, has since become a part of Debbie's family, along with the rest of his family. Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter (website) (Facebook) (Instagram) (YouTube) (Twitter) Andi Johnson (website) (LinkedIn) Nick's Heart YouTube Video What's your Grief Grief in Common Fern Side

During this episode of This Thing Called Life Podcast, host Andi Johnson speaks with Kris Grigsby, an incredible human being that has acted as the primary support system for a loved one. After struggling with Cystic Fibrosis for his entire life, Kris's husband Joe had to have a lung transplant in 2012. Listen in to hear all about Kris and Joe's inspiring story!   Episode Highlights:  Organ donation doesn't just affect the donor, but also changes the lives of the close friends and family. Not all transplant stories have a happy ending, but at the same time, not all stories end in tragedy. Kris's husband Joe was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as an infant, beating the odds and living well beyond his initial life expectancy. When their twins were 3-years-old, Joe was operating at only 20-30% lung capacity. Lung donation requires a donor that has already passed away. Due to Joe's convenient blood type, Joe only had to wait just over 3 months on the waitlist before getting his transplant. Spending 6 weeks at the hospital for the transplant, Joe and Kris went 5 weeks without seeing their children. Just 16 hours after his transplant, Joe was able to walk 150 feet. After the transplant, Kris had to change her mindset from one of a caregiver to one of a more normal wife. Kris continued to work full-time throughout the entire process for insurance purposes, but it also gave her some relief. Both Joe and Kris, very independent humans, had to learn how to say yes when people offered help. It took over 2 years to connect with the donor's family, and now Kris and Joe are very actively connected with them. Staying connected with the donor's family has helped with the healing process on both sides. Kris and Joe's children do not remember the time when Joe was sick and unable to live an active lifestyle. Going through the transplant process alone is impossible, so it's important to accept the help that is offered. The transplantation process is a journey for both the donor and their family/friends. As a result of the different recipient and supporter groups, Joe and Kris have connected with people all over the country. Kris's grandpa passed away in April unexpectedly after marrying his new wife just a year and a half before. The funeral home director advised Kris's grandpa's widow to deny the option for her deceased husband to be an organ donor. It should be the #1 responsibility for transplant centers and funeral homes to support the family. We must all advocate for ourselves and our loved ones for what's right in the moment of a donation decision. Leave the decision on whether you can or cannot be a donor up to the medical professionals. Tissue and cornea donation has the potential to help up to 50 people from one donor, and can change/save lives. Science is constantly evolving and as a result, the number of people that can donate is constantly increasing. Transplant is not a fix-all option and it's important to remember that there will still be rough times. 2020, while chaotic, has presented an opportunity for everyone to grow closer to their families. Faith has acted as an essential support beam throughout the transplant process and life in general for Kris. Support groups are incredible resources for those affected by transplantations.   3 Key Points: Unlike kidney and liver donation where you can have a living donor, lung donation requires a donor that is already deceased. Kris and Joe actually watched the accident on the news that involved Joe's donor but didn't know it until later. A misguided funeral home director gave incorrect advice to Kris's grandpa's widow and ultimately swayed her to turn down his option to be an organ donor.   Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter (website) (Facebook) (Instagram) (YouTube) (Twitter) Andi Johnson (website) (LinkedIn) Kris Grigsby (Facebook) Matthew West (musician)

Don't Forget To Register For The Virtual Community Breakfast.  It starts at 9am on 11-17.  Register At https://lifepassiton.org/   Andi Johnson joins Lincoln Ware on WDBZ and today they discuss November Events for Life Center.   Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life's podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.   Resources: Register For Free at https://lifepassiton.org/communitybreakfast/ https://lifepassiton.org/ https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH Life Center Phone # 513-558-5555

On this episode of BPR, Ash and I sit down with Andi Johnson to discuss all things self-love, self-care, emotional regulation, and relationships. ⠀ For those of you who don't know Andi Johnson, she is a licensed therapist and certified coach. She owns a private group practice that serves the Friendswood, Texas community. She works primarily with women to heal anxiety and overwhelm to live in their best mental and physical shape! ⠀ This is a compelling episode, and we are so excited to share the conversation with you. ⠀ If you want to learn more about Andi Johnson, you can find her on https://www.instagram.com/andi_ruth/ (Instagram) or check even check out the website for her https://liferedefinedhealing.com/ (private practice).

November is the month of National Donor Sabbath, where people of all faiths highlight organ donation within their places of worship. During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks with Renee Paige and Sarah Green who have a beautiful connection that formed a few years ago, tune in for this inspiring story!   Episode Highlights:  Renee and Sarah recall the details of meeting each other for the first time when they received kidney transplants from the same donor on the same day. They both share their belief in God and how they knew they had a connection. Did you know that lupus can cause renal failure? Renee shares her journey with it. Sarah shares what brought her to the place of needing a kidney transplant and how she wrestled with the news. Diabetes and hypertension are precursors to kidney disease. Andi emphasizes that Kidney disease is a silent killer and many want to be in denial. Renee recalls her thoughts about transplant donation prior to her journey with it. Some have a fear of death and therefore just don't want to address the topic of organ donation. Sarah shares her time of working in the medical field starting as a candy striper and how she learned the purpose of organ donation. Renee and Sarah share about how they got to go through the whole process of receiving an organ together. They are each other's kidney champions of support. If you received an organ, what would you say to your donor's family? Renee and Sarah share their responses. After receiving a kidney transplant, new freedom is achieved. Renee and Sarah explain the difference between before and after.  When you are vulnerable and share your journey, more people can relate, be encouraged, and be motivated to address their own health issues too. There are opportunities to advocate for the organ donation process, support others who are on that journey, and offer hope. How does kidney donation impact people of color? For those that are waiting for an organ, keep the faith. It can happen for you. Don't feel as though you have a death sentence. When you open your eyes each day, be thankful and keep moving forward. By signing your name as an organ donor, you can save lives. Educate yourself on the importance of organ donation. There are more than 90,000 men, women, and children in need of life-saving kidney transplants in our country today.   3 Key Points: There are many misconceptions about organ donation that cause resistance to being organ donors. Renee and Sarah share how their viewpoints on the matter changed.  Doctors and medical teams' only duty is to save lives. The donation piece is secondary and it's not until death has been declared that organ donation becomes a part of the end of life conversation. Renee and Sarah share the limitations of living life on dialysis three days a week and the freedom they have after being given a second chance at life through kidney donation.    Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website https://www.donatelife.net/nmdam/ Life Center's Community Breakfast Virtual Edition will be November 17th 9-10am EST: This is a free event, open to the public, register at lifepassiton.org.

