Podcasts about empowerment network

Welcome back to 'Don't Cut Your Own Bangs!'    In this lively and heartfelt episode, Danielle Ireland chats with Ashlyn Thompson from the Parent Empowerment Network. Ashlyn shares her journey from growing her nonprofit organization to the emotional rollercoaster of her daughter's complex medical journey.    Get ready to explore how pain can be an unexpected teacher, the magic of community support, and why tapping into creativity can be your secret weapon against anxiety. Filled with laughs, valuable insights, and touching moments, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom and joy. Tune in and enjoy the ride!   00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview 00:20 Ashlyn Thompson's Journey and Nonprofit Growth 01:10 The Importance of Community and Support 01:37 Embracing Big Feelings and Finding Joy 02:52 Welcoming Ashlyn Back and Discussing Growth 05:44 Navigating Pain and Empowerment 09:51 The Power of Perspective and Decision Making 14:27 Balancing Life and Nonprofit Work 21:21 The Role of Pain as a Teacher 30:48 Finding Comfort in Movement and Nature 33:09 Returning to Basics 33:35 Reflecting on Past Decisions 35:20 The Role of Pain and Fear 38:20 Parent Empowerment Network 44:25 Creativity as a Lifeline 49:21 Embracing Emotions 53:07 Don't Cut Your Own Bangs Moment 01:01:20 Conclusion and Resources   Ashlyn Thompson interview links Ashlyn Thompson, a passionate advocate and storyteller, is co-founder of the Parent Empowerment Network, a nonprofit providing emotional and mental health support to parents navigating pediatric medical complexities. She also co-hosts theEmpowered by Hope podcast, which equips parents with practical tools, resources, and a strong sense of community—delivered with a heavy dose of humor and hope to empower them as their child's best advocate. Ashlyn's fire for advocacy was ignited by her daughter Emery, who was born with bladder exstrophy. After Emery nearly died following a major surgery at just seven weeks old, Ashlyn became a fierce voice for patient safety. Unwilling to accept the limitations of domestic medical care, she discovered a surgical option in the U.K. that wasn't available in the U.S. at the time. In early 2023, Emery became the first American to undergo this procedure—and thanks to Ashlyn's relentless advocacy, that surgery is now available in America. When she's not advocating or recording podcasts, Ashlyn moonlights as a budding driveway chalk artist, chaos coordinator for her spirited family, and an avid nature lover. Chocolate is her daily vitamin, ADHD is her superpower, spiders and small talk are her sworn enemies, and she firmly believes laughter and boldness are two of a parent's greatest tools.   Parent Empowerment Network:  The Parent Empowerment Network exists to support, encourage, and educate parents of children with medical complexities—empowering them with community, knowledge, and confidence to be their child's fiercest advocate. www.ParentEmpowermentNetwork.org Empowered by Hope podcast on all major podcast streaming platforms: https://parentempowermentnetwork.org/podcast/   Social Media:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Parent-Empowerment-Network/100083218456295/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parentempowermentnetwork/   She is Charlotte book by co-founder, Emily Whiting:https://parentempowermentnetwork.org/she-is-charlotte-book/ DANIELLE IRELAND, LCSW I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below.   Website: https://danielleireland.com/   The Treasured Journal: https://danielleireland.com/journal   Substack: https://danielleireland.substack.com/   Blog: https://danielleireland.com/blog/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW   Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured “Don't Cut Your Own Bangs” is about creating a community around, and familiarity with, the messy middle—that uncertain and often chaotic and uncomfortable time in the middle of a process or journey. The messy middle is replete with ambiguity and challenges, but it's also where the hard and rewarding work happens.   Transcript [00:00:00] Danielle: Hello. Hello, this is Danielle Ireland and you are watching or listening to Don't Cut Your Own Bangs. I am so excited to be back in the interview seat. We've done some solo cast. It's been a blast. But Ashlyn Thompson is here with me today, and we just wrapped an incredible conversation. Ashlyn came on as a guest to talk about her work with Charlotte's Hope Foundation a couple of years ago. [00:00:26] She was about ready to embark right in the interview we were, she was. Days away from embarking on a trip to the UK for her daughter having a surgery with the only surgeon in the world who performed the specific type of surgery that her daughter needed. Her daughter's made a full recovery. It's a beautiful story we're gonna get into in this episode, but what I'm truly, if you could imagine even beyond that beautiful story, what I'm so excited to introduce to you and to that I was so grateful to witness and learn from. [00:00:53] Is that Ashlyn has grown her nonprofit organization, not no money in organization, but yes, a nonprofit organization that at the time, two years ago when we last checked in with her, was called Charlotte's Hope Foundation. It has grown. It's expanded, and it's evolved, and it's now the Parent Empowerment Network. [00:01:10] She and her co-founder also have a podcast for that same work, and what I love about the work that they do. They create community connection space and resources for parents and families raising children or any provider helping a child navigate medical complexities. And that sounds like such a hard and heavy and challenging topic. [00:01:33] And it is. But what Ashlyn embodies is. The work that I really wanted to bring to this season and this new phase of don't cut your own bangs, which I want big feelings to feel less scary. I want approaching them to feel possible. And then with that in mind, wherever possible, as much as possible, finding lightness, levity, and joy. [00:01:54] However we can do it. And I'm telling you, in this episode we did that. We accomplished that. We talk about important things, we talk about heavy things, and Ashland is vulnerable in a way that is inviting. But also something we can all learn from. And through the specificity of her life experience and what she's learned, there are universal nuggets that we can all find value in. [00:02:17] I know I did, and this was such a beautiful place to share, and we laughed. We had joy, we smiled . I hope that this topic invites you and encourages you to lean in and tune in because there are so many great nuggets of this. Thank you for being here, and I can't wait for you to sit back, relax, and enjoy. [00:02:38] Ashlyn Thompson [00:02:39] Hi. Yes, I know. Big jumps for both of us. I know. I feel like we're, it does feel like a lifetime ago. It I mean, in many ways it is. It's like we're, I mean, I'm still, me and all the key players are still playing. Right. But it does feel like a different life in a way. And I, with that in mind, I just wanna officially welcome you back. [00:02:55] Yes. Welcome. Ashlyn Thompson. Oh, thank. Don't cut your own bangs. I am so excited that you're here for many reasons, but the thing I'm most excited about is I think that. Building something or starting something creates a certain amount of effort and energy. Sustaining something, growing with it, breathing new life into it, that's a different part of a different element of a creative process. [00:03:17] And that's something I think specifically I'm really excited to talk to you about because you're parent Empowerment Network, which has it, it exists to support, encourage and educate parents and caregivers of children with medical complexities. And that was, it already was in existence when we, right, when we recorded the first time. [00:03:34] But it has grown. Grown. I went to a gala, people, she's throwing a gala fundraiser for her for her network. And so, I mean, I wanna hear about all the twists and all the developments of that, but more specifically the context I wanna provide for us and for this conversation. The thing that I'm really excited about, , and why I feel really passionate about bringing this to video. [00:03:57] Is that I want to help make big feelings feel less scary. Yeah. And I want to make, approaching them feel possible. And then with that in mind as much and as often as possible, laugh as much as possible. Amen. And so, right? So like, you are swimming in the trenches with people and even in your own life with people who are holding and making space for heavy things. [00:04:23] Yes. And yet there is a bright smile on your face. There's a twinkle in your eye. You laugh and you smile. And I wanna, and I don't know how to articulate what that is, but I want to, I wanna, that's something I wanna make space for in this conversation too. So it's important and it's big and it's emotional for sure, but also like, let's allow levity too. [00:04:42] Absolutely. I am so excited to be continuing our conversation, and I'm also really happy to know that. The person who's sitting here with you today is very much a different person from two years ago. And I feel like I have gone through multiple versions of myself just in the past two years. And that's one of the things that I truly celebrate about, not just the journey of parent empowerment network, but I think just growing and evolving as a human spirit, experiencing this life is recognizing that I say this phrase to only certain people, but I act, I feel compelled to share it now. [00:05:26] I feel like I have died a thousand times. And greeted so many versions of myself. But every time I rise into that extroversion and realize who I am, I like that person more and more. And. I feel like one of my greatest accomplishments just this past year has been truly settling into a, knowing a deep belief that life is meant to grow through, not go through. [00:05:58] And that change, that pivot of how I see the next big thing that comes up has been such a grounding force for me and has really helped me feel like I'm actually sitting in the driver's seat of my car. I don't know what I'm going to pass as I'm on this highway. In life. And sometimes life yanks me off on an exit I didn't plan. [00:06:23] And those exit ramps are typically the next lesson. But I'm grateful to be at a point where I can now see the next really hard thing emerging and not wanna hit reverse. Wow. Wow. Not that I like it all the time. No, God. But I can appreciate that this isn't out to crush me. This isn't here to take me down like I used to feel. [00:06:53] , Wow. There's a lot to unpack there for. Thank you so much for sharing that, but also not going in reverse. I wanna make a mental note, not going in reverse. The next version of me, I like better, and this is not here to crush me. Right. The, there's something, I got chills. I got full body chills when you, the la with the last thing that you said, because when I'm working with clients, there is this element and this is something. [00:07:18] I promise I'll come back to that original point there. There's an element of the work that I do where, and I'm sure you get this in your own way too, with like hearing stories from families who are holding really hard and heavy things. I think when I meet people for the first time, a common response is, wow, I don't know how you do what you do, or I don't know how you listen to that all day. [00:07:36] Or Oh man, and I think, yes, sure. There, there are certainly days and clients or moments where those stories are making space for people's big, heavy, painful experiences. Right. Is can be a lot at times. Far less anymore. But I think more than anything the va like, I feel so lucky to have the experience a hundred maybe even thousands of times over hurt people's pain. [00:08:03] And I know what pain sounds like. Yes. And there are different types and one thing that I absolutely believe to be true is that our pain is not personal. Our story is personal, right? But pain is not personal. And the events of our life, even things that happen to us, it's, there's it's almost shifting out of a, and I hope I can say this within the context that, that is heard with love. [00:08:27] But shifting out of a victim mentality right into it. Because being victimized or being stricken with grief or holding something hard like that is absolutely real. And also knowing that this is happening to me, but this is not gosh, what are the words I'm trying to find. It, what I'm hearing is you recognize how hard this is. [00:08:51] Whatever that insert blank. I recognize how hard this is, and I'm not going to make this pain so precious that I don't also see it as temporary. Yes, exactly. But there's something, so I think there's something really powerful and there's so much nuance to that because I certainly don't want to, people can be victimized, but the victim mentality is one of, in my professional experience it's one of the more challenging headspace to, for someone to walk out of. [00:09:21] Agree. It's really hard. Exactly. It shrinks your world. So, so much. That's well said. And we experience that very often. We really fo I mean we say all the time, you know, we are non diagnosis specific, non prognosis specific with the families that we work with, and we focus on the parents or the parent role, which could be performed by a sibling, a grandparent, a friend, an adopt, a lot of different people, but. [00:09:51] What we really found early in our journey and what helped us evolve into parent empowerment network was that recognition that, like you pointed out, pain is not it's not customized to your experience. The feeling, the emotional and physical experience relationship with pain is common through all of us, and it actually is a way that we can connect with each other when we recognize that. [00:10:18] When we stop comparing one another's pains. Now, don't get me wrong, if your kid got a bump on the head versus your kid needs a, you know, brain surgery. Right. Those are different. Yes. Very different. Yes. But most of the time we're not dealing with that. And what we have found is that when somebody is in that victim mentality, which is understandable, I think that's a, very important aspect to acknowledge when you're feeling like a victim, why is this happening to me? Or why is this happening to my child? Because I'll be the first to say, it's never okay when your child is hurting or sick or in harm's way or worse. I will never be okay with it. But when we say stuck in a victim mentality, our ability to problem solve goes from about here to here. [00:11:08] Yeah. And then your child is really the one who suffers. And I hate, it's a hard truth. But we have to face that truth because when we can help a parent start to find glimmers of hope, start to see that there's a way to build on quality of life rather than cure. Then you start to see this new version emerge where they are truly, you know, empowered advocates for their child. [00:11:45] There's something that I heard in what you said too, that a lot of times when I'm working with clients who are maybe knee deep in anxiety or depression, for example. I think why can be a powerful question, but I think a misplaced why is a really exactly damaging question. Like, why me? Why them? [00:12:02] Why this, why now? Because those are questions you can't answer that only lead to a defeating answer. Exactly. And usually another question or shame, but what I'm hearing a lot in when you. When you can kind of broaden your focus and sort of release that constriction from why you then can open yourself up to a different type of question. [00:12:23] How can I, exactly. How can I get through today? How can I get through this moment? What is needed most of me now? What do I need now? Right. And those types of the what and the how. Who do I need to show up for? Is it me? Right. Is it them? Who do I need to ask for help? Who has information that I need? [00:12:43] Those types of questions don't eliminate the pain, but it broadens the scope Yes. Of, of your field of vision. And I know that though, like, 'cause you are here in many ways. Oh, I hope it's okay to use this term. But I hope that you're here as an expert and you're also the executive Hope director of of the power impairment network. [00:13:05] And I think a lot of times. What we would imagine as the worst possible case scenario. Like the worst thing we could imagine would be something happening to our kids. This has been your lived experience. This has been your business partner's lived experience. And for, even though you have a podcast as well, where you really create a space and content and a community that helps people with that very specific set of circumstances, that Right. [00:13:33] I would imagine it's like. The best and worst club to be a part of. So we always say, we're so sorry you're in this club. Yes. But we're so glad you found us. Yes. Like it's the yes, we're really sorry, but at the same time, like, welcome home, welcome. And so I think a lot of the, a lot of the people who tune in to don't cut your own bang, I don't know how many would have this specific life experience. [00:13:57] Right. And if you do, oh my gosh, what a gorgeous resource you have in Ashlyn. Oh, thank you. And the Parent empowerment network and their podcast. But I do think that even in something like this, in within the specificity of everything you're saying, there is such a broad truth that I think we can all access and find value in. [00:14:16] And, yeah. So just thank you for all of that. And I want to, okay. I wanna shift a little bit to the growth of the parent Empowerment network. Right. Because, so when I originally started this podcast, what I was, what I really motivated me, one was I was terrified of becoming a therapist and having worked as a creative, and I just wanted to surround myself with other people who, who were building things, right? So that I could sort of sneak in my own needy questions. Like, how did you do it? How did you figure it out? What happened when you were scared? Like, what happened when your computer crashed? Oh my gosh. And you went from newly building something to, you have really grown. [00:14:53] Yes. You have really grown. And I wanna know having experienced the, you know, the gala that Right. That you that you threw that was so lovely. I wanna know . What led to the growth over the last two years? Because you're still momming, you're still life. Yeah. Your daughter is still being you. [00:15:08] I mean, like your life is still life and Yes. Life is still lifeing. How, in the midst of your lifeing, how have you also continued to grow this? And I really wanna know like what fueled your fire. And just tell me more about that story please. Yes, absolutely. So at the beginning of this, you know, when we started talking, you were very talking about how I'm sitting here smiling and I mean, I am fully, I am genuinely full of joy in this moment. [00:15:35] And I think I know actually that comes from being in something like we have with Parent Empowerment Network, which has been truly its own huge like business, right? We are called a nonprofit, but let me tell you, I mean, it is straight up business. [00:15:57] Is what it is in a lot of ways, and. That's the worst possible name for a tax category. It totally is. Because it's so confusing. Nonprofit doesn't mean no money. Right. Exactly. It's so confusing. We do not exist for free. Is great an idea as that sounds. I want that to be the slogan for every nonprofit. [00:16:16] I just, 'cause we don't exist for free. Right. You know the whole, you get what you pay for. It's, yeah. That's a whole other conversation. We're not gonna spend too much time there today. We should have a part two then. There we go. I'm okay with that. All right. So for that, what I think the biggest lesson that has. [00:16:33] Emerged from this journey just since we were, you know, you and I were talking a couple years ago when we were actually still called Charlotte's Hope Foundation. Yes. Which was our initial name. Yes. Because we had an idea for something that was this big at the beginning. And the name Charlotte's Hope Foundation fit that in theory. [00:16:52] But the thing I'm most proud of my, of Emily Whiting, who's my co-founder, fellow mom, fellow sister, fellow savior, at times the best thing we have done is allowed ourselves permission to grow and shrink as needed. And that's what we've done throughout this journey. It has not been a step process. [00:17:15] There have been countless times where we have grown two or three steps, been bigger, you know, working with international teams of surgeons, pulling together collaborations that have never been done, and then. There have been times where we have pulled back and we haven't released an episode for six weeks. [00:17:33] We have had maybe two or three social posts because our lives were on fire or just demanded all our attention, but it didn't mean we had to stop. I need to, oh my gosh. I don't know how many of you listening or watching can relate to that. I, there is a relationship I have with the expansion and contraction of output where if I'm not putting something out, producing something, making something that it really does a number on my sense of self worth. Right. And self esteem. And that is something that I'm still actively healing and repairing, because I definitely know the facts. I know. The really bumper stickery, self helpy sounding talk. [00:18:26] And I believe it. It's not that I, I don't hear it and think like, yeah. Right. It's just that there's a more practiced version of me, right. That has just had more at bats operating in a certain way. And then life in many ways rewards you for that. In theory. In theory. And I don't mean the like the laurels, like you get the the kudos pat on the back accolades but there is a cost, right? [00:18:47] There is a cost. And I think, in the I this past year I wrote a children's book called Wrestling a Walrus. And this the act of writing this book was something that I didn't realize that in the contraction, or even like in the I love the visual of the caterpillar becoming the butterfly. [00:19:09] 'Cause there's a two week process where the caterpillar is literally, we talk about the messy middle in this podcast and think, thank you Brene Brown, wherever you are for creating language and context for us for this very conversation. 'cause so much of this is inspired by that, but that gooey, mushy middle where it's not a butterfly, it's literally goo and it's Exactly, and it, and, but in that place, there is magic happening there. [00:19:33] Even if it, even though it looks like a pile of shit, right. Like, it's, there's magic happening there. I'll say the impetus or the inspiration, the. It was tough moments with my daughter, moments where I didn't feel like I was doing anything. Right. It like hitting the wrecking ball of, you know, being a parent of a toddler and a parent of an infant like that was, there's not enough grace in any space to help you go through that without serious, you know, support. [00:20:02] There were, I had some victim mentality at that point in time, even, and all things can be true at once. But all of that was what I experienced before I had the idea to write the book. And had I not had that experience, I wouldn't have been able to do that. Exactly. I don't think it would've been the same. [00:20:16] And [00:20:16] , and I promise this whole podcast isn't an ad for the book, but like, I really believe in this damn book and I love it so much. And I love that you talk about that expansion and contraction for yourself. And that you doesn't, it doesn't mean you have to stop. 'cause I think a big reason why I maybe avoided picking up the torch again and doing this podcast like I left it for so long, or I abandoned it for so long, or can I still do it right? [00:20:41] Like all of that stuff. And then yeah it. Yeah. Doubt doesn't mean you're done. No. And taking a pause doesn't mean you're stopping forever. But yeah. I mean, you can't just exhale forever. You can't just output like you eventually have to breathe in. Exactly. And that relationship is very necessary. [00:21:00] And so, I mean, everything you're saying is exactly what I need. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. You're welcome. And it, that lesson doesn't come easily. Nope. But I think another element of that, you know, building off of what you were just talking about, pain and discomfort and naturally shying away from it. [00:21:21] I challenge anybody in life to just take a moment to consider pain as a potential teacher, as a professor, rather than pain as an enemy, or pain as a destroyer. Right. If you ask yourself. Why does this feel painful? Because how many times do we all experience in our life something that really gets under our skin, but whether it's a spouse or it's a friend or a coworker and they seem totally unfazed by it, [00:21:56] and that used to be something that bothered me. I was kinda like what's, am I ever sensitive? Or like, what is my thing? And I grew up always hearing, not necessarily even from my parents, but I feel like. Teacher schools and saved by the bell commercials about find what you love in life and you'll never work a day in your life. [00:22:16] And that was great in theory, but I'm a very eclectic person. Yep. I love a lot. And all I was getting was a lot of burnout. That's also like saying like, love your kids and you'll never have a hard day with them in your life. You're like, no bs. No. I love my kids. But like, you know, oh my gosh, kids are the greatest, hardest thing of life. [00:22:33] Right. Right. But I think the same is true. Like , I never stopped loving this. Right. But I don't always have control over the life around. Right. But it's a, I think allowing things to be a part of you, not all of you, is really important. Yeah. And I think it's so easy to define ourselves by that output. [00:22:53] For me and Emily, the word is often it's impact. Are we actually making an impact? And the thing that helped us. Become okay with hitting the pause button when we needed to, and not officially throwing in the towel. Don't get me wrong, there were conversations about it, but we were always very honest with each other and we held each other accountable that if you are feeling like this is not jiving with your life, if it's not jiving with you personally, or it's not good for your family at this moment, let's hit the pause button and talk about it. [00:23:26] But realizing that if we only help each other while working on this, Emily and I, that's helping our kids, that's helping our families. And there's a domino effect from that goes from that. And if that's all we ever do, what's bad about that? You said something that I, it still stuck with me and it will probably be the title of this episode. [00:23:49] Pain is a Professor. Yes, it is. And I wanna go back to that because something that I talk about in my sessions a lot is that your emotions never lie to you. Now your thoughts are very different. Yes. Your thoughts can go a, now granted, we need to think critical thinking is important. [00:24:04] We probably need more critical thinking, but thoughts happen to us all day, every day, constantly. Right. I don't remember what the statistic is. I think we have roughly like eight thoughts a minute, something like that. I'm surprised it's not . Maybe that's just a DH adhd. And that could be too, like, yeah, there, maybe there's a spectrum. [00:24:18] Maybe it's eight to 80 thoughts a minute. Give or take. Give or take a hundred. But so thoughts happen to us now. We can certainly consciously choose what to focus on and what we think. But thinking happens, the emotions are in response to what we're thinking and believing. Exactly. And they never lie. [00:24:35] Right. And I But something you said like pain as a professor. And I like the thought that emotions are energy in motion. Yes. And they always have something for you to learn. There's something for every emotion. There is something it wants you to know. Right. And when you're not feeling good are we have more pain receptors in our body, unfortunately. [00:24:55] We have more pain receptors in our body than we do pleasure receptors. Like, and so when pain is activated, it just has a firmer grip. There's something that Martha Beck talks about that I love. It's called the, I think she calls it the Viper in the box of puppies. So if you were to imagine like, and enough said, right. [00:25:10] Done. You get it. But you hand, if I handed you a box full of like 15 adorable, gorgeous little puppies, I mean, it's, they're the most abundant, silly, loving, fuzzy source of love, safety, pleasure. I could really go for that right now. I mean, would it, that should be a, I'm hoping there's one hiding around somewhere. [00:25:28] We have a surprise for you, but if I were to then put a Viper in or a cobra in your box of puppies. All you're gonna see is the threat. Exactly. All you're gonna see is the threat. And I think in life, it's like we pop mo most of us more often than not, are probably living in lives with a lot of puppies. [00:25:48] But the viper, the threat is what consumes Oh yeah. So much energy and attention and shifting your focus from one to the other is easier said than done. And I wanna talk to you specifically about how you have found meaning or, and I, when I say success, I don't mean it in like a bullet point sense, but right. [00:26:12] Where you have found access to, you know, the viper, you know, or the cobra, you know, the box of puppies. Right. How you access that. I can certainly share how I have, but my emotions, I. I've learned in time. I don't always know exactly what they're telling me in the beginning, but I trust them enough to know that it's something. [00:26:36] And so the first place I try to access, if I'm not dissociating or avoiding, is to sit with it. Yeah. So usually it's like, I'm I'll just dissociate in my fantasy book or rewatching parks and recreation for the MPH teeth bajillion time. You know, it's just always a Sure bet. Yeah. It's just, it's hard for, life can only be so hard with Leslie Nope and little Sebastian, you know? [00:26:57] So anyway. But I wanna know where you find yourself in that shift. Yeah. Yeah. So you've got my head's like turning, I'm also still picturing puppies to be honest. That's okay. So I actually, I feel like I wanna give an example of something that I experienced last year, so two years ago. [00:27:11] It's crazy to think two years ago I went on this crazy journey to England. I went to London to take my daughter, who was not quite two years old yet to have a surgery over there for her ultra rare condition that was not available in the States. And I had talked to everybody in the States, of course, that had any knowledge about it and all they could tell me was, we don't really know anything about it. [00:27:35] We don't do it here. Kind of you're on your own, go for it. Or don't, we can't say that we would support you. All that matters is I went for it. And fortunately it did end up being the right decision, but I also knew that it could not be the right decision. And what I found on that experience was that I was originally desperate for picking the right way in life to move forward, that I could not make a decision. [00:28:06] I could not possibly move forward unless I was a hundred percent sure. But guess what? Life isn't real big on giving you a guarantee. Yeah. Guarantees with anything. And I think where I, that's where I started to learn that I don't have to have the answers to move forward. I can be looking at that box and I can see, oh my gosh, this could go terribly wrong. [00:28:34] But I think living with a hopeful mindset is something that allows me to keep my eye on that viper and then still interact with the puppies over here. My eye is still trained on it, but what I found is a peace in making my decision. And it was a, that feeling, that gut feeling. You know, it, I, it doesn't matter what you've gone through in life. [00:28:58] I can't believe that there's anybody out there who hasn't just had that. I call it just that knowing in your gut, it's a physical experience and that is something. That has helped me move forward in life. Because here's the