Podcasts about wish foundation

On this episode of National Disability Radio, we sit down with award-winning recording artist, advocate, and author Lachi for a powerful conversation about disability pride, music, and unmasking. Lachi shares her journey, from navigating the music industry as a blind artist, to founding RAMPD, a coalition amplifying disability culture across the industry. We talk about what it means to say “I identify as blind,” move beyond the medical and social models of disability into a cultural model rooted in identity and joy, and remind listeners that no one can defeat someone who hasn't given up. From glam canes to Grammy stages, this episode is about claiming space, rejecting internalized ableism, and turning perceived flaws into flexes. Transcript: Alden Blevins: It’s Lachi? I feel very- Lachi: Lachi like Versace. Alden Blevins: Lachi like… Oh, I love that. Michelle Bishop: That is the best way to explain it. Lachi: I mean, but you know what I’m saying? Come on. Alden Blevins: Well, we’re really excited about having you today because we’re all music lovers in this group here. Michelle Bishop: Yes. Alden Blevins: We talk about music all the time. Michelle Bishop: So much. Lachi: Good, good, good, good, good, good, good. I’m in the right place. Michelle Bishop: Hi everyone. Welcome back to National Disability Radio, the official podcast of the National Disability Rights Network. I am Michelle Bishop, 1/3 of your podcast hosting team. Stephanie Flynt McEben: And I’m Stephanie Flynt McEben, public policy analyst here at NDRN. Alden Blevins: I am Alden. I am a communication specialist at NDRN and I am so excited today, like I mentioned, we’re all lovers of music, so we got a guest that I’m really excited about. Lachi is an award-winning recording artist and a recording Academy Grammy’s national trustee. She’s also a disability advocate who’s been breaking barriers in the music industry and beyond. She’s the founder of RAMPD, which by the way, is such a fun play name. I really love that. And the author of the upcoming book, I Identify as Blind. So without further ado, Michelle, you’ve got some questions to kick us off, I think. Michelle Bishop: Yes. We’re so excited to have you with us. As Alden said, we are. We’re huge music lovers. I’m pretty sure we spend most of our meetings where we allegedly plan this podcast just talking about music. So you’re absolutely in the right place today, but to get us started, I mean, you’ve been open about the fact, and I’m just really interested in this as a disability rights podcast. You’ve been really open about the fact that it took you some time to really embrace your identity as a blind and disabled woman, especially in the industry that you’re in that often really rewards conformity. Can you tell us a little bit more about that journey for you, both as an artist and as someone navigating just the world with a disability? Lachi: Okay. Yeah, for sure. Hey, everybody. Lachi here, Lachi like Versace. I am a Black woman with cornrows, chilling here in New York in my studio. I also identify as blind, I identify as neurodivergent, and I identify as an Aries. So do with that what you will. Michelle Bishop: All the important points right there. Lachi: All the important points like name, age, sign. Thank you. Okay. Yeah, but I’m really glad to be here. And thank you for that question, and thank you for having me. So music has always been a very integral part of my life of growing up. Where other babies would kick in the womb, when she was pregnant with me, I was playing the piano in the womb. I don’t know how she got a piano in there, but she’s not a liar, so I’m going to take her word for it. When I was super-duper young, I didn’t really have a lot of friends, especially because of the fact that I had differences and this and that. And so I would take to music to, I guess, understand the world better and have the world understand me better. I just knew how to express myself through song and it just said the things I needed to say. It was the prayer I needed. And because of music, I started to find confidence in how to speak and how to behave and how to act. And as I got older, when I was growing up, disability was not necessarily a thing people talked about a lot in schools and teachers didn’t know what to do. My parents didn’t really know what to do. And so I would always just turn to music. It’s actually right now I’m working on a children’s album because I think that kids need to hear music that has to do with disability and neurodivergence, as well as their parents as they grow up. When I got into college, I started wanting to do music, but I studied business and finance because when I told my parents I wanted to do music, they were like, “That’s not how you spell doctor.” because they are Nigerian immigrants and everybody else in my family went to either med school and blah, blah, blah. And I was like, “No, I want to do music.” But I did get a day job after school, after college, and didn’t love it because this girl is not going to exist behind a desk. So I ended up going to South by Southwest and I got signed actually from playing the guitar at a hole in the wall spot that nobody was at, except for this A&R apparently. So we got signed to an imprint under EMI, which was a major label back then, and we started touring and music then became my life. Now today, why wouldn’t I pay my respects back to music? I mean, it’s because of music that I was able to really lean into who I