Podcasts about regional coordinator

Joining me now is Hugh Coughlan, Regional Coordinator with the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices. He promotes recycling, reuse, and sustainable practices, leading campaigns like "Think Before You Skip It" to reduce landfill waste.

Freda Uwa grew up in Nygeria. There she attended college securing a bachelor's degree and then went on to do some advance studies as well. She is a trained nurse. She also is a nutrition expert and, as she tells us, she loves to cook.   Five years ago Freda moved to Canada. She spent time as a mental health case manager even before her husband and three boys moved to Canada to join her. As she tells us, while she absolutely loved her time as a case manager, the job was quite taxing on her. She had to handle many cases where she had no one with whom to share her experiences. As we discuss here, not having any opportunity to decompress by talking to a spouse or others is by no means healthy.   Eventually Freda gave up her case management job and, just about a year ago, she assumed the job of Executive Director of Independent Living Canada. This organization oversees 24 independently operated independent living centers which are spread throughout Canada. She has shown that she is ideal for the job due to her leadership and project management training and skills. Freda is the first black leader of IL Canada which has been in existence for 38 years.   Freda gives us lots of insights on leadership and community. I hope you enjoy our time with Freda and that you will take the time to give this episode and Unstoppable Mindset a 5-star rating.       About the Guest:   Freda Uwa is a distinguished leader and advocate in the fields of independent living, accessibility, and mental health. Freda draws from her extensive experience in Canada to drive impactful initiatives and foster inclusive communities.   Currently, Freda serves as the National Executive Director of Independent Living Canada, overseeing 24 Independent Living Centres led by individual Executive Directors across the country. In this role, she made history as the first Black leader in the organization's 38-year history and the first African in Canada to ever lead the sector as National Executive Director.   Freda's notable accomplishments include her work as the Project Manager for the Creating Accessible Events Project for the Government of Canada through Accessible Standards Canada. This role underscores her commitment to ensuring that events across the nation are inclusive and accessible to all individuals, regardless of their abilities.   As the Regional Coordinator for the IDEA Project for Race and Disability Canada, Freda plays a pivotal role in addressing the intersectionality of race and disability, advocating for policies and practices that promote equity and inclusion.Her extensive background in mental health is exemplified by her previous role as a Mental Health and Addictions Case Manager, where she provided critical support and care to individuals facing mental health challenges and substance use issues.   In addition to her leadership and advocacy roles, Freda holds a Canadian Red Seal Endorsement for Skills and Trades, showcasing her dedication to professional excellence and her commitment to fostering skill development and employment opportunities.     Freda Uwa's career is marked by her unwavering dedication to championing the rights and needs of marginalized communities, her innovative approach to project management, and her exceptional leadership in promoting independent living and accessibility. Her work continues to inspire and drive positive change across Canada, Africa and beyond.   Ways to connect with Freda:   IL Canada Facebook Link - https://www.facebook.com/MyIndependentLivingCanada?mibextid=ZbWKwL Freda's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/freda-uwa-7515a235?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app  Freda Instagram (Business page)  - https://www.instagram.com/luluseventsandkitchen?igsh=YW10OWs3ODY5d2Q1   About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Well, hi everyone, and welcome once again to unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet, and we do get to talk about inclusion today. And as some of you know who are regular listeners to this podcast, the reason it is inclusion, diversity in the unexpected is it's inclusion because it is. Diversity comes second after inclusion, because if you talk to people about diversity, typically they never talk about disabilities. We get left out of the discussion. And then the unexpected is anything that doesn't have anything to do with inclusion or diversity, which is probably most of the guests that we deal with. But today, we are going to have the honor of speaking to Freda Uwa and Freda is the executive director of independent living Canada, which has responsibility or works with the 24 independent living centers around Canada. And so I'm really looking forward to learning more about that and hearing about it and looking forward to hearing all that Freda has to say. So Freda, we want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset, and we're really glad you're here.   Freda Uwa ** 02:29 Thank you, Michael, thanks for having me. Well, I   Michael Hingson ** 02:33 love to start kind of little bit different than maybe some people do tell us about the early Frida, growing up and all that sort of stuff, anything that that you want us to know, and you don't have to tell us all your secrets, but tell us about the early freedom.   Freda Uwa ** 02:49 Oh, that's fun. Thanks. Michael. Freda, the little girl. Freda i Oh, that's so much fun. Now I think about growing up and all of the memories that that comes with so I I am privileged to have grown in a closely middle class family in Nigeria. I grew up in Nigeria, one of the countries in Africa, and it was fun, right? The bills, just happy go lucky child. I was the one child that had all the breast of energy, and I just loved to laugh. So that was all of that. There was family, faith based activities, and I also had schooling, of course. And went to college, did my nursing, went on to do a BSc in home Science and Management, and with an option in nutrition and dietetics and so all of that was fun. And of course, I enjoyed having to be part of a family that loved to do things together. So that was, that's Freda, oh, the little girl. Frida, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 04:02 that's the little girl. Frida, well, that works out pretty well. So you have a bachelor's did you go anywhere beyond a bachelor's degree or   Freda Uwa ** 04:11 Yeah, so in Canada, I had, I took a post grad certificate in nursing, leadership and management, and then community mental health certificate as well. So yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 04:23 what that works out pretty well and certainly kept you busy. And what did? What did you do with all that? Once you got your degrees,   Freda Uwa ** 04:33 I evolved. You evolved.   Michael Hingson ** 04:37 You grew up then, huh?   Freda Uwa ** 04:39 Absolutely, absolutely. So there was a lot of growth that came with that, a lot of responsibilities. I moved to Canada, figured out new part and all of that. So there was all of the growth that happened and that forces you to evolve. So the degree, the experience and all of that. So in the short answer is I evolved with that. So yeah. Us.   Michael Hingson ** 05:01 Okay, and so what kind of jobs did you hold   Freda Uwa ** 05:09 all my life? You mean, or you're just asking for a period in my life?   Michael Hingson ** 05:13 Yes, so once college was over, what kind of, what kind of jobs did you actually do then for a while?   Freda Uwa ** 05:19 Okay, so I, I am a registered nurse as well, so I'm right. I have many parts, right? So I did nursing. I also have a business, a food business as well. So I was into events management and catering at the time, and then the core of what I do now, also started in Nigeria, where I led a nonprofit for about four years before moving over to Canada, did some schooling, and then came back to the space that I love, and that's social services around people, supporting people with disabilities and all of that so and that's a pack of all that I did in terms of work.   Michael Hingson ** 06:01 What brought you from Nigeria to Canada?   Freda Uwa ** 06:05 First of all, it was cooling, like I came to experience that other side of education, right? So I came with that flare, and then family moved over, and now I'm here.   Michael Hingson ** 06:19 Well, that works out pretty well we i People won't necessarily see it, but we just have company joining us. My cat has joined us. I see and I'm trying to get her up on the back of our desk chair so that she will hopefully leave us alone. Anyway, there we go. Well, so how long ago did you come over from Nigeria to Canada? I've been in   Freda Uwa ** 06:45 Canada going on five years now. I I moved here at the peak of, not the peak at the beginning of the pandemic. So I came in just as I got into Canada, everywhere was shut down. So I'm like, is this the reality? Is this what it feels like being here? So I was almost locked up right away. So yeah, that's, that's my journey. So it's about going on five years now.   Michael Hingson ** 07:10 Wow. So you've been here a while. So you, you came over here and you, you decided that your passion was really working in the arena of disabilities and and so on. So what? What really caused you to do that? Why did you decide that that's what you really wanted to do with your life?   Freda Uwa ** 07:34 Great question. Michael, so I've always known that I had what I call a greater calling, like I've always wanted to live my purpose in life. I know I did share that. I am a registered nurse in Nigeria, and having all of that, and also business owner in Nigeria, but I find that in all that I did, there was something, there was a missing piece, right? So I needed to, I needed to fill that void and recall that I told you that I grew up in a close knit family setting, so my younger sister that I love today, by the way, she has a disability, and I've been a primary caregiver I had, or I was her primary caregiver for a while, and I also watched my mother struggle through that. At some point, my mother, my mother's life, was almost on hold because she needed to take care of her child. So that, in itself, created the need for me to just fill a void, right? So it was beyond just where, where's the money, right? It was beyond that, and I needed to just leave out my purpose and find a career that would really and genuinely make me happy while I'm touching life in the way that I know how to   Michael Hingson ** 09:05 Yeah, well, and I believe very firmly in the fact that if you're really doing what you like to do, then it isn't really a job. It's it's a whole lot more fun, and it's a whole lot more rewarding. Absolutely,   Freda Uwa ** 09:19 I'm having fun, Michael, I'm having funded. So yes, which   Michael Hingson ** 09:22 is, which is really important to be able to do, what if I can ask, is the disability that your sister has? She's   Freda Uwa ** 09:30 She has intellectual disability. So it's, yeah, so it's all and again, with misdiagnosis and all of that. So that's a whole situation going on, right there. So that's why, that's how I how come I, I'm like, there is a void that needs to be filled, right? So it's all of the complications that comes out from misdiagnosis and her living through that all her life. Yeah, yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 09:54 Now is, is she and your family still in Nigeria, or did they move over here too?   Freda Uwa ** 09:59 I know my my mom and my sister are still in Nigeria. In   Michael Hingson ** 10:04 Nigeria, well, I assume you go back and visit every so often. That's all we have. Yeah, you gotta do that well and and when you can't go back, you've got things like zoom so you can still look at them and talk to them.   Freda Uwa ** 10:18 Absolutely we, we thank God for technology. So it's all of that, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 10:24 yeah, technology has certainly made a significant difference in the whole art of communications over the past, oh, especially 10 years, but certainly in the last five years, just because of what the pandemic has done and so on, for sure. So how did you end up specifically deciding to get involved with independent living centers, and how did you end up being the executive director of independent living Canada?   Freda Uwa ** 10:55 Oh, interesting. That's a great question. Michael, so I, I, I say this always, my story and journey has always been that of resilience and just a journey of self discovery and awareness. I'll give you, I'll share with you. Michael, right, as I came into Canada in 2020, at the beginning of COVID, I was in, I was in a I was in on a conversation with a friend at the time, and he was sharing an experience, and was speaking to me about somebody, and speaking to me about a newcomer who had come into Canada and was leading an organization like an like an administrator at the time, and this history was about the consequences of mismanagement of some sort. Hm, and he, he let me know that the, the woman got into trouble, and, you know, was relieved of her job and all of that because she didn't do something, right? But while I was listening to that story, a seed was planted in me that, hold on, I've got this experience, I've got this much knowledge, I've got this much abilities, I've got this much skills. Then if a newcomer could transfer all of that here to Canada and do all of this. That means there is space for me somewhere. So it wasn't more so of yes, what you shouldn't do, it's something, it didn't come to me as though, like it's a test for your competence or something. I knew there was, there was a possibility somewhere. So that was when the seed was planted in me. And as soon as I began to look for jobs, I started looking out for the jobs that aligned with what I had done, including my executive executive leadership in Nigeria. And that was how it happened that I was done schooling, and I started looking for opportunities, and I went out to apply for jobs that would speak to my competencies and and the rest that says history. So I we, that's how the seed was planted. I'm like, okay, yeah, there I go, and I'll tell you what happened with my very first interview and Michael, I didn't get called for an interview and Ed role. And I, I'm not sure if you know about the process with executive hiring, it's a lot of steps, like you do the phone the phone interview, you do the writing, you go for, like a first phase, a second phase, and all of that. It was really daunting. And I went through all the phases, and I was feeling really confident and good about it. I actually went through to the last phase where I had to go in person to see the outgoing Ed who was retiring at the time, and kind of like had a meeting slash interview situation that it looked as though I was getting on boarded, but it wasn't, like official. So in my head, I felt that this is it. I'm there, yeah. So I did, I did all of that. I went back home, and a couple of days later I got the email, you know, one of those emails, and I'm like, oh, oh, no. So this is it's that's no way on from here that this is it. I And then like, Oh, thank you for your time and all of that. So we've moved on to XYZ, and you know all of those words, I'm like, oh, in that moment, I didn't feel like, I didn't feel too bad, because I felt like, Oh, this is my first and I got this close, then that's something, right? So yeah, I'm like, okay, that's not too bad. But what happened next was what really got me thinking I continued my job search, right? So a couple of weeks later, I get an email from the same organization asking if I. Still available for the role and for the job. And I was excited again. I'm like, Oh yes, I can. Why not? And then in their response there, they wanted to have a second interview, set of interview. I'm like, hold on, what's going on? I'm like, okay, that's not too bad. I will, I will make myself available for the interview, and I did, and I think we had the next one, and I got really worried. And then after that, I got an email saying the same thing, that they had given the role to somebody else, and that got me angry. Yeah, right. So I needed to know what it was. You name it. Let me what I so I sent out an email to them. I'm like, Oh, hold on. So what's all this? What's, what's, what's going on, let me know why my like, I just needed to know. And then they responded to say that I was over qualified for the role. I'm like, that's, that's, that's a dumb answer, right? So, Hawaii, why would you say that to be now that, now that I'm thinking about it, right? So I took all of that in, and I decided to move on from there and just pick up the lessons. And then went forward with that. So that experience in itself shapes me into the resilience of not just giving up, because I knew I was very close to getting what I wanted right. So I went on from there, and I became an addictions case manager, addictions and mental health case manager, a job that I really, really love. It was so beautiful I had. I had the privilege of going to flying into the isolated reserves in those little, small airplanes and all of that. So I give so many emergency responses, whether it's flawed calls for suicide and all of those mental health work. I really loved that job, but it was so heavy on me, and it was at the time when I was going through a lot in my my own self, like emotionally and my mental health, I was by myself in Canada. At the time, my my family, that my husband and kids were still in Nigeria. So the weight of all of that was too much on me, like there was nothing to decompress to, if you know what I mean, right? So you go, you hear all of these heavy things, and you cannot really process your own feelings. And then I'm also thinking about the same situation, and I'm thinking about, Oh, what's going on? What's my what's what's going on in my head? So I didn't, I didn't, I didn't stay too long on that job. And then I and also I left because it was too much, like I said, even though I loved the job. And then I went on to become the CEO of an Ability Center, which is also supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. And from there on, was when I, I moved on to il Canada, and I'm loving it. So that's my story of resilience.   Michael Hingson ** 17:59 Yeah, it is really tough when you're you're by yourself, and you don't have anyone to talk to and to share things with, because talking with someone, talking things out, is always important and is always helpful, because it helps you put things in perspective. And when you can't do that, it just bottles up inside of you, and that's that's not good. Mm, hmm,   18:23 absolutely,   Michael Hingson ** 18:26 well, but, but you, you moved on. So how long have you been in il Canada? Now   Freda Uwa ** 18:33 going on one year? Oh, September, yes. So it's just what going on one year in September. So, yeah, feel very new.   Michael Hingson ** 18:42 So tell me a little bit about il Canada and what you do and so on.   Freda Uwa ** 18:47 Okay, so I'll Canada. It's basically a network of independent living centers across the country. It started in, it was it started in it started as a movement a long time ago, in 1986 it was formerly known as Canadian Association of Independent Living Centers, and now now independent living Canada. So it's all about providing a collective voice on the on national issues for all of our member centers and fostering and maintaining partnerships in that regard, building capacity and scaling what we're doing, especially on the national level. So our member centers have the via our foot soldiers in different different communities and different local centers. So we are we've got il member centers in almost across every project, every province in Canada. It's in Saskatchewan, Ontario, you name it, it's everywhere. So IO Canada, it's we thrive on. Four core pillars of service, which would be independent living, skills development, peer support, Networking and Information and all of the resources that we do. So we provide a national voice for all 24 member centers, and they are all run by different executive directors and offering unique needs to their communities,   Michael Hingson ** 20:25 so and so. What you do is, do you do you coordinate services? Do you act as more of a case manager and distribute funds? Or what does IO Canada do for the 24 agencies, right?   Freda Uwa ** 20:43 Great question. So these, like I said, the 24 agencies or centers, are independent of like they are autonomous, like the source funds and all of that, even though we provide some substantial but it is really, they are very independent of what we do, so we are like a collective voice for the member centers on the national level. So that's what IEL Canada does. We there's monthly meetings, there is all of the accreditations that we do and just ensuring that all accredited member centers are operating within our four core pillars of service that promotes independent living for people with cross disabilities.   Michael Hingson ** 21:29 What relationship or how do you interact with organizations like the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and so on.   Freda Uwa ** 21:39 So that in itself. It's it will totally depend on what projects we're working on, right? So it would be project based or research based, right? So we are a national voice for all of our centers. So if, if any of our Centers are partnering, partnering with any individual Association, that is the partnership we're seeking, and we will support and encourage them. But on the national level, it's usually project based or collaboration in terms of research or information, or whatever that looks like, or maybe communities of practice and all of that.   Michael Hingson ** 22:17 Well, how does well, let me rephrase that, what does CNIB do, as opposed to what the independent living centers do? Do you know,   Freda Uwa ** 22:28 again, each independent living center is operating on different like they have, they have tailored made programs for their centers, right? So some people have communities that they have programs that support vision loss or the blind and all the other centers who have programs for youth, employment, housing, transportation. So they are all direct funding to support independent living in terms of managing your resources and other skills. So for in that regard, it would naturally lie with the centers and how they want to collaborate with cnid. So it's for us at the national level. It would mostly be on research or any collaboration on the project, but to actually reach out to the consumers or participants, it will be the independent centers, like the member centers themselves, right?   Michael Hingson ** 23:24 So a CNI be more of a funding agency or, or, well, I know that they do provide services, but I was just trying to understand where the overlap is, or, or how the two types of organizations interact with each other.   Freda Uwa ** 23:39 I'm not familiar with their model, like, I don't know about their model, yeah, but most, what we do with every organization, or most organization is collaboration or partnership, right? So they may have a different funding model for us at IELTS Canada. It's it's center is working on our four core pillars, providing different programs and services within these four populars, and they're at liberty to fill up make these programs to suit their communities.   Michael Hingson ** 24:09 Okay? So they they may work, and they may get some funding from CNIB for specific projects and so on. But I, I understand that you're dealing with being closer to the individual communities where   Freda Uwa ** 24:22 you are. Oh, for sure, that's with the member centers. Yeah, for myself, I am, like the administrative head for the national organization, the National aisle, right,   Michael Hingson ** 24:31 right. Yeah, right. Well, so when, when you've been working and you've you've now been doing some of this for a while, what would be for you a pivotal moment, given our philosophy, or our title, unstoppable mindset, where is a pivotal moment in your life, where you had to really demonstrate resilience? It's an unstoppability.   Freda Uwa ** 25:03 I like that question so much. I I kind of feel like, um, I've had so many of those moments, right? I've had the moment where I had to face the pandemic, pandemic all by myself, without my family here. And I'm like, No, so I have to be here for me. I have to be here for my family as well. So all of those is all of that. It's a part of the package, right? And then I also had the moment where I started on that conversation with my friend that spoke about that lady, and it planted a seed in my heart, like I was there was something for me if I was going to transfer all of my skills from Nigeria. I could do it right and and then again, the next big thing that happened to me was having a meltdown on my job as a as a case manager for mental health and addictions. So all of those moments left me, like you said, with that unstoppable mindset, like growth is not always linear, like you get bumps, you get heat, and then you have to get up and you keep moving. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 26:13 yeah, you you've got to make that decision to do that, to make the decision to to move forward. And that's an individual choice, but when you decide to do it and you stick to it, you get such a wonderful feeling of accomplishment, don't you Exactly,   Freda Uwa ** 26:30 exactly, that's, that's, that's, yeah, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 26:35 which is, which is pretty cool. So you are able to, you know, to move forward and do the things that you do, the things that you got to do. So you're also unusual in another way, in terms of being the first black executive director of independent living Canada and one of the first two black leaders in a lot of different areas and aspects of the whole rehabilitation and independent living environment. Does that get to be a challenge for you, or do you regard that as a plus or what?   Freda Uwa ** 27:15 I think it's both, because it comes with a lot of pressure, for sure, and then there is that feeling of who, what's here, like, am I finding somebody that looks like me, and what's there to learn from? Right? So, who's gone ahead before me, and where's the where is all the mentorship? Where would that come from? Right? But I also find that I've got a lot, a ton of support from my board. Yeah, ever so supportful, self supportive and yeah, so that has helped. So it's a feeling of of there is work to be done, and, of course, a feeling of accomplishment of some sort, but more so that I I've got a bucket to feel with what's been expected, like I need to give back with what's been poured into me, right? So that's all of that, but in one hand, in the one hand, I see that I there is a gap. There is a gap in representation, for sure. I know we talk about inclusion in terms of people with disabilities, and also thinking about building capacity for young leaders and newcomer leaders coming forward, and making sure that they find a mentorship and some form of support to build capacity in leadership. In that regard, because they are usually different, different levels of expectations from a racialized person as a leader and a non racialized person. So it's all of that, all of that pressure for sure, and having to face that, and constantly telling your story or living through barriers, even as a leader, you have constant barriers you keep facing and then kind of rewriting your own story. I would say,   Michael Hingson ** 29:07 now you don't have a disability in any traditional sense, right? I   Freda Uwa ** 29:12 would say undiagnosed, because I don't know. I feel like I know I have something, but it's undiagnosed. So yes,   Michael Hingson ** 29:19 well, there you go. Something, something to figure out, right? Yes,   Freda Uwa ** 29:24 for sure. And I've always said it, it's, it's a continuum, like it's a spectrum. So it's, everybody's just one life event away from a disability, right? So you never know until you until you find out. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 29:37 of course, people have heard me say on this podcast that actually, everyone has a disability. For most of you, it's you're light dependent. You don't do well when there isn't light around for you to see what you're doing. And inventing the electric light bulb kind of led to a cover up of your disability. But it's still there. It's just that it doesn't manifest itself very often. And the reason, I think it's important. Important to take that kind of a view is that all too often, and I'd be interested in your thoughts on this, but all too often, when people think about disability, they think about, well, it's called disability because it's a lack of ability, and it isn't really, but people think less of people who they regard as traditionally having some sort of disability, and the result is that they look down on or think they're better than somebody with a disability. And I adopted the definition that we all have disabilities, they just manifest differently. In order to try to help start to level that playing field and get people to understand that in reality, we all have challenges, and we all have gifts, and we shouldn't look down on anyone just because they don't have some of the gifts that we do.   