thing, guys, nobody can ever stay truly still. And that's where a lot of our pain and discomfort comes from, is fighting moving forward without certainty. [00:29:23] Oh, let's pause right there. Oh my gosh. So there's something that Dr. Becky Kennedy who she has the good, she wrote the book Good Inside, and she's got her own beautiful podcast and work and content. She does. She really she focuses on kids, but she's really working on parents relationship with their inner child and by extension their parenting. [00:29:43] But she talks about something called, I've called it the Gap, but she calls it the learning space. So with kids, most of their frustration, tension and meltdowns happen between meeting a moment or. A moment arising and knowing how to meet the moment. And that learning space is usually the gap in knowing or understanding of this is what's arisen and I don't know how to meet this moment. [00:30:04] Right? And then if their context or their ability to meet it, if the moment exceeds their ability that's usually when there's a lot of pain or big feelings. Right. And I think with adults, that's usually where I see self-doubt, rumination anxiety, self-destructive tendencies. [00:30:23] Come in and you're right. You're, I love that you said we're never really still, I mean, one that's just true based on science and physics. We're never still that's actually one of the, like, there's like two necessary components, maybe three to being a living, being or a living entity. [00:30:36] I think, what is it? Movement, cell division, reproduction, and, I don't know, something else. Hey, anyone here pop off in the comments if you're a science boss, please gold star for you. Please. But but yeah, we're never truly still. And so even when you feel stagnant and stuck and even hearing you say that I'm actually processing in real time, one of the things that I have done that I, I discovered by accident, but probably because my body knew better than my mind did. [00:31:04] I would, it often does. I would take my feelings on walks. I would, I talked about that movement is essential if you are literally feeling stuck. I tell, that's what I tell everybody. Anytime they're spiraling. Which it's understandable. Go for a walk. Even if it is five minutes, walk up and down your stairs. [00:31:22] Or at the least one of my favorite things thank you Instagram reels for sucking up so much of my life at times in the hospital, but sometimes, but it's, sometimes it's, it is the perfect escape. It's okay to let the pressure off of ourselves. But there was this one that I saw it was this therapist who was like in her seventies and she was in Ireland and she's walking around in like this, you know, the quintessential Ireland landscape. [00:31:47] And she said, I tell all of my clients when you have a problem or a worry or something that's making you feel like you need to hurry, walk outside where you can see the sky and look up. Because the moment you remove a ceiling from your view, from your your line of sight, your mind opens with it. [00:32:08] And possibilities grow. And I have experienced that so often. And you think about it where you, when you're in a confined space. It only adds to those feelings of I'm stuck or I'm out of options, or I can't deal with this. But when you go outside and the world is just showing you how big it is and how small you are, there's actually a ton of comfort in that. [00:32:35] There's, I've also read and heard that there's something about the way that our eyes sort of gently move and follow and track side to side. Yeah. The movement around us that activates a similar calming sensation that our body experiences in REM sleep. Because if you're tracking a bird or tracking a squirrel, or just simply seeing like the trees and movement, track your kids. [00:32:55] Right. That'll keep you, your eyes all over the place. Girl. But like, 'cause right now we're facing a computer screen and we're in, we're under lights. Like, it's a very I mean, it's a lovely container, but it's a sterile container by comparison of being outside. And I Right. I do think that sometimes, like, like Lifeing. [00:33:11] It can be hard, and I never wanna oversimplify holding the challenges and moving through the challenges. Right. And yet I think sometimes when something feels overly, when something feels complex and impossible, it's almo. I, my instinct is to abandon the basics. And that is always the place to start. [00:33:32] That's always the place to start, is to go back to the basics. [00:33:35] Knowing what you know now what. Do you think the version of you, I wrote down three years ago, but I wanna go back to two years ago bef, like as you were navigating all the travel plans and the decision to go to the UK for your daughter's surgery, what do you think that version of Ashlyn needed to hear or needed to know? [00:33:55] And then the follow up question to that, after you answers, do you think she would've believed you? [00:33:59] It's really funny that you're asking this question because I actually had a conversation yesterday with a neighbor's daughter who is a film student, and this question has actually been going through my mind a lot lately about, I wonder where my life would be if I'd known this in my early thirties, if I'd known, or if I had known this in my twenties. [00:34:23] And I kept kind of going backwards like, I didn't know this then. Oh maybe if I'd known this. And I kept just, like I said, looking back and then what I realized is. It's so important that I didn't know those things because I had to experience them with the challenges. I had to climb the mountains for the first time to really understand the importance of gaining those skills for myself. So I actually think that Ashlyn, a couple years ago, I may have wanted to hear, I, what I wanted to hear was, you're making the right decision. I wanted to be validated by doctors, by people who I typically refer to as the ones who have the alphabet after their name. [00:35:06] Can somebody please just tell me, check, you know, you're making the right choice. Or this is what I would do if it were my child. And I wanted it so desperately that I, it did almost prevent me from going. But I am blessed that because of other experiences before that, right where pain had started to evolve into a guide for my life, a way of understanding what is most important to me. [00:35:37] It clarifies a lot. Exactly. Because often, you know, pain and fear are often about things we can't control, right? And what it showed me was that I don't need guaranteed outcomes to be able to sleep at night. I know that if I don't give it everything, including the kitchen sink, I won't be able to sleep at night. [00:36:03] I won't be able to look at Emery when she's an adult and tell her. We tried absolutely everything we could to give you the best quality of life, and that's what I needed to be able to give her. In order for me to feel good about the mom I am. And that's what was most important to me at that time. [00:36:23] So it sounds like maybe you trust in your ability to meet the moment enough that you don't think you would've gone back and told yourself anything? No, I think, and that's something that, like I said, I'd been thinking about a lot, like how many times if I'd only known this, if I if I'd only held my boundaries or if, or you know, these standards or, you know, all the things I could have done differently. [00:36:48] But as I said at the beginning of this, I feel like I have lived a thousand lives and become. A thousand new versions of myself, but you don't become your next self without going through something that carves away at you to reveal it. We don't grow through the easy no we stay stagnant. And besides small talk, my biggest fear in life is staying stagnant. [00:37:20] God, can we just let go of small talk? Oh my gosh. We all have a weather app and we all know the traffic patterns at this point. Like, do you know what's so funny about the weather app? I'm gonna use it every day. I treat my husband like the weather app, and we have an Alexa, like in, literally, like, I'll ask him what the temperature is and he'll be like. [00:37:41] Alexa. I just, oh my goodness. It's like those basic the basic like things of moving through life. I don't know why. It's like I've, I have this like faux that's of publicist. I'm like, I don't know what I'm, so what's the weather? I can't look out the window. I can't ask my own Alexa. [00:37:56] I always think, I think it's, I think it's more like, I think it's fair to acknowledge those as high. There's higher priorities that take up front of mind space. That's right. That's right. Things' so focused on the big things. Right? Yes. It's okay. We're not meant to like, you know, and I think that's another, that's one point I feel really compelled to bring up in this conversation based on all these things we've talked about, you know? [00:38:20] Yes. thank you for the chance to share what Parent Empowerment Network does, and the Empowered By Hope podcast is about addressing the real hard, the messy like, because as far as we're concerned, like once you get the news, your child is not okay. You're living in the messy middle from there on out. [00:38:36] And it can make you, or it can break you. And we're there to tell everybody, we promise this will make you. Even with worst case scenario, and that's a bold statement, but, you know, but it's one you've lived and I exactly. And I've seen countless others live, right? But I think it's so important that everybody, you know, I guess my dream would be if everybody could just realize we are not meant to carry pain and hardship and struggle by ourselves. [00:39:07] That's really what Parent Empowerment Network does. That's really what our podcast does, is it directly says to everybody who gets a chance to interact with us or who we have the honor to meet with. It just says, Hey, you are not expected to hold this alone. You know, put some of that on our plate. [00:39:24] Let's hold it together because it'll be better for everybody. It's not just you is like, again, that's what frees you from a victim mentality. You are not the only one who's ever experienced this. Right. You are not the only one who has suffered this way. And in by no means it's not to minimize. [00:39:40] Right. Exactly. It's not belittling it, it's not, it's definitely not dismissing it. But it's meant to serve as a lighthouse. Right. Our stories are unique. Yes, of course. And so that's, and I think that's what is endlessly, I will never be bored having an in-depth. Not small talk with the love of God, but like, I will never I will be endlessly fascinated by other people. [00:40:01] Because the stories are unique. Yeah. But there is a common thread that we can all see ourselves in or relate to. That, it's so enriching. Yeah. It's almost like, maybe because it's spring and, but I'm thinking it's like the pain is like the compost. Yeah. Something has to die in rotten decay in order to nurture something new. To grow. Yep. Exactly. And I, and that pain serves as fur. It's fertilizing the new, the next round of growth. Right. Yeah. It's not making anything vanish or destroying it, it's just, but it has to break down to build back up. I think that's why mosaics are my favorite type of art. [00:40:39] Yeah. I have such a strong connection to any piece that I see that's made up of a mosaic. And I remember that coming true for me when my dad had his massive stroke and. You know, he was completely debilitated, couldn't speak for himself, couldn't move his own body. He lived like that almost two years. But I remember getting really close to a couple key therapists in his life. [00:41:04] And I remember just after he passed, I got them both a small gift. It was these little mosaic art pieces for them. And I said, when I saw those, I knew that this was the right thing because you didn't see my dad as a destroyed person. You saw him as for the broken pieces. He was that to be put back, to be put together into something that was new and beautiful on its own. [00:41:33] And that's what I feel like pain has the ability to do for all of us. It's okay. And I to acknowledge that you are broken. But it's also just as important to acknowledge that you can be remade into something. You, the old you is gone. You know, when we go through something awful hard, unimaginable it's really easy to think that I will feel this way forever. There is a finality that we attach to painful experiences and it takes often somebody from the outside to gently help us realize that's not reality. I often, when I'm in that transition and I'm not aware or I'm just not ready to admit there are either, there's usually it's I there's usually things I wanna carry along with me. [00:42:28] Yep. It's like. Like an old dingy snugly blanket or like a stuffed animal that like has like holes worn in and like an eyes popped off. It's just but I when I've gone through those transitions, it's saying goodbye to maybe friendships that aren't serving me. [00:42:42] Yep. Or titles, roles levels of output expectations, stories, ways of being and the way, and to go back to pain as a professor, which is going to be the title. That it's only when I try to take the old way of being or the old relationship that is no longer serving into my new now reality. [00:43:04] When it feels anything other than good. Yeah. That's information exactly that it's showing me something and. That curiosity over constriction can also for me look like curiosity over criticism. And because that criticism is usually either dialed inward, what's wrong with me? Right. Or what's wrong with them? [00:43:25] Versus , what is happening Exactly. What's going on? What is this showing me? And I would say probably saying goodbye to relationships or friendships has probably been the hardest. Yeah. The hard, because there is this idea that I'm like if I like it, and it's like in a possessive way. [00:43:42] It's, if I like you forever. And I, and of course that is true. I mean, it, there's nobody who's been in my life that's added value that I don't appreciate. Right. But but I think that the shedding. Yeah. It's like I, I want the next thing, but I also don't wanna let the old thing go. [00:43:56] Right. And so it's, I think I've spent a lot of time and energy trying to like, pull that thing with me. Whatever it is and whatever that stage. But I think that there's when you can fully embrace, 'cause what I'm hearing from you is when you can fully embrace I am different now. [00:44:11] Yep. This is different. This mosaic. I'm not, I may not be able to carry water like I was as a vase. Right. But I'm gonna look really great as this. Yeah. And the other thing I wanna shift to before, before I get to your, don't cut your own bangs question. What I wanna ask you, you've mentioned art a couple of different times. [00:44:28] And this is to, to reference Dr. Martha Beck again. She has done a lot of incredible work in the last couple years where a way to. Step out of anxiety is not to try to access calm. 'cause we talked about going for a walk, right? So, because as much as I love these big conversations, it can be sometimes like, what is something tangible I can actually hold onto? [00:44:53] So walking with something we talked about community and connection with something else we talked about, but Art, I wanna talk about that for a moment because that is what my book was for me. Yeah. It was I created something that only that felt like it was to serve me. The process of interacting with that idea was so delightful and so delicious and so fun that I was like, I feel like I'm just the luckiest person that like this is, oh wow, I get to play with this thing. [00:45:21] Yeah. And it wants to play with me. And I don't feel that all the time. Like sometimes it's origami or doodling or coloring with my daughter. But to go back to Dr. Martha Beck's work that the opposite of anxiety is not calm, it's creativity. Oh, I love that. And you have by default really spoken through, like just healing through creating. [00:45:43] Oh, absolutely. And also there's something about, 'cause calm, there's something about calm that like, we must be still, and granted I love meditation, but like, I must be still, I must be calm. But when you are holding something that is buzzing and shaking or heavy or hot, like just some emotions are hot, like you, it's like you wanna move it through your hands or your words or your body and make something, right. [00:46:06] And you made me, she made me this bracelet before we started this episode. So like, it feels like you have a relationship with creativity too. A hundred percent. Creativity is a lifeline. And I feel like, and the most chaotic moments of my life have been the least I'm my least creative and I think it's a really. [00:46:29] Valuable, tangible thing for anybody to take from this conversation is if you are feeling out of control, lean into something as simple as I'm obsessed with those adult, you know, like the coloring books. Yes. You know, for adults to have like tons of different like lines all over the place that you have to be like really specific to keep the marker in there. [00:46:51] It can't, I do get a little bugged when it like bleeds over to the next section, but, , it's okay. I know I'm working through my, , my stressors at that moment. But yes, giving yourself a creative outlet, it's like taking a big drink of water after you've been exercising and you are so parched. [00:47:07] And I also agree that , calm sounds great in theory, but for me I feel like the more important, like the word that's become more important or I'm better able to. Absorb is the idea of am I grounded? Are my feet touching the ground? I can still have a lot going on, but when I'm like rising higher, you know, off the ground, 'cause like, I'm like a bird at this point, just flapping my arms so fast, right. [00:47:35] That I'm actually taking flight. I'm not in my best head space, but when I can just take a moment to literally just ground myself, make sure that my feet are, whether it's in the grass or sit down like this. And a conversation with a friend, somebody who really knows you is a great moment for that. [00:47:53] It's a great way to remind you who you are is somebody else. Sometimes I talk all the time about the value of when you can connect with somebody who feels with you, not just for you. Oh my gosh. It makes the world so much lighter and goodness. I mean, huh. That's probably if I could have answered the question I asked you a little bit ago, what's something that you could have if I could have told my former therapist self, like when I very when I first started, you're there to hold space for people to feel and feel with them. [00:48:23] Right. Exactly. You're not there. It's sacred. Yeah. It's there's nothing, one, it's like, there's nothing I can tell someone who's deeply in pain that they're actually gonna No. , That's, the words are just like, right. It's just noise. Yeah. And not to take anything. I'm sure I have clients who have been impacted by words. [00:48:40] But having a safe space to feel your feelings free of judgment. Is one of the reasons why I love journaling so much, but also doing that in communion Yeah. With another human right who expects nothing of you. I love Elizabeth Gilbert has language I love, like there's no precious outcome. [00:48:57] Like I can, that I can sit and have space with you or I can make plans with you or be, and there's no precious outcome. You don't have to perform for me. Right. You don't have to be anything for me. Like we can just be that is what a gift. Yes, that is. I just want to, this conversation has inspired way too many thoughts, but in the best way. [00:49:15] But something that hit me and then I think we could absolutely move on to Yeah. This the cut your bangs question. But what I've realized even in our conversation is that logic is not loud . our emotions are loud and they get louder and louder. The more we. Push them back the more we ignore them. [00:49:36] Think of your kids until they, when they need your attention. Because they deserve your attention. They do. The best thing we can do is acknowledge those emotions and just, even if it's as simple as, it's totally understandable. I feel this way right now. That is such a freeing sentence. Of course, I feel this way right now. [00:49:58] That was some serious shit that I just went through. Yeah . of course, I feel, and it doesn't have to make sense when those feelings hit the timing a lot of times feelings for me, I've found won't hit until I'm in a safe space much further down the road. Yes. And it's like being T-boned, like yes, totally out of the blue. [00:50:19] But that's also what happens to kids when they have tantrums. Ah, yeah. They'll hold. And then when they're finally either home at the end of the day or something, when the container is so full and they're finally in a place where they feel safe, they'll erupt over an orange peel not being peeled correctly. [00:50:32] Or , or a banana not being peeled correctly. Oh gosh. And it's not that, don't even start me on string cheese. God. Oh God. Parenting is fun. The best, but No, but you're right. Sometimes, I think that's probably why I cry almost with like every movie and TV show I watch. [00:50:47] Yeah. Because the emotions are just always right there and I just need a place to let it trickle out. Right. And that's okay. And I think, but just not judging ourselves for feelings. And then I think once we give that space or the feelings, the sooner we can do that, the sooner that logic, you know, like you, you mentioned multiple times, I know this, then you give logic. [00:51:13] The space that it needs to speak to you in a calm and quiet manner that you can actually trust. And that's where I think that those gut feelings truly come from. Those inner knowings are, when you've allowed space for the emotions first, given them their due. So then the logic can start to talk to you because it's never going to yell for your attention. [00:51:35] No. And I think we want it to, but that's not the way it works. And that's okay. A lot of times things make sense in hindsight, oh gosh, hindsight's 2020. Always. South Park has a great episode. If people if you have just like a dark sense of humor and you wanna laugh at, there's a character called Captain Hindsight and it's really funny. [00:51:54] . So yeah, a lot of times things don't make sense until we're. A little bit more removed from them. Yep. And some what I have found to be helpful, I've noticed you using your hands. Yeah. And I find when I am, when my mind is really active and I need it to stop or slow down or I just i'll sometimes even throw my hands up. Yeah. And I'll say, and even saying. I'm feeling something and just to myself in my kitchen. 'cause I'm almost always , because I work from home, I'm either like in my office or in my kitchen, like I'm feeling something. As soon as you did that, it's gonna show on video. [00:52:25] I like saw from the corner of my eye myself, naturally going, whew. Yeah. Just sound like inhale. Exhale. Yes. It's like something is being felt. Something's happening. I don't know what it is, but something's happening. And I think, in a lot of ways too, like that's how we have these internal smoke signals. [00:52:42] Yeah. And it's the same way, like your smoke detector in your house doesn't know the difference between burnt toast and something on fire, right? But it will beep when it senses. Yeah. When it senses something. And so my body is like sensing something. Is this a threat? [00:52:56] Are we safe? Yes, we're safe. Oh, we're likely. We just needed water. We're just dehydrated. Uhhuh. Or we just, yeah. So any number of things. But that was so good. Thank you. And yes, I would love, love, love to know your don't cut your own bang moment. And for anybody who is new to the podcast, 'cause I think there are some new people here. [00:53:15] Thank you for being here. Don't cut Your own bang moment is a moment where you went all in on something like cutting your own bangs, you grabbed some scissors, you watched a YouTube video, you're like, I got this. And you go, and then, oh no, this wasn't what I thought it would be. But the value in a don't Cut Your own Bang moment is not only that we can share in the silliness of humanity and mistakes, but also like maybe we learn something from it. [00:53:42] So, Ashlyn? Yes. I would love to hear your Don't cut your own bang moment. Oh my goodness. I think that there's probably a plethora of them. Oh, of course. And, let's see here. I'm even, I tried to have one prepared, and then I got excited about the rest of our conversation. Oh my gosh. Don't worry. So, okay I'll share one. [00:53:58] So what's a good, don't a good, oh. I invited my husband to record a podcast with me because I thought it would just be, , fun to bring him back on. And what I realized was I didn't prepare him for it at all. I just set up lights and set up a camera and asked him to sit. And he was so, visibly like he was trying, he was sitting, he was trying. [00:54:23] But I could just tell, again, something's happening. And I could tell he was a little uncomfortable and a little stiff. And I kept, because our eyes look out. My first assumption is, what's wrong out there? And I was like, what are you okay? What's wrong? And he he was , I don't really know what I'm supposed to be doing. [00:54:41] And then I was like. Oh, no, it was snip the bangs. I didn't provide any context. I didn't give him any preparation for what we'd be talking about, why we'd be talking like he had no context. And the whole setup is different, uhhuh. And it was such a humbling, settling moment of context. [00:55:04] It's I'm writing something right now about this idea of play. I'm a freedom loving, freedom seeking play hungry, greedy person right now. I want more play. I could never get enough. But what makes play feel fun and safe is to understand the context. Yeah. , There's rules in a game. [00:55:20] Otherwise, what is it? And I, my first instinct is to buck. Rules. I don't like ingredient lists. I don't like recipes. I just wanna feel my way through it. But, if you wanna make a beautiful croissant, you can't just feel your way through that. There's a very exacting way to do it. And so, it, it was such a one, I'm endlessly grateful for him and his patients with me. [00:55:40] I'm grateful that , our dynamics not new, so he probably knew what was going on, but just did yeah he's pretty sweet that way. But I, it was such a refresher that , if I wanna create a space and container to play safely with people Yeah. I need to give them the context. Absolutely. And it doesn't matter how long I've known someone, how well I know someone. [00:55:59] I laughed at myself because I, the part of the reason why it feels funny to me, but in like a humbling way. I thought the problem was him for like the first 15 minutes. I was like, what dude? Relax. I was like, what? Is he doing it right? [00:56:12] Yeah. like come on. And I was like. Oh no. Context. Zero. Oh my goodness. So that was a great one. Thank you. Okay, I'm gonna do mine in like short seconds because this one just hap this that inspired me perfectly. So my 8-year-old son and I are both going to the same therapist right now. [00:56:30] I'm a believer everybody should have at least an annual checkup with a therapist, but that's a great endorsement. Everyone should have an you annual checkup. You welcome, reach out to Danielle, she's fantastic. If you live in Indiana, by all means. If not, we'll help you find someone. Yes. And also order the book. [00:56:44] Yes, order the book. Get resting the wall risk. Get treasured. Yes. But go on please. So anyway one, one of the things that my I, the reason I love the person we're working with is because she's the first therapist I've worked with when it comes to, with my kids, she actually tells me what I can work on rather than just , you're doing the best you can and like you just love 'em. [00:57:03] And like, yes, I know, but that is not helping me. And so one of the things that got pointed out to me. Was so Cole , has very low frustration tolerance, like more so than is necessarily healthy for an 8-year-old. And of course with all the trauma with our his sister, our journey, it's understandable. [00:57:22] So we're working on that. What she kindly pointed out to me was, okay, we could work on his, but do you also realize that your tolerance for acceptable emotions is about this big? Oh, she's , therapist, be therapist Uhhuh. She's , but there's like a whole lot more emo like, she's , it's like a whole rainbow. [00:57:42] We need a whole arc for acceptable emotions. She's so you need to stop making it your responsibility to control which emotions he experiences. And it's up to you to provide the solid ground for him no matter which emotion comes up for him. And I will say that has changed my parenting in the last week. [00:58:04] More than maybe anything has like faster than anything. Because all of a sudden I'm like, of course it's acceptable that his sister just made him extremely mad. Of course it's understandable that he's jealous or sad or excited or whatever the feeling is, but it also doesn't define him as right or wrong, what emotions he's experiencing in that moment. [00:58:28] And the big thing was the realization that every emotion he experiences is not a direct reflection of who I am as a parent. No. Because that was what I needed to let go of that any emotion that is considered negative that my child has doesn't mean. That I'm doing a bad job as a parent. Oh my God. [00:58:49] That is one. What a beautiful. Don't cut. Thank you. With Dr. Sarah. Yes. Thank you, Dr. Sarah. You'd be therapizing all up in that session. That was so good. And it's the, that to me is a great example that hard truths can always be delivered with kindness. Yeah. But I think the big important thing there is you had the right context. [00:59:12] Exactly. You went to her for that information. Right. It wasn't like someone on the street. But the thing that we can't give someone what we don't have. Exactly. And I actually think that what you just said, if there was ever an endorsement for what. Self-care actually is not the commoditized, right. [00:59:29] Faux sense of, I'm gonna create a problem and I'm going to prescribe collagen. Did you know that the reason why, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah is these things that you need to buy and, oh, my program for blah, blah, blah, blah. And I'm gonna, I have all that stuff. I'm not I'm wanna, I wanna keep it in perspective. [00:59:45] I am drinking the same Kool-Aid 'cause I'm getting sent the same algorithm ads that we're all getting sent. Like I'm doing colostrum now. I don't even know. Like, I just, because I was like, my gut might grow up I own, but anyway but I think self-care and the best possible context is when you nurture. [01:00:03] And heal yourself. It becomes the medicine. Yes. Yes. And the offering for the other people in your life that you love most. It's like as you increase your own palette of what you're able to allow yourself to experience, you're then also able to see it in your son and give it to him. That is so beautiful and it's hard. [01:00:26] Sometimes, but it's some God that a well timed, articulated loving truth like that can change your life. Yeah. That is amazing. Thank you. I don't know, we can't top that. That was good. We're good. That was real good. Ashlyn Thompson, thank you so much for coming back and we're going to have you back. [01:00:43] You have to come back. Yes. And you're coming over to Empowered by Hope very soon. I would love that so much. And Yes. And so all of the ways, if you or anyone you know in your life has been impacted by a little one with complex me complex medical issues and you want some support, you want some information, you want some resources. [01:01:01] The link in the show notes will have every way that you can connect with Ashlyn, her business partner, and what was formally Charlotte's Hope Foundation, what is now the Parent Empowerment Network. Pick up all the books, all the resources, everything I talked about too for my stuff is also in there. [01:01:16] But , it's all linked for you there. So I hope that you get what you need and. Thanks so much, . Oh my gosh. [01:01:21] If you've ever wanted to pick up journaling,