am, my disability, my confidence, et cetera. So because of that, because of how much music has given to me in my life, I’m here using music to give back to other people with disabilities. Now, your question was essentially, how do you sit here and try to bring about change for disability in an industry that is not only about conformity, but also about like, “Hey, pick me to exploit.” is essentially what the music industry is. You’re raising your hand to be exploited and that’s what kind of authenticity is that? But at the end of the day, music is some of the truest forms of storytelling. And I think to myself, just the way that hip hop has amplified Black culture and the way that country music has amplified rural culture and the way that different global musics have represented different global cultures. I want to use music to amplify disability culture. I want to use music to amplify disability stories and feelings that are difficult to put words to, that are words of the soul, which is essentially what music is. And so I started going to studios and realizing things weren’t as accessible as they should be. I started speaking with organizations and realizing things weren’t as inclusive as they should be. And the response I kept getting was like, “Oh, well, there’s nobody with a disability in the music industry, so why would we make these measures?” And so I have made it my life’s goal through RAMPD, which by the way, the best thing we ever accomplished was our acronym, not us working with the Grammys to get sign language on the red carpet, not us getting these partnerships with title, Live Nation, Spotify. I mean, we’ve done so much, not just for artists, but also for professionals. And we’ve started to realize something really interesting with the work we’ve done with RAMPD. We are getting people joining our membership who are director level folks, who are label owners, who are like the big wigs that write the checks, and they’re like, “I’m neurodivergent. I’m actually hard of hearing. I have a TBI.” And so when I originally set out, they said, “We don’t do disability inclusion because nobody’s disabled.” That was three years ago. Now I’m like, not only are there neurodivergent and disabled music professionals out here, but we all are. So really to conclude, it’s just that everyone is navigating trying to make it out in this world, but everyone’s masking. Everyone feels that they have to change some part of themselves to be as close as they can to what success looks like, be as close as they can to what “beauty” looks like, what winning looks like. But really all it is internalized ableism. And I say, as soon as we drop that internalized ableism and we really start to sit in who we truly are and we start to recognize our perceived flaws as flexes, that’s when we truly start to win. And so that’s what we’re finding out with RAMPD, that people are like, “You know what? I’m tired of navigating this difficult industry with the added layer of having to mask.” And so that’s why I do what I do. Michelle Bishop: Yes. And honestly, as ridiculous as it sounds that they say to you, “Oh, there aren’t any people with disabilities.” When I tell you, we see that in everything that we do. I do voting work at NDRN and we’ll have elections officials tell us, “This polling place isn’t accessible, but there aren’t any people with disabilities that vote here.” And it’s like, “What? You realize we’re everywhere and we do all sorts of things.” Maybe the reason they think there’s no people with disabilities here is because they’re stuck outside and they can’t get in because you didn’t make it accessible, just a thought. But I mean, it sounds like coming up against all that is really, correct me if I’m wrong, helped you to develop that identity and that disability pride in the industry. When did you first say, “I identify as blind.” and what did that mean for you? Lachi: Well, so when I first came into really doing the disability thing, really leaning in, I wanted to find out more influencers or thought leaders and such with disabilities. I didn’t really know that many people. This is pre COVID, 2018, 2019, that kind of thing. And so I came across an influencer, her name is Molly Burke, and we’re great friends now, but I didn’t know her back then. I had just seen her tagline and it had said, “I’m Molly Burke and I’m a YouTuber who happens to be blind.” And for some reason I was like, “I don’t know if I love the happens to be blind thing.” I was like, “Well, I’m proud of being blind. Blindness is part of my identity. I don’t just happen to be a woman. I don’t just happen to be a Nigerian. I don’t just happen to be all of the things I am.” And so I would go to… I was touring… We’re always touring and every time I tour and do a show, I do a comedic open where I just introduce myself, I do a quick self-description, et cetera. And in my self-description, I would say, and I don’t just happen to be blind. My blindness is part of my identity, has given me all of the opportunities I have, and it’s really made me a deeper blah, blah, blah. It was just too long. So I had punched it up to be, “My name is Lachi like Versace. She, her, I’m a Black woman with cornrows and I identify as blind.” And the interesting thing about that is people took onto it. They were like, “Oh, that’s cool, nice and punchy.” But whenever I would say it in front of a large crowd or like I’ve said it on interviews or during commercials, I would get this weird, I don’t know, pushback of like, you