Freda Uwa ** 30:53 That's a great way to look at it. Michael, I so in recent times in my work, there is this I've heard about social location, this phrase called social location, Michael, I   Michael Hingson ** 31:07 have not heard much about that. I'm not overly familiar with it, so go ahead, I can imagine. But go ahead. Okay,   Freda Uwa ** 31:13 so that's like, exactly where you are on your social map. I would say, just to put it in a clear way, right? So it's all of those identity markers that make you, right? You might think you don't, you have it all here, but in the next high you're you're not as much privileged as the next person. So it's being on different sports in that social map, right? So I could be, let the I could, I could not have a disability that I know, but in some way I'm I'm disadvantaged, right? So it's all of that coming together and realizing that when we when we're seeking for inclusion for all, it's actually all. And the definition of all can be expanded to mean actually every single person, and not just people with stability. It's every single person ensuring, keeping, taking into consideration that you are not always at the top all the time. You could be privileged in so many areas, and then you are disadvantaged in some area. So it's that social location concept that should, that should inform our need to level the playing fields at all time.   Michael Hingson ** 32:31 Yeah, um, unfortunately, all too often, people won't adopt that principle, and they won't adopt that mindset. So they really think that they're better than others. The unemployment rate among persons with disabilities is still very high compared to the general population. It's still in the 50 to 60% range. And it's not because people with disabilities can't work. It's that people who don't happen to have those same disabilities think that people with those disabilities can't work and so as a result, they're never given the opportunity.   Freda Uwa ** 33:11 Yeah, that's a constant struggle, for sure. Yeah, and that's why we do what we do,   Michael Hingson ** 33:16 right, which is very important to do. So you, you, you work as the executive director, is the CEO of the organization. Do you do all the independent living centers, then do a lot of work with consumer organizations and other things in their local areas, so that they keep very close ties to consumers.   Freda Uwa ** 33:44 Oh, for sure, that's the, that's that's the that's the structure of innovative living Canada, right? So il Canada and il member centers are close to the local communities. So all il member centers are community based centers. So they're, they're in the communities and partnering with, partnering with local communities to meet any unmet needs for persons with disabilities. Okay, yeah, so, yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 34:15 So now you're, you're obviously more in an administrative kind of role, but what kind of involvement or or interactions do you have with like consumers and consumer organizations? That's a tricky   Freda Uwa ** 34:29 question, right? So I I've only been here one year. Yeah, I understand. I can speak to the last 11 months, right? So so far with consumer organizations, I am only, only partnered in terms of a project or a research it's still a project or project, right? So whether it's but I feel like that comes from the centers as well, because my the independent living centers. You. Get us involved in partnerships that it's just beyond them, right? So we get partnership partnership, and we need to standing as a national organization to get three or four of our IELTS member centers into that partnership. So that's the level we play. More like we the go between and giving that voice to them. But generally I am more of the administrator than being involved in consumer agencies or organizations, right?   Michael Hingson ** 35:32 Yeah, no, I understand that's I was just wondering if, if, if there is involvement, or how you ever get to interact with them, because I would think that working with consumer organizations in some manner can strengthen what you do as an organization.   Freda Uwa ** 35:51 Yeah, yeah, for sure, we're still, we are open to partnerships, for sure, but it's a process. It's yeah, it's a process, and then for sure, it's what the local centers are needing, and that's what we are doing at the national level, right? So it's, it's a, it's a two way street with the local sense, local member centers. We are nothing without our member centers. So that, yeah, right,   Michael Hingson ** 36:13 right. No, I understand. Well, that's that is still pretty cool, though, and it gives you, it gives you some freedom, and it gives you the ability to look at things from a higher level. But I would assume that it also gives you the opportunity, then to look at how you can work and make a difference in the whole independent living process around Canada.   Freda Uwa ** 36:39 That's for sure. That's for sure. There is work for sure, and that's what we have started doing. So there's a lot of traction happening right now, and just taking one day at a time and reviewing all our partnerships and building other collab partnerships and collaborating in other areas as well. So yeah, I agree. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 37:01 Yeah. Now, I didn't say it earlier, but we met through Sheldon Lewis at accessibe. So I guess you have, have you looked at accessibe as a product, and are you working with Sheldon on that sort of thing, or, or, How is accessibe involved with the Independent Living Center movement in Canada, I   Freda Uwa ** 37:21 would say we are currently having that conversation right now. So, yes,   Michael Hingson ** 37:28 well, so, so at this point, you're looking to see where it might fit and and how, how it would work. Yeah.   Freda Uwa ** 37:39 So we're reviewing all of that. We are reviewing the product and going through the board and test running everything. So, yeah, so just reviewing, what, how that works, yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 37:49 So you're actually, so you're actually testing it and looking at it to see what it does and doesn't do and so on.   Freda Uwa ** 37:55 Exactly, yes.   Michael Hingson ** 37:57 What about the whole concept, from your standpoint of Internet access and inclusion, the problem that we see overall is that in our world, maybe 3% of websites have really made an effort to put something on their site to make the website accessible or inclusive, but Most places still haven't done that. How do we change   Freda Uwa ** 38:22 that? I think this is as it's it's still the whole package, about 31 step at a time, and I'm very careful, and I caution against tokenism and just wanting to do something because you want to check up the boxes, right? Yeah, what? What's the intention? Really? Are you really concerned about your consumers, your customers, your clients? Are you really wanting to reach everybody, and everybody, right? So what does that look like for you? So I'm Yeah, it's concerning, for sure, that we have such low percentage of people of websites who are looking into being more accessible and not just checking off one box, right? So, and it's broad, it's really broad because accessibility is it's not just one thing, right? So internet accessibility for sure, it's the next big thing. And at our planned AGM coming up here in September, we are, that's the key, the the main theme of our of our meeting, it's AI and the future of accessibility for all. So, yeah, so that is a good thing that you asked it, because we are looking to build a future where accessibility is second nature to everybody.   Michael Hingson ** 39:51 Someone said something once, and I think is a is a really wonderful thought to have, and that is that we a. All look forward to the day when we are so inclusive that access, or accessibility is a term that we forget and never have to use anymore, because it's just so automatic.   Freda Uwa ** 40:12 I like that. I like that. That's second nature, right? So we don't have to think about it like this is what it is. It's universal. It's a universal design. This is right. Want to see, right? So, and again, like I said, it's not you're not doing it for them. It's not an us, them conversation. It's for all of us, because it's one live event from one disability to the next. So it's creating a world where everybody can thrive, and I empowered to thrive equally, right? Yeah, and   Michael Hingson ** 40:44 I think that is that is so important, and I hope that that day comes sooner than later, but I think it's still a ways off, but I think it is one of those things to really strive for, because as as you and I have both talked about today, everyone has gifts. We all don't have the same gifts, and no one should look down on anyone else just because we're different in some way. And yet, unfortunately, all too often, we do, which is a problem.   Freda Uwa ** 41:20 Yeah, that's right, Michael. And that's, it's really sad how the world has turned humans against humans. And that's, that's not the world we want to see. You know, I'll tell you something that's a renowned writer in Nigeria, Chimamanda dice, she spoke about the evil word for love. IBO is my local dialect, my native tongue, and the evil word for love, love is if unanya And that, what that literally translates to is, I see you, so Michael, if I love you, I see you beyond anything else. I see you beyond your abilities, beyond your color, beyond any other identity marker that defines you. I just see your soul. So sometimes I feel like we African language is not fully the English doesn't do the English language doesn't do justice to the weight of our native tongue, right? So that's love seeing humans, seeing who you are, for who you are, nothing beyond that. So that's really, that's, that's the world I look forward to having, for sure. And   Michael Hingson ** 42:36 it is so important that we all look at each other for who we are because one characteristic doesn't define us, blindness doesn't define me, your being from Nigeria doesn't define you. It's part of your experience, but it doesn't define you, and it shouldn't.   Freda Uwa ** 42:57 Yeah, right, yeah, absolutely, yeah. Then   Michael Hingson ** 43:01 we have politicians, and they're all defined by what they do when we can pick on them. So it's okay, that's a smart move. But, but, but really, you know, it's one characteristic or whatever doesn't define us. It is part of our makeup, but it doesn't define us. And I think that's very important, that we really understand that we are the sum of everything that we do and that we are, and a lot of what we do and what we are comes from the choices that we make. And that's why I really like unstoppable mindset, because it's a podcast that really helps to show people who listen and watch that they are more unstoppable than they think they are, and what we really need to do is to bring that unstoppability out in everyone, and if it comes out in the right way, it also means that we learn how to work more closely with each other. And I think it is important that we start having more of a sense of community throughout the whole world. I   Freda Uwa ** 44:04 like that, Michael and I like your tie into the unstoppable mindset, like it's in the mind. Yeah, the seed is planted in the mind, and that's where it blossoms, and it's all the environment you give to that seed. How are you cultivating your thoughts? How are you, what are you feeding your thoughts with, right? So, how are you accepting values and projecting values and all of that? So it's in the mind. And so once the mindset is unstoppable, you can thrive, you can bloom, you can become, you can be established in every sphere that you choose. So that's, that's, that's the goal, really so, yeah, that's the unstoppable mindset for sure.   Michael Hingson ** 44:45 Yeah, it's very important. And I think that we all usually underestimate ourselves, and we need to work on not doing that. We need. To demand more of ourselves about what we do, and if we do that, and the more of that that we do, we'll find that we can go out of our what people call comfort zones, a whole lot more, and we'll find that we can do a lot more than we think that we can.   Freda Uwa ** 45:17 Yeah, and I like that. And to your point, Michael, I also, I also feel like we also need to give ourselves credits for all of what we've been through. Yeah, keep yourself the the empathy, like, take time, take a break, recharge and come back right. Like I said, growth isn't always linear. Sometimes you need to take those pauses and recognize that you need to stop, recharge and then go for it, right? So just give yourself credit for showing up. That's it. That's enough, right? You've shown up, that's enough. You've done the step one. That's enough. Show yourself some empathy, show yourself love, and that's the way it radiates to people around you, for sure,   Michael Hingson ** 46:02 I like the idea of showing yourself love you should and and I mean that, and I know that you do as well. Mean it in a positive way. It doesn't have anything to do with ego and thinking you're the greatest thing in the world since sliced bread, but it is recognizing who you are and showing yourself as much as anything that that love is also a significant part of or ought to be a significant part of your life.   Freda Uwa ** 46:29 Mm, hmm, yeah, absolutely. And show up for yourself. Show up for yourself. Yeah, you can be so many things to so many people, but how about yourself? Right? Don't show up for yourself and let yourself enjoy you as a person, right?   Michael Hingson ** 46:46 Well, I love to say, I used to say I'm my own worst critic, and I've learned that's not the right thing to say. The right thing to say is I'm my own best teacher, because I'm the only one that can really teach me. And I think that's so important to make things positive. And when something happens, it's not so positive, figure out what the issue is and how to address it, but you, but you can do that. We all can do that. Yes, right? So I think it's so important, and you can do that with   Freda Uwa ** 47:15 love as well, right? Yes, absolutely.   Michael Hingson ** 47:19 That's a good one. So you do a lot of work in managing projects and so on. So what? How did you how did you get to be a good project manager? Because that's part of, obviously, what you do. Was it something you were trained to do? You've picked up on. You have a natural talent for it?   Freda Uwa ** 47:35 Yes. So I've got training in project management. And of course, like it's I did events management back in Nigeria. So it's all of that, that training, the experience and, of course, natural talents to knowing how to manage people and little programs. So that's built into the training that I also had. So yeah, it's all of everything, a bit of everything, I would say,   Michael Hingson ** 47:58 What do you think makes a good leader. That's a toughie, I know. Oh, right, Michael, you   Freda Uwa ** 48:05 don't want to do this.   Michael Hingson ** 48:09 This sounds dangerous.   Freda Uwa ** 48:10 I know, right? So, yeah. So you know what I used to say? I try, I try to make people happy, right? But it's a really difficult job to be a leader, really difficult one. But my concept of leadership is showing people how to follow. So my concept is building leaders right modeling the way for people to follow. So a good leader is a servant leader. They are listening. And you're also wanting to build leaders, and that is giving empowering your following to do as you what you've done. So you're showing them you're doing it, and you're ensuring that you're leaving no one behind. So a good leader is leading and moving her team from behind. That's my That's That's the summary of what I would say. But then that doesn't always mean you're making people happy, because I always tell I say this sometimes, that if you want to make everybody happy, you go sell ice cream, you don't want to take a leadership role, because you you might hurt some people, for sure.   Michael Hingson ** 49:27 Well, I think also it's important to to say that good leaders, and you, you mentioned it, train other people and teach other people how to be leaders. I think one of the most important things, and I always said it to every person I ever hired, was I didn't hire you so I could boss you around my hiring you because you convinced me you could do the job I'm hiring you to do. But what you and I have to do together is to figure out how I can add value and. And enhance what you do. And that's really a tricky and challenging thing, because it isn't necessarily something that, as the official leader, if you will, is is best done by me. It's oftentimes better done by the people I hire who observe me and observe all that goes on around us. And who will come and say, here's how I think I can do better with your help, and here's how I how I think you can add value to what I do. And you know, I've hired a lot of people who can't do that. They can't go there. They're just not used to that kind of model. But I do know that the ones who who understand it and who accept it and who follow through on it, those people do really well, because we learn to compliment each other and their skills and my skills, which are different, but can coalesce together to mean that the sum of the parts, or the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, because we work together.   Freda Uwa ** 51:13 That's right, Michael, that's right. And you've said it right there. Like a good leader is only as good you as a leader, you're only as good as your team, right? So you want to make the team work, right? So, yeah, that's, that's, that's my view on leadership as well. What, what's my team doing, and how am I supporting them to to thrive and become,   Michael Hingson ** 51:36 yeah, yeah, that's, that's really important, and I think that's really a big part of leadership. Certainly, leadership has to motivate and and overall coordinate the efforts of what the team does, but the best leaders also know when to let someone else take the lead because they've got better skills in a particular arena or project than someone someone else does   Freda Uwa ** 52:05 absolutely, yeah, yeah, for sure. So,   Michael Hingson ** 52:09 in addition to being the executive director of independent living Canada, what else do you do? What are your other passions or hobbies, or what other kinds of things do you like to get involved in   Freda Uwa ** 52:22 alright, that's fun. I am a red seal endorsed chef. So I cook. I love to cook. That's my escape. I cook for family. I cook for friends. I'm involved in my local community here in Saskatoon, and my local cultural community. So all of that are the things I do, and more. So I am just about publishing my first book I started a long time ago. And so, yeah, I'm also an author at night. And yeah, so yeah, I'm excited about my book. It's called Jollof life, and I'm excited for sure. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 53:04 when will it be published?   Freda Uwa ** 53:09 I don't have a date yet, but I will, I will let you know soon enough.   Michael Hingson ** 53:14 So roughly, when do you think it will be published? Just, I mean, is it six months away, a year or three months or   Freda Uwa ** 53:20 I'm thinking, I'm thinking, six months away. Okay,   Michael Hingson ** 53:24 okay, cool. Well, that's exciting. That's exciting that you're, you're working on a book.   Freda Uwa ** 53:32 So do you know what Jollof is? Michael, no, what is that? Tell me. Let me. Let me coach you. So Jollof is it's a dish in Africa. It's, it's a type of rice that is cooked into my tomato, tomato, tomato broth and meat stock. And it's really, really flavorful. It's red, it's rich, and all of that. It's so good that, like I have, I'm a caterer in Nigeria. I know I need to say that when I was in Nigeria, I was a caterer. So if you go to an event, you must have a stand for Jollof rice. So it's really, it's really that good that there is a saying in Nigeria that any party without Jollof rice is just a meeting, right? There you go. It's, that is that good? So I call Jollof right, the queen of the buffet. So it's, it has to be there. It just has to be there. And it's so relevant that there is an online feud amongst African countries of Who makes the best job, right? So it's, that good, right? So I took that idea and turned that into life. What's what life that is, what makes you so relevant at what you do, and that's why I'm I switched that around to Jollof life, right? Just standing out and being the queen of your life, or the. Of your life and owning that space and just being as relevant and and having to dominate your space. So I cooked through a part of the love, right, while writing that book, and I was expressing myself through the Arabs and the flavors and cooking life through that book. So that's what the book is about.   Michael Hingson ** 55:18 Oh, that's exciting. And it makes sense that that's the title. And I kind of figured maybe that was sort of what it was when you said jolla life. But it makes, makes perfect sense, what's your favorite thing to cook?   Freda Uwa ** 55:32 And now, now that you now that you know, then it's Jollof. Of course. It's chill off.   Michael Hingson ** 55:39 What's your second favorite thing to cook. Oh,   Freda Uwa ** 55:42 pasta. Okay. I kind of feel like, I mean, earlier in my blood, right? So I love to cook pasta. That's   Michael Hingson ** 55:52 pretty cool. Do you make your own pasta from scratch or,   Freda Uwa ** 55:57 Oh, I do. I do, yes. So I Buy store bought ones, but I also make mine from scratch too. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 56:03 I bet it tastes better when you make it from scratch though. Oh,   Freda Uwa ** 56:07 it's so good. Michael,   Michael Hingson ** 56:10 that's exciting. Well, and your book is coming. So what other things do you like to do besides independent living and and cooking or nutrition?   Freda Uwa ** 56:22 So, yeah, I'm, I'm involved in my local community, cultural community of women, so we are out dancing sometimes, and, you know, having local events. So that's something else that keeps me busy in the weekend. And I love, I love that I'm still, I'm able to to connect with the my culture here in Canada as well. So yeah, those are the things I love, family. I love spending time with my family. That's I've got men in my house and like that. I teach sometimes, and I say that I live with four men, right? So three of those are my boys, and one is my husband. So I take some time to have the boy time. So I'm also, I'm also, I suck myself in that as well. So I do some boy activities. So I, yeah, so yeah, that's my, my downgrade.   Michael Hingson ** 57:13 But you gotta do some girl activities too.   Freda Uwa ** 57:17 That's, that's when I have my me time. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 57:20 What's important to do? And the boys probably go off and do their things too. How old are the boys? Yeah, I've   Freda Uwa ** 57:27 got a 14 year old, an 11 year old and an eight year old.   Michael Hingson ** 57:32 Ah, so are boys? No girls, no,   Freda Uwa ** 57:37 none. Yet,   Michael Hingson ** 57:40 there's another project for you. Oh, Michael,   Freda Uwa ** 57:46 whoopee, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 57:48 I understand. No, I I appreciate that. It's, it's, that's, it's something, well, you have, you've had a lot of experiences. What do you think, or how do you think your overall life journey has made your mindset what it is.   Freda Uwa ** 58:09 Oh, boy, Michael, is I again, I said I spoke about growing and evolving. So that's the mindset. I am not there yet, like I feel like I'm not there yet. Yeah, I'm still I'm still growing and involved evolving. So it's just not being satisfied or settling for nothing short of the best. I don't like to use the word perfection, but I want to keep going and keep pushing and getting better than my just growing and getting better than yesterday. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 58:46 going and growing. And that's that's important. Well, with that in mind, if you had the opportunity to do it, what would you go back and tell your 10 year old younger self? What would you tell that 10 year old Frida, and what and more important, if you told her, would she listen? But anyway, what would you tell her?   Freda Uwa ** 59:08 She was loud. For sure she was loud. I know she'll be. She was hyperactive, so that I know, so I will let her know one step at a time you have made huge progress. You have made huge progress. I am so proud of you. I am indeed living your dreams, and I'm hoping that I have checked off most of the boxes that you've always wanted to do. So that's what I would say to my 10 year old, Frida, and I hope that she listens to that.   Michael Hingson ** 59:46 Yeah, that's the trick, of course, is with any of us is to to get the younger of us, or younger people in general, to listen all too often we just think we know everything, and it's so difficult to get people to step back and. It's one of the things that I think we really, collectively as a society, need to do a lot more of, which is at the end of the day, at the end of every day, step back. Think about what happened. How can you improve what happened? Even the good stuff, but especially the things that didn't necessarily go as you planned. Step back and look at them and adopt a mindset that you want to teach yourself how to do it better, whatever it is that that is that has got to be a way that we can help get others and ourselves to listen more than we tend to do.   Freda Uwa ** 1:00:33 Mm, hmm, yes, for sure, and and looking to give back as well. Like, are you coaching and mentoring people. So, yeah, yeah. So if there are any freedoms out there, you can always reach out to people that would speak and leave seeds in your hearts of greatness, like see the good in every situation. Like I did, see a good in the conversation that I I heard about that lady or that woman at the time. So that is a good in every situation you meet, right? So you pick the seed that you want, you want, and then water it and nurture it to grow and grow, you always find,   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:13 yeah, and I think that we, we can do that. We can do a lot more of that than we tend to do, but I think it's important that we we do our best. And you talked about servant leadership, and it's as much about serving yourself and your soul as it is about being a servant leader to other people. Absolutely. And the thing that we never, well, I won't say we never, but the thing that we don't do nearly as much as we probably could, is listen to our own inner voice that probably has the answers we seek, if we would but learn to listen for them. Mm,   Freda Uwa ** 1:01:45 hmm, absolutely, yeah. And I like I like that to your point, serve yourself too, right? So for seven leaders, serve yourself. Listen to yourself, take those pauses, give yourself credit for all your hard work. And you know, sometimes you get that guilt when you want to spoil yourself. I'm like, Okay, this body made this money, right? So I need to take care of this body. So that's, that's, yeah, that's, that's a way to give yourself some credit, like physical treats, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:17 yeah, physical treats. And not necessarily overdoing it, but physical treats and and mental treats too. This this weekend is a holiday in the United States, and I know that I'm going to take some downtime just to to kind of relax. I think it's important that we all do that all too often when people go on vacations. I'm sure it's true up there too, but it's so true down here, they go on a vacation, they go somewhere, they do a lot of hiking and a lot of work, and when they come back from the vacation, they need a vacation because they work so hard.   Freda Uwa ** 1:02:51 Oh yeah, tell me about it.   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:55 And it's it's important for us to learn to rest and let our, let our brains recuperate too. Let our, let our mind recuperate. But, you know, yeah,   Freda Uwa ** 1:03:06 it comes I, I needed that. I needed that for sure. It's a long weekend here in Canada as well. Oh yeah, so I'm just going to unplug and take some downtime and recharge, right? So it's needed for sure. It   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:21 is that's that's good. Well, you know this, this has been a lot of fun to do, and I've, I've enjoyed it, and I want to thank you for being on and I want to thank all of you who are listening to us and watching us. We really appreciate you being here. I hope that you've enjoyed what Frida has had to say, if people want to reach out to you and maybe talk with you in some manner or contact you, how do they do that? Hi.   Freda Uwa ** 1:03:47 Oh, so I'm on Instagram and I'm on LinkedIn, Freda Owa , and   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:53 yeah, is UWA, yes,   Freda Uwa ** 1:03:56 UWA, UWA. So that's Frida or right on LinkedIn. And of course, you can reach out to IO Canada website and ask to speak to me. So, yeah. Well, cool. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 1:04:12 I hope people will do that. I hope that everyone has enjoyed all of all of our discussions and your insights today, if you did enjoy it, we would really appreciate you. Wherever you're listening to us, give us a five star rating. We value your reviews and ratings very highly. If you'd like to reach out to me, you are welcome to do so. I'm easy to find. You can email me at Michael, H, I m, I C, H, A, E, L, H, I at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I, B, e.com, so I'd love to hear from you. If you know of anyone who you think would be a guest, that we ought to have an unstoppable mindset. Freda to you as well. If you know anyone who ought to be a guest, we want to hear from you. Just before we started this podcast, I received an email from someone who said, I got a great guest. You said, If. I found anyone that I should reach out, and I'm reaching out. I got this great person. So we hope that all of you will will do that, and that you will stick with us, and you'll be back next week to listen to more of or our next episode, more of unstoppable mindset. We really appreciate your time and value the fact that you're here. So once again, Freda, I want to thank you for being here. This has been a lot of fun, and we ought to do it again sometime,   Freda Uwa ** 1:05:28 for sure. Thanks for having me, Michael, and good luck, and very well done. Job with the unstoppable mindset.   **Michael Hingson ** 1:05:40 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