During this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson speaks with John Mock, a salesman for a large wheelchair manufacturer. His life took a turn two years ago when his liver failed after 56 years of perfect health. It took a ridiculous set of miracles for John to get his new liver, but he did, and his story is absolutely inspiring!   Episode Highlights:  John details his background as a traveling sales manager for a large wheelchair manufacturer. John discusses the moment, two years ago, when he realized that something was wrong with his liver. The doctors could not figure out what was going on with John's liver because he passed all tests that they could throw at him. The ammonia build-up from liver failure was taking away John's ability to focus. Excessive sleeping led John to the conclusion that something was definitely going wrong. John's liver specialist sent him to the University of Cincinnati's transplant program. MELD (Model for Endstage Liver Disease) goes from 6 (years to live) to 40 (death); John was a 24. After some mini-miracles, John was able to accelerate the process of getting on the transplant waiting list. A battery of tests and blood work stood between John and getting on the transplant list. Expecting a long wait to get on the list to get the tests run, a cancellation got John in for his test two days after his acceptance into the program. Canceling the family vacation was tough, but John had to be close enough to get to the hospital. John was accepted onto the transplant list and found a donor within the same day. Recipients have to manage their expectations because there is a chance the organ is not a good match. It was important for John to reach out to the family of the donor to express his gratitude and condolences. Only 6 weeks after his surgery, John was on a plane to his national sales meeting in Colorado. Relying on others for everything was incredibly humbling for John as a natural go-getter. 27 days after his surgery, John and his family were able to meet his donor family and they hit it off. The liver that John has now is not his own, but has been inside two other people along the way. It's incredibly difficult to have a healthy relationship between the recipient and the donor family. What it was like connecting with his donor family and how hard it remains for them to this day. If both sides can see that through donation, it can help both sides move forward. The gift of life is shared between two families, two worlds really, in the case of organ donation. It all starts with the decision that two people do not have to die. You see life from a completely different perspective when you come so close to death. John works tirelessly as an advocate to make sure that his donor's family would be proud. Hope doesn't get people to become donors, but it is a strategy. Anyone can be a registered organ donor and give hope to someone in need.   3 Key Points: John's life completely changed when his liver failed two years ago. Through some mini-miracles, John was able to get in front of the board of the University of Cincinnati's transplant program. Organ recipients tend to question what they have done to deserve to live and why someone else had to die. The harsh reality of life sets in at some point. It's incredibly humbling when your body and mind stop you from doing certain things and you are forced to rely on others to do things for you.   Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter (website) (Facebook) (Instagram) (YouTube) (Twitter) Andi Johnson (website) (LinkedIn) John Mock (Facebook)  Hope is Not a Strategy - Book United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) University of Cincinnati Medical Center

Jeff Bellinger on the markets. Mike also talks to Andi Johnson from the Life Center Organ Donor Network.

Jeff Bellinger on the markets. Mike also talks to Andi Johnson from the Life Center Organ Donor Network.

Did You Know You Can Donate A Part Of Your Liver? Andi and Lincoln Ware Of WDBZ Discuss, in this episode of Community Heroes.  Lincoln Ware and Andi Johnson discuss Life Centers involvement in the community educating and advocating for those in need of a transplant.  In this episode they focus on expressing gratitude for the employees of the BMV who are on the front line of creating awareness for the opportunity to become an organ, eye and tissue donor.   Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life's podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation. Resources: https://lifepassiton.org/  https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/  https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH  513-558-5555 Americantransplantfoundation.org Liverfoundation.org

During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks to Dr. Govil,who has been in health care for many years, specifically working in the area of kidneys and kidney health He is a professor of medicine at UC Health as well as Director of Transplant and Chief Section of Transplantation.    Episode Highlights:  Dr. Govil shares has been in this field for over 20 years and he has dedicated more than 15 years of that time to take care of patients needing kidney transplants. Dr. Govil shares why he chose this area of medicine to practice in. One of Dr. Govil's first exposures as a medical resident was with a patient who had trace protein in the urine. All of them, as residents, ignored that component of lab finding and did not realize that their finding was a world-renowned figure in diabetic kidney disease. One in six of the US population is at risk for kidney disease, and more importantly, one in 10 out of the US has some element of kidney disease or chronic kidney disease. Dr. Govil says kidney disease is very silent. You may only have pain in the kidneys when you have physical problems like kidney stones or any cyst that is hurting you.  The only way you discover kidney disease is through the blood test and routine numbers analysis. Diet does play a role in making kidney disease worse or stable, but a lot of that has to be done with how we manage our primary disease, which is causing kidney disease.  It is very difficult to ask one patient to stop eating salt because everything we eat around us is loaded with salt, and it is very difficult to break that cycle, says Dr. Govil. Andi asks, “Is this kidney disease more prevalent here in America, or is it more prevalent in other parts of the world?” There are definitely certain aspects of kidney disease that we do not understand, which means that they may have familial clustering, says Dr. Govil. As we progress, we now can identify certain genes that make one more prone to have kidney disease, which does not mean that everyone who has it will present with it. Andi asks about Dr. Govil's experience specifically, “Do you see more of Caucasian patients? Do they seem to have more success in identifying living kidney donors? And if so, why do you think that is?” When we look at the transplant or people who are receiving dialysis, 1/3 of them are African American, which means that there is definitely more propensity of any disease in this group of patients than any other group. Dr. Govil says, “When we look at the number of people on the list compared to the people who get transplanted and then compare it to the number of people who are on dialysis, they just don't add up completely.” Dr. Govil clarifies the myth that kidney donation can harm a donor in the short run and in the long term. As per Dr. Govil, education is the key, and that is what he feels when he goes to multiple outreach clinics in the tri-state area, and he realizes a lot of these barriers are related to misinformation. Dr. Govil gives recommendations for keeping your kidneys healthy. Don't count on kidney pain as one of the symptoms because kidney pain really is not a symptom of kidney disease -that is just a mechanical problem, which could be because of a stone in the kidney or some cyst. Diseases are frightening in many aspects; These are things that could be prevented if we took the proper steps and proactively saw our doctors. Changes in organ allocation will generally increase some of the volume, but it will definitely increase the volume for certain centers to do more transplants. A donor that may have hepatitis is now able to give organs to the patient in need of a transplant, and then that can be treated, says Andi. The dialysis survival is really dismal over a period of time. So, a 10-year survival on dialysis is around 10%.   3 Key Points: Dr. Govil explains what leads someone to having kidney failure. We have to realize that the kidneys are affected by a lot of things that happen in our body, whether it be high blood pressure, diabetes, or any other changes that may be related to some problems happening at the level of the kidney itself. Kidney disease means we are in a tier of the kidney, which is a very silent process and so essentially, your kidneys really do not have to hurt and actually they do not hurt at all when you fail your kidneys over a period of time. If we have a healthy, balanced diet to stabilize our diabetes and high blood pressure, it will indirectly help keep our kidneys happy and healthy.   Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website  https://www.donatelife.net/nmdam/

It's National BMV (DMV) Appreciation month, And We Want To Recognize Their Commitment To The Donate Life Mission In This Interview with Lincoln Ware on WDBZ   Lincoln Ware and Andi Johnson discuss Life Centers involvement in the community educating and advocating for those in need of a transplant.  In this episode they focus on expressing gratitude for the employees of the BMV who are on the front line of creating awareness for the opportunity to become an organ, eye and tissue donor.     Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life's podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.  Resources: https://lifepassiton.org/  https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/  https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH  513-558-5555