Send us a textIn this inspiring episode of The Conviction of a Leader, Beau Vincent interviews Casey Kuckert, whose journey from being a single mom on minimum wage to a successful agency owner and marketing consultant is nothing short of remarkable. Casey opens up about the obstacles she faced in the insurance industry, how she navigated career pivots, and her incredible drive to build something impactful—even launching Brand Your Agency Marketing during the COVID-19 pandemic.Casey shares the powerful story behind founding the Professional Women's Empowerment Network, a community dedicated to supporting female entrepreneurs in the insurance world. Her passion for personal branding, community building, and authentic connection shines through as she offers insights on what it truly takes to succeed as a leader.Beau and Casey dive into the highs and lows of leadership, including the challenges and occasional loneliness it brings. Casey emphasizes the importance of authenticity, encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace their unique stories and lead with courage. She shares invaluable advice on building a legacy rooted in kindness, connection, and giving back.Tune in for an episode filled with inspiration, practical advice, and heartwarming reflections that will empower you to pursue your dreams, uplift others, and create a meaningful impact.Find more on Beau and hiring Beau: http://www.theconvictionofaleader.com/Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@TheConvictionOfALeaderConnect on Social!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beau.vincent.7https://www.facebook.com/theconvictionofaleaderInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/beaubvinny/https://www.instagram.com/theconvictionofaleader/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beau-vincent-a4912a61/Make $50,000 up to $100,000, with health benefits, matching 3% IRA, Paid Time Off all while working with my insurance agency from your home! Apply now! https://app.idealtraits.com/career/Vincent-Family-Agency/273152vieNEED A QUOTE? If you live in Ohio or Indiana, we can help! Give us a call 1-330-249-3977takeawaysCasey Kuckert's journey exemplifies resilience and determination.Seeking help is crucial for achieving entreprenebeau@craigwigginscoaching.com

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Willie Barney, founder of The Empowerment Network and Omaha 360, an innovative community initiative that works to reduce violent crime by addressing the root causes, engaging with at-risk youth, and fostering cooperation between community leaders and law enforcement. The post Willie Barney (Ep. 29, 2024) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

This episode talks about The Empowerment Network and the upcoming rebuilding the village conference. It highlights the school we started that has become a model for the Cradle to Career initiative.

Originally uploaded March 28th, re-edited April 30th. Chris Holman welcomes Erica & Michael Lynn Jr. Co-Founders The Village Lansing, Lansing, MI. Welcome, Erica, Michael, tell us about The Village Lansing? What is the background to your story involving founding The Village Lansing and other efforts you do around the area? You spoke to the Lansing Rotary recently about "The Empowerment Network" and "Lansing 360" what are these? How can the business community get connected or involved in any of this? » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Watch MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/

Host Lorenda Rae interviews Dr. Mable Dunbar, about the Women's Healing and Empowerment Network. Dunbar - a Spokesman-Review recipient of the Women of the Year award - founded WHEN after a lifetime of counseling, and serving women leaving abusive relationships. WHEN also operates a local food bank, an abuse recovery shelter, and men's and youth programs.