Paul Neustadt is an IFS Senior Co-Lead Trainer. He has taught workshops on The Gifts of our Exiles, The Power of Presence in IFS; Self Led Parenting; and a number of other topics. He teaches a monthly seminar for level 1 graduates focused on integrating the skills learned in level 1 that begins in October. In his private practice he now focuses on providing individual and group consultation to IFS therapists. For 17 years he was director of a community counseling and prevention program for children, adolescents, and their families. Paul has also worked in a college counseling center and community mental health center, and taught couples and family therapy in a family therapy institute and two graduate programs. As an IFS trainer, Paul creates a safe, accepting atmosphere, attends thoughtfully to group process, and ensures that all parts are welcome. He is known for his clear, down to earth, and open-hearted manner.  Natalie Thomas is a Registered Psychotherapist and IFS therapist in private practice and a Professor of Philosophy, specializing in animal and environmental ethics. She has presented and led workshops on the application of IFS for those experiencing climate distress, and on ways IFS can inform ecotherapy and nature-based therapies. She also holds monthly climate cafes and trains others to facilitate these, using an IFS lens. She is a Regional Coordinator for the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America, and her current research is focused on the creation of an IFS-informed approach to climate-aware therapy. Parts & Self has published two of her pieces on IFS and animals, and IFS and climate distress. Additionally, she has also been featured in an episode of ‘The One Inside' which focused on IFS, Self and our connection to nature, and has presented at the latest IFS Conference on IFS, climate distress and ecotherapy. Her private practice specializes in the use of IFS for those suffering from trauma, grief and climate distress, and she also offers workshops, retreats and trainings in these areas. Here a link to Natalie's website and Climate Cafes  