During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks to Debbie Hayes. She is a healthcare leader in Cincinnati, and specifically she leads a number one ranked hospital in the Cincinnati region. Tune in to hear her experiences and perspective on kidney donation.   Episode Highlights:  Debbie began as a nurse at Christ Hospital. She worked her way up to being CEO, also led the Board of Directors at LifeCenter Organ Donor Network for 9-10years.  She started her career 34 years ago as a student nurse aide. The one thing that always amazed her about this organization is that you are given opportunities to grow and develop your talents. The pandemic was one of the most challenging times in the history of healthcare, but it has also been one of the most rewarding times. Because of the extraordinary efforts of an incredible team of people working they have still kept that mission of the organization at the forefront of everything that they do despite every challenge. “We are definitely grateful for all of our hospital partners throughout our service area who are able to facilitate organ, eye, and tissue donation”, says Andi. Many people who have organ failures of any kind are not able to fully experience what life is all about,which is why Debbie is passionate about this. Andi inquires, during the pandemic, “Did that affect patients waiting for kidney transplants at Christ Hospital?” One of the trends that she has noticed during her time at the Life Center is that living kidney donation continues to increase. Debbie explains her thoughts about why we are seeing more people making that choice to be a living kidney donor. Andi had the opportunity to interview a young woman who was actually waiting for a kidney, and she was listed at Christ, and she just could not say enough about what a positive experience has been with her team there. There are probably a million-plus surgeries that occur in the country requiring donor tissue, which is very interesting.  Andi recalls a story about  a young woman who was a volunteer and ambassador, and she has been waiting for a kidney for about three years, and unfortunately, she passed away. But she was able to be a cornea donor, and it just meant so much to her husband and young daughter.  Debbie talks about who/what experience has helped shape her into the leader she has become. Andi asks Debbie to give advice to someone who is just starting out in their career in healthcare and may be inspired to lead a healthcare system down the road.    3 Key Points: Debbie shares how she maintains the passion for the work that she has been doing. She was recently named CEO of the Christ Hospital after serving as interim for a period of time, and just as an outsider looking in, it seems like health care leaders don't tend to stay put with this same place for so long. She shares what it is that kept her at Christ all of this time. During the pandemic, things at the LifeCenter were quite dramatic. Debbie talks about the changes they have had to undergo during this time to attract people to sign up to be donors.  There are about 750,000 people a year in the United States that have kidney failure. If we could get a transplant for every single one of those patients when they needed it, wouldn't that really make an impact in the United States?   Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website  https://www.donatelife.net/nmdam/

During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks with Karyn Frost. This Thing Called Life introduces you to powerful stories about organ, eye, and tissue donation from individuals, families, and health care teams whose experiences will inspire you and remind you that while life is hard, unpredictable, and imperfect, but also beautiful. Tune in to hear Karyn's story!   Episode Highlights:  Karyn is living a very normal life. She and her husband of over 20 years just dropped off their oldest at a college. However, a part of Karyn's story has shifted some things for her. At Ohio State, Karyn met her husband, Damon Frosty, who is from Cincinnati. They have two children, two daughters, one as Andy mentioned, is a freshman at Tennessee State University in Nashville and the second one is a junior in high school at Indian Hill High School. When Karyn was a sophomore in college, she was diagnosed with lupus. It can impact many different organs in the body, and she was lucky enough that lupus impacted her kidneys.  Karyn's kidneys were not functioning properly, but they weren't terrible or in need of dialysis or a transplant; It was just one of those situations where they said, "we are going to watch this."  Andi asks, "Did your doctor at that time talk about the possibility of needing a transplant at some point?"  Andi inquires, "You mentioned a family history of diabetes. Did anyone in your family ever need a kidney transplant because of diabetes?" Karyn affirms, her father received a kidney donation 15 years ago. It lasted for about five years, and then he had to go back on dialysis, but he did receive a kidney transplant.  There are a lot of things you have to do after you receive a transplant which some are not prepared for. There are other people who can't get a transplant for financial reasons because that is a big part of it. You have to be able to afford the medication, and Medicare doesn't cover everything. Karyn has been on dialysis since May 2018, and honestly, she should have been on dialysis since 2016 because that is when her doctor noticed that her blood work in her physical exams and the biopsies indicated that she needed to start dialysis. When you have a certain level of toxins in your body, your body just decides if your kidneys can't get rid of it, we are going to get rid of it one way or another, says Karyn. Karyn has a lot of people around to support her; between immediate and extended family and people in organizations that she is a part of. Most of the people on the kidney and organ donation lists who are waiting for transplants are people of color. So, we need to have the organizations that were part of be supportive and joining the fight, says Karyn. Karyn has heard people say that they are not going to save her because they want her organs. She is interested in the statistics on how many African Americans agree when they are renewing their license to be registered.  Andi asks, "Do you think that part of the issue with chronic kidney disease is that it's one of those conditions where you know it is there, but if it is not really impacting your day-to-day life?" As young people, we are naturally more self-centered, and she is much more focused on helping others. Karyn wanted to tell her story to get awareness for herself but also to get awareness for other people. Andi asks, "If someone is interested in being tested to be your kidney donor, how might they go about that?"    3 Key Points: Karyn's doctor mentally prepared her for what she was dealing with today, so it wasn't like a shock. And one day, he just said, "Hey, you are going to do dialysis. He did a good job of preparing me for it."  Karyn shares details about her body's way or your kidney's way of saying help. Her kidneys were not functioning, so all those toxins stayed in her body anytime she ate or drank anything. They weren't being filtered out. "If you could tell your younger self, having a great time at The Ohio State University and also just starting to realize that there are some medical issues that are going to be a part of your life, what would you say to that, Karyn?" asks Andi.    Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website  https://linksinc.org

During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson speaks with Dr. Madison Cuffy, an Associate Professor of Surgery and the Kidney Director at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Cuffy has built trust-filled relationships with his patients throughout the years and loves nothing more than to see them live their lives to the fullest after getting their transplant. In case you missed it, tune in now!   Episode Highlights:  Dr. Cuffy started his medical journey back in 2002 during his residency, before doing a transplant fellowship at New York Presbyterian. Growing up in Brooklyn, Dr. Cuffy was first introduced to Cincinnati by Talib Kweli and Hi Tek. As a 14-year-old, Dr. Cuffy was volunteering in a hospital cleaning instruments. Even to this day, no one in Dr. Cuffy's family has experience in medicine, nor any clue what a transplant surgeon does. Dr. Cuffy was born in the Caribbean and grew up with his great aunt in New York. One of the most common misconceptions surrounding organ donation is that the medical community will let you die. After being in transplant and seeing how one can help create life during a time of despair, Dr. Cuffy became an organ donor. The medical community is not out to harm organ donors for their organs, contrary to popular belief. COVID has disproportionately impacted the African American community, leading to a rise in a renewed mistrust of the medical community. It's who passes on the information about medical issues like COVID that is important. Despite all the concerns and misinformation that has been passed along, Dr. Cuffy highly recommends getting the COVID vaccination. According to the statistics, on average, 22 people die every day waiting on an organ transplant. While most of his focus is on kidney transplants, Dr. Cuffy does work with all transplant organs. There is an access problem for people who need a kidney transplant and are on dialysis. Over the span of a year, Dr. Cuffy performs around 70 kidney transplants. During the pandemic in 2020, the transplant team was able to get recipients in and out with anyone contracting COVID. Dr. Cuffy facilitates living kidney donation as the best option to treat end-stage renal disease. Andi has noticed that people of color tend to shy away from sharing their donation needs with other people. Socioeconomic issues and disadvantages can make it more difficult for certain patients to share their stories. People who don't want to share their stories need a donor champion to do it for them. There are different forms of literacy, so Dr. Cuffy makes sure his patients know that there is no stupid question. It's important for patients to speak up about their questions to their doctor so that they don't go get misinformation from another source. If your physician is too busy to answer your questions now or in the future, you may need to find a different provider. Dr. Cuffy feels rewarded by his job when he sees his patients experiencing life after their transplant. His grandmother's advice to be who he is, even when things get tough, gets Dr. Cuffy through his hard days. Raised without his parents in Brooklyn, Dr. Cuffy knows first hand that you can do anything you set your mind to. Dr. Cuffy has always had an extra gear that has allowed him to outwork everyone around him. When he goes back to Brooklyn now, Dr. Cuffy gets a different kind of respect from the people he grew up with. Dr. Cuffy thoroughly enjoys going to J. Alexanders in Cincinnati because of the sheer amount of professional African Americans that go there. 3 Key Points: While volunteering at a hospital with the hopes of staying off the streets as a 15-year-old boy, Dr. Cuffy had the opportunity to watch a kidney transplant up close, and that's how he chose the transplant route. Unlike in other cities that have multiple transplant programs with different surgeons, Cincinnati has a single transplant program where the doctors act as one unit. Living donor kidneys last anywhere from 15 to 20 years, recipients don't have to wait on a list to get one, and the quality is usually very good. Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter  (website) (Facebook) (Instagram) (YouTube) (Twitter) Andi Johnson (website) (LinkedIn) Dr. Madison Cuffy (website) University of Cincinnati Kidney Transplant   