can’t identify as blind. Blindness is an identity. It’s a medical condition. Or they’ll be like, “Do you read braille or not?” Or they’ll be like, “We don’t want people to think trans blindness is a thing where you just have a blind identity.” And then you can be like, “Well, I’m blind today, so that’s my identity.” And I thought that was really fun. I was like, “Look, everybody’s upset. They’re talking about blindness though.” So I really leaned all the way into it. And I have to say, I am super proud of my disability identity. Was it music that brought me there? I think in a sense and in a way, like today I have a few songs, you guys are music lovers, I have a few songs out that really talk about my disability pride. I think that a lot of the times as we navigate the world, masking our disability, masking our chronic condition, our difference or whatever, we end up overcompensating. We end up building up this really, really thick problem solving muscle or this really, really thick how to get around things muscle and we overcompensate. When we’re finally accommodated, when we finally get to a place where we’re accommodated or we have the tools we need, we’re coming in like bulk as hell. We’re coming in with problem solving muscles. We’re coming in with all of these things that we had to build up because of navigating the world differently, because of every day working through this very difficult maze that is living a life unaccommodated, then when we finally are accommodated, then we are killing it and crushing it. And how could you not be proud of that? How can that not give you a sense of pride? So the songs that I would love for you guys to check out that are mine is I have a song called Life on Hard, which has gone viral several times on Instagram. I’m known as an Instagram rapper, which is like, what? Hello, I do disability advocacy. Look at that stuff. But anyway, so I have a song called Life on Hard, which is essentially about just winning the game of life, playing it on the hardest setting out here while people are still trying to consult the manual. I have another song called Professional, which is oftentimes when I walk on the stage, people see the cane and they’re like, “Aw, she’s going to do a song for us. Is this from Make a Wish Foundation?” And then I bust out these raps or I hop on the piano and I go ape on this piano and then they’re like, “Oh, snap. What? Okay.” And I’m like, “Bro, I’m a professional artist. I’m not object for pity to make you feel good because you felt weird on a Monday and you didn’t feel like getting up for work, but it’s like, she could do it. So can I.” I’m like, “No, I can do it. You most likely probably just can’t.” So that’s what that song’s about. And then there’s The Bag, and The Bag is just essentially like, I’ve been told no so much like, “No, you can’t. No, you’re not good enough. No, we don’t want you.” And I’m like, “You know what? Yes, I am good enough and I deserve everything. So I’m going to throw everything I deserve in the bag, which is everything.” I don’t know. I would not be the person I am if I didn’t love all parts of myself. And that includes my disabilities, that includes my neurodivergences and all of the other wacky, weird body jazz that I bring with me everywhere I go. Michelle Bishop: Lachi, can we maybe, do you and I just FaceTime each other every morning and hype each other up? Stephanie Flynt McEben: I was literally about to say the same thing. I would like in on a true call. Michelle Bishop: I don’t know if you know. Actually, I want to say quickly, I know some of those songs actually from social media, but they’re real. They’re so real. So people haven’t heard music, go check it out. I don’t know if you know one of our co-hosts, Stephanie is blind. You’re speaking directly to her soul right now. Stephanie Flynt McEben: I literally just texted them in our podcast group text and I was like, she’s totally speaking to my soul RN, but of course I don’t want to interrupt anything. Michelle Bishop: No, I know you’re dying to talk to her about the book, Stephanie, and take it away. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yeah, no, absolutely, for sure. And as somebody who is blind and who also identifies as a blind person and definitely does not identify with the medical model of disability, clearly gotten to more of a social model. But yeah, in terms of going through that journey of accepting all of who you are and everything about yourself, for me, I mean, it took a minute, especially when you’re talking about your experiences as a child and I totally feel that. I was that girl playing the harmonica on the jungle gym by herself. Anyway, this is about you. This is not about me, but I’m just saying that I totally relate to you on a spiritual level. And given that, I would love to know, were there any particular moments when it came to writing the book that were particularly hard or healing? Because I mean, I think that we all know that it’s not always a linear journey. Some days are going to be harder than others. And so would love to get your perspective on that. And I think that our listeners would be interested. Lachi: Yeah, absolutely. The journey for me has been one of constantly unwrapping this amazing gift. I always try to use that as the visual, if you will, of you have this big present and you get to unwrap it and then you just keep getting something cooler inside and then you get to unwrap that and you get something cooler inside and you just keep