Send us a textMischek is the Regional Coordinator for the Southern Africa Youth Forum and the Chief of Party for the National Association of Youth Organisations (NAYO). His work in activism and regional youth engagement has connected him to networks within Zimbabwe, which has been supported through the Zimbabwe Alliance. In conversation with Prof. Moyo, Misheck reflects on the advocacy journey along with insights of lessons learnt. Talking points include...• Youth empowerment and citizen engagement are crucial for national development.• Youth-led collaborations address governance and climate issues through diverse clusters.• The importance of operationalising youth representation in organisations and government• Youth inclusion and critical discussions are essential for future development.===About the seriesAfter over 80 episodes exploring African philanthropy, we're launching a new series featuring theme-specific and program-focused conversations. The series spotlights the Zimbabwe Alliance Initiative, which since 2010 has empowered a vibrant civil society through grants, convenings, capacity building, and technical support. Partners have fostered innovative, coordinated responses that amplify marginalised voices, mobilise citizens on critical national issues, and engage policymakers to build regional and international solidarity.Visit the podcast webpage: https://bit.ly/484AEr3#podcast #philanthropy

Public Health Careers podcast episode with  Najma Dahir, BS

This week on SOAR, Jack interviews Mary Anne, the Regional Coordinator at Parent to Parent Southland. Mary Anne shares insights into the organization's important work across New Zealand, supporting families with unique stories. Covering Southland, Dunedin, Central Otago, Queenstown, and Te Anau, Mary Anne's role is vital. A big thanks to Mary Anne for joining SOAR and for her amazing work! Tune in live every Wednesday at 12:10 PM.

The CWB Association brings you a weekly podcast that connects to welding professionals around the world to share their passion and give you the right tips to stay on top of what's happening in the welding industry.Please note this episode is a replay, bringing you a blast from the past.Today's guest is Jill Timushka, Red Seal Welder, and Regional Coordinator with Apprenticeship Services at Canada's Building Trades Union in Alberta. Growing up, Jill was surrounded by welders in her family and it wasn't long before she fell in love with the smell of burning E-6010. With over 20 years of experience in the welding industry, Jill strives to empower and promote welding as a career to women through her podcast, Trailblazers Inc.Trailblazers Inc:Website: http://www.trailblazersinc.ca/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1g6-CTCOWZI2YGcK1bZ70gCanada's Building Trades Union: https://buildingtrades.ca/workforce-development/apprenticeship/Thank you to our Podcast Advertisers:Canada Welding Supply: https://canadaweldingsupply.ca/Miller: https://www.millerwelds.com/products/mobilearcCanaweld: https://canaweld.com/There is no better time to be a member! The CWB Association membership is new, improved and focused on you. We offer a FREE membership with a full suite of benefits to build your career, stay informed, and support the Canadian welding industry.  https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/become-a-memberWhat did you think about this episode? Send a text message to the show!

Just Ask Janet - Guest: Anna DelDuca, Silent No More Regional Coordinator by Priests for Life

In this episode of 'God on the Move', Wilhelm Cnossen, Regional Coordinator for Athletes in Action Europe and Co-Leader of the Global Church Sport Movement, shares his powerful story. Wilhelm discusses his 20-year journey with Campus Crusade for Christ, the innovative use of sports for evangelism and discipleship, and the importance of building relationships and bridging the gap between the church and local communities. Learn how Athletes in Action uses sports to foster whole-life discipleship and hear inspiring stories of transformation and faith.   Links from the interview: Athletes In Action Wilhelm's email address The Guardian article: The way, the truth and the Olympic record: how God struck gold in Paris   Wilhelm Cnossen: Wilhelm Cnossen is a dedicated missionary with Athletes in Action. Since 2024, he has served as the Regional Coordinator for Athletes in Action in Europe. Additionally, he has been the Global Strategy Leader for the Athletes in Action Church Sports Movement since 2020. Wilhelm is deeply passionate about Jesus and missions. He holds a master's degree in education and is an avid sports enthusiast. He lives in Drachten, in the north of the Netherlands, with his wife Anita and their five children.   If you would like to help us improve our podcast, please send us your feedback.

Devon Rachae is from the island of Grenada where he received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift at age 12. The gift played an essential role in his salvation experience, which eventually led to his involvement within his local church and community. Rachae later went on to serve as a Senator in Grenada's parliament, the youngest Senator in the Caribbean. After many years in politics, Rachae felt called into full-time ministry, and he now serves as senior pastor of two churches. In addition to his church ministry, Rachae has served with Operation Christmas Child in various capacities internationally and currently serves as Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean, Pacific, and Islands

Devon Rachae is from the island of Grenada where he received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift at age 12. The gift played an essential role in his salvation experience, which eventually led to his involvement within his local church and community. Rachae later went on to serve as a Senator in Grenada's parliament, the youngest Senator in the Caribbean. After many years in politics, Rachae felt called into full-time ministry, and he now serves as senior pastor of two churches. In addition to his church ministry, Rachae has served with Operation Christmas Child in various capacities internationally and currently serves as Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean, Pacific, and Islands

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) has finalized its retrenchment process, with roughly 3,700 jobs affected across its operations in South Africa. The retrenchments are reportedly a result of the company's efforts to mitigate the financial impact of declining platinum group metal prices, which have significantly squeezed profit margins. The job cuts account for about 17% of Amplats' workforce, with the most significant impact at Amandelbult in Limpopo. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to NUM's Regional Coordinator at Anglo American Platinum in Polokwane, Limpopo, Khathu Ramufhufhi

This month, we're joined by Meredith Malpass, Regional Coordinator for the HUD-VASH to learn about Harm Reduction.Ms. Malpass talks about what Harm Reduction is, how you may already be using Harm Reduction in your daily life, and how it can help Veterans experiencing homelessness and housing instability better engage in their care.Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness are strongly encouraged to contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838) for assistance.Closed Caption Transcript is available at: https://www.sharedfedtraining.org/Podcasts/EVH_S1EP25.pdf===============================Find your nearest VA: https://www.va.gov/find-locationsLearn more about VA resources to help homeless Veterans: https://www.va.gov/homelessListen to our episode on Housing First: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1ep21-what-s-the-big-deal-with-housing-first--58200313Learn more about risk factors for Veteran homelessness: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25595171Read the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/20231113/hhs-samhsa-release-2022-nsduh-dataRead the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Harm Reduction resources: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/harm-reduction=============================== VA does not endorse the University of California and is not responsible for the content of the following linked websites:Read the University of California San Francisco's Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative's California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness: https://homelessness.ucsf.edu/our-impact/studies/california-statewide-study-people-experiencing-homelessness

Nina Doyle, Regional Coordinator for Féileacáin, explains why she welcomes new reforms to enable families to register major life events online including an option to record a stillbirth on a public register.

smartrecovery.org Pete Rubinas has been a SMART Recovery participant, facilitator, and Regional Coordinator. He comes to his current position with a diverse set of experiences that he plans to use to help SMART Recovery USA thrive. Pete's last position saw him lead a local Montessori non-profit from a one-room private preschool into a thriving private preschool and public charter school serving children through 8th grade. In that role, he did extensive work creating an effective governance structure across three separate non-profit organizations to keep the community focused on its mission while complying with the requirements of being a public school. Prior to that, Pete spent 10 years as an internal control auditor and consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Pete believes that SMART Recovery should be available in every community and to individuals from all walks of life. He has studied how power is held in organizations, and how to shift that power so that more voices are included in the decision-making that occurs. He passionately believes that empowerment is the ultimate goal in supporting those with addictive behaviors and those who love them. If we collectively stay focused on empowering one another at all levels of this organization, someday soon SMART Recovery will be a household name and the demographics of those we serve will have expanded dramatically from where we started. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Pete has worked hard to build a balanced life that includes time for his family, birding, native pollinator gardening, and running. He continues to facilitate a local SMART Recovery meeting and an online Family & Friends meeting in Chapel Hill, NC on a volunteer basis. His mantra is “You are enough.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recoverynuggetspodcast/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recoverynuggetspodcast/support

In the second hour, we're talking Money, Money Money, Money...MONEY! Forbes has released it's "So Very Rich" list and Wisconsin is home to some of the richest. We also remind the audience that if a certain someone is back in the Oval Office, he's gonna make it a good payday for folks like the this. Then it's onto sports with Journal Sentinel Sports Guru JR Radcliffe! We're talking Bucks, we're talking Brewers and we're celebrating all things women's sports! Finally, we welcome Noemy Serrano, the Regional Coordinator with Wisconsin Women in Conservation (WiWiC) to talk about their MKE Women's Urban Ag Network event on April 16th. As always, thank you for listening, texting and calling...we couldn't do this without you! Don't forget to download the free Civic Media app and take us wherever you are in the world! If you're new to our show and listening to us as a podcast, remember to subscribe and rate us, those ratings go a long way! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X and YouTube to keep up with Jane and the show! Guests: Jr Radcliffe, Noemy Serrano

Join us on this captivating episode of the HerUpland Podcast as we journey with Jessie Janowski from the snow-covered landscapes of Alaska to the heart of HerUpland's community and events. Hosted by Amanda Ponti, a member of the HerUpland Board of Directors and the co-director of the Regional Coordinator program, this episode delves into the empowering experiences, shared camaraderie, and unforgettable adventures that define the HerUpland spirit.  Jessie, a passionate advocate for women in the outdoors and a devoted upland hunting enthusiast, shares her enriching experiences from attending all three event types offered by HerUpland. From the precision and camaraderie at a Michigan wingshooting clinic to the strategic bird dog training in Montana, and the thrilling quail hunts in Arizona, Jessie's journey is a testament to the transformative power of community and the outdoors.  Through her adventures with her two German Shorthaired Pointers, Olive and Bruce, Jessie reveals the valuable lessons learned, the joy of connecting with like-minded women, and the growth she's experienced as a hunter and a dog trainer. Her story is not just about the events but about finding a supportive community that values advice, encouragement, and growth over judgment. Amanda and Jessie also offer an exclusive sneak peek into HerUpland's 2024 event schedule, promising even more opportunities for women to explore, learn, and thrive in the uplands. Whether you're a seasoned hunter or someone curious about stepping into the field, this episode is a beacon of inspiration, showcasing the strength, adventure, and community waiting for you in the uplands.  Tune in to hear Jessie's compelling narrative, learn about the upcoming HerUpland events, and discover how you, too, can join this vibrant community of women hunters and bird dog enthusiasts. It's an invitation to explore, connect, and grow—both in the field and within yourself.  Connect with Jessie and Amanda on Instagram Checkout HerUpland's 2024 Schedule of Events Photo by: Tara Griffin ---- This Podcast is Presented By: onX Hunt "The #1 GPS Hunting App"  Boss Shot Shells "Superior-grade, American-made, Copper-plated Shot Shells" Syren USA "Shotguns for Women. No More Compromises" Toyota "The Leading Motor Vehicle Manufacturer Worldwide" Dakota283 "Unparalleled Pet Protection" Purina Pro Plan "Nutrition That Performs" ---- HerUpland Community Network Instagram Facebook YouTube HerUpland Website  

Have you noticed geese flying back recently? Or robins plucking worms and berries from your snow-less yard in the middle of the winter? Locally and globally, bird populations and migration patterns are changing. Today, we're asking why. (Spoiler: your house cat knows.) In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Andrew Farnsworth, Senior Research Associate in the Center for Avian Population Studies at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Mark Dedea, President of the John Burrows Natural History Society, and Wendy Tocci, Regional Coordinator for the Third New York State Breeding Bird Atlas.

We're joined by Ken Peterson, the Regional Coordinator for the Central region of the Citygate Network, North America's oldest and largest community of independent, faith-based crisis shelters and life-transformation centers.Ken gives his unique insights into transformative growth, stories of connection, and shared wisdom on the importance of gathering in solidarity to uplift those dedicated to serving the most vulnerable in our communities.Navigating the challenges of leading a rescue mission can often feel isolating, but Ken underscores the power of collective support and the Citygate Network's essential role in fortifying leaders.Ken also shares his personal odyssey, from battling substance abuse to guiding others as a director within the rescue mission community. His testament to the redemptive power of faith and support casts a beacon of hope for all who seek change. To learn more about Citygate Network, Click Here!To learn more about TRM Ministries: Click Here!To support TRM, Click Here!