Lincoln Ware and Andi Johnson discuss Life Centers involvement in the community educating and advocating for those in need of a transplant.  This month is National Minority Awareness Month and our mission is to make sure there is accurate information about donation being discussed and the conversation is driven by facts not myths. Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life's podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.   Resources:  https://lifepassiton.org/  https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/  https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH  513-558-5555

During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast,  host Andi Johnson talks to Carolyn Henry Glaspy- a mother, grandmother, community advocate and wife. She shares her personal story with organ, eye, and tissue donation and how her life was changed forever on December 17th, 2009.   Episode Highlights:  August is National Minority Donor Awareness Month. It is a month-long observance to highlight organized tissue donation with respect to communities of color. People of color suffer from a higher rate of disease that often leads to them leaving transplants, particularly kidney transplants, so this is an opportunity to educate yourself and learn more about what you can do.  You can register to be a donor. You can also talk with your physician about what it means to be a donor, but the most important thing is that you get the facts correct. So please visit https://lifepassiton.org/ to get more information.  In 2005, hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Louisiana, and Carolyn and her family members were trapped in their home for two days. Luckily they made it out safely, but since there was no other place to go, they had to shift to Cincinnati.  Since 2009, Carolyn has been a great supporter of organ donation; that was the year that her son, Chris suffered a traumatic brain injury post falling from a truck. The doctors said that they did absolutely everything to save his life, but he didn't make it.  Losing Chris was the hardest part of Carolyn's life; It is a feeling that just doesn't go away.  Carolyn has been a great ambassador for donations. She has been sharing her story at different events and in the community.  Doctors work under oath, and their main target is to save lives. So, getting registered for organ donation won't change a doctor's oath. People's initial hesitation for registering for organ donation is similar to their reaction to the COVID 19 vaccine, says Andi. She asks Carolyn to tell the listeners more about Chris.  Chris was totally the opposite of what the world has seen; They have seen the bad Chris Henry, but she sees a loving, kind, and giving young man who had a dream for a long time to do something with his life in the NFL. That dream came true, it is just that it came with a lot of baggage. Carolyn and her family have felt the gratitude that many donor families feel. For them, just knowing that their loved one is able to live on and help others, that did bring a sense of peace. Finally, Carolyn was able to make sense of Chris's passing. No other family member would understand losing a child quite like the mother, but the realization that the child's organ will give someone a second life is a wonderful feeling. You can also be part of that person's life too if they are willing. Carolyn shared her excitement with the listeners when she met the recipients and the family members.  Before Chris's tragic death, Carolyn had never heard about organ, eye, or tissue donation. She says, “You don't see that on TV, you don't see it on billboards, you don't have a conversation about it. It almost doesn't exist until it happens to you.” Carolyn explains why that makes it so important for people to do their part in getting educated and being proactive so that when that situation comes, they know what they want to do, and the family can honor their wishes. Andi inquires about Carolyn's involvement with  Life Center's Donor Family Council, “Does she find it to be helpful to be around other people who have experienced a similar loss?” Carolyn shares the fondest memory that she has about Chris.  Andi is impressed by Carolyn's positive attitude towards life. She asks how she managed to hold herself up after the hurricane Katrina tragedy and then later after Chris's death. Carolyn wants families to know that being an organ donor or organ tissue donor is not the last; It's just the beginning of a new life for someone. You may or may not get to meet them, but a great feeling will fill your heart because you still have a part of your son or daughter walking around and living life.   3 Key Points: Carolyn clarifies the misconception about folks, especially people of color, who feels that doctors won't do anything they can to save you if they know you're a registered owner. Chris Henry was an American football wide receiver who played five seasons in the National Football League for the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at West Virginia and was drafted by the Bengals in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Carolyn shares her thoughts about her experience with the donation and with Chris becoming a donor, what she learned about organ, eye, and tissue donation.   Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website  Carolyn Henry

During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks to Robin Tackett and Monica Weakley. They share from raw, personal experiences of how organ donation has touched their lives; this is a beautiful inspirational story that you don't want to miss!   Episode Highlights:  In 2006, Monica's friend Katie got sick from a virus that attacked her kidney. Monica voluntarily decided to support her friend and donate her kidney. It has been 14 years since the donation both Monica and Katie are doing great.  A couple of years ago, Monica realized that her mother was going through an early stage of kidney failure. She and her mom both have a rare blood group. For a moment, she felt certain that her kidney would have matched for her mother. But she kept her calm, knowing that karma was on her side. Monica's mom is 73 years old, her condition kept deteriorating, and during Covid, she was in the stage of renal failure. Her mom was reading too much information on the internet and getting misinformed. One day, Monica put out a video on Facebook to friends and acquaintances asking them if they would get tested for kidney donation. The initial response was great, but as the talk progressed, people started dropping out. When the time for actual testing came, there were only a handful of people left. Finally, Robin, who got tested and was a perfect match.  It is unlikely to find someone outside the family circle with such a perfect match; Monica and her mom Nancy were overwhelmed with emotion. Andi inquires, “Was there a time when your mom said no to going ahead with the surgery?”  Andi shares a concern that older people often say no to kidney transplantation.  Monica shares how Robin and her mom got very close when she was taking care of Robin's dog. Her mom was relieved when she heard that a known person was donating her the kidney. Andi asks, Talk about the days leading up to the transplant and how you were preparing for that. “Was there anyone in your circle or your family that said, ‘Hey, maybe you want to think this through a little bit more?” or anyone trying to dissuade you from making the decision? Robin shares her situation during the pandemic, how the hospital was vacant, and the fear of getting infected. For the surgery, she said, “We checked in on Monday night to get a COVID test. Surgery was at 7:00am Tuesday morning, and I was home by 3:00pm Wednesday.” Monica talks about her nervousness during the surgery and the emotional ride that her entire family took.  Nancy is really grateful to Robin; She loves and appreciates her constantly. Robin shares her motivation to educate people about kidney donation.  Andi asks, “How is Nancy doing these days? Is she feeling good?” She is living the life of a rock star, says Monica. But they are taking precautions because of Covid.  Robin has no regret post donating her kidney; She feels it is like a badge of honor. She celebrated with them afterward! There are thousands and thousands of more stories like Nancy's, and the reality is that many people will not survive because their story didn't end with them receiving a transplant.  In the last few months, Andi has lost two friends who were waiting for kidney transplants that just did not come in time, but the other reality is that we can prevent this and have a wonderful donation experience like Robin or Monica. Andi asks the listeners to visit Lifepassion.org and check out the many stories about donation. You can learn more about the people who became donors, read about the recipients who received the miraculous gifts of organ tissue and cornea donation, and how their lives have changed, and you can also read about the individuals who are living donors.    3 Key Points: Monica Weakley, a kidney donor, talks about what she experienced when her own mom's kidney failed and she had to look for donors.  Robin shares her side of the story and how people discouraged her once she got tested for kidney donation. At present, Robin is trying to raise awareness around kidney donation and educating people from her own personal experience.    Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website 