unwrapping this beautiful gift that is yourself. But you don’t realize that when you first get the box, the amazing stuff that’s going on inside, and it takes time to get to it. So a lot of times growing up, I would kick myself in the butt of, I wish I had come to this when I was so much younger. I wish there were people out there when I was younger, role models that I could look up to when I was eight years old and pointing on the TV and saying like, “Okay, well, I mean, I understand that Ray Charles existed, but that’s not going to…” Stephanie Flynt McEben: Stevie Wonder is here, Ray Charles is here, but we need more of us. Hello. Lachi: We need more of us. Hello. Exactly. And so this time and place where I am right now is where I needed to be for this to work. So I can’t really kick myself in the butt of like, “I wish I had this. I wish I knew this so much earlier. I would’ve been so much further.” That kind of thing. You have to be where you got to be where you need to be. Even right now, this conversation we’re having right now is going to have been necessary for the next thing that is happening in our lives. And just the other day, I was hanging out with Queen Herby, who’s been one of my favorite more modern rappers. I just did a thing with Apl.de.ap. I have done some stuff with Black Caviar. Folks that I’ve looked up to, I’m having the opportunity to Snoop Dogg. I’m having the opportunity to work with these days because of the fact that I am here at the right time now. So when I was writing my book, we were peeling back all the layers. I’m a generally very positive and energetic, social butterfly type of person today. But it’s interesting, I wasn’t always this person and I had to unpack all the layers to get there. One of the biggest things that happens to me, so I’ve always been low vision. So I was born with relatively low vision and it stayed the same throughout my teens and early 20s. But one day I woke up and my sight was just gone. Boom. So the interesting thing is anybody listening would be like, “Oh my God, if I woke up and my sight was gone, I would just die or I would not know what to do. My life would be over.” Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yep. Heard that a million times. Yes. Lachi: But for me, it was weird because I was already low vision, so I was going from level one to the underwater level or whatever. So it wasn’t like that life changing of a thing. I was already using screen readers or Zoom text. I was already doing stuff of that nature. So I wake up blind and I’m just like, “Okay, I guess this is it. This is the day that they told me was coming.” What had ended up happening was my corneas had erupted. And so I went to the doctor and he was like, “You’re going to become completely blind. You’re going to go from this much worse vision than you’ve had to complete blindness over the course of time.” So here you go, here’s a coupon. Bye.” or whatever. So I’m like, all right. So I had decided at that moment that I wanted to start a bucket list. So I was like, okay, what are all the things I’ve always wanted to do before completely going completely blind? So I was like, let me go skydiving, let me go spolunking, let me go meet with people, meet with celebrities and just do all of the things I’ve always wanted to do before I lose my vision. So I went out and I did it. This is still me doing it. This is still me doing it. And so I say that because to people who say if I ever went blind, I would just die. Well, when I went blind, it made me want to live. And that’s what opened me up into being this person that I am today. Stephanie Flynt McEben: That is amazing. I genuinely love that. Lachi: We talk about charity model and propping disabled folks up as tools of pity. We talk about medical model, which is really just waiting around for cure, making the cure the hero. We talk about social model, which is a really good place to live in the sense of things are impairing if they’re not accessible. Society is impairing if it’s not inclusive. But honestly, if I have all of the things, like if I have all my tools, if I have all that I need and if folks are inclusive, then I’m still blind, but I’m not impaired. But I like to go a little step further into what is the cultural model. And so the cultural model is it’s not just a discussion of what society should and shouldn’t do. It’s actually a celebration of what you gain as a person who identifies with their disability or their neurodivergence, the things they need to overcompensate because they’re navigating the world a little differently, leaning into that. So let’s say for instance, deaf culture, sign language, and the fact that folks can have complete discussions outside of what we’re talking about, there is so much deaf pride out in these streets, that is a celebration of culture that comes out of disability. And for me, let’s say for instance, I have ADHD and it powers my one million and counting ideas. I have diagnosed OCD, which helps me carry out all those one million and counting ideas. I have diagnosed general anxiety disorder, which gives me my empathy and my excitement. And then I am blind, which when I have the tools I need, it gives me drive. It keeps me determined, it keeps me focused, and it gives me my dope ass glam canes. There was a girl and her mom, and she came up to me after a show and she was like, “Oh my God, your music was great.” I was like, thank you. She’s like, “Mommy, can I get one of those canes?” And then her mom was like, “Ugh, well, you have to be blind.” And I’m like, “Yeah, girl, you better want to be me.” Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yeah. We drive sticks. Anyway, sorry. Lachi: Yes. You know what? I speak softly and I carry a big old stick. Thank you. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yes. Amen to that. Exactly. As somebody who considers themself a lifelong disability advocate, I never really thought about it in the sense of going beyond the social into the cultural. So thank you so, so much. We all learn something new every single day on this podcast, but I’d love to know a little bit more about, obviously you were very, very, very good at talking through these experiences in such a way that they are very relatable and easy to understand and that thing. So I’d love to pick your brain about the intended audience of your book. Who did you write it for? Other blind folks? Did you write it for, was it written for multiple audiences? Lachi: Yeah, honestly, I wrote it for the person who is masking. I wrote it for anyone who is tired of… Listen, let me put it like this. Let’s face it, disability is boring, a lot of the time it’s sad and it’s compliancy. We have to go the extra mile to make it fun because the actual truth of it is that the only reason it’s boring, sad, and compliancy is because society has kept it that way through its collective internalized ableism. And so my book is actually a humor book. It’s a pop culture book. It’s a comedy book. In fact, when we were talking to the publisher, it’s like, we should be putting this up against other comedic books, not necessarily disability books because it’s a book. I got so many jokes. I have dad jokes, they’re corny jokes, I have rap bars. I rap in a lot of the book just because I was like, “Hey, this rhymes.” I’m going to say it like a rap. We’re doing the audiobook right now, so I actually get to wrap it, which is really fun. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Oh, that is so cool. Oh my gosh. Lachi: Which is really, really fun. But really, honestly, what the book is what everything I do is it is using joy, soul, pop culture, jokes, humor, fashion, and just a really good time to celebrate disability, as well as community. So what you’ll find in this book is my story through my story, through historical deep dives, through interviews with some really, really cool popular figures and a really big deep dose of disability joy. And so a lot of folks who have disabilities, they will read this book and they’ll be energized. It’ll be like, “This is really great. I’m glad that I finally get to read a book that talks about disability in a positive way.” For blind specific folks, they might relate to a few of my stories because I talk about the day I woke up blind, I talk about when I went skydiving blind, I talk about just some of my interesting blind moments. But then I also talk about how I would go to red carpets and not know how to talk to anybody. So I’m in this amazing room with all these celebrities I can’t see and I’m just sitting on the wall. So I talk about some of the hard times too as well. But at the end of the day, really what the book is is an invitation in for somebody who feels a little different, a little awkward, has to mask, and just needed that invite in to talk about disability in a fun, joyful, celebratory way, to recognize that yes, that thing in you that’s different, that thing in you that society has told you you should view as a weakness and hide, you should be proud of. And I say this to people all the time. I say it in the industry, I say it to all my friends, I say it to anyone who will listen. I say it to my local barista and they come back and they say things like, “Oh my God, I’m so glad you said it that way. It turns out I have a titanium hip and I’ve never told anybody about that.” And that’s the vibe. The vibe is someone who was like, “I really needed this to be said to me this way, and now I am able to step all the way into my disability identity.” Alden Blevins: I love, especially what you said about joy. I feel like for me as an autistic person, my experience in the arts is that it is really a space where people who maybe don’t belong in other spaces or don’t feel like they belong in other spaces or are made to feel like they don’t belong in other spaces. I think that a lot of them really do find a safe space in music, in the arts, in theater. And I just wanted to ask, why do you think the music space is such a special one for you and why do you think it’s a place where other people with disabilities seem to flock together as well? Lachi: I mean, you hit the nail on the head. Counterculture, I mean, music often rewards counterculture. And then it eventually becomes mainstream and then we got to rebel against that. So music is a place where your soul can speak. And I think a lot of the times with disabilities, especially autism for me, I’m ADHD, OCD, a different neurodivergence situation, but a lot of the issue is communication. We don’t know how to say exactly what we need or whoever we’re talking to just doesn’t know how to hear what we’re saying. And so I think that what music does is it allows a soul to speak to a soul. A lot of the times music does this thing where you’ll be listening to a song and you’ll just be like, “That, that right there. That’s what I it me. That’s the thing I’m feeling.” type deal. Music has the ability to do that. And so for me, right now, this children’s album that I’m working on, the