Alex is the Regional Coordinator for Youth & Young Adult Ministry, Pastoral Juvenil

The Founding Fathers are often revered as American saints. A Republic of Scoundrels (Pegasus Books), edited by David Head and Timothy Hemmis, chronicles the Founders who were schemers and opportunists, vying for their own interests ahead of the nation's. We now have a clear-eyed understanding of Founding Fathers such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton; even so, they are often considered American saints, revered for their wisdom and self-sacrificing service to the nation. However, within the Founding generation lurked many unscrupulous figures—men who violated the era's expectation of public virtue and advanced their own interests at the expense of others. About the Editors: A history professor at the University of Central Florida, David Head (editor) is the author of A Crisis of Peace: George Washington, the Newburgh Conspiracy, and the Fate of the American Revolution. His books have been supported by grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, a Gilder Lehrman Fellowship at the New-York Historical Society, and a Lord Baltimore Fellowship. Head's academic work has been honored with the John Gardner Maritime Research Award; the Marion Brewington Prize for Chesapeake Maritime History; and the Hardin Craig Award for Excellence. David lives in Orlando, Florida. Timothy Hemmis (editor) is an assistant professor of history at Texas A&M UniversityCentral Texas. He graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi. Timothy's teaching focuses on Early American History and American Military History. He serves as the Regional Coordinator for the Southwest for the Society for Military History and is the History Book Review editor for The Presidential Studies Quarterly. Hemmis has written opinion pieces for the Washington Post and has delivered speeches at the Army and Navy Club in Washington, DC, the War and Society Working Group at Texas A&M University College Station, and the US Army III Corps Senior Command at Fort Hood. For more info on the book click HERE --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/steve-richards/support

Bucky Rogers, (un)adopted Regional Coordinator at Lifeline, leads a discussion on 1 Corinthians 4:14-21. Subscribe on iTunes | StitcherEmail: info@lifelinechild.orgFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/lifelinechildTwitter: @lifelinechildInstagram: @lifelinechild

“God is faithful no matter what because that's His character. When I'm faithless or my faith wavers, God is and always will remain faithful.” Today we begin a new podcast series called “How Great is Our God”, focusing on the different attributes of our amazing God. This week, Aubrie welcomes Barbara Kemp to the podcast. For 13 years, Barbara has been our International Leadership Developer for Africa and has seen God do more than she could ask or imagine. Today she shares how she has seen God's faithfulness in long awaited answers to prayer in her own family as well as how God is mightily moving throughout Africa. The Moms in Prayer Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit ChristianParenting.org ABOUT OUR GUEST Barbara Kemp has been married to Lloyd for 44 years. She's blessed to be called Mom by two sons and is affectionately “Noni” to her grandchildren. After 29 years, Barbara is still praying for her grown children and grandchildren. She's had the privilege of serving as Roster Manager, Area Coordinator, Regional Coordinator, State Coordinator, Division Coordinator, and International Leadership Developer for Moms in Prayer. In 2008, she took a mission trip to Kenya. Upon her return to Kentucky, Barbara's heart was never the same. She sensed God calling her to serve the women of Africa through Moms in Prayer International. For 13 years, Barbara has seen God do more than she could ask or imagine in Africa and beyond. SCRIPTURES  The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;     his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;     great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,     “therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV   You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV   For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. Psalm 33:4 NIV   For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9 ESV   I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;     with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1 ESV   Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV   LINKS MOMS IN PRAYER New to Moms in Prayer? How to get started Join a Moms in Prayer Group Moms in Prayer Shop Support Our Mission

Steve is the Regional Coordinator for Youth & Young Adult Ministry

Listen to KAA Director, Mitzi Holland and Regional Coordinator, Cheryl Brumley discussing FAFSA Updates with KHEAA's Director of Outreach Services, Casi Benedict.

Join us for a special three-part series called Journey Unseen where we share the stories of women in our community who have had a profound impact on our community through their leadership and achievements.  For the first of this series, Yoland Camarena talks about the value of mentorship in her life with hosts Don and Ebony: Growing up with five sisters Family values growing up in south Texas Lessons learned from moving around in a military family Being a first generation college student Being active and engaged on campus H.A.L.O. (Hispanic American Leadership Organization) Making decisions with intention The value of the relationships in your life Being the only Latina at Harvard Why mentoring became so important in her life What motivates Yolanda The Push Yolanda Camarena has been a dedicated leader for the past 40 years advocating for the Latino community, in the areas of education, community development and philanthropy. As a first generation student in the 70's she experienced the many obstacles Latino students faced trying to get a college education. She vowed when she was able to help ease that burden for other Latino students she would assist them to fulfill their goals of getting a college degree. Her career background has been in Higher Education Administration. She served as Director of Admissions for Newman University in Wichita, Kansas in the late 80's and later took a position as Associate Director of Graduate Programs at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. During her time at Harvard she and several of the Latino graduate students founded the Journal of Hispanic Policy. The Journal continues to be a formidable source for Hispanic policy research at the Kennedy School of Government. Upon her return to Wichita she served as the Regional Coordinator for the LULAC Educational Service Center for several years. She currently serves on the Board of the Kansas Hispanic Education and Development Foundation, Board of Trustees for Newman University, Board of Directors for the Wichita Community Foundation Chair of the Schools and Scholarship Committee for Harvard College, Hispanic Scholarship Fund Advisory Committee, Board member for League 42, and serves on various city and community organizations. Ms. Camarena holds a Bachelors degree in Education from Wichita State University, a Master's in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letter from Newman University in 2015. She has two daughters, Gena and Marisa, and her husband is Gene Camarena.Additional Resources:Wichita State University Scholarship Announcement (article)Outstanding Philanthropist: Gene and Yolanda Camarenta (article)Thanks for listening, be sure to subscribe and leave us a review! Join the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce! This podcast is brought to you by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce and is powered by Evergy.  To send feedback on this show and/or send suggestions for future guests or topics please e-mail communications@wichitachamber.org. This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.  For more information visit ictpod.net

Jasmine Abbey Bell is the founder and owner of the JAB Consulting Agency.A three-time graduate of the University of Mississippi, Jasmine has earned degrees in Psychology, Curriculum and Instruction, and Educational Leadership. She has worked as a Regional Coordinator for the Office of Digital Learning and a Professional Development Coordinator with an emphasis on Secondary ELA with the Mississippi Department of Education. During her time with MDE, Jasmine has worked with Student Achievement Partners to help facilitate and design courses focusing on helping struggling readers and redefining humanities courses for high school students. Jasmine has also created and written coaching guidance documents that served as the foundation for Digital Learning Coaching. Jasmine has also worked with Questar by serving on item writing, content and bias review, and range-finding committees. Before leaving the public school setting, Jasmine served as an Instructional Coach, Humanities Multi-Classroom Leader, and secondary History and ELA teacher.In her spare time, Jasmine likes to spend time with her husband and their two children and create personalized items using calligraphy. 

Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Marilu Cristina Flores, Founder, Conservation Key about the Film Industry, Taking Bold Career Leaps, and Conservation Key.   Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 3:03  Nic & Laura talk about bad mentors9:04   Interview with Marilu Cristina Flores starts9:20   Film Industry18:44  Taking Bold Career Leaps29:48   Conservation Key48:22   Field Notes51:11   More Bold LeapsPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Marilu Cristina Flores at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilucflores/Guest Bio:Marilu Cristina Flores is an award-winning filmmaker, coral researcher, and recipient of the 2021 Go Blue Ambassador of the Year Award.  Recognized as a Hispanic Ocean Conservation Hero in 2021, she holds a certificate degree from the University of Queensland in Tropical Coastal Ecosystem Resource Management and served the Surfrider Foundation as Regional Coordinator and then Manager from 2018 - 2022.During her time with Surfrider, Marilu helped community activists pass over 50 ordinances to protect our marine and coastal ecosystems and in 2021, she was appointed to serve the Southeast Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) as an NGO/nonprofit partner for five years. Marilu is the founder of Conservation Key, a project-based, IRS recognized nonprofit; founded on the hope that with our intervention, coral reefs can and will survive for the next generation.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

Join us for a conversation about Ne'ata'q, The Food Forest at Bluenose Academy in Lunenburg/E'se'katik (in Nova Scotia, within Mi'kma'ki).Outisde this P-9 public school is an area where the grass has been replaced with a forest-to-be; with plants that will help one another, provide learning and delight for the children, and bring so many people from the local community together while sharing indigenous knowledge and working towards food security.This food forest builds on a belief of the importance of resilience and connections for a healthy community, and the involvement and enthusiasm that can come from within it when different points of view are sought out. Meet three folks from the project team, and hear some of the history, their motivation and the interconnected benefits of the food forest, which is of benefit not only to the children of the school and the greater human community, but other beings as well.Katherine Barrett is a writer, editor and permaculture gardener. She has a graduate degree in Botany and has worked on environmental issues for many years. Katherine facilitates communication within and about the food forest project.Shawn Feener is a Mi'kmaw knowledge holder and a conservationist. He is Regional Coordinator of Mi'kmaw Education Services for the South Shore Regional Center for Education. Shawn has lived close Pijinuiskaq or the Lahave River his whole life and has had the pleasure of working with some of the beings that call Pijinuiskaq home. He completed a diploma in Wildlife Conservation at Holland College in Prince Edward Island, a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management at the University of New Brunswick, and is currently working on a Bachelor of Education at St. FX in Nova Scotia.Teresa Quilty is a grandmother, nature-lover, grower-forager, and community organizer. Her previous work in both non-profit and corporate settings spanned education, communications and organizational development. Her idea of fun is learning how to make good things happen in a community of skilled, creative and generous people.EPISODE RESOURCES:Ne'ata'q Food Forest website email address facebook pageThe article mentioned about the Anishinaabe Studies professor about how Indigenous food forests shape ecosystems: ‘TODAY WE HAVE GARDENS BUT BEFORE WE DESIGNED… ENTIRE LANDSCAPES'The other Shared Ground episodes mentioned: *Meeting Mi'kmaw Knowledge Holder Shawn Feener (episode 10) *A 3-pronged approach to Sustainability with Rosmarie Lohnes (episode 3) *A Two-eyed seeing approach with Clifford Paul, with Elder Albert Marshall (episode 14)Coastal Villages Community Radio (CVCR)~ To

Verschwindet eine Demokratie, ist das nicht sofort zu spüren, erklärt der Politikwissenschaftler und Völkerrechtsexperte Ralph Janik in diesem Podcast. „Besonders Scheindemokratien legen sehr viel Wert darauf, dass alle Gesetze eingehalten werden“, sagt er. Während formal noch alles stimmt, ist vielleicht die Presse- und Meinungsfreiheit bereits still gestorben, weil alle Medien einer Person gehören oder es de facto kein Recht auf Protest mehr gibt.Der britische Economist erhebt jährlich, wie es um die Demokratien der Welt bestellt ist. Dem Economist Democracy Index zufolge lebten 2022 rund 45 Prozent der Weltbevölkerung in mehr oder weniger stabilen Demokratien während 37 Prozent in einem autoritären Staatswesen lebten. Dazwischen gibt es Mischformen. Die Demokratien seien seit 2016 auf dem Rückzug, konstatiert der Economist.Ungarn etwa ist in diesem Ranking in der unteren Hälfte einer „flawed democracy“, einer beschädigten Demokratie. Neben Ungarn sind auch weitere europäische Staaten keine ganz intakten Demokratien mehr, darunter unter anderem Belgien, Zypern, Malta, Polen oder Tschechien.Ralph Janik verortet den Niedergang ebenso wie das amerikanische Freedom House bereits ab dem Jahr 2006. Für eine Demokratie, so Janik, ist allerdings nicht nur die Frage der Freiheit und des Zugangs zu Grundrechten für eine Demokratie entscheidend, sondern auch die Frage der Gerechtigkeit. „Es sollte, um John Rawls zu paraphrasieren, so sein, dass es gleichgültig ist, ob man als reicher oder armer Mensch aufwacht“, so Janik. Ein demokratischer Staat knüpft Bürger-und Grundrechte nicht an den Besitz und stellt sicher, dass alle gleichermaßen ihre Bürgerrechte auch leben können.Wenn Demokratie in der allgemeinsten Weise so definiert ist, dass alle Macht vom Volke ausgeht, so bedeute dies nicht, dass „eine Mehrheit grenzenlos regieren“ könne. Die Rechte von Minderheiten und seien diese auch noch so klein, müssen gewahrt sein. In diesem schränken die Menschenrechte die Herrschaft der Mehrheit ein: Eine Mehrheit kann nicht demokratisch beschließen, eine Minderheit zu unterdrücken. Da die Lebenswelten der meisten Menschen vielfältiger geworden sind, kann Janik dem Gedanken Herfried Münklers, bei bestimmten Fragen Bürgerräte zu bilden und diese zu konsultieren, durchaus etwas abgewinnen: „Die Betroffenheit von Menschen ist unterschiedlich, dem muss man Rechnung tragen. Die Politik leidet jetzt bereits unter einer Entfremdung von den Bürgern.“Ralph Janik ist Universitätslektor mit Schwerpunkt Völkerrecht, Menschenrechte und Recht des Welthandels. Er ist Mitglied der European Society of International Law, der Vienna Doctoral Academy, dem International Board of Review (IBOR) des Telders International Law Moot Court, dem Advisory Board des International Institute for Peace, dem wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Beirat im Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung sowie Regional Coordinator (für Europa) beim Journal on the Use of Force and International Law. Ralph Janik kommentiert regelmäßig im Pragmaticus.

On this episode of Transmission Interrupted, we delve into the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) and its importance in responding to special pathogens and other emergencies. Join host Jill Morgan and special guests Kyesha Turner from Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Darrell Ruby from Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital in Spokane, Washington, and Ryan Tuckmeyer from Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, as they share their experiences and insights on how HICS ensures readiness, coordination, and effective response in the face of various scenarios.The discussion will also touch on the importance of building foundations and solid structures for emergency management and provide information on available HICS resources and tools, including a new online HICS training course now available at NETEC. Join us on this informative episode of Transmission Interrupted as we uncover the intricacies of HICS for Special Pathogens Preparedness and explore the dynamic world of incident management in health care today.GuestsDarrell Ruby, CEM®, NEMAA Special Pathogen Program/Region 10 Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC) Providence Inland Northwest Washington Darrell Ruby is the Regional Coordinator for the HHS Region 10 Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC), 1 of 13 in the nation at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital. Darrell has worked as an Emergency Manager for nearly 20 years at the local, regional, and state level when he was with Spokane Emergency Management and for the last 8 years at Providence. As an Emergency Manager for Providence Inland Northwest Washington, he was responsible for the Emergency Management Program for the five (5) Providence hospitals in Spokane and Stevens County that represent just over 1,000 licensed beds: a level 2 and 3 trauma centers for adults and pediatrics, two 25-bed Critical Access Hospitals (CAH), a specialty rehab facility, and stand-alone Ambulatory Surgery Center. He started working for Providence in September 2015. Prior to work at Providence, Darrell worked for the Spokane Department of Emergency Management for 11 years, as the Regional Coordinator for Washington State Homeland Security (HLS) Region 9 (6 years) and as a Program Coordinator (5 years). Region 9 is comprised of the 10 counties and three tribes of Eastern Washington. In that role, he supported regional collaboration, coordination, and an interagency approach to all-hazard emergency preparedness. He has worked in all phases of emergency management, supporting planning, training, and exercises, HLS grants, and grant-related projects. Darrell continues to support community-wide planning on behalf of Providence. Darrell has an undergraduate degree in Construction Science from Texas A&M University, a master's degree in business, and retired from the naval reserve as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer December 1, 2015 (12 years active, 13 years reserve). He is most proud to be happily married (30+ years) and the father of three kids +1 (married daughter). Ryan Tuchmayer, MPH, CEM Director of Emergency Management Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Ryan is the Director of Emergency Management for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He organizes the medical center's emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts. He also serves as a liaison between hospitals, clinics, and pre-hospital providers in the western region of Los Angeles. County. He is a member of the Disaster Medical Assistance Team for Los Angeles County (DMAT CA-9) and has deployed for exercises and disaster events, including hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike. He is also a member of the California Medical Assistance Team and has deployed for the COVID and wildfires responses. Kyesha Turner, MPA, AEM Manager,

Christy Ballor: Christy is Regional Coordinator for Silent No More.  Chrissy's journey from the aftermath of abortion to the light of forgiveness and healing is a typical story of women who return from the darkness to the light after their abortion decision.