Healing through the gift of tissue donation, an interview with Lincoln Ware on WDBZ Lincoln Ware and Andi Johnson discuss Life Centers involvement in the community educating and advocating for those in need of a transplant.  The key is making sure there is accurate information about donation being discussed and the conversation is driven by facts not myths. Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life's podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation. Resources:  https://lifepassiton.org/  https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/  https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH  513-558-5555

Healing through the gift of tissue donation, an interview with Lincoln Ware on WDBZ Lincoln Ware and Andi Johnson discuss Life Centers involvement in the community educating and advocating for those in need of a transplant.  The key is making sure there is accurate information about donation being discussed and the conversation is driven by facts not myths. Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life's podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation. Resources:  https://lifepassiton.org/  https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/  https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH  513-558-5555

During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks to Ickey Woods, a former American football player - Cincinnati Bengals Fullback. Sadly, he lost his son, Elbert Jovante Woods, 10 years ago. Now Ickey and his family are trying to make a difference in the world by educating others about organ donation and asthma.    Episode Highlights:  Ickey shares his story about being outside doing yard work when he received a call from home that his son, Elbert had collapsed. As Ickey rushed to the spot, he saw an ambulance, and in that, they were trying to resuscitate his son. They all soon headed to the hospital. The moment Ickey entered the hospital and opened the door, he saw a Chaplain.  His son's brain had been without oxygen for about 30 minutes while he was being taken to the hospital Due to lack of oxygen, Jovante's brain had started to swell, which the doctor said was not a good sign. A couple of days later, in a heart-breaking turn of events, the doctor pronounced Ickey's son as Brain Dead. Ickey and his wife decided to pull the plug.  Two women from the life center visited them and informed Ickey and his wife that their son had said yes on the driver's permit that he wanted to donate his organs. Ickey had never heard anything about organ donation, and in the African American community, there aren't many organ donors. So, he was really taken aback hearing about his son's choice.  Ickey discussed organ donation with his wife, and they mutually made their decision based on what Jovante wanted. Ickey talks about the foundation that he and his family members have created in memory and honor of Jovante. Through the foundation, Ickey and his wife's goal is to educate people about asthma and organ donation.  Ickey shares details about the scholarship that they provide to students through the Jovante Woods Foundation. Andi asks Ickey how he coped with Jovante's untimely demise.  Ickey talks about his heart-breaking efforts to stay strong and support his family.  Finally, launching the foundation in Jovante's memory gave Ickey some direction and peace of mind.    3 Key Points: Ickey Woods takes the listeners on an emotional ride while sharing details of his son's death. He also talks about Jovante's decision for organ donation. Jovante saved 4 lives with his organs and countless others with his tissues. Ickey felt really proud of his son and had registered himself and his family members for organ donation. Andi and Ickey talk about the misconceptions surrounding organ donation and the importance of educating people.    Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website  Jovante Woods Foundation 

During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks to Ickey Woods, a former American football player - Cincinnati Bengals Fullback. Sadly, he lost his son, Elbert Jovante Woods, 10 years ago. Now Ickey and his family are trying to make a difference in the world by educating others about organ donation and asthma.    Episode Highlights:  Ickey shares his story about being outside doing yard work when he received a call from home that his son, Elbert had collapsed. As Ickey rushed to the spot, he saw an ambulance, and in that, they were trying to resuscitate his son. They all soon headed to the hospital. The moment Ickey entered the hospital and opened the door, he saw a Chaplain.  His son's brain had been without oxygen for about 30 minutes while he was being taken to the hospital Due to lack of oxygen, Jovante's brain had started to swell, which the doctor said was not a good sign. A couple of days later, in a heart-breaking turn of events, the doctor pronounced Ickey's son as Brain Dead. Ickey and his wife decided to pull the plug.  Two women from the life center visited them and informed Ickey and his wife that their son had said yes on the driver's permit that he wanted to donate his organs. Ickey had never heard anything about organ donation, and in the African American community, there aren't many organ donors. So, he was really taken aback hearing about his son's choice.  Ickey discussed organ donation with his wife, and they mutually made their decision based on what Jovante wanted. Ickey talks about the foundation that he and his family members have created in memory and honor of Jovante. Through the foundation, Ickey and his wife's goal is to educate people about asthma and organ donation.  Ickey shares details about the scholarship that they provide to students through the Jovante Woods Foundation. Andi asks Ickey how he coped with Jovante's untimely demise.  Ickey talks about his heart-breaking efforts to stay strong and support his family.  Finally, launching the foundation in Jovante's memory gave Ickey some direction and peace of mind.    3 Key Points: Ickey Woods takes the listeners on an emotional ride while sharing details of his son's death. He also talks about Jovante's decision for organ donation. Jovante saved 4 lives with his organs and countless others with his tissues. Ickey felt really proud of his son and had registered himself and his family members for organ donation. Andi and Ickey talk about the misconceptions surrounding organ donation and the importance of educating people.    Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website  Jovante Woods Foundation 

In today's episode host Andi Johnson talks to Rick Greene about his decision to be a living kidney donor. He shares his personal story of taking step by step to line up for a perfect match.    Episode Highlights:  Andi asks Rick to share his story and what led him to the place where now he wants to help someone as a living kidney donor. Rick says he had a habit of grabbing the TV remote when he got home. In 2014, one night on entertainment tonight, he saw Marvin Gaye seeking a kidney donor. Rick reached out and called the number, after 4 days he went for the testing. Marvin's wife informed Rick that six people before him were rejected because of poor matching. Rick says he doesn't believe in his body anyway, and he only believed that all belongs to God. Post donating his kidney, Rick says his surgeon told “The more you walk, the more you will heal.” Slowly he started feeling better each day. In seven years, “Have you had any issues as a result of donating a kidney?” asks Andi. Andi asks Rick, what would he say to someone who is considering being a living kidney donor? Rick says he and Marvin Gaye III talk all the time, and he is doing great. By the grace of God, he got his life back. Andi applauds Rick for all he has done and says he is a giver, and it feels like God has moved him to a place where he can help people. Rick and Andi agree to a simple and right message that is “Choose Love.” Rick says we make things more complicated than they need to be. Everyone should pray about it and talk to God about it; If you can be considered as an organ donor and if you are comfortable donating, do it, says Rick. Do you feel like you inspire other people to do what you do by sharing your story? Andi asks Rick. Rick says he prays that people would consider donation and how it could bless someone to move forward in life.   3 Key Points:  Rick talks about the donation and healing process so that people can understand more about what it means to be a living kidney donor. Andi asks Rick for his opinion about “Why many people of color, specifically American African's, don't want to donate their organs?” We learn to share and exchange information, and that is how we help and support one another, says Andi. Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter  website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website   