Larry Sand, Empowerment Network, CTENHOME.ORG, joins Greg in the first half talking the state of education in California.  Conservative activist Doug Hauser joins Greg in the second half.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dive into an enriching conversation with Kyrie and Casey as they explore the intricacies of self-worth, personal growth, and the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. Casey, a seasoned business and marketing coach with a background in insurance, shares her unique journey—from the hurdles of single motherhood to triumph as a thriving entrepreneur. As the two friends swap stories, they highlight the slow and steady build of confidence through life's ups and downs. Beyond personal tales, they shine a light on the broader canvas of women's empowerment. Casey introduces the Professional Women's Empowerment Network, championing collaboration and creating spaces where inspiration fuels success. Fear, growth, and inspiration take the spotlight as Kyrie and Casey get real about navigating uncharted territories, from public speaking to embracing extreme sports. The addictive nature of facing fears becomes clear, pushing them to new heights and motivating other women to step boldly beyond comfort zones. The conversation turns to finding balance between planning and seizing unexpected opportunities. Casey, a self-proclaimed planner and dreamer, shares her ongoing journey of figuring out the sweet spot between strategic foresight and adaptability to new ventures. Empowerment and inclusion become key themes, emphasizing the importance of collaborative environments that fuel growth and inspire individuals to reach their full potential. The podcast gives a sneak peek into the upcoming International Women's Day event organized by the Professional Women's Empowerment Network, promising an atmosphere of inspiration and inclusion. Join Kyrie and Casey in this engaging conversation as they seamlessly weave together stories, insights, and empowerment. Tune in for a captivating exploration of the intricate journey of confidence in both business and life. Find Casey: @caseythebizlady https://www.caseykuckert.com/ Buy Tickets to the Women's Empowerment Event: https://www.pwenetwork.com/events Find Kyrie: @theconfidentmompreneur.com www.theconfidentmompreneur.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-confident-mom/support

Dr. Lori Ochoa is the founder and owner of Life by Design Inc., a company specializing in personal development coaching and training. She received her doctoral degree in psychology with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis and has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2008. She is a coach, speaker, and workshop leader in the area of personal development for individuals, companies, and organizations. Dr. Ochoa is the executive director and co-founder of Bloom Behavioral Health, a company specializing in behavioral health therapy. In addition, Dr. Ochoa consults and is on the board of directors for The Women's Empowerment Network and The Local Wellness Foundation. Within her coaching, training, and mentorship, Dr. Ochoa utilizes an evidence-based process called Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT). Her mission is to help individuals maximize their potential, optimize their well-being, and thrive in life utilizing the science of psychology and behavior.In this episode, we discover the following: 1. How to cope with anxiety and painful emotions. 2. The benefits of acceptance. 3. The attachment we give to our narratives. 4. How to sharpen our perspective.With podcast host: Mark SephtonHope you'll enjoy the episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Sudbay is hosting once again for John. He talks about the circus of Trump turning himself in to be booked in the Georgia RICO case. Mitch from Kent State calls in to talk about the GOP presidential primary debate. Then, he welcomes Alex Burness, staff writer for Bolts politics magazine. They discuss voting rights being revoked in Kentucky and Virginia. Next, Joe chats with Ann Warner, CEO of WREN - Women's Rights and Empowerment Network about abortion restrictions in South Carolina. And then lastly, Joe interviews Tennessee Democrat activist Aftyn Behn, about her bid to be the next representative for House District 51.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Minister Zumbi and Dr. Enqi join Seko to discuss the recent banning of the #RubyBridges movie, the #MLK assassination (April 4) and his legacy, the assassination of #BobbyHutton, who was 17 and killed on April 6 in a confrontation with #LAPD...... Let's move from Empowerment to Sovereignty. Empower Consciousness: CashApp: $PositiveVibesInc | Paypal: Info@PositiveVibes.net Get On Code, share the code, teach the code, and become the code. Our code is empowerment. Focused on #Empowerment, and passionate about #BlackEmpowerment, the Get On Code Show is built on the #EmpowermentAgenda, and led by the #Hotep Conscious Ω Bruh' @SekoVarner. Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Email TheFlyGuysShow@gmail.com . $20k - $90K of business funding - https://mbcapitalsolutions.com/positive-vibes-consulting/ Money for your business: https://davidallencapital.com/equipment-financing?u=&u=PositiveVibes Money for Real Estate Investments: https://PositiveVibesFinancial.com Purify yourself, your house, and your environment to remain safe: https://www.vollara.com/PositiveVibes Invest in stocks via STASH: https://get.stashinvest.com/sekosq72j Fix your credit: https://positivevibes.myecon.net/my-credit-system/ Raise money with Republic: https://republic.com/raise/i/jpdajr #GetOnCode #GetOnCodeShow #GetOnCodePodcast #TheFlyGuysShow #OmegaPsiPhi #Ques #Uplift #ConsciousCommunity #PanAfrican #FoundationalBlackAmerican #Indian #BlackIndian #Melanin #Indigenous #BIPOC #CopperColored #Moorish #B1 #FBA #ADOS #BlackAmerican #AfricanAmerican #Investment #Wealth #BobbyHutton #blackpanther #BlackPantherParty Money, Melanin, Finance, Business, Black Business, B1, Black First, ADOS, Foundational Black American, African, Indigenous, Afro Latinx, Afro-Latino, Mechie X, Tariq Nasheed, Professor Black Truth, The Black Authority, America, Africa, Asiatic, Moorish, Moorish Science Temple, FOI, Christian, Noble Drew Ali, Malcolm X, Ebony, African American, Entrepreneur, #GetOnCode, Tone Talks, Crumb TV, Afrisynergy News, Black People, Nubian, Empowerment Agenda, Black Wall Street, Black Empowerment, Empowerment --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/get-on-code/message

Congratulations to Freddie Ravel on receiving the GWEN Global Luminary Award! The GWEN (Global Women's Empowerment Network) is awarded to individuals who are making a difference in the world through acts of kindness, leadership, mentorship, community building, and human rights activism. Indeed, he is. Listen to our Leading Conversations replay in honor of his achievement. Way to go Freddie! Cheryl Esposito welcomes Freddie Ravel, Grammy-winning producer and jazz keyboardist, and creator of “Life In Tune” to engage business leaders in discovery of the power of rhythm to drive business. His concert performances, productions & recordings span three decades around the world with icons Sergio Mendes, Al Jarreau, Madonna, Prince, Quincy Jones, the Boston Pops, & Carlos Santana. Captivated by music since age 5, Freddie trained as a youth, graduated with a Bachelor's degree in music, & began performing worldwide with Brazilian master Sergio Mendes by age 23. His career soared & he experienced the power of music to affect the energy of the human spirit around the world. Using music as a lens to view business, Ravel's programs are peak performance systems to enhance leadership, innovation & collaboration, with rave reviews from Apple, NASA, Citi, and others. Your leadership score isn't a number. It's the result of your ability to influence the melody, harmony, & rhythm of your organization to create great music - the score. Can you use actual music to learn how to do this? Yes! Want to know how to unlock people's greatest potential? Join Cheryl Esposito & Freddie Ravel to Tune Up To Success!

This week the fellas are joined by Aicha, Senior Director of Programs at Patient Empowerment Network! PEN's mission is to fortify cancer patients and care partners with the knowledge and tools to boost their confidence, put them in control of their healthcare journey, and assist them in receiving the best, most personalized care available to ensure they have the best possible outcome. Aicha breaks down the benefits of shared decision making, health literacy and health equity and how those things have a direct result on improving treatment outcomes for cancer patients. Join the post-episode conversation over on Discord! https://discord.gg/expeUDN

This week the fellas are joined by Aicha, Senior Director of Programs at Patient Empowerment Network! PEN's mission is to fortify cancer patients and care partners with the knowledge and tools to boost their confidence, put them in control of their healthcare journey, and assist them in receiving the best, most personalized care available to ensure they have the best possible outcome. Aicha breaks down the benefits of shared decision making, health literacy and health equity and how those things have a direct result on improving treatment outcomes for cancer patients. Join the post-episode conversation over on Discord! https://discord.gg/expeUDN

Harvey Brownstone conducts an in-depth interview with Gary Lynn Floyd, Singer/Songwriter About Harvey's guest: Today's special guest, Gary Lynn Floyd, is a singer-songwriter whose beautiful songs and rich, silky voice reach straight into your heart.  He incorporates his Texas roots in gospel and jazz into a musical style that is a mix of pop and R & B, combining silky, soulful vocals with emotionally powerful lyrics.   He's released 9 albums, including “Walk on Water”, “This Side of Goodbye”, and “Gospel of Zen”, which was nominated for three 2010 OutMusic Awards, including Album of the Year.  His other albums include, “Unbound”, “Body and Soul”, “My 88 Keys, Volumes 1 and 2”, and his collection of greatest hits entitled “Then and Now: 10th Anniversary Edition”.   He also produced an album of piano compositions entitled, “Speechless”.  There's a strong spirituality in his lyrics.  And through his songs and live performances, he's become a catalyst for positive change, by conveying love, light and clarity through his music.  In fact, the Global Women's Empowerment Network selected his song  "Unbound" as its theme song.   Several months ago, our guest honoured me in a very special and profound way, by recording his latest single, entitled “I am Yours”, which was written by the brilliant songwriter, Harriet Schock, and inspired by my struggles after coming out to my parents at the age of 19 and being rejected by them.   His soulful and textured voice was the perfect vessel to convey the universal message of that song.   The public response to the release of the song created immense interest in the artist who sang it. For more interviews and podcasts go to: https://www.harveybrownstoneinterviews.com/ https://garylynnfloyd.com/https://www.facebook.com/GaryLynnFloyd/https://www.instagram.com/garylynnfloyd/https://twitter.com/garylynnfloydhttps://www.youtube.com/user/garylynnfloydmusic #GaryLynnFloyd  #IAmYours   #harveybrownstoneinterviews

Katie Zenger is the founder and lead consultant of Zenger Strategies, LLC, and has over eight years of professional experience managing and evaluating public health interventions and grant programs.    Katie's expertise lies primarily in public health program development and adolescent health promotion, as well as equitable healthcare access, community engagement, and nonprofit leadership. She is a skilled facilitator, strategic planner, and grant-writer, with experience in coalition-building and coordinating stakeholders for impact.    Katie served as a program officer and Director of Grants for a private SC foundation for over five years, where she expanded and refined the organization's multimillion-dollar contraceptive access and teen pregnancy prevention programs. Most recently, she managed a pediatric concussion project for the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina and a healthcare workforce taskforce for the SC Institute of Medicine and Public Health.    Katie also serves as a Senior Associate with The Weathers Group, where she provides qualitative research analysis services, develops detailed implementation plans, and provides custom reports as needed for special projects.    She has also provided strategic planning for numerous nonprofits, including Darkness to Light, Fact Forward, and the Women's Rights and Empowerment Network. Katie graduated from Clemson University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science degree, and in 2011, she earned her Master's degree in Public Health and a Graduate Certificate in Women's and Gender Studies from the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health. Additionally, I'll be donating to and raising awareness for the charity or organization of my guest's choice with each episode now. This episode, the charity is The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, or The AFTD. Any and all donations make a difference! You can connect with Katie on: Website LinkedIn Inspired Speaking - Public Speaking Course To connect with me: Interested in working with me as your coach? Book a complimentary 15 minute call here. LinkedIn Instagram Website Subscribe to my weekly newsletter Please leave a review for this podcast on Apple Podcasts!   Resources/People Mentioned: The Gifts of Imperfection - Brené Brown Girl, Wash Your Face - Rachel Hollis The Desire Map - Danielle LaPorte The Four Tendencies - Gretchen Rubin Atomic Habits - James Clear Maintenance Phase Podcast - Aubrey Gordon & Michael Hobbes Headspace App Loving What Is - Byron Katie Psychic Pain - Pujol (Song) Shannon Ivey Public Speaking Center of NY Gallup Strengths Finder Yotam Schachter Ikigai

Trigger warning: In this episode we will be discussing abortion and sharing a story of a newborn baby's death. Please care for your wellbeing   In today's episode Gervase is talking with newfound activist and a Charleston force for abortion rights, Sarah Frick. Sarah shares her personal and painful story of losing her first baby, Grace, at three days old and the medical complication that led to her making the choice to abort her next two fetuses before finally birthing the three healthy children she has now. It's messy and inspiring, as all the best stories are, which is why we hope this conversation empowers you to go share yours with people open to listening.   In this episode we dive into: The moment Sarah got the call and knew she would need to abort her baby Why her story highlights that safe abortions need to be legal Sarah's (not great) experience speaking in front of lawmakers in the Senate How to be pro–life and pro-Jesus and the intersection of religion and politics What it's like to be a newfound activist How to protect our energy while fighting the good fight How to navigate the awkward spaces as women and mothers where we find differences of beliefs How and why the old white men making all these new laws and decisions about women's bodies are clearly acting out of fear   We know conversations about abortion aren't always “comfortable,” but we believe compassionate conversations are the only things with the power to change the lens through which we see complex issues.   If you would like to take action to support Reject the Total Abortion Ban- Call your Senator immediately and tell them to vote NO H 5399 before the bill is debated on the Senate floor on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 For more information Click here.   More about Sarah Frick: Sarah Frick has been in the yoga and fitness industry for 16 years. After opening and operating two successful power yoga studios for 10 years in Charleston, South Carolina, Sarah sold both at the peak of their success to rebrand not only her fitness concept but herself. She wanted more than just a fitness experience. Sarah's life had changed. She had changed. She had grown. She had experienced loss. She had experienced grief. And, ultimately, she had experienced grace. Losing her first child, Grace,in early infancy was a pivotal point in Sarah's life. Losing Grace dropped Sarah into her body, into her heart, and into her life to truly see what was important and what mattered. From that, The Works Method started to bud and to take life. This practice she created—The Works Method—is extremely physical. She inspires people to think, If I can work through some of this shit on my mat, imagine what I can do in my own life. Sarah currently lives in a little beach town with her three wild children and equally wild husband.  Connect with Sarah on Instagram: @sarahlivesyoga and @theworkschs The workschs.com   Work with Gervase   Click LEGACY on sale now.   Apply to work with Gervase by booking a Soul Shift Intensive: https://gervasekolmos.podia.com/1-1-coaching-intensive  Download your free gift, the Trust Yo'self hypnosis track: https://bit.ly/3xKuaPv    Follow Gervase Connect with Gervase on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gervasekolmos Visit my website: https://www.gervasekolmos.com/    Resources Mentioned: WREN - Women's Rights and Empowerment Network:  https://www.scwren.org/

Joe Sudbay still guest hosting for John this week. He discusses current headlines and gives a monologue on Republicans trying to AVOID abortion as an election issue. Then he interviews Ann Warner, CEO of. @WRENetwork - Women's Rights and Empowerment Network of South Carolina about abortion rights and access in SC. Next he takes calls from Steve in San Diego, Dave in Washington, and Rich in Indiana on fascism and abortion. Then he gives first reactions to the just-dropped DOJ response filing re: Trump's call for a “special master”. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shine 104.9 host Darin Patzer interviews Mable Dunbar, the founder and director of the local (Spokane, WA) ministry, Women's Healing and Empowerment Network (WHEN). Focusing around the topic of domestic violence and the path towards safety, healing and recovery. 

http://ExpertTalk.fm ~ Tess is Founder and CEO of Global Women's Empowerment Network (a 501c3) & CEO/Executive Producer at GWEN Global LLC a for-profit company dedicated to social impact & positive change in the entertainment arena. Tess is a best-selling author, award-winning producer/filmmaker, keynote speaker, social entrepreneur who has dedicated her life to advocating for "Transforming lives through the power of storytelling!" #ExpertTalkWithTGo #ExpertTalkXtra #TalkShow #PodcastToBroadcast #TheresaGoss #ExpertTalkFM #Roku #Pandora #iHeartRADIO #PodNationTV #talkshowtv #talkshowonline #talkshowhost #podcast #motivation #broadcast #listennow #entrepreneur #marketing #TGoTV #9at9 #FastFunInformative #LightsCamerasTakeAction

In society, it's normalized to hate your nine to five. We scroll through Tiktok for hours on end and see people posting funny videos about their corporate jobs. That does not have to be your reality. There is a job out there for you that you can genuinely enjoy that will pay you what you deserve. And if there's anything that I want you to get out of this podcast, I want you never to settle!    Welcome to the very first episode of the career Empowerment Network. This podcast will empower you to take actionable steps to move the needle forward in your career, and we will talk about all things job searching, interviewing negotiation, and networking. And I want to talk about setting boundaries and empowering you to live your best freakin life while climbing the corporate ladder because it is possible for you.   In this episode, you'll discover: My journey  Landing my dream job Why it's important not to settle Mastering asking the right questions How I landed 25 interviews in one summer   If you loved this episode, I would love it if you would give me a five-star review on whatever platform you use. If you and I are not connected on Instagram or Tiktok, you can find me at @briannafdotson.    Links & Resources: Instagram @briannafdotson TikTok @briannafdotson Salary Negotiation Workshop  Website https://briannafdotson.com/

Heal with Angelica Watters's Podcast with Guest Dr. Sue Carter Collins Episode 15: ENERGY HEALING

Today, on the Freeway to Elevation Podcast. We intentionally had deliberate conversation with Lisa Santiago McNeill. Lisa is a Author, Publisher, Philanthropist, Humanitarian, and Communication Sage. Join us on the podcast as we meticulously explore how she has built the Empowerment Network, developed Coaches, transformed lives and began the process of creating legacy. Lisa blessed the Freeway to Elevation audience with her gratitude, the conversation around alignment and her 5 step manifestation process; which is galvanized in reflection, evaluation, projection etc.. Lisa has helped a plethora of people explore, identify, understand, write, publish, and align with their story. The Empowerment Network is an online network comprised of magazines, Women Empowerment Network, Men's Empowerment Network, and Publishing Firm that orient people to who they are, so the can embrace their purpose. The Coaches Coach alignment with self, the creator, and others energy elevates her ability to create a culture of growth and manifestation. Our discussion with Lisa. Illuminated her commitment to the Collective Coach encourages people to learn themselves and live life with an open mind. You can follow Lisa on all social media platforms, LinkedIn-Lisa Santiago McNeill, Facebook-Empowerment Network, and Iamlisasantiago.com You can follow us on IG: @Embrace_Your_Truth @urban_institute_4_SF Facebook- Urban Institute for Strengthening Families https://linktr.ee/Villageking #EmpowermentPublishingGroup #VillageKing #FreewaytoElevation #CommunityFirst #PublishingBestSellers

Manuela Testolini has a deep, impact-driven history in the philanthropic space. Manuela believes that kids have the power to change the world, and created In a Perfect World to help provide them with the tools to do so. Under her leadership, In A Perfect World has created programs that provide education, mentoring and artistic expression to undeserved and at-risk youth around the world in places including Mali, Malawi, Senegal, Haiti, Nicaragua, Nepal, among others, and also in the U.S. from Los Angeles to Washington, DC and beyond, directly impacting more than 38,000 children worldwide. In addition to In A Perfect World's work of building schools, providing grants to inner city classrooms in need, and helping to facilitate youth-driven moments of service, Manuela has created a unique Youth Ambassador Program in which she trains young people to be philanthropists and community leaders themselves.Manuela has been involved with several nonprofit organizations and philanthropic projects including Love4One Another, Free Arts Minnesota, and the Young Women's Empowerment Network. From this work, experience, and passion, In A Perfect World was born, and has since been widely recognized with honors including the Award of Service from United Communities Against Poverty, the GuideStar Platinum Seal Award, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Fearless Leader Award, and a recipient of the Muhammad Ali Voice of Humanity honor.Interestingly, Manuela is also the former wife of rock legend Prince.