On Africa At A Glance Feature, we talk to Oluwole Ojewale, Regional Coordinator, Institute for Security Studies, based in Senegal, talking about his latest article titled “Wagner debacle in Russia raises red flags for African states and how they manage their security” which was originally published in ‘The Conversation – Africa' and then republished in other online media websites.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I do mean “unconventional”. Wait until you hear Evan Robert Brown Walker's story and adventures. Like many guests I have had the opportunity to get to know on Unstoppable Mindset, Evan grew up in a single-parent home and didn't get to know his father until much later. Evan went to school and then to college like many of us, but then he decided to do something a bit different with his life. Mr. Walker graduated from college with a degree in English and writing. He then decided to move totally alone to South Korea where he taught English for two years. He will tell us of his adventures in Korea and even give some sensible advice to others who may be planning to move or travel abroad. Near the end of his time in South Korea, Evan sprained his ankle and discovered that, in fact, he had an extra bone in his foot. He dealt with that once he returned to the United States, but still, what a suddenly new fact to face in one's life. You will get to hear about Evan's job stories after returning from South Korea including how he became a subject matter expert on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He now works full-time in this field. What an inspirational and adventurous episode this is. I hope you enjoy hearing Evan's story and that his words will inspire you as much as they did me. About the Guest: Evan Robert Brown Walker is on a mission to empower others, including those within underrepresented communities, to thrive. He currently works as a Global Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Lumen Technologies, with 2 years of experience in a formal diversity role, and numerous years leading and operationalizing Employee Resource Groups. His expertise and passion led him to earn a Diversity & Inclusion Certificate from eCornell in 2020. Since 2021 he has been both a member of the Thurgood Marshall Partner in Diversity Cohort and was recently promoted from advisory board to the Board of Directors for OutFront LGBTQ+ Theater in Atlanta, GA. He is a graduate of High Point University with English major and Business-Marketing minor, and still considers teaching English in South Korea after college one of his greatest accomplishments yet. Links for Evan: www.linkedin.com/in/evan-robert-brown-walker EPIK (English Program In Korea) TransitionsAbroad.com | Purposeful Travel, Study, Work, and Living Abroad Teach Abroad Programs | Teach English Abroad | CIEE https://www.ciee.org/users/evanw https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-robert-brown-walker (My LinkedIn) http://www.epik.go.kr/index.do (English Program in Korea) https://www.cnn.com/2013/04/10/world/asia/north-korea-threats-timeline/index.html North Korean Missile Crisis of 2013 https://www.transitionsabroad.com/ Transitions Abroad https://www.ciee.org/ Council on International Education Exchange About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes Michael Hingson 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Michael Hingson 01:21 Hi there, wherever you happen to be welcome once again to unstoppable mindset. We're inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Unexpected is always fun. But we also talk about inclusion first, because it's the only way to make sure that we deal with everyone. The problem with diversity is it has tended to leave out disabilities some may disagree. But when you hear people discuss diversity, they don't discuss disabilities. Whether we discuss disabilities today are not is another story. But we will definitely be hitting the unexpected. Our guest today is Evan Robert Brown Walker, we're going to call him Evan because he said I could. And Evan is an interesting individual. Evan feels that he's on a mission to empower others, especially in unrep, or underrepresented communities. And he wants to help them thrive, which is as good as it gets. So that gets us to the unexpected, because it deals with all sorts of stuff. But Evan, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're here. Evan Walker 02:22 You so much, Michael, I'm so happy to be here. And really looking forward to the discussion. Michael Hingson 02:29 Let's go ahead and start by talking a little bit about maybe you growing up and all that where you came from, and sort of all those things that helped shape you where you are. Evan Walker 02:39 Well, I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, I was raised by a single mother, who has been there with me every step of the way. And I of course I'm an only child. So I had a little miniature schnauzer growing up who I considered my brother, I have friends and you know, close people as well. But my mom and my miniature schnauzer and sparkle are miniatures nouns are really my immediate family. And then my dad, I got to know, sort of towards the tail end of my high school career, that's when I really got to know started to get to know him. He's based in High Point North Carolina, I ended up making a decision to go to High Point University. And so he and I became closer, develop the relationship that still lasts today. So that's a little bit about my background. Michael Hingson 03:43 So that's pretty cool. So you made the decision to reach out to him, which is something that has to be a little bit of a brave step by any standard. Evan Walker 03:54 Absolutely, absolutely. Any standard reaching out to a parent you don't know or may not know as well as you think you do. Reaching out to them is always scary. And for me, it was a turning point. One of many turning points in my life that led me to where I am today, but also helped me become a stronger person and just understand more of my family and his roots and where he came from. It was a great, great experience. Michael Hingson 04:27 So you have a relationship with him today, which is which is a good thing. And so you you are fortunate that you have now gotten to know both of your parents. You went to high point and what did you major in there? Evan Walker 04:42 I majored in English writing and I minored in business marketing. Michael Hingson 04:51 Hmm. And when you graduated, what did you do with all that? Well, Evan Walker 04:56 inside, everyone should know that five point is the furniture Capital of the World. There's other furniture capitals, I think, and China and Las Vegas, but my point is still consider the furniture capital of the world. So that's a pretty interesting, interesting fact. Today, I, after I graduated, I decided I wanted to move into something to do with my major. Many of us who graduated from college, need ourselves a stray from what we were going to school for, which is pretty prominent. Not a problem at all. But at the time, I really wanted to do something tangibly connected to English. So I looked at working for a publishing house. I also read a book at the time, I was really into books around oil and gas, fossil fuels, how they make the world turn and work, in addition to the comparison with climate change, and I wanted to work for this gentleman that my father knew at the time, who was an executive at an oil company. Neither of those opportunities panned out my third backup plan. My third option was, why don't I think about living abroad traveling abroad? I'm not quite sure what prompted me, other than it was still the great recession. So the Great Recession of Oh 708, which was catastrophic to many people. And even if it wasn't catastrophic, everyone felt that time in some way. So I knew I didn't want to challenge myself, or struggle finding a job. But I also Evan Walker 06:56 reminisce peripherally from people who in college, I went abroad for study abroad to gap years after high school, and I kind of wished that I had that opportunity. So it was a mishmash between desiring to live abroad, having that job security, but also just challenging myself. Michael Hingson 07:22 And so what did you decide to do with that? So you thought about doing something abroad? And what did you do? I made the decision, Evan Walker 07:34 shortly, I think shortly before graduation, to move to Korea. But the decision that I had to make before I even made that decision was, if I do move to Korea, then I have to choose between teaching English being a professional. Being in the army, or military, I was not going into the military. That was just not something I wanted to do at that time. And I was not a professional who was proficient in the Korean language. So teaching English as I guess, as a native guests, English speaker, teacher was truly my my core option. And the two choices as a guest English teacher, were teaching at a private school, or public school, teaching in a private school, namely, is very different in Korea. They're called Hogwarts, private schools in Korea, where oftentimes you're paid more than what you are in a public school. But benefits are sometimes non existent, sometimes less, or just not as not as broad and much, much longer hours. Those Michael Hingson 08:54 that why is that, Evan Walker 08:56 you know, I really don't know, I know that the education system there is considered to be one of the top in the world. And I would say, in my opinion, just me having lived there that a lot of parents and grandparents want their kids to do the best in school. So these Hawk ones are considered with the long hours of the teaching and the long hours for the students ways for them to accelerate getting their kids into the top schools and universities in the country. Michael Hingson 09:35 So you had a choice of, or at least the potential option of teaching in a private setting or in a more public setting, which did you end up doing? Evan Walker 09:46 I went public only because I wanted to make sure that I had enough benefits as far as health care. The pay was very good. Not as good as a hogwash to private school. But I really wanted to make sure I had those benefits that I had that structure and the benefits offered from a public school. I mean, free room and board. It doesn't get better than that. Free Lunch, you know, so I really just loved the idea of not having to pay for an apartment, getting free lunch. And so I went with Publix. Michael Hingson 10:31 So were in South Korea did you teach? Evan Walker 10:40 So, Korea? In South Korea, I taught in what's called what's referred to there as the inland Island. I'm probably pronouncing this wrong. But the the name of the the city was young young. And the province or the state of Young Young was n was called Young saying Buck dough, which was the the eastern part of the country. Sol Sol sets the Capitol. On the western side, I was on the eastern side. Yeah, my Michael Hingson 11:21 visit to Korea was to Seoul and two places within an hour of it. I went to speak there in 2007. Right, and I had an opportunity to be there and and also see the Korean guy dog schools, which were school, which was started by the President and others of Samsung. And so that was, it was fascinating. I never got to meet him. But we did get to visit the school and do some speaking around Seoul. So that was fun. But I never did get to tour the whole country, which I would have loved to have done. It was a wonderful country. And the people were were extremely friendly to me at least and and to my dog. Evan Walker 12:06 Yes, it's, it's a country that is just like you said, just gorgeous. The country of morning, lands on Morning Calm. It's also a country of opposites in many ways. So really, really hot, summer, sweltering hot, really, really cold winter, Siberian winds. And you know, even even some social norms and things like that. So. Michael Hingson 12:37 So what was it like for you teaching over there? That was a major step out for you to go to a different culture a different place entirely, completely away from your comfort zone? Or what had been your comfort zone? And all that you knew? Via you did it? Evan Walker 12:58 Yeah. Honestly, living there, there are definitely some challenges, I would say, moving there. And all the pieces of the puzzle that you have to put together before you even on the plane. That's a part of that's a part of the two. So thinking about what am I going to do as far as money I need to open a bank account in a country that I don't speak the language, learning a language, sure, but it really needs to think about that. registering with the State Department, getting immunizations and so finally, you get on that plane. And for me, I look back Evan Walker 13:41 subdivider Mom, she wasn't there. And it really hit me like wow, you know, you are on your own. And when I sat down on the plane, it was just pure excitement. It was like, total change of emotions. But when I got there, and I experienced just the kindness of the people, you know, a neighbor who became a friend, he was working at the Korean military base in this rural town, which the town was a rural farming community that farms their major product was spicy peppers. He was living near me and helped me moved from my second my first school to my second school several hours away. He took me to dinners when I wasn't feeling well. And so you know, those kinds of moments and those people the way they care and even this routine me. Oh, Evan Walker 14:47 when you're lost in the city of Seoul. Oh, let me let me help you. Let me help you find what you're looking for. You look lost. It's just so out. opposite from the way we interact in America. And you know, that collective family oriented culture, never eating alone. It really did leave a very good impression on me and made me cherish moment moments when, you know, maybe I was feeling most vulnerable, not knowing the language, not having a large support network of expatriates or foreigners in a small town. That was certainly a, an anchor for me. Hmm. Michael Hingson 15:39 But you did it? Did you learn much of the language? In the time you were there? Evan Walker 15:43 Yeah. So I would say now, I, I know literally choke off, which means a little there, I would go to the grocery store, I would know how, what past means what, you know, just survival turned it around. And so those those terms I knew I knew instinctively and instantly, Teacher Song saying them because titles in Korea mean a great deal more than they do in America. And roles and jobs, like teachers probably mean as much as doctors mean here. So you'll have students running around stranger saying, oh, Song saying noon. It's a form of respect to them. So I would say, you know, now, I've probably lost most of that. I've not kept it up. But even what I didn't know, because Korean is a tonal language. Oftentimes, I wasn't even pronouncing it in the right. So there were constant miscommunications. Oftentimes, yes means no. So they will agree. Because that's a country of collective society of service. What can we do for you, you know, what is the service? How can we how, but at the same time, it was still very, you know, constant miscommunications, based on where I was living and the language. Michael Hingson 17:22 Why ultimately, did you decide to move to Korea to teach what motivated you really to do that? I mean, so you decided to do it, but as you reflect back on it, what, what caused you to decide to do that that's a big step, most people would say, Evan Walker 17:41 it is, it is a big step. I honestly think now looking back, I wanted to experience the world. I also wanted to prove to myself, yeah, I can step outside of having my mom really support me having my dad stepping out of the shadows and saying to myself, for my own self worth, I appreciate me, and to just experience something that no one else had experienced. That I know. Up until that point, no one I knew had lived in Asia. I let alone South Korea. So it was looking back I think a test to myself Michael Hingson 18:31 was a self imposed test. Evan Walker 18:34 self imposed test. Michael Hingson 18:36 So you mentioned that you move from one school to another several hours away. Why Why did you move from one school to another? What kind of prompted that? Evan Walker 18:48 So I Well, the move was for contract. So in Korea, you really learn about flexibility, adaptability, as the best English teacher, you learn at a moment's notice, there's going to be a war drill, or there's going to be, you know, a holiday tomorrow or your contract is still going to end on the same date. But we'd like to extend it or we'd like to shorten it. What do you think about that? There's a lot of impromptu questions all the time. One because of language barrier, two, because three in school systems for the guest English teachers operate on a need to know basis. So you need to know they will tell you what usually is pretty, pretty quick, pretty last minute. I decided with that in mind to renew my contract. This felt like the story was not done for me there and I needed to move to a place that was a little bit more sort of politan I was hoping a bigger city. And that's what I ended up moving to. The English program in Korea was actually the program that I was hired through. And I was hired before that, through the Council on Air National Education Exchange, called CI II. That is basically a recruiter for the English program in Korea, which is a government program in Korea that hires guests, English teachers, and so I knew someone about an hour away, he was the Regional Coordinator for the English program in Korea, he had sent an email to all the teachers in Gung sein buchtel, that we have a role. It's in the Exxon. It's the Boys High School. We'd like to take up this role, let me know. And so it wasn't far for me. But it was closer to school, which was great. And I just wanted to stay and experience in New York City be close to her soul, and continue my learning of the code. Michael Hingson 21:17 So you took it and there you were, how much larger was the second town or the more cosmopolitan area for you? Evan Walker 21:24 I don't know how much larger it was definitely I population. But it was definitely quite large. And not. There was there was a skyline. And I will also say that that city yet John was close to the mask dancing city. So Korean mass dancing is a tradition in their culture. And that city is called on dog. So yeah, Chun and on Dong, were probably about 2030 minutes apart on Dong was an even bigger city. So it was still yet started was still a farming community. But it had enough of an infrastructure socially for me to make the decision with about seven other expatriates. And a few more shops. For me to for me to enjoy. I would say yet, Shawn was about two and a half to three hours from Seoul. Yong Yong was five. So it was a great move in that way that I could still, you know, I could still make that jump in a quicker Michael Hingson 22:45 so when I was there, I never really got to, as I say, do a lot of touring around it to be to be real cute. So did you ever find a cost go in South Korea? That is so Evan Walker 22:57 funny that you asked. I don't recall that. But you know, there's a very similar chain called Home Plus believe that's the name of the chain. And it's basically like a Costco, you've got a lot of a lot of goods in bulk. And so many weekends from yet Shawn, I would take from us to on dog where the Home Plus was, and just buy tons and tons of food and things like that. There was one instance where before I was in yen chart, I actually took the bus with all the names of the buses, all the routes all the time, everything's in Korea. So I took the bus. It was my first winter in Korea. I had some coats, but nothing I needed for sub zero temperatures Fahrenheit. So I took the bus I thought to odd Dong from Yong Yong, which was about two hours or so. What I didn't know was I actually took the bus to Daegu, which was a while longer. And so when I got off the bus and I was realized I was not in on dawn. I was like, well, where's the Home Plus, might as well make the best of it. So I just, you know, went shopping it some coats and hats and things like that. thermal underwear. Michael Hingson 24:37 You found a home plus, Evan Walker 24:39 I found a home vise you've got to be able to adapt, you're gonna miss stuff. Living abroad living in a foreign country. So those kinds of lessons where you can be flexible is really, really important. Michael Hingson 24:57 What would you advise the How to someone, if, if they're thinking of going to a foreign country or living in a foreign country, or even just going as part of a holiday or whatever, what would you advise people? Evan Walker 25:14 What I would advise people living in a foreign country, I would say, there are pivotal moments while you're there. But then there's a pivotal moment of making that decision to even go there, and live there. And I would say, for me, when I made the decision to get on that plane, it wasn't necessarily a no return. But it was a change. And, for me, it's a, it's a point at which he experienced and this changed my life. It started a new one. And so with that froms challenges with all kinds of, you know, items and things in in those challenges such as language barriers, cultural, confusion, cultural and competency, which my job today is developing, and helping to empower and make people knowledgeable of cultural competency. But there's a lot of different roads that you have to pass, once you make that decision, living abroad, living abroad as well. However long you live abroad, you have to remember and know, which I would say was not something that I was made aware of emphatically is that you will have to adjust, you will have reverse culture shock. Now, I would say certain countries, you probably have more than others. For me, being in a western culture being raised moving to an Eastern East Asia, Eastern country, the culture shock was quite great. Especially thinking about when you don't have access to or aren't listening to just think about music, of the current music that you listen to that. Oftentimes, unless you're on YouTube, or your or latest app, you may miss out on that. You also may miss out on trends, and sometimes news and just feel like you're out of place, you come back. So that's really important. I would say just going abroad, period. Register with the State Department in case of an emergency. And just be open minded. Know that you have a bias no matter where you're from, what your background is, when I first got out of the airport in Seoul or Inchon and I looked around at the cars, I just the first thing I noticed was every car is black, white, or gray. I was like, Oh, that was the second point when I realized the gravity of my decision, because it is a collectivist country. Everyone is thinking about each other. There's not a lot of variations and colors and things like such a small, such a small, visually. Interesting fact, but also long standing in terms of the ramifications of that decision. Michael Hingson 28:40 Do you regret having spent two years over there? Or were you? Do you feel that it was a valuable experience? What's your reaction thinking back on it now? Yeah, Evan Walker 28:53 I absolutely think it was a valuable experience. I do not regret it one bit. If I could do it over again, I would probably do some things differently. But every conversation I have meeting someone new, it usually comes up. When I'm interviewing for jobs, like the job I'm in now. It's always a point of pride and our point of experience, something no one can ever take away from you. And I love that. So I I know the way I was challenged in many ways. I had some of the best times in my life, meeting different people from around the world in Seoul coming out, which was not necessarily the best time living there so far from home, but coming out as a gay black man over Skype to my family on my mom's side who was who was very, very welcoming and you know, very proud of you for doing so. And my dad was too, later on. Michael Hingson 30:02 But I was thinking that by that time, we had a lot more ability to communicate. So at least you had some opportunities to talk to people back here in the states that you wouldn't have had 10 or 15 years before. Evan Walker 30:19 Yeah, yeah. And, yeah, yeah, I actually, I will, because I went through a recruiter, the CIA II organization, which I think is now an NGO. They offered me the opportunity to blog about my experiences there. So I was joined by a number of bloggers, guests, English teachers, or I posted about this