In today's episode host Andi Johnson talks to Rick Greene about his decision to be a living kidney donor. He shares his personal story of taking step by step to line up for a perfect match.    Episode Highlights:  Andi asks Rick to share his story and what led him to the place where now he wants to help someone as a living kidney donor. Rick says he had a habit of grabbing the TV remote when he got home. In 2014, one night on entertainment tonight, he saw Marvin Gaye seeking a kidney donor. Rick reached out and called the number, after 4 days he went for the testing. Marvin's wife informed Rick that six people before him were rejected because of poor matching. Rick says he doesn't believe in his body anyway, and he only believed that all belongs to God. Post donating his kidney, Rick says his surgeon told “The more you walk, the more you will heal.” Slowly he started feeling better each day. In seven years, “Have you had any issues as a result of donating a kidney?” asks Andi. Andi asks Rick, what would he say to someone who is considering being a living kidney donor? Rick says he and Marvin Gaye III talk all the time, and he is doing great. By the grace of God, he got his life back. Andi applauds Rick for all he has done and says he is a giver, and it feels like God has moved him to a place where he can help people. Rick and Andi agree to a simple and right message that is “Choose Love.” Rick says we make things more complicated than they need to be. Everyone should pray about it and talk to God about it; If you can be considered as an organ donor and if you are comfortable donating, do it, says Rick. Do you feel like you inspire other people to do what you do by sharing your story? Andi asks Rick. Rick says he prays that people would consider donation and how it could bless someone to move forward in life.   3 Key Points:  Rick talks about the donation and healing process so that people can understand more about what it means to be a living kidney donor. Andi asks Rick for his opinion about “Why many people of color, specifically American African's, don't want to donate their organs?” We learn to share and exchange information, and that is how we help and support one another, says Andi. Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter  website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website   

Advocacy For Organ And Tissue Donation In The Community, an interview with Lincoln Ware on WDBZ Lincoln Ware and Andi Johnson discuss Life Centers involvement in the community educating and advocating for those in need of a transplant.  The key is making sure there is accurate information about donation being discussed and the conversation is driven by facts not myths. Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life's podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.    Resources: https://lifepassiton.org/  https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/  https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH  513-558-5555

Advocacy For Organ And Tissue Donation In The Community, an interview with Lincoln Ware on WDBZ Lincoln Ware and Andi Johnson discuss Life Centers involvement in the community educating and advocating for those in need of a transplant.  The key is making sure there is accurate information about donation being discussed and the conversation is driven by facts not myths. Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life's podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.    Resources: https://lifepassiton.org/  https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/  https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH  513-558-5555

During episode 23 of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks to Bobby Schrichten; He is a manager at the Tissue Services Department and a long-time staff member at the LifeCenter. Andi and Bobby discuss how organ donation happens and the moving parts that contributes to giving the gift of life. Tune in for this important, informative talk!   Episode Highlights:  Bobby talks about his journey at the LifeCenter, where he joined 15 years ago as a Perfusionist.  A perfusionist is an individual who is available in the operating rooms and makes donations happen from respective organizations and teams for recovery.   A perfusionist is also a transporter and logistic role who travels all over to recover organs and bring them back to the center. Andi confirms that so much happens for an organ to recover from the patient. Transporting an organ requires a lot of effort; It also has to be matched with a patient in a short period of time. Bobby says he took a short time break from the Perfusionist position and joined the community center, which is now a donation support service center. The donation support service team manages and deals with all referral aspects of individuals and hospitals. Andi informs that the law requires hospitals to report every death to LifeCenter and other organ procurement organizations throughout the country. Bobby's career journey led him to return to his role of perfusionist and after 3 years, Bobby got the responsibility of the Tissue recovery center at the LifeCenter. Andi asks Bobby “Before working at the LifeCenter, what did you know about organ or tissue donation?” Bobby shares about the EMS program that he has created. The person who dies on the scene are tissue donors, not the organ donor, because in order to become an organ donor, you have to be in the hospital. Ensuring that his team is emotionally and physically well is the most challenging thing for him at the LifeCenter, because they have to make a recovery and also have to cope with families who have lost their loved ones. Andi addresses organ, eye, and tissue donation in regards to the LGBTQIA community. She asks Bobby to share his insights and what the restrictions are around donation?  Due to a lifestyle that is allegedly associated with gay men,  the Tissue Banking industry has decided that we can't donate tissue, says Bobby. They allow donated organs, but not eye or tissue.  There are so many tests to make sure that everything is safe and can be transplanted.  As demand is increasing, we will see many changes in the coming years when it comes to tissue, eye, and organ donation. It will allow more people to help more people, and that's what is most important. The HIV Organ Policy Equity act was passed, and it allows organ donation between HIV-positive individuals. Bobby says that due to the HIV act, required organs are available for needed folks to live on, make changes, and be the people in society that they were supposed to be. 3 Key Points: Bobby talks about his love to help people, save lives,  and change lives forever. He also talks about the motivating factors that push him forward.  Andi refers to Bobby as a compassionate leader who truly cares for every person on his team. He comes every day and gives everything to the LifeCenter. Bobby says he loves everything about LifeCenter, not because of his position but due to the people he works with, the team he has, and the overall mission and vision of the LifeCenter. Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter  website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website  Bobby Schrichten | https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/

During episode 23 of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks to Bobby Schrichten; He is a manager at the Tissue Services Department and a long-time staff member at the LifeCenter. Andi and Bobby discuss how organ donation happens and the moving parts that contributes to giving the gift of life. Tune in for this important, informative talk!   Episode Highlights:  Bobby talks about his journey at the LifeCenter, where he joined 15 years ago as a Perfusionist.  A perfusionist is an individual who is available in the operating rooms and makes donations happen from respective organizations and teams for recovery.   A perfusionist is also a transporter and logistic role who travels all over to recover organs and bring them back to the center. Andi confirms that so much happens for an organ to recover from the patient. Transporting an organ requires a lot of effort; It also has to be matched with a patient in a short period of time. Bobby says he took a short time break from the Perfusionist position and joined the community center, which is now a donation support service center. The donation support service team manages and deals with all referral aspects of individuals and hospitals. Andi informs that the law requires hospitals to report every death to LifeCenter and other organ procurement organizations throughout the country. Bobby's career journey led him to return to his role of perfusionist and after 3 years, Bobby got the responsibility of the Tissue recovery center at the LifeCenter. Andi asks Bobby “Before working at the LifeCenter, what did you know about organ or tissue donation?” Bobby shares about the EMS program that he has created. The person who dies on the scene are tissue donors, not the organ donor, because in order to become an organ donor, you have to be in the hospital. Ensuring that his team is emotionally and physically well is the most challenging thing for him at the LifeCenter, because they have to make a recovery and also have to cope with families who have lost their loved ones. Andi addresses organ, eye, and tissue donation in regards to the LGBTQIA community. She asks Bobby to share his insights and what the restrictions are around donation?  Due to a lifestyle that is allegedly associated with gay men,  the Tissue Banking industry has decided that we can't donate tissue, says Bobby. They allow donated organs, but not eye or tissue.  There are so many tests to make sure that everything is safe and can be transplanted.  As demand is increasing, we will see many changes in the coming years when it comes to tissue, eye, and organ donation. It will allow more people to help more people, and that's what is most important. The HIV Organ Policy Equity act was passed, and it allows organ donation between HIV-positive individuals. Bobby says that due to the HIV act, required organs are available for needed folks to live on, make changes, and be the people in society that they were supposed to be. 3 Key Points: Bobby talks about his love to help people, save lives,  and change lives forever. He also talks about the motivating factors that push him forward.  Andi refers to Bobby as a compassionate leader who truly cares for every person on his team. He comes every day and gives everything to the LifeCenter. Bobby says he loves everything about LifeCenter, not because of his position but due to the people he works with, the team he has, and the overall mission and vision of the LifeCenter. Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter  website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website  Bobby Schrichten | https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/

Melissa Armstrong and Andi Johnson join Liz Bonis for an interview on What's Happening In Health that airs every Sunday on WKRC TV.  This interview focuses on the 40 year anniversary celebration and the planting of live trees at Mt. Echo Park creating the Path of Life. Melissa shares her story of her battle with a genetic kidney disease and how long she has been waiting for a kidney.  We all can learn something from this very powerful message.   Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life's podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.   Resources:  https://lifepassiton.org/  https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/  https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH  513-558-5555