Sarah sits down with Ashley Lidow of WREN (Women's Rights and Empowerment Network) to discuss their mission and learn more about the work they do to provide a collective voice for South Carolina's women, girls and gender-expansive people. To learn more go to: www.scwren.org

Listen to an Omazing interview with the Empowerment Duo Brian and Lisa Santiago. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/obioma-martin/support

Persistence Culture Media Episode 47 Hosted by Jason Holmes Co-Hosted by Mambo Guest: Christina Brophy - Founder of "The Women's Empowerment Network", "The Ventura County Network Group" & "R.A.D. International" Weekly Podcast! Weekly Guest! Current Topics! Trending Topics! Persistence Culture We are a lifestyle brand. Changing lives all over the world. A community of humans striving daily to do better in all things. With the mindset to overcome challenges, we believe that through persistent movement in anything you do from fitness to business, wealth to health all goals and accomplishments require a Culture of Persistence. Persist with us. Become part of the Familia. Rep the Culture, Live the Lifestyle. #KEEPMOVING Fitness Training | Online Training | Personal Training | Nutrition | Recovery | Apparel | Media --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/persistence-culture-podcast/support

Welcome to Barefoot with Spirit Podcast Show! Kick off your shoes and join your host Leanne, The Barefoot Medium(R)for monthly episodes with channelled information from Spirit/Universe/the Divine to inspire you to transform your experience, consciously manifest your desires and connect with your intuition and Spirit. As you tune in take a few deep breaths into your heart space, step into this spiritual container, sacred space, for a deep, intimate and connected conversation with Leanne and her guest Kelli Brockman "Getting Raw and Real". About your Host Leanne, The Barefoot Medium is an International Medium, Twin Flame, Transformational Coach & Author who is blessed and honoured to act as the bridge between you and your loved one(s) who have passed over to Spirit and be able to pass on their messages of support, peace, forgiveness, joy and love. She is also passionate about bringing together her spiritual gifts with over 20 years of professional experience in senior management, training, mentoring and educating to support and empower people to transform their lives and manifest their dreams through her transformational coaching programs, courses and retreats. Join The Barefoot Tribe: www.thebarefootmedium.com.au Connect with Leanne on Facebook: Leanne The Barefoot Medium Subscribe to Leanne's Soundcloud channel: Leanne The Barefoot Medium Follow Leanne on Instagram: thebarefootmedium About Kelli Kelli is a global leading Mindset & Women's Empowerment Expert, Master Energetic Healer and High Performance and Soul Shifts Coach “Go beyond the illusions of your ego-mind and be empowered to live your truth" This is what Kelli lives by in the healing and empowerment of women across the globe. Kelli is the creatrix of Raw and Real Women, a Global Women's Empowerment Network. For over 15 years she has been unleashing and igniting women to silence their inner critic and step into their full feminine power. Kelli's passion and focus is to help women to move out of conformity and mediocrity and uncover their fundamental nature as a feminine woman in her wholeness. She is tired of seeing women play small, maintain conditioned patriarchal beliefs and play out behaviours because of other people's expectations. She is out to expose the myths that have taken residence in women's subconscious minds and to unmask the false beliefs and labels that women give themselves. Lifting the veil on their misconceptions and providing space for women to fully embrace their power. Kelli's wish for all women is that they accept and embrace their full feminine power and be emboldened to take life on, on their own terms and create a life of Soul aligned passion. Kelli has stepped out of society's expectations of conformity to help women fully step into their greatness and now she is supporting other women to do the same. Visit Kelli's website: www.rawandrealwomen.com Connect on Facebook & Instagram: rawandrealwomen

Target is coming to King Street and people have FEELINGS about it. After discussing that news, Christian issues a call-to-action regarding several bills that the Women's Rights and Empowerment Network recently highlighted.   Christian then talks with Mark Bryan, one of the founding members and lead guitarist of Hootie & The Blowfish (and a Charleston resident), who released his fourth solo album, Midlife Priceless, on April 2nd. Hootie & the Blowfish is of course the multi-platinum selling, two-time Grammy-winning band that formed at the University of South Carolina in 1986. Bryan also founded Carolina Studios in 2001. This local nonprofit offers an after school music recording and technology program that helps children (ages 8–18) thrive in music and the arts. You can learn more at www.markbryanmusic.com.   The show's artwork was created by Grace Lancaster-Goguen (glancastergoguen@gmail.com). This episode's music is "Short Skirt, Bare Knees," "Front Page Show," and "When I Was Young" by Tyler Boone (tylerboonemusic.com). The episode was produced by LMC Soundsystem

Natusha Robia says her life was changed by the help she received from the Saint John Women's Empowerment Network. The network is one of 19 local groups getting over $1M in funding from United Way.

In the latest episode of The View From University Heights, Clifford L. Marshall II, program manager of BCC’s Male Empowerment Network, describes the M.E.N. mission of outreach, advisement and leadership development. He is joined by two students who talk about how M.E.N. has affected their lives. The post Episode #6 – The Male Empowerment Network appeared first on Bronx Community College.

In today's episode of The Mom Stops Here™, I'm joined by my Special Guest Andrena Sawyer, CEO & Founder of Perk Consulting & MCWEN (Minority Christian Women's Empowerment Network):   During this episode Andrena shares:   What it's like to be a daughter who's gone from "war zone" to "wealth" What they don't teach you in business school about being an entrepreneur Current trends and hurdles facing women starting businesses How to overcome obstacles through community. ... and much, much more! To Connect with Andrena Sawyer and partake of her helpful resources click on the links below:   Perk Consulting: http://perkconsulting.net MCWEN: https://www.mcwen.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrena_sawyer/ All other social media: @Andrena_Sawyer Andrena's Best-Selling Book: The Misadventures of a New Entrepreneur: 5 Things They Won't Teach You in Business School   _______________________________________________________________   CLICK HERE for the FREE RESOURCE: The Life Mirror Remedy™ Tip Sheet   Remember to Download this episode, review it, and ... SHARE THIS PODCAST LINK (http://bit.ly/TheMomStopsHere) with a friend :)

A conversation with Chloe Holoczenko, a Policy and Programs assistant at the Women's Rights and Empowerment Network here in Columbia, South Carolina! https://www.scwren.org https://votesaveamerica.com https://www.vote411.org

A conversation with Mellve A. Shahid who heads up The Empowerment Network in St. Louis. What do men need when they get a prostate cancer diagnosis? More than anything, they need a friend who can identify with their story. @empowermentstl provides support through a unique program in the St. Louis community.  Hear how they do it.

Ranella Ferrer, AKA the the Asian Queen of Soul in R&B/Pop Culture, has remained a powerhouse in the Filipino-American Entertainment Industry since she was 13 years-old. Her professional background includes Grammy produced songs, commercial pop singles, multiple appearances in live performances, tour collaborations, and TV and Radio shows. Ranella sang the National Anthem for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2016.  She has sung for various celebrities including the former President of the Philippines Fidel Ramos, and opened for Keyshia Cole Stevie Wonder, Tyrese, B2K, and NEYO amongst others. After gaining 70 pounds and losing her confidence, she became a cast member on Season 1 of “Revenge Body” by Khloe Kardashian on E! Network, and it motivated her to continue to pursue her music career.  She is now the Official Spokesperson for She Fit Sports Bra and a representative for the Global Women's Empowerment Network.   During Part 1 of this interview, she tells us about her journey in the music industry and how being on Revenge Body helped her return to pursuing her dreams and sharing her positivity!  

Jennifer Okolo is both a kickass entrepreneur and a therapist from London who founded She Aspires - a digital platform that gives young women the opportunity to write about and engage with real-world issues that affect them.In this segment, Jennifer shares her dedication to educating and encouraging young talent, and talks about her unfiltered approach to supporting people to realise their dreams.Jennifer is also a public speaker and has been a part of several impactful campaigns such as #mybodyvictory and Dove’s Be Real campaign, which redefine beauty.

It’s been 100 years since the 19th Amendment was ratified, giving women of the United States the right to vote.In celebration, The Post and Courier reporters interviewed South Carolina women about the ways they’ve used their lives and their voices and their right to vote. This series, called “We the Women,” will roll out the first weeks of August, culminating on the anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which became part of the Constitution of the United States on Aug. 18, 1920.Today, We the Women continues, featuring a conversation between Post and Courier reporter Jenna Schiferl and Melissa Moore, Lowcountry Manager of Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network.

Originally aired on Youtube on 12/8/19 Visual Edit here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHBTCpBnqG0 Join Mizterkool as he welcomes 3 Entrepreneuhers from the DMV area chasing their passions and making a difference within their communities. Meet Roni CEO of Sisters Succeeding Together and custom candle company, Kandles and Ka'as. Also Featured Ms. Nisha CEO of Queen of Sole, an online boutique specializing in affordable quality women shoes, heels, boots, flats, etc. Last but not least meet Sha'neda SHE EO of Lizzie Baby Cakes, unique and custom cupcakes serving the DMV area. In this session, we further explore the life of an entrepreneur and the pros and cons of owning a business. Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of self-determination and self-awareness. Entrepreneurs must be able to think long term, understand trends and admit their strengths and weaknesses. Another Topic discussed in this Entrpreneuher Session is "BITERS" or people who steal business ideas or logos, designs, etc. because they most likely have no drive or creative juices. An unfortunate fact is you're highly likely to encounter plagiarizers in business but you have to remember they can't execute like you can, especially if it's your original idea. On the flip side, it is a way to reconfirm you're on the right path and that your ideas are valuable. Continue on your Growth Mindset. The importance of finding like minded individuals with strong work ethics is necessary in creating a positive trajectory for a given business. Does your ego allow you collaborate with others? Sisters Succeeding Together is a Women's Empowerment Network who look to build and connect with like-minded "Entrepreneuhers".

Originally Aired On Youtube 12/4/19 Join Mizterkool as he welcomes 3 Entrepreneuhers from the DMV area chasing their passions and making a difference within their communities. Meet Ronica aka Roni CEO of Sisters Succeeding Together, Ms. Nisha CEO of Queen of Sole, and Shanida-SHE EO of Lizzie Baby Cakes. In this session, we explore the life of an entrepreneur and the pros and cons of owning a business. Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of self-determination and self-awareness. Entrepreneurs must be able to think, long term, understand trends and know their own strengths and weaknesses. Another topic discussed in this Entrpreneuher Session is genuine support and promotion. An unfortunate fact is you're highly likely to encounter jealousy and hatred when you're a self-motivated, positive trendsetter. How do we recognize who is authentic and not? The importance of finding like-minded individuals with strong work ethics is necessary for creating a positive trajectory for a given business. Sisters Succeeding Together is a Women's Empowerment Network that looks to build and connect with like-minded "Entrepreneuher's."

How church leaders can lead in a crisis Luke 14: 28 encourages us to plan and prepare. This episode is key at a time when the world is experiencing the worst challenge in living history. This young pastor will outline how contingencies and structure have allowed him to lead through crisis. EPISODE NOTES TIME STAMPS 7.00 Forward planning and how it prepared the assembly 7.30 Be the church NOT god to church focus on making disciples even though not in the same location 11.15 About Pastor Paul and his background including being a Pastor’s son, being a “seed”, his career, 14.00 On writing several books including The Waiting Room’ with wife Debi after experiencing infertility and how they overcame it. 16.26 His leadership journey and what he has learnt 17.40 The realisation that as a leader he cannot change people. 1st Corn 3: 6 - I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 19.15 – Change and management in crisis – inspired by Jesus leadership & how engagement is the new church attendance, including life groups (small groups or house fellowships). 22.45 Leveraging, maximising and managing online platforms to engage and communicate. 24.15 why repetition is a weapon when it comes to preaching, teaching and disciplining 27.00 difference between attendance and engagement 27.30 Focus on unchurched and de-churched 30.00 How the team is made up and functions 32.00 Navigating changes made in the team in the digital space 34.00 How decisions made today, will determine how we come out of crisis 34.50 Steaming Tools OBS https://obsproject.com/ or One Stream https://onestream.live/?deal=iekh61 36.30 Inter generational congregations and why they are part of the plan ABOUT PASTOR PAUL ILO - THE HIGHER PLACE ‘Paul Ilo is the Lead Pastor at The Higher Place UK, a multicultural and multi-generational church in the heart of Greenwich, London. The Higher Place exists to see ordinary people transformed into passionate followers of Jesus Christ. Pastor Paul has been involved in ministry for several years and is also the founder of Royal Diadem Care and Empowerment Network, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the development of people through books, conferences, social welfare and capacity building. He holds a Master's Degree in International Relations and has written a number of books. He is currently based just outside of London, where he lives with his wife, Debi and two children.’ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/healthy-church-growth-sho/message

Josh sits down with Willie Barney in this episode, a strong leader in the community, and founder of Empowerment Network.They discuss having faith in the midst of crisis, continuing in prayer, and staying encouraged and focused in hard times. They shared their perspectives of collaborating with and empowering those communities hit harder with crisis.

Lisa Santiago McNeill is a true badass Boss Lady.  Lisa ran away from home at the age of 13 and ended up on the streets-hustling, selling her body and living a difficult early life.  Those hardships were no match for the purpose inside of Lisa, so after putting herself through high school, Lisa went onto become a wildly successful, "Coaches, Coach" as well as a leader of a Women's Empowerment Network.  She is currently a mother, a friend, a sister, an actor, an author, a radio personality, a public speaker, a preacher, a mentor, a businesswoman and a certified master trainer.  Her life's experiences have taught her that everything...EVERYTHING is possible. Buy The Boss Lady Investor™ Book here:  https://www.amazon.com/Boss-Lady-Investor-Understand-Money/dp/0359766412/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3N357E4Y22LUI&keywords=the+boss+lady+investor&qid=1579121835&s=books&sprefix=the+boss+lady+%2Cstripbooks%2C160&sr=1-1Recommended book: The Greatest Salesman In the World by Og MandinoBuy the book here:  https://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Salesman-World/dp/B01M0AX9EB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=93E3C4JIXN3T&keywords=the+greatest+salesman+in+the+world+og+mandino&qid=1579124309&s=audible&sprefix=the+greatest+sa%2Caudible%2C239&sr=1-1Follow Lisa here:Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/indyatalksYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMEojNOACFHDLdDQ2wajoSA?view_as=subscriberWeb:  https://iamlisasantiago.com/Support the show (https://www.bossladyinvestor.com/)

Lisa is an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice at Rutgers Business School. She teaches undergraduate, MBA and Executive MBA students the fundamentals of corporate finance, with a focus on applying these concepts to decisions typically encountered in corporations and investment banking. She earned the Dean’s Meritorious Teaching Award in 2018. In addition, she provides career coaching and serves as faculty advisor for Women in Business and the Finance Alumni Network. In April 2019, Lisa launched the Rutgers Business School Women’s Initiative to create a thought leadership loop between industry and academia, with the mission of removing barriers and empowering women with confidence and expertise to succeed in a continuously evolving workforce. Lisa began her career as an investment banker at Alex. Brown & Sons in the mid-1990s, covering financial institutions, and later moved to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where she focused on retail and consumer products companies. She then transitioned to the company side, where she served as the Treasurer of Bed Bath & Beyond for 8 years, and subsequently, as CFO of various private equity-backed start-ups. Lisa later created Kaplowitz Advisory Group, LLC to support executives, at all stages of growth, with using finance to help direct corporate strategy and decision making. Specifically, she helps companies with the tactics of strategic planning, including execution, implementation, alignment, prioritization of initiatives and measurement of effectiveness. In addition, Lisa provides executive management assistance in all functional areas, including operations, finance, legal and supply chain management. Lisa also serves on the Board and is Treasurer of PowerPlay NYC, a non-profit that uses sports to advance the lives of underserved girls, helping them growth emotionally, socially and academically stronger. Lisa earned a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from Brown and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. While at Brown, she was captain of the Women’s Gymnastics team, 4-year MVP, 4-year All-Ivy, 3-year Academic All-Ivy, 2-year all-ECAC and was inducted in the Brown Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018. Lisa is a tireless advocate of women’s athletics and, in 2018, founded Brown Athletics W.O.M.E.N. (Women’s Opportunity, Mentorship & Empowerment Network). Lisa resides in New Jersey with her husband and 2 sons, and enjoys traveling, skiing and anything active. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/freeman-means-business/support

When bad things happen to us, often we tend to hold in our feelings--out of shame, out of fear, or out of the belief that no one else really cares. My guest on this episode, Tess Cacciatore, has been there. But instead of turning within, she decided to turn victimhood into strength by founding GWEN, the Global Women’s Empowerment Network, a place that uses the power of technology and media to enable people to share their stories, transform their lives and above all, realize they are not alone.Tess talks about GWEN and what her organization is doing to help women, including:The GWEN alertHelping women in abusive relationshipsStemming the flow of human traffickingProviding a space for sharing storiesand much moreJoin me in this enlightening and powerful episode of Dream Power Radio.tesscacciatore.com