and that. And I was able to your point to email that blog to family and friends, they could keep up with me. There was one particular time, the summer of No, the spring of 2013, where I was getting a lot of emails because of the North Korean missile crisis. Today, it's looked at as a pivotal point in time or a point in time where really, they had ramped up from February to May, so many different threats to South Korea and to America, which they still do today. They're very frustrated, usually, with our annual military drills. In the spring. That year, it was so bad that they actually scrapped 1953 armistice, they told foreigners, you should probably leave because there's going to be a war. It's going to be violent. It was crazy. It got so bad that my mom and I started talking about escape plans or as breakout a violent war. How are you going to get home? So? Yeah, I would say definitely, you know, there were there were those times when I was especially grateful for the modern communication. Michael Hingson 32:12 So you were over in South Korea for two years? And then you decided that that was enough for what? What was your motivation for them deciding to come back? Evan Walker 32:24 My motivation deciding to come back was, I thought that was enough. I had need what I thought, which is definitely the case, in my eyes, lifelong friends. I had pushed myself to the limit, even from a climate, cultural norms, food perspective, housing perspective. And I wanted to start my professional career back home. Ultimately, I didn't want to I didn't want to push that back any longer. Some people I still know. They're teaching all over the world backpacking thing in Korea, and that works for that. But for me, after two years, I was grateful for the experience. So many great times, challenging times. But I was ready to, Michael Hingson 33:20 to come back. So. So you, you came back? And what were you thinking about doing with your life once you came back? Evan Walker 33:31 So I came back, I honestly didn't know I wanted to process what I just done. And I also went through, I think, three months of reverse culture shock, what I envisioned as the American culture that I left, what I envisioned as the culture of my community, the LGBTQ plus community, the culture of Atlanta, all of those things, as an expatriate living 1000s of miles away, in some way or another, were not what I envisioned them to be, which is just not good or bad. It's just what happens. So I had the privilege, living over there having free room and board to save a lot of money. So I didn't need to work. The first three or so months, that I was, and then I was lucky enough in the spring. So I got back in August. And I got a job in March of following year through British insurance company called Hiscox insurance, and I'm grateful to this day that they hired me what a great, great career there for five years, but you That's really what I did was reflect. I had definitely some, I don't want to say challenges. But it really was a challenge in many ways. Because my, my concern at that point was my health I had come back after spraining my ankle earlier in the year back when I was in Korea. And when I was in Korea, and I went to a doctor. The first time due to language barriers, there was no need for me to wrap my ankle that I had wrapped. Although it was a sprained ankles, of course, I needed to wrap it, then when I went to get I think it was an MRI or an x ray, they actually told me that your foot as an extra bone. And so you probably just surgery to get the bone out. So by the time I got home, you know, again, just reminiscing the good times the challenging times. And then also thinking at some point, I'm gonna have to probably get this out. So again, I was grateful to get the job several months past, but I think anyone coming back from living abroad should really, if they can take that time to just adjust. Michael Hingson 36:29 Because it isn't you have an extra phone in your book. Did you have an extra bone in your foot? If I could talk I'd be in great shape. Evan Walker 36:35 I certainly did. I asserted that I had an accessory bone down there, yeah, and the foot on on the side of my ankle. And so I ended up having surgery. Later that year, after I was fired, it was a reconstructive surgery, the first of its kind that my doctor had done. The reattach the tendon, took the bone out and gave me an arch. So I likely will have to have the same things on my other foot. But we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Michael Hingson 37:12 So at least they diagnosed it over there. And exactly. That was an interesting experience. I bet you didn't expect. Evan Walker 37:23 Totally unexpected, but that's what comes with doing things that are unconventional. And when you take risk knows, you know, you can't foresee everything that happens, take calculated risks. I also had, you know, a finger, little system, my finger that I had to get taken out. Right before I came home, you know, there's just things like that, coming from a Western country, any country, you live somewhere else did a climate food, you learn things more about your body and your health that you weren't aware of. And you have to be prepared that if there's a language barrier or any other barrier, you may not have the same access to what it is that you need to prepare or recover from any issues with your health. Michael Hingson 38:25 You decided not to do the surgery in Korea, obviously and you came back here to do that. Evan Walker 38:31 Yeah, and Korean has Korea is very good. You know, hospitals, let's be clear, especially in Seoul. I just wanted to be home with family knowing I was coming home the following year. So it really just actually I think that was the same year I came home. Michael Hingson 38:51 So what was the job the insurance company gave you. Evan Walker 38:55 I was an underwriting assistant, which before I really read fiction, I thought it was related to Randy. So I'm like Oh, I'm back in I'm back doing something connected to my major. And it was actually a really interesting job processing job processing along the lines of commercial insurance. So cybersecurity technology errors and omissions really interesting job interesting people learns a lot. Definitely a bit of my time I work till midnight one time I was I was a workhorse at point and I work hard now and I you know work smart, collaborate all of those things but I really try just be in the present and Alan's and integrate my work and life in a way we're not going to burn myself out. As you as a lot have early in earlier in career people tend to disregard coming out just want to prove ourselves and things like that. Let me just work till my wit's end. But no, I don't do that anymore. But it was a great company still have great friends from there are my mentors from the pride resource group. Oh, keep in touch. Michael Hingson 40:27 So when you as an underwriter, you're here doing that work? What is it? You do? So you were talking about everything from dealing with intellectual property and cybersecurity and so on? What do you do? Or what did you Evan Walker 40:41 so as an I was really the underwriting assistant for the underwriters. So they were, look up the risk of, you know, what's the risk of, you know, Michael, Michael Hanson's company having a data breach. So this is what we'll cover, if you have a data breach, this is the amount that will pay. And so as an underwriting assistant, I would then kind of put those words together for them, but more often than not, provide them with a quote to send to you, or rather your broker, your insurance broker, and, you know, this kind of processing, getting those quotes out, getting those declines out, and canceling policies, when when that says, stay out? Michael Hingson 41:38 Well, it clearly can be part of a fascinating process. And I recognize the value in the need of insurance and the whole concept of risk management. And I speak about risk management from another side, which is basically more on the emergency preparedness side. You're in a room, you're listening to me speak. Do you know where the emergency exits are not the door that you came in, but the emergency exits? And the whole concept of risk management from that standpoint, which also, very possibly could affect your insurance? How well do you make sure that people who come to your facility, know what to do in an emergency and how to well you teach people might very well affect what you have to pay in the way of insurance so that you prove that you're being as careful as you can be? Evan Walker 42:36 You know, Michael, you're absolutely right. You're absolutely right. The importance cannot be understated. And even terrorism, kidnap ransom, shooter, all of all of those, all of those, but I do remember from reading your book, and just looking at YouTube videos and research, that you had all of the plans from, as a survivor of 911, working in a tower, one of the towers, you had those plans in Braille, that you had, basically, were an expert as to how to evacuate before it has to be that happens. occurred. Michael Hingson 43:26 I still remember, I still remember speaking at one organization meeting risk managers in Missouri, I think we were at Branson, but it was a meeting of risk management people from the Midwest. And after speaking, one of the people said, you know, we've never thought about the fact that as as a company, and that was a power company, they were one of the utilities, we have generation generating stations, and we don't teach our people really how to get out that is if there's a fire down in the station, how are people going to be able to get out because they can't see due to the smoke and so on. And we actually work together to develop a mechanism by which there people were able to escape without being able to see the exits because of the smoke. So they took that sort of thing very seriously. And it is and people really need to prepare more than they do. But they put some things in place. It was really cool to hear about it later, which is just really wonderful. So you worked at the insurance company for five years, and that's that's a good long time for for some people but you weren't there for five years. So what what made you leave and where did you go? Evan Walker 44:49 Honestly, I really just wanted to lean in more to that interest that I had found and passion related to ours. City inclusion, belonging and really being able to sink my teeth into a full time diversity, inclusion and belonging role. I was working in my last job as a training coordinator there. So I had some exposure to training courses focused on women in leadership and unconscious bias. But I wanted to do more I had started, what we call it at the time, LG, our LGBT work with whom someone I now call a friend, an executive bear, but also several other employees who are based in London. And so we created this global, what I call now at my current company, employee resource group, erg. And it was very successful. I mean, senior leadership was totally engaged, the visible visibility was global. It was on the top of everyone's minds, and honestly, bias, but I think that it gave other networks, the visibility that they needed, as well. And it put a spotlight on all the efforts that were going on related to vision and diversity. So much so that they asked me to speak to the company, out the networks. Michael Hingson 46:27 What led you to develop the passion? Did you just start to think about it, and it kind of grew or what? I Evan Walker 46:36 still to this day, I'm not quite sure. You know, it's funny because my dad consulted for many years with Christ on crisis management, public relations, and inclusion and diversity. And I never thought that I would be doing the same thing as him. But in many ways, I am following in his footsteps, which was totally unintended. I think that when I was raising my hand during focus groups, for employee networks for initiatives related to inclusion, and diversity, I just was curious and wanted to help in any way. It just kind of rounds me. Michael Hingson 47:25 So you left the company, the insurance company? And did you and your friends start your own company? Or did you go to work for someone else or what Evan Walker 47:36 I so I got a job. About a month later, I was hired by InterContinental Hotels.This was actually the year of 2020. And it was in March. So shortly before I started that job, which was a full time diversity and inclusion role, especially sprawl. I had enrolled in a Cornell online course, certificate in diversity and inclusion. So that was a self self taught course, like we had instructors, but everything was on your own time, rather. So there was no rush for me, but I had it in the event, longer to find a job than I expected. Well, even though I found the job, and I got a job rather quickly. COVID hit, of course. And so just starting there, I was like, Oh, it was a contract, permanent position. And at the time, there were a number of other people who were permanent, I believe, who might have been let go as well. But so many companies were just scrambling as to what to do. Everyone was sent home. And so I just use that time in between jobs to complete that course, which was a very rigorous course about engagement, your own engagement, when you weren't engaged. What did you do? Why do you feel that that was the case? And how do you make others feel engaged included? So that took me about eight months to complete by the end of it, I moved on to another company, I had extended an offer. That company was a great, great role. Great, great company. But after about two years with that company, I decided you know what? I would like to change and I feel like there's a new environment, a new path where I can experience being a diversity and inclusion manager I had left after IHG and starting at this company eight months later, or in the fall, I was a consultant for diversity and inclusion, helping people partnering with an accessibility subject matter expert, others from different parts of the world. And it was a great, great experience for me. But every company is on their own maturity scale. As far as diversity, inclusion, equity, all of these things, I wanted to experience a company that was on a different part of the scale. And so that's what led me to where I am now. Michael Hingson 50:41 So where are you now? Evan Walker 50:43 Now I am at Newman Technologies. I'm one of our global diversity and inclusion, inclusion and belonging managers, we actually are a telecommunications company, transforming as a technology company traded on the New York Stock Exchange. And just a great great company, curious, being present a lot of great values, and just putting our money where our mouth is, and our commitment as well. So I am just elated to be able to do what I do in this capacity, moving a mile a minute, but also seeing the change and being the change you want to see. That is what lumen is and I'm so happy to be along for the ride. So what is it you do? So, as a global as a Global Inclusion, belonging and diversity manager at Newman, I manage are starting to manage our communication in our partnership with the International organizations at lumen. So we have our APAC, India, EMEA. All of those organizations have what we call employee resource groups. And so the thread of that, or the holder of the thread of all of our employee resource groups, comes back to me. So I helped to oversee our disability, and abilities ERG, we have 11, employee resource groups help to see our black professionals ERG, we have a number of emojis that really help create more engagement, more of a safe space, but also just to help anyone feel included. And so that's a part of my role. But there's so many others, and I really just love it. Michael Hingson 52:50 How much influence do you have in getting the company when you discover something that maybe isn't right, from an inclusion standpoint, with one group or another? How much influence do you have in being able to change mindsets and change policy? Evan Walker 53:12 So actually, it's funny that you say that my boss is the chief diversity officer. So she brought all of us in to be curious, of new ideas, different diverse perspectives. And so with that, everything that I think about ideas, I'm not necessarily implementing all of them. Many of the ideas I have or perspectives or feedback related to I'm just gonna say policy, that does go back up to the C suite, just because my boss is the chief diverse diversity officer. So I often in leading taskforce related to changes in policies, how to get more employees engaged at all levels of the organization. And it all is exposed to senior leadership one way or another. So I would say it's pretty close. Pretty well, let me Michael Hingson 54:19 let me rephrase the question slightly. So maybe I should say how much does the chief diversity officer and the department have in the way of influence but let me give you an example. Let's say for example, someone and I will use disabilities here. Let's say a blind person comes along and says, I'm interested in being a part of your company or they get hired and they say, I need a screen reader software to be able to, to read what's on my computer screen because I can't read it otherwise. Or I go to these meetings and people are always handing out documentation at the beginning of the meetings, and then people read it and they discuss it, but nobody provides Is that in a form that I can use, much less provided in advance so that I really have access to it and can become familiar with it before the meeting, which really is the way we ought to handle documentation in general. But so someone comes to you and says, I got this problem. What? And I've gone to my boss, I tell you, and my boss has said, well, that's just the way it is, we're not going to do anything about it. That's clearly discriminatory and non inclusive. How do you deal with that? Evan Walker 55:36 Absolutely. So I would say, my boss would definitely be involved. So if that employee came in email, me or my boss, it would definitely get raised to the leadership level, depending on what the what the request is. In that scenario, I would say, that's absolutely discriminatory. And we do accommodate. We are inclusive of everyone, regardless of nationality, disability, ability, race, ethnicity, religion, all of those all of those inventions. And so it would be a dress, it would be listened to, and we make the accommodation or change needed, do we? Yeah, I'll leave it at that. Michael Hingson 56:27 Yeah. It's, it's an interesting conundrum. Because it all comes down to what people consider priorities and the cost of doing business. So for example, something that a number of us face regularly is we go into meetings, documentation is handed out papers. And they're referred to constantly during the meeting, but nobody makes them available for me to be able to access them. The other part about it is, which really is I think, the more interesting aspect of it, is that all too often we hand out documentation at meetings for people to read and the excuses. Well, we got to wait till the last minute to get the most current data. And the answer is do you really, rather than saying, we're going to provide the documentation in advance, so you should come prepared to discuss it. So at the meeting, you really discuss not spend half of your meeting or a good portion of your meeting, just preparing by reading it. And if you then do it in advance, it's a lot easier to make the documentation or the information accessible in a form that's usable. But getting people to change that mindset is really hard. But really, it ought to be part of the cost of doing business to make sure that true inclusion takes place. And it is so often a difficult thing to get people to change their mindset to do that, which is what prompted the question. Evan Walker 57:53 You're right. Yeah, the mindset change is is difficult, I think at any company specific, typically,around arounds. This this topic in a time of transformation, a time in society where the economy is very uncertain. The times that we're living in, and if you don't have those infrastructure, those systems in place already to support the mindset shift. That makes it even more difficult. I think the way lumen has been committed to inclusion for many, many years, has helped where we are moving forward in our journey. We also have a new CEO, who is from Microsoft spin all over the news and LinkedIn, and she's just wonderful. So she's also very committed to inclusion and diversity. And I think we're on a great, a great trajectory, a great path. But it's not easy for anyone to change those minds. Yeah. But you do have to meet people where they are. So Michael Hingson 59:10 you know, you absolutely do and it is a process. It's a learning process. It's a growing process on all sides. Well, I will tell you, this has been absolutely fun. And we've been doing this for about an hour now. Can you believe it? And so I think what we'll do is we will go ahead and stop but I want to get you back on in the future because I'd love to hear how your your journey and your adventure goes. And hear more about the experiences that you have at lumen and whatever you do, because your whole adventure now dealing with inclusion and diversity and so on is a worthwhile one to continue to discuss. Thank you Evan Walker 59:55 so much, Michael. This has been fun for me as well. I've really ever You're told this story at length, except for into family and friends. So it's been nice. Getting some of these these points out and also going down memory lane, I appreciate you taking me down that too. Michael Hingson 1:00:15 Well, thank you for for doing it and being willing to go down memory lane. And I want to thank you for listening. And I hope that you enjoyed this. Heaven has done a great job of giving us a lot of insights and a lot of useful information. I hope you found it interesting and that you enjoyed the podcast episode today, please give us a five star rating wherever you are. And wherever you're listening to this with whatever system, we would appreciate it. If you'd like to reach out, Evan, if people want to reach out to you, is there a way they can do that? Evan Walker 1:00:50 Yeah, people can just reach out to me on LinkedIn. So Evan, Robert Brown Walker, my name, just type that in on LinkedIn, you're welcome to connect with me send me a message. Also you have questions about actually going abroad and living abroad. There are a number of resources. Michael, I'm going to share those with you. Please, you know, we can we can share as far as links like the Council on International Education Exchange, and their website called transition transition abroad. For research. Michael Hingson 1:01:25 The blog articles that you wrote when you were in Korea, are they available to the public anywhere? That would be a fun series of links are linked to those blogs to Evan Walker 1:01:35 know. Yeah, I It's funny, I was looking, I want to say two or three years ago, and they totally redid their site. I will check with one of their directors. But those blogs I think have since since gone. Yeah. Michael Hingson 1:01:52 Gone to the big recycle bin in the sky. They Evan Walker 1:01:56 recycle then. Yeah, they've been replaced. There's now new bloggers? Well, it's Michael Hingson 1:02:01 fair to Well, again, we appreciate it. And for all of you reach out to Evan, he would love to hear from you, obviously and I would like to hear your comments as well. So feel free to email me at Michaelhi at accessibe A C C E S S I B E.com or visit our podcast page at WWW dot Michael hingson H i n g s o n.com/podcast. We'd love to hear from you. And of course those ratings are greatly appreciated. Love to get your thoughts. And if you have people in mind or think of people who you think we ought to have an unstoppable mindset and Evan you as well. Whether it's other people at Lumen or elsewhere, we'd love to hear from you and always are looking for podcast guests who can come on and tell stories. So we'd appreciate you letting us know about those people as well and giving us introductions. Evan Walker 1:02:56 Absolutely. Michael Hingson 1:02:58 Well, thank you one last time for being here. We really appreciate you doing this. And I expect to have you back on and we can hear about more adventures. Evan Walker 1:03:08 Oh, thank you, Michael. Pleasure, meeting you as well. And thank you again for the opportunity. Look forward to next time. Michael Hingson 1:03:20 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com. accessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