Melissa Armstrong and Andi Johnson join Liz Bonis for an interview on What's Happening In Health that airs every Sunday on WKRC TV.  This interview focuses on the 40 year anniversary celebration and the planting of live trees at Mt. Echo Park creating the Path of Life. Melissa shares her story of her battle with a genetic kidney disease and how long she has been waiting for a kidney.  We all can learn something from this very powerful message.   Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life's podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.   Resources:  https://lifepassiton.org/  https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/  https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH  513-558-5555

During episode 22 of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks to Audrey Holtzman, Diversity Outreach and Educator Associate at LifeCenter. Audrey is educating high school kids about organ donations so that they can make an informed decision. Episode Highlights:  Audrey is working with LifeCenter as a Diversity Outreach and Educator Associate and recently celebrated her second work anniversary with LifeCenter.  When students get ready to get their driver's license, that is when they decide if they are going to register as a donor.  Audrey wishes to empower young people just to be the best they can be.  She came to know about organ donation through her brother Henry. Henry had an accident while riding his bike.  Sadly, Henry suffered severe head injuries and was in ICU with a life support system. Her sister-in-law told Audrey that he was a registered donor. The doctors asked Audrey's mother's permission to recover Henry's organs as he was a registered organ donor, and it was his decision. The fondest memory of Henry for Audrey is the way he interacted with his friends and the way he loved being a teacher.  Donation is not a topic that people talk about, which makes her job in high school more crucial because it is a conversation the community needs to have to help save lives. Henry saved the lives of 8 people with his choice to donate his organs. It is a personal choice to be a donor but people need to have the clear and correct information.  More conversations about donation and also about the process will help encourage people to be willing to register as organ donors. Audrey says, “We do a great job here at LifeCenter to walk our families through the whole process even when we know they are grieving. “ Andi says it is important to have the conversation with our family members so that if something happened suddenly, the family would know what to do.  When  talking to leaders of different communities and asking what their faith believes about donation, not a single one of them said no we don't believe in donation because if it is as a gift, it is not against our religion. People just need to take a moment to look into the information and get to know what it means, and that could remove apprehension about being able to do something beautiful.   3 Key Points: Audrey shares about her life journey. She was born in Liberia, West Africa came to America at the age of thirteen, and in 2016 received American citizenship. Before joining LifeCenter she was a registered organ donor, and it's been about 10 years now.  When it comes to organ donation, parents have both cultural and religious thinking. There is a lot of helpful information to consider about being able to donate.  Andi asks about Audrey's experience while working in this field, being immersed in the community and talking to people about donation, especially in the community of color and the areas where people are poor and underserved. She inquires “What stood out to talk to them about the donation?”   Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website

During episode 22 of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks to Audrey Holtzman, Diversity Outreach and Educator Associate at LifeCenter. Audrey is educating high school kids about organ donations so that they can make an informed decision. Episode Highlights:  Audrey is working with LifeCenter as a Diversity Outreach and Educator Associate and recently celebrated her second work anniversary with LifeCenter.  When students get ready to get their driver's license, that is when they decide if they are going to register as a donor.  Audrey wishes to empower young people just to be the best they can be.  She came to know about organ donation through her brother Henry. Henry had an accident while riding his bike.  Sadly, Henry suffered severe head injuries and was in ICU with a life support system. Her sister-in-law told Audrey that he was a registered donor. The doctors asked Audrey's mother's permission to recover Henry's organs as he was a registered organ donor, and it was his decision. The fondest memory of Henry for Audrey is the way he interacted with his friends and the way he loved being a teacher.  Donation is not a topic that people talk about, which makes her job in high school more crucial because it is a conversation the community needs to have to help save lives. Henry saved the lives of 8 people with his choice to donate his organs. It is a personal choice to be a donor but people need to have the clear and correct information.  More conversations about donation and also about the process will help encourage people to be willing to register as organ donors. Audrey says, “We do a great job here at LifeCenter to walk our families through the whole process even when we know they are grieving. “ Andi says it is important to have the conversation with our family members so that if something happened suddenly, the family would know what to do.  When  talking to leaders of different communities and asking what their faith believes about donation, not a single one of them said no we don't believe in donation because if it is as a gift, it is not against our religion. People just need to take a moment to look into the information and get to know what it means, and that could remove apprehension about being able to do something beautiful.   3 Key Points: Audrey shares about her life journey. She was born in Liberia, West Africa came to America at the age of thirteen, and in 2016 received American citizenship. Before joining LifeCenter she was a registered organ donor, and it's been about 10 years now.  When it comes to organ donation, parents have both cultural and religious thinking. There is a lot of helpful information to consider about being able to donate.  Andi asks about Audrey's experience while working in this field, being immersed in the community and talking to people about donation, especially in the community of color and the areas where people are poor and underserved. She inquires “What stood out to talk to them about the donation?”   Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website

During episode 21 of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks to Robert Wilder. Robert shares his story and who he is fighting for in this season of his life. Andi reminds the listeners that our nation is in the midst of an organ shortage, and in order to minimize that, more people are needed to register for organ donation.  Episode Highlights:  Andi asks Robert to share about his beautiful, spunky, fun-loving wife and also about his family story. Robert's wife developed kidney disease which pushed her to a point where she was not able to work anymore.  A couple of months ago, she had a heart attack due to a lack of oxygen in her organs and instigated the need for a kidney transplant.  Privacy sometimes has to do with embarrassments; some people don’t want to tell others what’s happening inside their homes.  Going through mental health struggles, people don’t want to talk about that because of the stigma of appearing weak. Lupus is what destroyed her kidneys, which is typical for patients with the condition. Robert says his daughter is the biggest blessing for him and his wife; she lives her best life and is a rock for their family. She trusts the process. His wife is now becoming healthy and bouncing back, and he is excited that she is going to be home in a few days. Andi asks Robert, “When you were growing up, what was your view about donation?” Their daughter is 11years old now, and he has to be strong  for her because she depends on him and his wife. There are so many responsibilities that keep Robert going in hard times. Robert shares about his faith and says you must believe and try to give it up to God.  They are excited for Tysha and the progress she has made with better communication. Andi says his wife is a fighter, a beautiful partner, and a beautiful mother to their daughter, and she is blessed to have him as her champion.   3 Key Points: Robert talks about his personal journey to get his wife a kidney. Andi refers to the love and support from family and his daughter’s school friends, and what it means to him. Robert says he has learned that people genuinely  want to help if they know you need help. Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website  Robert’s Story