Empowerment Network, LLC. - Penni Zelinkoff penniwize.com

Tess Cacciatore is CEO of Global Women's Empowerment Network, an organization dedicated advocacy and activism for human rights. Tess is an award-winning producer, director, writer and editor creating content that focuses on social impact. She covers important topics like human trafficking, early child marriage, domestic violence and clean water initiatives. Read more about Gwen Global. Read more about The Passionistas Project.   FULL TRANSCRIPT:   Amy and Nancy Harrington: Hi and welcome to the Passionistas Project Podcast. We're Amy and Nancy Harrington and today we're talking to Tess Cacciatore, co-founder of Global Women's Empowerment Network, which is dedicated to the advocacy and activism of human rights. Tess is an award winning producer, director, writer, and editor creating content that focuses on social impact. She covers important topics like human trafficking, early childhood marriage, domestic violence and clean water initiatives. So please welcome to the show Tess Cacciatore. Tess Cacciatore: Hello. Thank you so much for having me on. Amy and Nancy Harrington: Thank you so much for being here. We really appreciate it. What are you most passionate about? Tess Cacciatore: Well that's a loaded question because it varies as we talked about earlier today. You know my book ranges from A to Z. But I think the most important message that I'm trying to get out there right now is about people to have the courage to share our stories. Everyone has a story to share and I think it's really important. We have a hash tag revealed the hill which is all about how can we get vulnerable and share stories. And through that turn of events I'm hoping to be able to inspire self-love. I think once we have that self-love we're going to make better decisions about who we bring into our life and bring better awareness of what's happening around us and hopefully do better in our lives. Amy and Nancy Harrington: Talk a bit more about how you've translated that passion into what you do for a living.  Tess Cacciatore: Well Global Women's Empowerment Network started off as a 501 c3. I came back all the way up into the 90s where I had this vision of having an interactive multimedia platform of programming for social impact. But when you talked about virtual classroom and social impact inside of the entertainment industry back in the 90s people pretty much looked at me with my own like I had two heads. So I think the timing and the juncture of vision meets technology and the awareness that people have in the world is right now. So everything's been this small little building blocks these small stepping stones and some of them big leaps and some of them been drowning in water and coming back up around the cycles that we all have in life. But why I think it's really important about right now is because there is such turmoil going on in the world. National disasters what's happening in our world in many levels. And I think that it's really important to be able to be able to have that story to heal you know what is our individual stories how can we be compassionate for others how can we be compassionate towards ourselves. In the ‘90s, you were working in the tech industry so what did you learn during that time that sort of bridged the cultures through technology. Tess Cacciatore: So technology is really interesting I just moved to L.A. about five years previous to 1993 and a friend of mine Amy Simon said there there's this new industry that's happening and you're a great writer and a producer and maybe you can come and play in this wild wild west as we called it back then and there was very few women in industry. So I was really excited about seeing what was under the hood of what was going on what the worldwide web was what email was what all kinds of you know the inventions that were coming out. And one of the side stories that I love to share is that I was with a group of friends and this one guy had this great vision and we became a board of directors and I got really close to getting US funding and the investors stepped away from the table and said ma I don't know if we want to really go down that path because I don't think anybody is going to really want to do an online auction and it ended up being this company that we called Rose Coie. And then about a year later eBay jumped onto the scene so I can fill up a whole hour of these near misses of what the vision was and how excited I was about technology. But back in the ‘90s it was really cool because I thought this would be really wonderful to be able to bring good programming documentaries that could reach the corners of the world. I hadn't started really doing a lot of global traveling at that point but it was really an adventure to see where the imagination could open up and expand the horizon of where we can reach people and bridge cultures which I thought was going to be a really important thing for history because most of the time you know a lot of countries are westernized so when you go to Africa to Asia or to visit the tribes they're not they're wearing more western clothes. And I thought this is so sad because what's beautiful is what sets us apart is that beautiful folklore and the legends and the stories that the ancestors passed down kind of like around the campfire where you get to teach each other what the generations have learned and that you learn from your ancestors. And I thought technology would be really important way to be able to bridge that. So through the 90s I worked on Web sites. There were big major corporations and we were teaching people how to be able to you know build the website and set up their email and it would be like Lotus U.K. or Sun Microsystems and I worked with a group of people we traveled all over the country and helped build this beautiful bridge to the world. What I kind of love about the experience I had back then is it on my daily basis as a producer is really I have to get down and get really detailed in the backside because I had to work with the programmers on one side. I had to work with the creative team and I had to work with the customer and the client and the corporations and to be able to work in all of those worlds and be able to communicate and make a project go from A to Z and to be able to launch and to know the how to file things and how to organize things. I still find myself laughing every once in a while because the tools that I got back in those days of project managing and producing really stays true to me. So there's the technical side that I love from back in the 90s and then there's the more cultural side that technology is. We're on wireless and we're going pick up the phone and call around the world for free. And there's that deep touch connection that I think is really important. Amy and Nancy Harrington: You started as an actress and a dancer and singer songwriter. So tell us about those experiences and what you learned during that time that inform what you're doing today. Tess Cacciatore: When I was five years old I told my mom I wanted to go to New York and be a dancer. And so when I was seven she put me into a dance class and then I slowly kind of went into the theater world and if I think back about my childhood and who I was then and who I still am to a degree I have a very introverted shy side. Believe it or not even though I speak before you know thousands and millions of people on any given day on broadcast or whatever and do public speaking there's still a homebody shy side to me you know in Des Moines Iowa Midwest girl great family life and good upbringing and all that but I just felt like that core of who I was still exists today. So the theatrical side really helped me expand. Even though I went to school for a BFA for music and theater and dance I moved to New York and I was an actress. I really felt that that helped me Blossom. It helped me be able to get the confidence to be able to talk in public and then I had to merge the other side of who I was and the passions and what I felt like I could do on the societal side but it all kind of links together in a very magical way. Amy and Nancy Harrington: And so how did all of this lead into you doing video production. Tess Cacciatore: I did a lot in front of the camera. But what I really loved back in my 20s was being able to be more part of the vision part of it all being a little bit more in control of my life. Because when you go to auditions as you know you're sitting in front of people that are making a decision about your life that you might not have the right color hair you might be too tall you might be too short. It might be to do that. And so it just came down to these molecular kind of decisions that were not in my control. And I felt like I want to be a little bit more in control my life and I'm really an advocate for that when I mentor a lot of people you know men and women younger people I say you have to really take control of what your destiny is. You have to create what you want to do. And I think with the way multimedia is now we have more power of that. But that was pretty much my deciding factors that I really wanted to be able to have that creative vision I could see the whole picture. And I saw the whole vision and what the message was rather than just memorizing someone else's lines. I wanted to be able to create those lines so it gave me a broad Bactrim of how to be able to get more in control of my destiny. And then I had a lot of fun. I love directing I love producing. We're working on original scripted series right now where my producing partner and I are writing the scripts and we have complete control complete creative control of whatever we see and whatever we want to do. And that feels really good to have that. And I think we have more options at our fingertips now than we ever had before. Amy and Nancy Harrington:What types of topics are you drawn to when you're creating a project or taking a project on social impact? Tess Cacciatore: I have a slate of programs and projects right now that are going out. One's an original scripted feature film one's a foreign feature film once a music documentary once an original scripted series and the other one is the talk show that goes along with the original scripted series and that five Slate I just put the deck together in the last couple of weeks. It makes me feel so joyful because they're commercial driven. They really can make an impact within community and they have a special message that really helps lift up humanity gets people to talk about what's going on. It gets the dialogue going it gets the juices flowing and that's exciting to me to be able to get people to talk and get people to share. Amy and Nancy Harrington:Why is that so exciting why do you want to focus on the humanitarian side of things? Tess Cacciatore: I think it's just the way I've been wired. I believe that in my world that I want it to be something that has a result to give back something that has a result to inspire or to empower somebody someone that might be able to feel healed because they heard a story that I might share or one of the people that we're profiling on our series because it's all about that story sharing and healing. And I feel like there's the reality shows genres and there's the mainstream theatrical releases of beautiful films I've loved watching and experiencing it all but I felt like my niche was really about getting in there and really doing something that could make an impact or make a social message or inspire someone to go after a law for you know for instance you can get people to be inspired. The fact that there are still children in our country in their states that still allow for young girls to be married at the age of 14 and we think that early child marriages in other countries but it's really right in our own backyard in the states that still have those rules and laws are surprising. It's not the states that you would think so to be able to let people know the statistics like there are still young girls that are being forced into marriage and this isn't like Romeo and Juliet or I'm in love with my boyfriend let's go run away and get married. These are older men in their 40s and 50s that are marrying young teenagers. And it's disgusting and it needs to stop. And they're forced into marriage because of whatever reason districts are atrocious. There's also a statistic that I share which is 300,000 children are abducted on an annual basis out of the United States. People think that sex trafficking is again in another country but it's right here in our own backyard right here in California. San Bernardino is a very big trafficked place. I grew up in Des Moines Iowa. There's sex trafficking that goes through Interstate 80. A statistic that I talk about often on Super Bowl Sunday is that that's the highest domestic violence day and it's the highest sex trafficking day. Most of the sex trafficking happens when their spring training areas and a lot comes out of Vegas. But a lot of it comes you know from other states as well. So I think through the programming we can bring awareness and let's say there's a group of people and I'll be there to charge with it to Washington or to our state capitals and figure out how can we change that law. Why are there still laws that allow for a 14 year old to get married and that kind of thing needs to change. So that's what I'm passionate about. I want to see that there's social change there's implications where people are being aware of what's happening in our own neighborhoods. You know we've watched the news all the time and we see these people going oh my god I didn't know who lived right next door to me. I didn't know that he had an arsenal of weapons in his basement or that he had three girls you know trapped in there for 10 years. It's really about bringing the awareness into what's going on in our own backyard and how can we help. How can we get resolution from different things that are happening. Amy and Nancy Harrington: How do you choose which topics to focus on and how do you manage your resources and your energy to give the most to those topics? Tess Cacciatore: I've found that in the last year or two I've had to really pinpoint and narrow down and it's really about social justice and human rights. You know equal rights social rights human rights social justice wherever you want to spin that. If it if it lands in that lane I'm right there I used to do a lot of work in the environment and animal rights. And even though I'm still passionate about that I'm really trying to narrow my focus in that and also through the platform that we're launching we're going to be able to give the ability for other people that have those passions to be able to fully explore what it is to save the elephant save the tigers save the penguins environmental greenhouse warming everything that can be happening. I want to offer this platform where people can put their programming on it so they get to go fully diving deep into that issue. I don't have to necessarily take the focus off the eye off my ball but I give them a platform and I shine a light on what they're doing. And so I think that's one of my main wishes to shine a light on the people and the organizations that are making a difference whether it's in the nonprofit arena or through theatrical releases of documentaries or short stories or books or music. When are you launching that platform and getting the dates. By the time this airs it might already be out we're already on Roku but I'm really undercover right now. We're going to be launching our programming on Amazon Fire, Roku, Samsung TV and Apple TV. And that's just the start. And through those four platforms alone we have access to 450 plus million subscribers. And that's potential subscribers then that big tap dance begins where you have to market them and how do you take the audience and bring them to your area and say Here we are. Because it's like grain of sand on a big beach. You know how do you how do you have that great of sandstone up above the rest because there's so much great content out there. So it's a big undertaking but I've been dreaming about it for a long time so I have a great team of people that work with me and we're going to make it happen. Amy and Nancy Harrington: What's it called? So Gwen Global is the incorporation and that has several silos below it. So there's the Gwen Studios which is our production house. Then we have Gwen Books so my book and other books that can go under that umbrella will be there and then we have Gwen Music and we have Gwen Tech and apps which I'll tell you about our app and then we have that when children's division. So that all is one bubble of called Gwen Global and then Global Women's Empowerment Network is our umbrella and that's been in existence since 2012 and that's the one that does the advocacy the programs the workshops the community outreach which we're doing quite a bit of here in Los Angeles but we're about ready to embark on a 10 city tour and then we do work with sister organizations in Africa. Amy and Nancy Harrington: We're Amy and Nancy Harrington and you're listening to the Passionistas Project Podcast and our interview with Tess Cacciatore. Check out her inspiring memoir “Homeless to the White House,” her story of personal healing and transformation which is available on Amazon. Now here's more of our interview with Tess. Amy and Nancy Harrington:When did you first get into doing philanthropic work? Was it in 1994, when you started the world trust Foundation was that kind of a pivotal moment? Tess Cacciatore: I think that pivotal moment because I've been asked that question a lot was when I was in high school I went to Dowling high school and we had this outreach program where we were able to volunteer. So I volunteered each year for the Drake special Olympics and we did a lot of work with kids with special needs. And it really opened my eyes and my heart. And I've always had that compassion then in my 20s I did some volunteer work. I performed in a couple places that Honduras for instance was a real eye opener for me it was my first trip to a developing country and to see the little kids it was right when Nicaragua was invading and see little kids running down the street with big huge rifles in their hands and people that were homeless and starving and all kinds of things. It was my first eye-opener. I've always had that passion but I didn't know how to put it into action until 1993 when I founded World trust Foundation. Talk a little bit about that. That was an interesting time a turning point. You can read more about it in the book but it was me coming out of entertaining I was traveling with the band as a singer dancer. We did a tour through Asia and I made a bad choice and I was in a relationship that was not good for me and it took me a while to get that oxygen mask on myself which is kind of a repeated theme in my life. And I left the band and left L.A. never to return. And I went back to Des Moines it just happened to be when the floods were hitting the Midwest and there was no running water no electricity for a while. So it was God taking me down all the way to the basics where there was like I had had to begin square root all over the place and I just prayed. And I said what am I supposed to do with my life where am I going I definitely don't want to be back to L.A. and that's when you say never say never because I'm here. It was a very interesting time for me so I had these people that we did the rebuild project in South Central after the riots. And I met one other guy that was from outside of the community and we exchanged cards I didn't really think much about it. I really wanted to work with the rehabilitation of the community I worked a lot with the gangs in a workshop and just was so heartwarming to me because these kids were really in a lot of need of just love and hugs. And I just started to crack me open a little bit more but this one guy that I met left a message on my voicemail here in L.A. and I was just getting ready to it down and shut off my service and this one message kind of open the door of a whole world because he wanted me to come and help him produce a music compilation for a coalition of nonprofit organizations. And we started talking on the phone. We started faxing because they didn't have you know e-mail and all that so we fax ideas back and forth and then before I knew it I was back in L.A. and world trust began. So it was a interesting journey. Once again as I say putting the oxygen mask on surviving through a relationship that you know was really horrific one for me. And it actually created those scar tissue of things that you kind of have on your belt as you live through life and then when you get to the other side then you have a whole other world of challenges to come. But I had to take that that compilation of scars so to speak and turn it into something that meant life to me. And I had to look at see what was my purpose of being here. I just didn't want to be a bag of bones just breathing and taking up oxygen. I wanted to be somebody that was going to be able to bring meaning to someone's life. So those trials in my own life led me to be more compassionate for others. And that's where world trust started and then that turned and took when eventually you very open in your book about your experiences with relationships and domestic violence. Amy and Nancy Harrington:Why did you decide to share those incredibly personal stories in your book and what do you hope other people take away from those stories? Tess Cacciatore: Yeah, it took me eight years to write that book. So I sometimes forget about how vulnerable and open I came I really literally just cut myself wide open and it was almost my own personal journey of healing through that process and the writing. And what I wanted to inspire is that if I can bear all and all I did hopefully other people would be able to share even with a sister like you two are so close or with a close friend or with a therapist someplace to get that scar tissue out and to be able to share it. I'm not encouraging everyone to put all their laundry so to speak in a book and put it out there because it was a very hard time to do that. And I second and triple and quadruple thought oh my God I might be doing wrong a mistake. You know the day it was coming out it was too late it was already coming out on Amazon I kept thinking is there any way I can pull it back. So it was not an easy thing to do but I felt it was necessary for me to become vulnerable and exposed and cut myself wide open so that I could really complete that cycle of my own healing so that I can help reveal to heal with other people and that's what our workshops are really about is what are our blueprints what are our addictions to that chemical reaction that happens when we are in that consistent repetitive cycle of abuse. How can we change that. And that's what I hoped that the book would do. Amy and Nancy Harrington:You've spoken regularly at the United Nations and talk about that experience speaking there. Tess Cacciatore: My first time speaking at the U.N. was in 2000 and I went to Switzerland and it was with Melba Spaulding who had this youth empowerment summit and it was named as yes youth empowerment summit and I brought one of our young delegates that I met here in Los Angeles. Earth Day and that's when I was doing a lot of environmental work. I spoke back then which was really about how technology can bridge cultures and bridge peace. And so I've been talking about this topic for so long. Technology could be the virtual classroom that we can really empower one another and have a way to talk about our passions and inspire people to be able to do better in their life or to become who they want to be. So everything's always been just truncated back into that same message over and over again. The United Nations to me I'm really excited when I'm on the campus whether it's in New York or I went to Africa several times for U.N. World Conferences and I still go to Geneva. I'm supposed to go to New York and march for the Commission on the status of women which is will be my 15th year attending. Why I love it because I'm able to meet these incredible people from around the world I get to learn about each other's cultures. I film most of the time that I'm there so I have a whole body of work of film and footage that are really speaking about the stories of these women that lived much more atrocious lives than I ever could imagine. So it always gets me to get outside of my own self and be able to share that story of another woman who might have been a survivor of genocide in Rwanda or a woman who'd been raped in the eastern Congo or a woman who escaped sex trafficking out of Asia. I get to meet the most richest amazing people. And those stories inspired me to keep going on what I'm doing. Amy and Nancy Harrington:You've traveled to so many interesting incredible sometimes dangerous places. Is there one place you've gone or experienced that helped shape your mission? Tess Cacciatore: I've gone from Sri Lanka when we built homes after the tsunami to visiting the orphanages anywhere from Cambodia to Thailand to Vietnam to South America to South Africa holding these children in my arms that was always just a daily reminder i see those faces in my head and in my prayers every day. And it drives me forward. So those are always the precious moments of my life. That kind of gives me that purpose that overall purpose. But one of the most magical places that I've traveled to and I want to go back and that was more because it was a very beautiful spiritual experience with Bali and it was so beautiful to be there. It was spiritual it was magical. And I look forward to having those kind of days because then you can really that down and let go and listen. And the thing part of the prayer which is part of meditation is listening to your higher self-listen to God listen to Angels whatever you believe in is taking that quiet moment to be able to just absorb the precious moments that make all of those memories of all those kids and people in lives that I feel have touched my life all the more and much more valuable. I think it's important to have that balance to really slow down and take a deep breath and be inside of ourselves. Amy and Nancy Harrington:You mentioned a bit ago the ten city tour. Tell us a little bit about that. Tess Cacciatore: Yes, I'm so excited. I know we're on the radio but for the camera portion of it this is a lantern that is manufactured by empowered they are out of Brooklyn and I went to a play one night. Robert Galinsky I went to see him play it was a one man play about being homeless and he was selling these after the show to give the money to the women's shelter downtown. And I do a lot of work with homeless because of my own experience in being homeless. Skid row is the epicenter of the homelessness in Los Angeles and a light bulb pun intended went off and I went when lights up skid row would that be cool and I liked the title I shared it with my board is shared with some friends. I contacted the manufacturer and I said hey I want to do this. Lights up Skid Row. I called Justin Baldoni people. He's been on my radio show before he's a dear, dear, dear person and he has this thing called Carnival of Love every year. And that's where he blocks off all these streets around the union rescue mission which I do a lot of work with as well. And January 26 he does the carnival of love where he has all these boobs in there that gives out medical services haircuts clothes toys whatever you can imagine.  And I went last year as a volunteer so I called them up and I said I want to have a booth. I'm going to give out these solar powered lanterns and while we're there inside this barricaded place I want to get into the streets so I went with a couple of our volunteers and a couple of board members Christopher Mack who works down there in the skid row area. He came with me and we went up to the tents which is a very dangerous area and very dangerous thing to do. But we did it with love and respect and I had someone who was local that knew the temperature of the community down there and just asked them Would you like a solar powered lantern. And everyone received it with a lot of love.  You have a three level kind of light switch on there and then there's a blinking light you can hang it on the inside a tent you know a lot of times you see these at sporting goods stores because people buy them for camping but when empowered. Saw the results that we had in skid row they loved the idea because they do a lot of community work they do in natural disasters and disaster relief. They'll send some lanterns out for people for hurricanes or tornadoes or earthquakes but they never thought about the homeless side of it all. So we're in conversation right now and I targeted 10 cities around the country that are highest homeless outside living in tents in the streets. And we are building the campaign right now. We're raising funds to be able to bring this to these other cities and to give a gift of light and people that want to donate 10 dollars you can give a light and sponsor light that goes to one of these people because there's so many people live on the streets and it ties into the mission of what we want to do with Quine with our workshops which is really dealing with the inner turmoil the inner story. I'm going to keep coming back to that reveal the real story because if you talk to these people that live on the streets in the towns they have a huge story to tell and there's a lot of instances that is mental health and that's another thing that I think in the States we really need to tackle. You know that's a whole other conversation but I feel like just by giving a gift of light we're able to. Give some safety you know gives some comfort because inside their tent I mentioned. I mean if you just think about it you're down in an area where there's crime right outside your tent. You can't use the bathroom you can't go out and do anything because you can be raped or you can be killed you could be robbed. You could have anything happen to you and it's a very dangerous hierarchal situation. There's a whole system that goes on down there that I'm just starting to get to the depths of that we are writing about that in our original scripted story but this one might program. It's so powerful to me because it's such a simple thing and people are like wow how did you think about that. It was just a download from God that was started by Robert's play and empowered has been really incredible with us and they're giving us huge discounts and they're donating some lights and so I'm really excited to be able to share more about that. But New York will be the next city we go to. We're going to do other parts of Los Angeles but New York just superseded Los Angeles as the number one homeless city in the States. And it's crazy what's going on. You know there's so many touchy topics when you deal with homelessness. You know people don't want to have homeless shelters in their communities because they think their property value might decrease and that's not true. There's so many beautiful rehabilitation centers that are popping up everywhere in Los Angeles and we're doing a lot of work with Union Rescue Mission in Hope Gardens which is a transitional homeless center for women and children. We'll be doing our first workshop this spring. And that's really about diving into these women's lives and figuring out how they can you know they're almost on the way out there. Almost right there. And we just want to share the light and encourage them to start a business or whatever they want to do. So it all ties into this when lights up campaign. Amy and Nancy Harrington:You talk in the book about your own personal experiences with homelessness. What's something that's commonly misunderstood about the homeless community or questions that people aren't asking that should be addressed? Tess Cacciatore: It's situational. And I think that's the one thing that a lot of people don't realize that it is tied to mental health. It is tied to the situations that might happen that we don't have control over in that sense because if you're in an abusive relationship most of the time it starts off very subtly. No one's going to come up to you with a big sign on them and say guess what. I'm an abusive guy or girl you're going to discover it through the fact that almost sometimes those of us that have been in domestic violence relationships we feel like we have to sign up that says I can be abused. Because it's the very quagmired situation. But it does tie into the homeless situation especially when you're on the streets if you have kids and you have to run away from a dangerous relationship. They don't have anywhere to go. They have probably been sequestered from their families and friends because that's one of the things that you want to watch out for. If you're in a relationship that's abusive. I'm just going to take a little pen and go in this little road for a minute because I think it's really important for people to understand the signs if you are in a relationship if the person loves you they're going to want you to flourish and shine to your highest ability and they're going to encourage that. And then that gives them breathing room for you to do the same in that relationship it's that perfect circle of being. If they start to sequester you if they start to insult you they start to out of the blue start to control where you go how you dress what you do where you speak who you go with. Those are signs and a lot of times we are people pleasers like I was. We want to please our partners and the ones we love. So it's like oh OK well then I won't talk to that person. Are you all dressed more conservatively or whatever if you're not able to be truly who you are then there's something wrong. And I really want to talk more about that more often in public because I think if people understood those signs to watch out for you might be able to save yourself from going too far deep in their emotionally abusive relationship emotionally and verbal is very hard to be able to decipher because they do it so carefully and so meticulously that they don't even know that they're doing it sometimes themselves because they might be a cycle of abuse victim too. So that's where I want Gwen to be is that we understand what the underlying attributes are of someone who's abusive is because there's a cycle there somewhere that needs to be broken. So going back to the homeless situation I think the most misunderstood part of it all is that they are people that are there are situationally and they're not all drug addicts they're not all criminal they're not all anything because no one is on anything. No sector in life no example you can ever give that you can give a blanket situation to those variables in every situation. And I feel compassionate to the ones that are living on the streets because they might not be on the proper medication if they have a mental problem they might not have the right resources to know that they can go into a shelter because there are shelters here in every city. Some of the shelters might be full so that's another situation.  How do we solve the problem? Oh, I don't know. I mean that's a loaded question. It's multilayered and there's so many things that we can do to help. That's all I want to do is just help in the smallest ways and see how we can change the trajectory of being homeless. Yes I was homeless. I moved about. I would say 15 times in about 17 months timeframe. I was never addicted to drugs. I wasn't on the streets I didn't live in a tent. I never had to sleep in my car. But I had a the stigma of not having a home which is really hard for me because I love being home. And I had a little bit of a blame and shame. No one in my life knew that I was not without a home.  I went and house sat and I was a family chef and help for people that were moving from one place to another or selling their states and getting them ready for market. I did everything I could. And I was that close to seeing people that live on the street. I'm one step away and it didn't feel really safe but it gave me such a raw experience that I'll never forget because I was that close to that that I don't have any fear of going up and talking to someone on the street that's homeless because I feel like I have that believability to them and I know a fraction of where they're at. I'm curious of the human spirit of what created that place and that reality that you're here and how can we help and how can we bring a light. How can we share our stories. It's so many layers. Amy and Nancy Harrington:One of the other current projects you mentioned earlier is the app. Why don't you tell us a little bit about that? Tess Cacciatore: So that goes hand in hand I'm really excited about that with the launch of the tensity tour back in 2000 and 12 when Gwen first began. I met Brad's who taught who is the app developer and he had an app for lost pets and it had a GPS tracker on it. And we started talking and I said What about if we were to use that for being able to target someone who might be an emotionally abusive situation or a near physical attack or especially with girls on campus and for young college girls are sexually assaulted and those are the ones that actually report it. There's so many people I say people because there's a lot of men that get sexually abused as well that we don't talk about because there is even more shame and blame in not life too. But one in four young women are sexually assaulted on campuses. So we focused it pretty much back then on the college campus life and the domestic violence world you load up five people into your phone much out of your contact list so it could be your five closest family and friend members you want to choose someone that actually has their phone nearby them you know if it's on that you love but they're not really technically savvy and they don't want to have their phone nearby we don't encourage that person to be here when five you want to pick somebody that really has their phone with them at all times. And it's a silent alert. You push a button and it notifies the five people where you are in GPS latitude and longitude if you're in another country and guess if you're near Google Maps satellite. What was important back then for this whole program was to be able to have that safety app. We built it really well Brad's team built it beautifully so it lasted on Google Play On iTunes For about three years and then when it started to kind of falter because their technology was taking off we pulled it off for safety purposes and I've been wanting to get a new version out there for three years now so we're finally in the process it's in production right now and by the time this airs it should be out by the end of March. And it has new features like voice activation and video component and Nine one by one. I'm really passionate about. I'm so excited Brad and I have been talking about it for three years. So it's coming back out. So let me go on this ten city tour my goal is to be able to go into the community give the lights out go on local news talk about the lights talk about the homeless issue go to the universities have some workshops. You know do whatever we can within that community we're going to be giving out some awards to the local communities to shine a spotlight on them doing amazing work and to download it it's free. So we're really excited about that. I'm thrilled that it's back out. Version 2. Amy and Nancy Harrington:What's your definition of success? Tess Cacciatore: That can come in a lot of forms. I think just knowing that you're on your life purpose and your life plan and that you're doing what you're brought to the world to do that to me is success. I don't think it's anything about material goods because I know plenty of people that have millions and millions of dollars in the bank and they still say oh my god I'm so broken oh my god I don't have enough. It's so to me it's not the monetary thing at all. Even though I think that the money side does help them as I said I'm opening up myself to magnify the receiving end of that. But it's really about feeling good in your body and having the self-love and feeling like you're here you're doing what you're supposed to be doing and you keep on going. Amy and Nancy Harrington: Thanks for listening to the passion project podcast and our interview with Tess Cacciatore. Visit her website Gwen.global. To learn more about the Global Women's Empowerment Network and go to pop culture Passionistas dot com. To seek one solar powered lanterns and donate to the program every ten dollars raised gives the gift of light to those in need and be sure to subscribe to the Passionistas Project Podcast. So you don't miss any of our upcoming inspiring guests.