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Rabbi Seth is the Program Director of the Exodus Project Alex is the Regional Coordinator for Youth & Young Adult Ministry, Pastoral Juvenil

Presenters: Sandra Jacques, Esq., LEGAL ONE Supervisor of Legal Research and Content Development; Diahann DeRuggierio MSW, M.Ed., Bergen County Special Services, Regional Coordinator, McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless and Youth ProgramThis Podcast will provide an overview of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Participants will gain an understanding of a school's obligations to homeless students, as well as information about the application of Title I funds, the role of the District's Homeless Liaison, and additional resources.

Lael Stone and Dr Marion Rose talk about their new book: Raising Resilient and Compassionate Children. We deep dive into Aware Parenting, How to bring balance back into your child's life and Where to Start when you are in the thick of parenthood. Lael Stone is a childbirth educator, TedX speaker, Doula, Calmbirth® Practitioner, Postnatal trauma Counsellor and Aware Parenting practitioner. Her philosophy is centralised around creating wellness in families through education, connection and communication.  Marion has been studying psychology and consciousness since 1987 and has a PhD on postnatal depression and the mother-infant relationship from Cambridge University. She researched infant development as a post-Doctoral Research Fellow and taught MA students, as well working as a Psychosynthesis psychotherapist.Marion has been practicing Aware Parenting since 2002 and is the mother of a daughter and a son. She has been an Aware Parenting instructor since 2005 and is a Level Two instructor and the Regional Coordinator for Australia and New Zealand.You can find Lael and Marion here:Lael at www.laelstone.com.auMarion at www.marionrose.net Learn more about Dr Renee White and Fill Your Cup Postpartum Doulas:Want to be nurtured and nourished after the birth of your baby, have a peek at our doula offerings.If you want to gobble up our famous Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies, look no further.

Shaun Johnson is a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner at the University of New England Portland, Maine. Shaun has been a nurse for six years and is currently working as a Regional Coordinator for the University of New England's Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program.

Rory Keane, Regional Coordinator of the HSE Mid-West Drug and Alcohol Service discusses the launch of a dedicated service in Limerick aimed at reducing harm caused by crack cocaine.

Welcome back to the Podcast! HerUpland has been movin and shakin this past year and we're excited to reactivate this platform and get the HerUpland community involved! In this episode Sam Tillman, HerUpland's midwest Regional Coordinator and Board Member joins me to discuss where we started, what's happening, and what's to come.    Join the HerUpland Community

Alex is the Regional Coordinator for Youth & Young Adult Ministry, Pastoral Juvenil Father Memo is the Director of Vocations

Please join me for the 13th episode in the Conversations with Alan series in The Locher Room to meet Limor Vink, the Anti-Defamation League's Regional Coordinator of the New York/New Jersey office.Limor will be here to share her story about her remarkable grandparents; one a Holocaust survivor and the other a Righteous Gentile who helped save the lives of the Lowenstein family in the Netherlands during World War II. Two very different stories, but each powerful in their own right. Limor and I have a unique connection to the Netherlands and to WWII.After finishing her graduate studies in psychology, Limor decided to become involved in an organization that will fulfill her aspirations to help others and become part of an organization that educates about the holocaust to young children and teens and fights hate in all forms (ADL). The story of her grandparents, the survivors, and those who rescued - is following Limor with each step of her path. Being a part of both ends - knowing the consequences of what it means for one to be prosecuted from one end - and what the other can do for those who are being harassed is the actual embodiment of the two narratives in her identity that she has tried to integrate over the years. Original Airdate: 2/23/2022

Ann is here talking about a great Event at St Francis High School  Alex is the Regional Coordinator for Youth & Young Adult Ministry, Pastoral Juvenil

We know that we need to dramatically slow down fashion. And this season of the podcast has been dedicated to exploring just how we might do that. But what happens to the people who make our clothes? Stella Hertantyo is back in the host seat to explore this topic with Mousumi Sarangi, Fair Wear Foundation's Country Manager in India and the Regional Coordinator of Gender. Fair Wear Foundation is a nonprofit organization and multi-stakeholder initiative, connecting factories, workers, trade unions, NGOs, brands, and other fashion industry influencers.There's a lot to unpack in this episode — hit play and let's get into this layered discussion. *****This episode was brought to you by Green Eco Dream, a sustainably-minded marketplace with eco-conscious alternatives for your health, home, beauty, and on-the-go needs.Check out Green Eco Dream's collection of low waste, low impact laundry essentials to help make your loved clothes last!***** FULL SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT:https://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/fair-wear-foundation LINKS MENTIONED:The Industry We Want websiteEP12: From the Frontlines: Fighting for Garment Worker Rights in Bangladesh with Nazma AkterEP60: Living Wages for Garment Makers with Anne Bienias from Clean Clothes Campaign CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH & CONSCIOUS STYLE:WebsiteInstagramPinterest SUBSCRIBE TO THE CONSCIOUS EDIThttps://www.consciouslifeandstyle.com/edit  

www.SilentNoMoreAwareness.org

They said it could never happen.  Nevertheless, the impossible became possible when, on June 24, 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that many considered a judicial coup, mistakenly attributed the power to establish the "constitutional right" to abortion to the federal government, and led to the death of over sixty million unborn babies over fifty years. June 24th was a moment that Jordan Brittain, of Students for Life, has been working towards her entire life.  So, what now?As we will hear today in a riveting Kingdom Culture Conversation, the work for pro-life advocates is just beginning.  With self-statutory autonomy returned to the state level after being erroneously claimed by the federal government, in a culture in which the murder of innocents and vulnerable is called "healthcare", the mission of Students for Life isn't just to make abortion illegal.  Rather, they aim to make it unthinkable.This means hearts need to change.  This means prayer.  This means civil discourse with those that disagree.  And, Jordan is up for the challenge.To learn more about Students for Life, please follow this link."Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.For more information on Frameworks, please visit:  https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit:  https://www.ncsaz.org/To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email gbrown@ncsaz.org or you can reach him by cell phone:  (623)225-5573.

“The choices Naomi and Ruth make can be seen as a picture of how we can respond to God's invitation to stay where we are in sin or stake all our future on Him.”  Oh how we pray our children will make the choice to stake all on Jesus!  Today Stacy talks with our wonderful Moms in Prayer International Regional Coordinator of Honduras, Emilia Frech de Alberto as we continue our Moms in the Bible series. She is here to share on our next Bible mom, a favorite of many, Ruth.  Listen in as Emilia encourages us to trust our sovereign God who rules in the midst of uncertain times.  ABOUT OUR GUEST: Emilia Frech de Alberto has loved to pray since she was very young. For many years, she willingly served with much love and passion as an interpreter for American missionaries living in her country, while she was studying at the University to become an Architect. After graduating, she strongly felt God's call on her life. Doors of opportunity had opened for her to obtain a degree in Practical Theology from Christ for the Nations in Dallas, TX. After several missionary trips, she returned to her country, Honduras. She began to seek God's purpose for her life as her heart had a yearning to be a blessing to her nation; continued working for many years as a teacher and English coordinator in a Christian School and now working from home at a marketing company, also preparing to become a Certified Translator.  In 2014, she pioneered her first Moms in Prayer group at a Bilingual School where she worked as a Spiritual Counselor. In July 2018, she became Area Coordinator and is now transitioning to serve as Regional Coordinator. She is excited to see how God is answering their prayers; her team-leaders are growing and helping her to extend the ministry in every department of Honduras. Emilia and her husband Alex have three sons, Caleb Elias, Afif Josue and Alex David. SCRIPTURES: (NIV unless noted) “Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women.  Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” Ruth 2:8-9 (ESV) And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. Ruth 3:11 (ESV) Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:“Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 2 Samuel 7:18 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38 (ESV) Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21 LINKS: MOMS IN PRAYER New to Moms in Prayer? Find Out More!  PRAY with Moms in Your Community for Your Children Support Our Mission

“The same comfort we receive from God we can use to comfort others in their suffering.” And what a gift comfort is! Today Stacy talks with Elisabeth Hoefliger all the way from beautiful Switzerland as we continue our Moms in the Bible series.  Elisabeth is our Moms in Prayer International Regional Coordinator of Eastern Switzerland and she is here to share on our next Bible mom, Naomi from the book of Ruth.  Listen in as Elisabeth shares the hope and comfort she herself has received as the Lord has cared for her just like He cared for Naomi.  ABOUT OUR GUEST: Elisabeth Hoefliger is a Regional Coordinator with Moms in Prayer International. It is a privilege for her to oversee the beautiful region of Eastern Switzerland. She loves encouraging moms of all ages standing in the gap and be everything God calls them to be. Elisabeth and her husband have five children on earth and two in heaven, three children-in-love and six beautiful grandchildren. Through navigating the loss of her two precious sons, Elisabeth has found great comfort drawing closer to God, spending time in His wonderful creation and going for walks with her dog Jimmy. Elisabeth loves reading, travelling, worshipping and good, long talks with family and friends. SCRIPTURES: (NIV unless noted) “May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” Ruth 2:12 (NLT) So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David. Ruth 4:13-17 (NLT) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Psalm 36:9 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 LINKS: MOMS IN PRAYER New to Moms in Prayer? Find Out More!  PRAY with Moms in Your Community for Your Children Support Our Mission