During episode 20 of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks to Ickey Woods, a former American football player - Cincinnati Bengals Fullback. Sadly, he lost his son, Elbert Jovante Woods, 10 years ago. Now Ickey and his family are trying to make a difference in the world by educating others about organ donation and asthma.    Episode Highlights:  Ickey shares his story about being outside doing yard work when he received a call from home that his son, Elbert had collapsed. As Ickey rushed to the spot, he saw an ambulance, and in that, they were trying to resuscitate his son. They all soon headed to the hospital. The moment Ickey entered the hospital and opened the door, he saw a Chaplain.  His son’s brain had been without oxygen for about 30 minutes while he was being taken to the hospital Due to lack of oxygen, Jovante’s brain had started to swell, which the doctor said was not a good sign. A couple of days later, in a heart-breaking turn of events, the doctor pronounced Ickey’s son as Brain Dead. Ickey and his wife decided to pull the plug.  Two women from the life center visited them and informed Ickey and his wife that their son had said yes on the driver’s permit that he wanted to donate his organs. Ickey had never heard anything about organ donation, and in the African American community, there aren’t many organ donors. So, he was really taken aback hearing about his son’s choice.  Ickey discussed organ donation with his wife, and they mutually made their decision based on what Jovante wanted. Ickey talks about the foundation that he and his family members have created in memory and honor of Jovante. Through the foundation, Ickey and his wife’s goal is to educate people about asthma and organ donation.  Ickey shares details about the scholarship that they provide to students through the Jovante Woods Foundation. Andi asks Ickey how he coped with Jovante’s untimely demise.  Ickey talks about his heart-breaking efforts to stay strong and support his family.  Finally, launching the foundation in Jovante’s memory gave Ickey some direction and peace of mind.    3 Key Points: Ickey Woods takes the listeners on an emotional ride while sharing details of his son’s death. He also talks about Jovante’s decision for organ donation. Jovante saved 4 lives with his organs and countless others with his tissues. Ickey felt really proud of his son and had registered himself and his family members for organ donation. Andi and Ickey talk about the misconceptions surrounding organ donation and the importance of educating people.    Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn  Organ Donation Website  Jovante Woods Foundation 

Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life’s podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.   Resources: https://lifepassiton.org/  https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/  https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH  513-558-5555

Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life’s podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.   Resources: https://lifepassiton.org/  https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/  https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH  513-558-5555

Andi Johnson joins Rodney Lear on Sunday Morning Magazine discussing organ donation and Life Center's role in the community. Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life’s podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation. Resources: https://lifepassiton.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/ https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH 513-558-5555  

Andi Johnson joins Rodney Lear on Sunday Morning Magazine discussing organ donation and Life Center's role in the community. Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life’s podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation. Resources: https://lifepassiton.org/ https://lifepassiton.org/who-we-are/leadership/ https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH 513-558-5555  

Mike talks with Andi Johnson from the Life Center about how you can help by donating organs.

They don't make too many people like Saul Shorr. After hitchhiking across the country,  working in sugar refineries, being in and out of college, Saul fell into working on Mo Udall's 1976 presidential campaign. He soon became an expert in big city politics, started his own media firm, and has helped elect Senators and Governors and Presidents.Saul has one of the most unique paths, some of the biggest wins, and many of the best stories after decades as one of the most respected admakers and strategists in the business. Trust me...if you like politics, you'll love this episode with Saul. Podcast WebsiteTwitter: @ProPoliticsPodTwitter: @ZacMcCraryFacebook: The Pro Politics PodcastIN THIS EPISODE...Robert Moses, of The Power Broker fame, has a lot to do with how Saul grew up in Queens…Saul's memories of the day President Kennedy died…Saul's favorite political slogan of all time…The unusual thing that happened to Saul on his second day working in politics…Saul works for the iconic American political figure Allard Lowenstein…A young Saul spends a day with Coretta Scott King…Saul cuts his teeth in Philly politics during the tumultuous late 70s and early 80s…Saul helps elect Ben Nelson Governor of Nebraska after starting at less than 1%...Saul grows his business by finding a niche with Lieutenant Governors in the South…Saul's paean to life on the road as a political consultant…Saul gives his view from a front row seat of tragedy and triumph of Mel Carnahan…What it was like when Saul joined the historic Obama 2008 team…David Axelrod's memorable when Saul put together test-attack ads against then Senator Obama…Saul's best practices on negative ads…Saul makes arguably the most memorable attack ad against Mitt Romney in 2012…Saul tells the story of how Al Franken's first TV ad “made him Minnesota” and helped propel him to the US Senate…Saul helps Tom Wolf break out of a crowded PA Governor's field…The one criteria Saul (jokingly) gives on bringing on a new client…Saul provides an itinerary for your next trip to Philly... ALSO… Jim Andrews, John Anderson (the Black one), John Anderson (the white one), Andre the Giant, John Ashcroft, Geno Auriemma, David Axelrod, Bob Bedard, Paul Begala, Lucien Blackwell, Sherrod Brown, Jerry Brown, Mary Beth Cahill, Jean Carnahan, Bob Casey, Dick Cheney, Robert Clark, Howard Coffin, Norm Coleman, Tom Corbett, Dick Durbin, Tom Eagleton, Mike Easley, Dwight Evans, Marc Farinella, Chaka Fattah, Diane Feldman, Alan Franken, Ben Franklin, Bill Gray, Pierre Howard, Jay Howser, Jacob Javits, Andi Johnson, Rabbi Meir Kahane, Robert Kennedy, Ed Koch, John Lindsay, Myra MacPherson, Kevin Mack, Adam Magnus, Josh Mandel, Terry McAuliffe, Rob McCord, Katie McGinty, Val Molin, Jim Margolis, George McGovern, James Michener, Molly Murphy, Ricky Nelson, Pall Mall unfilitereds, Elizabeth Pearson, Bev Perdue, David Perdue, David Price, JB Pritzker, Fran Rafferty, Frank Rizzo, Cokie Roberts, Mary Ann Sandretti, Allyson Schwartz, Joe Shafer, The Shorr Holding Company, Chris Sifford, Paul Tully,  Mo Udall, Stewart Udall, Anthony Weiner, Alan Wheat, Dennis Wicker, Roger Wilson, Harriet Woods, Jim Young, and MORE!

During episode 18 of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson interacts with Lisa Cooney – a retired anchor from WLW-TV. She shares exciting incidents from her 30+ career journey.  This Thing Called Life podcast is dedicated to share stories about acts of giving, kindness, compassion, and humanity. Andi reminds listeners that April is the perfect month to learn more about organ, eye, or tissue donation and determine how you can help others.    Episode Highlights:  Talking about Lisa’s media journey, Andi inquires, “While you were engaged with WLW-TV, what was your favorite story that you covered?” Lisa shared a few good and bad situations, especially her coverage on organ donation. She proudly shared about winning an Emmy award for covering an exciting story on Cincinnati's fire department. Since Lisa has retired after a fulfilling career, Andi curiously asks, “What are you up-to-now?” Lisa shared  a few fun moments from her personal life as well as professional journey. She shares about her current engagement as a consultant where she teaches people how to handle media and crisis. Lisa proudly talks about her kid’s achievements; She says the secret to her kid's success is hard work and dedication towards their goal. They discussed the pandemic and Andi pointed out that the locked-down forced everybody to slow down and connect with family members. Andi talked about organ donation and what emotional turmoil the donor and receiver go through. Hearing that, Lisa shared like any other first-time donor, she too was scared but decided to take the plunge. She proudly shares about her family’s support and how they recently celebrated the day with a kidney-shaped cake. Andi inquired, "What would you say to someone who is considering to be a living kidney donor?"   3 Key Points: Lisa Cooney shares a life-changing incident about organ donation that happened 20 years ago. Not everything on the internet is true, do not take it as gospel, seek out correct information from designated authorities. The pandemic changed everyone’s way of life, Andi and Lisa brainstorm what they have learned from it. Listeners learn about how they adjusted, respected each other’s comfort zone, and looked at the positive side of it. Resources Mentioned: LifeCenter Cincinnati  Website | Facebook| Instagram| Twitter | YouTube | Organ Donation Website: https://www.donatelife.net/  Lisa Cooney: lisacooneyconsulting@gmail.com

Andi Johnson, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network. Ms. Johnson joined Sunday Morning Magazine to talk about organ and tissue donation. She discussed the need for donors here in the Cincinnati area.

Mike talks to Andi Johnson from the Lifecenter network, Brad Garrett from ABC and Jeff Bellinger from Bloomberg.