Chris and Jarrod sit down and chat with Courtney Thomas from the Women's Rights & Empowerment Network (WREN). She's insanely smart, witty, funny, and a fierce advocate for women across South Carolina. Hear the work WREN is doing and how you can get involved.

Check out episode 72 a speech with the BBE network's annual conference

Paul Haney is an active member of the SHAIR Recovery Network. He used to drink up to 36 beers a day until he ended up in the emergency room. Paul has never worked a formal recovery program like NA or AA, but his recovery is solid and he has over 9 years of sobriety. Paul uses online resources and takes what he needs from each program. His mission is to live happy, joyous, and free, and his unique story proves that there is a pathway to recovery for everyone. CLEAN DATE: June 22, 2009 For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/189.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

We have a lot of high-profile guests on this show, but many of our listeners love to hear real stories from real people who battled drugs and alcohol and came out on the other side. Corey Burgess is one of those real people. She has been an avid SHAIR listener since she got out of treatment in August of 2016. She had a few relapses since then, but she was thrilled to officially celebrate one year of sobriety this past June and would love to share her story of recovery from her addiction to alcohol and prescription painkillers. CLEAN DATE: June 13th, 2017  For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/188.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Today we have a very heavy and heartfelt episode with Dave from Dopey Podcast. His cohost Chris recently passed away after a tragic relapse and overdose. Many our listeners reached out and wanted to know what happened. We're so grateful for Dave to join us to discuss Chris's death and the future of Dopey Podcast with our recovery family across the world. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/187.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Our guest today is Arlina Allen. She's the host of the ODAAT Chat Podcast and has been clean and sober since 1994. Arlina was a binge drinker who used to believe finding puke on her shoes in the morning meant she had a great time. Alcohol brought out her alter-egos. She never knew which one of them was going to show up at the party, and she didn't remember what they did either. Arlina always thought her life would straighten out if she found the right man, but Prince Charming never came to save her. Nothing changed until she removed alcohol from her life. Listen to how she replaced alcohol with connection and is now starting the Sober Life School. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/186.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Tess Sweet is an award-winning producer and director known for Cleaner Days, a dark comedy series about addiction written by a recovering drug addict. Cleaner Days shines a light on the realities of living with addiction. Tess never had a goal in life. She always had artistic inclinations, but she didn't know quite where she belonged. Instead of finding herself, she discovered drugs, and sunk deeper and deeper into a pit of danger and despair. Tess experienced a terrifying moment that compelled her to get clean, but afterward, she had to start life all over again. Learn how she went from halfway house and community college to an MFA and a dream life working in film. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/185.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Rachel Grant is the owner and founder of Rachel Grant Coaching and is a Sexual Abuse Recovery Coach. She is also the author of Beyond Surviving: The Final Stage in Recovery from Sexual Abuse. She brings to the table a passionate belief that her clients do not have to remain trapped or confronted daily by the thoughts or behaviors that result from abuse. Rachel's story started when she was a young girl when she was sexually abused by her grandfather. As she grew into an adult, she was convinced there was no way out of the pain and feelings of worthlessness and endured an excruciating life for more than twenty years. One day, she had enough and embarked on a journey of education and self-discovery. She now provides a 7-Step Toolkit to take victims beyond surviving sexual abuse to living a joyful life they never thought possible. Listen to Rachel's story! For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/184.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Shane Watson is a writer, Youtuber and prevention specialist. He speaks to kids and adults about substance use for an organization called Not My Kid. It's a nonprofit that educates students not only about addiction, but also unhealthy relationships, depression, self-injury, bullying, and suicide. His blog is called the Silver Ladder and he has an unbelievable story of addiction and recovery that proves even the most hopeless addict can turn his life around. Shane was addicted to alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamines, and heroin. He is a felon. He is now clean and sober and helping the future generation to stay that way too. I am a living example that people can change. CLEAN DATE: Nov 29th, 2011 Listen to Shane's story! For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/183.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Cyndy L says her story in recovery involves being a slow learner. She went to her first meeting at twenty-one years old, but she didn't pick up her one-year chip till she was forty. She fell in love with alcohol at a young age, leading her to a lifestyle of bars, bedrooms, and bad decisions. It took her a long time to realize the role her childhood and genetics played in her alcoholism. Some people are proud to say they are the first person in their family to go to college, get a degree, or open their own business. Cyndy jokes that she's proud to be the first alcoholic in her family to get sober. Listen to Cyndy's story! For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/182.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Denise and I met 5 years ago when she was a patient at Costa Rica Recovery. We saw each other in passing at the AA and NA meetings. And when she finished her treatment, she went back to the United States. She recently returned to Costa Rica to share her story on the anniversary of her 5th year in sobriety. It impacted me so much, I asked her if she would be willing to share her story on the podcast and here we are. Denise has an intense past full of childhood trauma and abuse, self-loathing, and racism that developed into full-blown alcoholism and a long pattern of destructive relationships. She eventually found sobriety but relapsed when shoulder pain and a toxic husband lead her into painkillers and other sedatives. She tried to kill herself and overdosed frequently as her son was growing up. By some miracle, she found her way to Costa Rica Recovery and is grateful to be alive to tell us how she broke free from her addiction and the victim mentality that kept her from getting clean. CLEAN DATE: November 25th 2012 Listen to Denise's story! For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/181.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Mark Goodson is a very active member of our SHAIR Recovery group, and it's about time we had him on to tell us his wild story. His life of addiction started before he ever took his first drink and eventually triggered an episode of drug induced psychosis that led him to bizarre behavior, like stripping down naked in a Mexican church. Now Mark Goodson's a sober husband, dad, and writer at his website called The Miracle of the Mundane. Merriam-Webster defines the word ‘mundane' as dull, but Mark finds ordinary life to be a miracle, and his sobriety has unleashed creativity he never knew he had before. CLEAN DATE: October 13th 2007 Listen to Mark's story! For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/180.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Andrea Dye is a directionally challenged expat who no longer has to huff shoe polish to feel alive. She focuses on cultivating the positive impact of living a balanced life and collaborates on non-commercial interests with cool folks around the world. She is the author of 25 Years 1 Lesson and has a hell of a story for you today. Andrea became a raging alcoholic at the age of 14, and eventually graduated to other drugs. She was rebellious and selfish, with no intention of ever getting clean. She hated being sober so intensely that while in rehab she considered breaking open an air conditioner so she could huff the freon.  Andrea's road to recovery was gradual, with her fighting tooth and nail all the way. Listen to how she finally surrendered to recovery and how she developed coping mechanisms that keep her emotionally and physically sober to this day. CLEAN DATE: SEPT. 22, 1991 Listen to Andrea's story! For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/179.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Sam Mooney's not writing a bestselling book or running a marathon. He's not a celebrity or a pro-athlete. He's a salesman who plays and coaches softball in his small town. He's a husband to his best friend for 18 years and a father to 4 kids. Sam's the average dude next door.  But Sam was an alcoholic dad who would get so drunk that he couldn't be trusted home alone with his kids. He would drink to the point of blackout and his wife would have to scoop the vomit from his mouth so he wouldn't choke to death. He would get violent, and it got to the point where his family was scared to death of him. Now Sam is more than 8 years sober and celebrates his recovery every day. He volunteers at drug court and human services to prevent youth drinking in his area and cherishes every moment with the family he so nearly lost to his alcoholism. CLEAN DATE: APRIL 25th, 2010 Listen to Sam's story! For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/178.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Today we have Christopher Velona on the show. He is a sober father, philanthropist, CBD advocate, and Gene Therapy enthusiast, and Founder Project Sebastian. Project Sebastian is a charity that is racing for a cure to Batten Disease, a fatal and degenerative neurological disorder that is taking his son's life bit by bit each day. Chris is a grateful recovering alcoholic. He grew up in a wealthy family in California and fell into heavy drinking early on in life. He was able to skirt the consequences because he was well-connected. The party did not stop until he destroyed all his relationships and his parents disowned him. Finally, he knew he had to end the insanity and went to Alcoholics Anonymous. Now Chris believes his purpose in life is to help other humans. CLEAN DATE: September 28th, 1996 Listen to Chris's story! For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/176.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon  

In addiction, there are two sides to the story. We usually have recovering addicts on the show to share their experience, but today we have an unusual guest. SHAIR host Omar Pinto interviews his ex-wife, Laura. She recounts how addiction systematically dismantled their marriage and their future as a family with their daughter. This is an important episode that shows the pain and confusion family and friends go through with a person in active addiction. Laura also tells us how she learned to forgive, heal, and practice self-love to transcend the ruin that addiction caused in her life. Listen to Laura's story! For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/175   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon  

Joe Polish is founder and president of Piranha Marketing. His Genius Network and GeniusX masterminds feature household guests like Peter Diamandis, Tony Robbins, Sir Richard Branson, Steve Forbes, and John Mackay. Joe is the creator of Artists for Addicts and Genius Recovery, an organization's whose mission is to change the global conversation around addiction and recovery from one of judgment to one of compassion. He is currently working on an addiction recovery book with former SHAIR guest, Anna David. Joe is a dynamic individual who is seeking tools for recovery in any shape or form, even ibogaine and ayahuasca. His is an inspirational story full of new insights into addiction and how to break free from it. For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/174   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon  

Dawn Nickel is the founder of She Recovers, a community that focuses on women's recovery from anything and everything, including drug addiction, alcoholism, codependency, love and sex addiction, eating disorders, workaholism and perfectionism. In Dawn's view, we are all recovering from something, and we're stronger together. She's a strong advocate for the view that each woman in or seeking recovery must be supported to find the tools and pathways that will work best for her as an individual. Dawn has been in recovery since 1987. Alcohol free since that time, she struggled until 1989 with a marijuana addiction and was then both alcohol and drug free for nearly 11 years before relapsing on prescription drugs for several days in May 2000. CLEAN DATE: May 11th, 2017 For the show notes and links mentioned in this episode, go to theshairpodcast.com/173   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

How does a person go from a rock bottom life in addiction to leading an extraordinary life in sobriety? Listen to Tommy Rosen's story of true transformation! Not only will Tommy be celebrating 27 years of sobriety, he is the founder of Recovery 2.0, a yoga teacher, and an author. He's built a mecca for recovery and has created an enormous resource for people who want to get clean and sober by integrating the mind, body, and spirit. CLEAN DATE: June 23rd, 1991 Listen to Tommy's powerful story! theshairpodcast.com/172   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Today we have an insane show with my guest Ken Rivord, who actually flew down to Costa Rica to record this episode with me to celebrate his 6th year of sobriety. After a typical Tico breakfast, we begin with an account of Ken's Costa Rican travel nightmare. Everything that could go wrong, did. This was followed by another disaster, the disappearance of the first recording of this interview. Then listen we move into Ken's harrowing story of child abuse, mental illness, IV drug addiction, prison, relapse, and ultimately, lasting recovery. This is a wild episode about how the worst of situations can bring beautiful outcomes. Strap in and listen! CLEAN DATE: 4/20/2012 For the show notes for this episode go to theshairpodcast.com/171   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Vasavi is a savvy entrepreneur, licensed social worker, and a plant-based chef. She holds dual Masters degrees in Special Education and Social Work. She has been featured extensively on TV and in the media. She is now a personal development coach who truly believes that with impeccable character, work ethic, and unwavering values, you can do, be and have anything you want! Vasavi is also a grateful recovering addict and alcoholic who got out of rehab 6 months ago and has just finished moving out of a sober living home. She had always been successful on the outside, but inside she was lost, empty, and addicted to cocaine. Then she found emotional and physical sobriety with faith in her higher power. CLEAN DATE: October 21st 2017 Listen to Vasavi's powerful story! Click here for this episodes show notes.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Z Zoccolante is an LA-based writer and a grad student specializing in substance and behavioral addiction. Z tells her story of addiction, which was to an eating disorder that began at the age of fifteen. Her mission is to help others gain freedom from similar disorders and addictions. She now works at a drug and alcohol rehab. Z has so much knowledge, experience, love and compassion to share. You haven't heard this kind of advice on SHAIR before. This episode will inspire many aha moments, so make sure you listen and take notes. Listen to Z's story now! Click here for this episodes show notes.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Todd Crandell is widely recognized as a leading expert on substance abuse. He has overcome a thirteen-year addiction to drugs and alcohol and is the founder of Racing for Recovery, an organization dedicated to preventing all forms of substance abuse and providing positive alternatives for those battling addiction.  Todd regularly competes in triathlons to bring awareness to his organization. His support group format is revolutionary in that everyone can attend, including people recovering from addiction, their families and friends, and community. "At Racing for Recovery we see people as people. Not some label of what they did." CLEAN DATE: APRIL 15th, 1993 Click here for this episodes show notes.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Rosemary O'Connor is a leading expert and spokesperson on women, children, and addiction. As an author, speaker, and outreach manager for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Rosemary helps people find treatment resources to save lives and restore families from substance abuse and addiction. She is also a recovery coach for women. Rosemary was an alcoholic mom who had no idea that she needed help. Eventually, her high-functioning alcoholism stopped functioning, and she had to get help or risk losing everything. Listen to her story of acceptance and recovery and why she wrote A Sober Mom's Guide to Recovery. CLEAN DATE: NOVEMBER 13th, 1999 Listen to Rosemary's story now! Click here for this episodes show notes.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

John Mabry is a highly sought after motivational speaker, philanthropist, and athlete. He is an actor and stuntman who has been featured in numerous television projects including Cold Case, E.R., JAG, and feature films such as Super Bad and Sublime. He also has a prosthetic leg from a car accident. John experienced a charmed journey to Hollywood. He had the big bank account, the fancy condo, and the elite social circle. Soon, he was doing shots with movie stars at the Playboy Mansion. No one knew that inside he was lost and terrified, drowning in an addiction to pills and alcohol. Learn about how John Mabry finally got sober and the incredible life he leads today in recovery working with Addiction Campuses and the High Sobriety podcast. Listen to John's story now! Click here for this episodes show notes.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Stewart Michaelson is one of the very active members in our SHAIR private accountability group and he is loud and proud about his journey in recovery. He is also a member of the SHAIR Space Empowerment Network and has launched his own recovery platform called Ask Me 4 My Help - Join the nation recovery! CLEAN DATE: Sept. 25, 2016 Listen to Stewart's story now! Click here for this episodes show notes.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Today Mandy K. joins us on The SHAIR Podcast. Mandy is part of the SHAIR private Facebook network. She was first given painkillers for her severe migraines and fell immediately in love with them. This lead her to doctor shopping, taking dangerous combinations of pills, and being so desperate she would drink NyQuil to get through work. After multiple attempts to quit, she finally found recovery. Mandy still suffers from severe migraines, but now deals with them clean and sober. How to recover from painkillers when you're in pain? CLEAN DATE: April 5th, 2007 Listen to Mandy's story now! Click here for this episodes show notes.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Steven Galatiotoz is part of our SHAIR private FB network. He is a California transplant who lives in Japan where he owns an English school. He is a gifted artist, musician, husband, and dad. He is also a recovering alcoholic who used to hide whiskey bottles in his garden. Now Steven has launched his own recovery platform called Serene and Sober. Listen his to his story of recovery from alcoholism and how rituals and routines lay the framework so that he can make the most out of his life in sobriety! CLEAN DATE: March 4th, 2017 Listen to Steven's story now! Click here for this episodes show notes.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

International Women's Day is March 8th - March is Women's History Month. GWEN Talks Radio celebrates the voice of women everywhere and the power of story-telling. HOST: Tess CacciatoreGUEST: Andrea Bucko (Canadian Activist/Actress/Producer BLOOM BOLDLY - short film "Bloom" and PSA to bring awareness to sex trafficking in the United States (fiscal sponsor is Global Women's Empowerment Network) GUEST: Narina Jabari (Canadian Activist/Producer MOOG Media - partner with Andrea Bucko - 2 young filmmakers dedicated to bringing awareness and social impact to filmmaking.ANNOUNCER: Mark LaisureMUSIC INSPIRATION: Hana Kim "Heaven Sees Me" HanaKimMusicCHARITY SPOTLIGHT: Bloom (under Global Women's Empowerment Network) www.globalwomensempowermentnetwork.orgUNICEF www.UNICEF.orgwww.GWEN.Livewww.GlobalWomensEmpowermentNetwork.org

Sonia Munoz is a member of the SHAIR Recovery Network private Facebook group. She reached out with 3 months clean and wanted to share the perspective of someone early in recovery. She has a long history with multiple substances and relapses. She also is on a unique path in recovery that most people may not have considered. Sonia has a remarkable story that proves that no one is beyond hope when it comes to recovery from addiction.  Listen to Sonia's story now! CLEAN DATE: March 15th 2017 Click here for this episodes show notes.   Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Jed Payne is the host of the Church and Other Drugs Podcast. He's survived a wild odyssey of drug abuse, repeated rehabs, and incarceration that demonstrates just how addiction warps the mind. Not only did he crave the drugs, he craved the attention he got from the chaos he created his life. Listen to how he found recovery and found himself in this amazing episode! CLEAN DATE Sept. 23rd, 2014 Listen to Jed's story now! Click here for this episodes show notes. Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Amy Dresner is the author of acclaimed memoir, My Fair Junkie. She is five years clean from being addicted to sex, drugs, and alcohol. She's a former professional stand-up comic, having appeared at The Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, and The Improv. She is a contributing editor at the TheFix.com and has also written for the Good Men Project, The Frisky, Refinery 29, and has been a regular contributor to Addiction.com and PsychologyToday.com, where she has her own addiction blog entitled 'Coming Clean.' Getting Dirty and Staying Clean Amy tells her dark and twisted tale with unabashed humor and honesty. Her story proves that even after multiple relapses and bottom after hopeless bottom, recovery is possible. CLEAN DATE: JAN 2ND, 2013 Listen to Amy's story now! Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Omar Pinto from SHAIR SPACE and The SHAIR Podcast takes you through a 5 day water fast. Join SHAIR SPACE - the Empowerment Network http://shairspace.net/ Support The SHAIR Podcast: Donate with PayPal -  http://theshairpodcast.com/donate/ Facebook Private Group - http://theshairpodcast.com/group Amazon Link - http://theshairpodcast.com/amazon

Aneelah Afzali is a graduate of Harvard Law School, and she's recently been named executive director of the Muslim Association of Puget Sound's American Muslim Empowerment Network, or AMEN. We speak with her about: - The recently anti-Muslim demonstrations (and the amazing counter-protests) at the mosque at Federal Way - Her work with Pastor Terry Kyllo, visiting church congregations in rural Washington communities to talk about Islam - Dispelling misconceptions about Islam - How you can get involved in combatting Islamaphobia All that, and our weekly Dose of Good News to kick off the New Year! Links: https://islamophobianetwork.com/ http://www.islamaphobia.org

Prostate cancer is not only an invader of the human body it is an infiltrator of the human spirit. Survivor, Mellve Shahid made a promise to God to support and serve other men battling prostate cancer when he was diagnosed ten years ago. He founded The Empowerment Network and has been changing lives and creating hope for hundreds of men ever since.

Prostate cancer is not only an invader of the human body it is an infiltrator of the human spirit. Survivor, Mellve Shahid made a promise to God to support and serve other men battling prostate cancer when he was diagnosed ten years ago. He founded The Empowerment Network and has been changing lives and creating hope for hundreds of men ever since.

Tess Cacciatore is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Global Women's Empowerment Network which stands for GWEN. She is an award-winning producer, international speaker, and author, who has traveled the world advocating for peace, justice, and equality for human rights while conducting empowerment and mentorship programs to empower people and to eradicate unjust systems.  Tess is launching GWEN.Live which is a streaming platform for FILMS, SERIES, BOOKS, AND MUSIC to bridge cultures for socially conscious programming; to inspire and connect people from around the world to learn tolerance and love.  As a humanitarian documentary producer and activist, Tess is a producer of a film called "Road to Redemption" starring Akon, to eradicate early child marriage.  Tess is also a published author in many collaborative authored books, with her own memoir "Homeless to the White House" releasing this fall 2017. Visit http://www.gwen.live/  & http://tesscacciatore.com/. Donate to the America Meditating Radio Show at goo.gl/0Biu7S Get the Off the Grid Into the Heart CD by Sister Jenna.  Like America Meditating. Download our free Pause for Peace App for Apple or Android

Bootstrap Capital, a non-profit organization, partners with the City of Atlanta to host EnrichHER, on April 27, 2017 at 6:00 PM at Atlanta Tech Village. EnrichHER is a citywide event featuring Atlanta’s most successful women executives; and local women-led companies will be given the opportunity to pitch their businesses for the chance to win a $5,000 grant. EnrichHer is an initiative developed by Dr. Roshawnna Novellus , with the support of Atlanta City Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell’s, “Back to Business” program. According to the 2016 State of Women-Owned Business Report , Georgia was listed as a top ten state for spurring economic growth among female business owners. “My Back to Business program is partnering with EnrichHER so that more women-led businesses may flourish within the City of Atlanta,” says Mitchell. EnrichHER will be an evening of sharing, learning and leading. The program includes networking, panel discussions, keynote presentations, and a business pitch competition. Dr. Novellus will share the stage with Lisa Nicole Cloud , founder, Women’s Empowerment Network and serial-entrepreneur; Kimberly Blackwell , advisor, PMM & NBWC ; Susan Oh , managing partner, Telemundo ; Veronica Maldonado-Torres , program director, Georgia Protege Project ; Genevieve Bos , managing partner, Thought Capital ; and Rashan Ali , multi-media personality. Judges for the business pitch competition will include: Grace Fricks , president, Access to Capital For Entrepreneurs ; Theia Washington , executive director, Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative ; and Dina Marto , founder of Twelve Studios . EnrichHer is the first city-wide effort aimed at connecting women in business with local resource organizations providing funding, childcare, mentorship, educational trainings, grant opportunities, and other business resources that increase long-term sustainability. “My vision for EnrichHER is to be a resource for networking and educating entrepreneurs on everything that is available to support and help them become successful.” states Dr. Roshawnna Novellus, “That's what makes us different. Many of these organizations do well, but operate in silos, sometimes their messages only go so far, limiting their reach, but if we unified all of these diverse businesses, they could truly benefit from each other." Tickets, speaker and panelist bios, and vendor opportunity information are available online at, EnrichHER.co . To join the conversation follow the hashtag #EnrichHER on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook . ### About Dr. Roshawnna Novellus Dr. Roshawnna Novellus , known as the Wealthy Yogi, is the co-founder of Bootstrap Capital and Host of Startup Funding. She is passionate about helping business owners ready to attract funding. She provides financial investments to local businesses and educates them on financial management . Dr. Novellus has been featured in Forbes, Huffington Post, WSJ, and Rolling Out. She has also completed the Pipeline Angels Fellowship, a Kauffman program in angel investing. Roshawnna serves on the Commission on Women for the City of Atlanta, and was honored as one of the Women Who Means Business by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. About Bootstrap Capital Bootstrap Capital is laser-focused on helping early stage companies achieve what others believe is impossible. Bootstrap Capital is a non-profit organization that connects entrepreneurs with the resources, networks, and funding needed to be successful. Through their hybrid approach, they partner with passionate founders who are looking to transform large markets. Their tagline is: “We are entrepreneurs investing in entrepreneurs.”

Jade Harrell with Pastor Joe Louis Middleton , City of Life Christian Church. What: Health Fair and Farmer's Market When: Saturday, September 26, 2015 at 9:00am – 1:30pm Where: At the City of Life Christian Church, 8333 Fullerton Ave, University City, MO 63132 Why: This is our annual health fair centered around our push to provide mammography screenings through Mercy and their mammography van program, also done at this time every year in preparation for breast cancer awareness month. This year we added on a farmer's market to bring healthy food options to our community, with demonstrations of fruits and vegetables that our demographic may not be accustomed to using, but are essential to maintaining good health during the fall and winter months. We are a church without walls and want to meet people where they are. It's important that we are healthy, mind body and soul to positively impact the kingdom of God. How: This year MissouriCare, sponsored a large portion of our fair and we are grateful to their support. Who will be there: Vendors for the day include Mercy Mammography Van, Cardinal Glennon Kids Safety Program, Proficient Chiropractic, The Empowerment Network will be available to do prostate screenings with a simple blood test, with much more. We also have a bounce house for the kids, so it's a family event. The public will be able to purchase turkey legs, turkey tacos and candy apples. We encourage everyone to come out and shop for fresh produce while enjoying the vendors and other treats. But most importantly we want the public to take advantage of the free health services that will be available that day! We have one body and must manage it like well. For questions, call India McMillan at (314) 399-5832 and we hope to see everyone there.

Jade Harrell with Pastor Joe Louis Middleton , City of Life Christian Church. What: Health Fair and Farmer's Market When: Saturday, September 26, 2015 at 9:00am – 1:30pm Where: At the City of Life Christian Church, 8333 Fullerton Ave, University City, MO 63132 Why: This is our annual health fair centered around our push to provide mammography screenings through Mercy and their mammography van program, also done at this time every year in preparation for breast cancer awareness month. This year we added on a farmer's market to bring healthy food options to our community, with demonstrations of fruits and vegetables that our demographic may not be accustomed to using, but are essential to maintaining good health during the fall and winter months. We are a church without walls and want to meet people where they are. It's important that we are healthy, mind body and soul to positively impact the kingdom of God. How: This year MissouriCare, sponsored a large portion of our fair and we are grateful to their support. Who will be there: Vendors for the day include Mercy Mammography Van, Cardinal Glennon Kids Safety Program, Proficient Chiropractic, The Empowerment Network will be available to do prostate screenings with a simple blood test, with much more. We also have a bounce house for the kids, so it's a family event. The public will be able to purchase turkey legs, turkey tacos and candy apples. We encourage everyone to come out and shop for fresh produce while enjoying the vendors and other treats. But most importantly we want the public to take advantage of the free health services that will be available that day! We have one body and must manage it like well. For questions, call India McMillan at (314) 399-5832 and we hope to see everyone there.

Dr. Aikyna Finch and Jessica Leichtweisz will be joined on the Empowering Women Series by Carla Wynn, Founder of The Women's Empowerment Network, as she discusses The Importance of Empowerment Through Social Media. Carla Wynn will discuss two very important topics that seem different but are closely related. Her work in the field of subconscious and her love of technology have allowed her to be an "Empowerment Diva" who is also a highly sought after Website Artist. She believes that when we shift our thoughts just a small bit that great reveals come our way. In business having an impactful website presence also invokes many hidden fears of success. She is currently spearheading a book anthology Empowered Women of Facebook: 44 women Break the Chains of Silence by Tapping into the POWER of Virtual Relationships and Shifting their Personal Paradigm. Call in at (949) 203-4763 or chat in at 9pm EST/ 8pm CST on 8/21 and join the conversation. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/changingmindsonline/2014/08/22/empowering-women-series--the-importance-of-empowerment-through-social-media  

Sunny Chayes discusses moving from 'Victim to Victor' with Tess Cacciatore, COO of Global Woman's Empowerment Network and United Nations award winning humanitarian. Tess mentions the new GWEN AP available at Apple to alert loved ones when someone is in

On 7 March 2013, the second in a series of three RVI Juba Lectures, held in collaboration with the Centre for Peace and Development Studies at the University of Juba, took place at the university’s New Hall. The keynote speech on the theme of ‘Equality and Representation’ was given by Jacob Akol, Chairman of the Association for Media Development in South Sudan. The event chair, Joanna Oyediran of the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa, introduced additional comments from Paleki Matthew Obur, Director of the South Sudan Women’s Empowerment Network, Ben Poggo of the Ministry of General Education and Instruction, and David Deng, Research Director at the South Sudan Law Society.

Gary Floyd is a singer/songwriter/actor from Conroe, Texas. He was 4 years old when he began picking out melodies on the piano, and he's been making music ever since. His soulful blend of pop, country, and R&B has been critically acclaimed, and the Dallas Observer says, His original ballads pound with soul and fire.” One of Gary's many empowering songs, “Unbound” was chosen by the Global Women's Empowerment Network as their theme song. Gary will be sharing songs from his latest recording Then and Now ... and in alignment with the aforementioned title and Gary's prolific creativity, this show is titled “Unbound.”