kids’ album, which is an album that is essentially R&B, pop, electronic, sort of the genres that I dance in for kids centered on disability and neurodivergence. Because what I want to do is be able to say, “Hey, I want you to point at that and say, that’s me.” And I think the easiest and quickest way to point at something and say, “That’s me also.” has been music. And so it’s why it’s been my strongest medium. Again, it’s not my only medium. I’m talking to folks through the book, I’m talking to folks through fashion, et cetera, et cetera. But again, music has been just the quickest, easiest point A to point B conversation easer, if you will, about disability. Another thing I also love to use is humor and comedy. So I make jokes all the time. They’re all bad. They’re all very not good jokes. I need to probably get a joke writer, but the fact that I’m having such a good time telling the jokes, I think I think is all that really matters. So I think both music and humor are just really, really great spaces for two people to get to relate to something that may be difficult to talk about. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yo, if you need a joke writer, I’m your girl. I actually do a joke every single episode of this podcast. Michelle Bishop: Her jokes are not better than yours, Lachi. Don’t hire her. Stephanie Flynt McEben: My jokes are pretty bad. They’re worse than dad’s jokes. They’re like granddad jokes. Alden Blevins: Yeah. Stephanie is the queen of the jokes on our podcast. She always brings one through. Didn’t know that you were working on a children’s music album, and I think that’s really interesting. I actually used to be a teacher, so children’s music is something that’s near and dear to my heart. So I just wanted to ask, what would you want to tell to younger people with disabilities, younger disabled creatives about claiming space and being able to tell their own stories? Lachi: Well, one thing that I heard from someone else, I don’t remember who it was. I think it was- Michelle Bishop: Jordan? Lachi: Yes, Jordan. He’s the one that said this. Michelle Bishop: I love him. Lachi: Yeah, he’s so funny. I met him at a… What did I meet him at? The Webby Awards or something. But anyway, no one can ever defeat someone who hasn’t given up. And for some reason that hit me, and I don’t even think he was trying to say it that deep. He was just saying a joke or something. But I took that and it was like, no one can ever defeat someone who hasn’t given up. So at the end of the day, you are really the only one who can end whatever you’re trying to get. Because as long as you are still going for it, it is still still there. It’s like a Schrodinger’s cat. It’s like as long as you’re still running for it, that opportunity is still there for you to have. The opportunity is never lost as long as you’re still going for it. And people can tell you, people can take your shoulders and tell you to go right. People can take your shoulders and tell you to go left. But until you take your own shoulders and go in the direction that your heart, your soul, your passion, your fire, desires, that is when you truly begin to live. And so I say personally, lean into that. I hear from a lot of younger, especially creators with disabilities. I mentor a lot of folks, tons and tons of folks. It’s one of the things I love to do the most. But what I love to tell folks is you are going to be the best you. And that you is going to include all of the different parts of who you are, but it is especially going to include you leaning in to the things that make you different and unique as unique selling points. Earlier I talked about how people try so hard to be the “definition of beauty”, definition of success, definition of whatever. Everyone’s trying to be this reference man. Everyone’s trying to be as close as they can to the reference man. And if I’m as close as I can to the reference man, then I’ll be successful or then I’ll get this job or then I’ll get this gig. But the truth of the matter is when we look at all of the people that are doing all of the big things, they’re “eccentric”. They’re “weird”. They did some big different idea that no one was thinking about and everybody fell into their trend. The further away you are from the reference man, that is when you start to win. That is when you’ll start to see success. That is when you’ll start to feel much better about yourself. That is when you can wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and say, “I am fine.” When you are able to accept all of those different freckles of yourself that are as far away from the reference man as possible, because guess what? There is room outside of the barrel for everyone to win if they are all being their unique self and running their unique purpose. That’s what I would tell to young disabled creators. Michelle Bishop: That’s amazing. Almost feel like we should stop there, but I have so many follow-up questions. Lachi: Listen, I’m here to drop as many mics as they will let me keep breaking. Michelle Bishop: I was wondering how you see the conversation around disability and inclusion and evolving these days. And a lot of our listeners are people with disabilities or people who have other even multiple intersecting identities in which they experience barriers as well. What does allyship look like to you? Lachi: This is one of my favorite questions. So yes, we have folks with disabilities and we have folks who want to work with people with disabilities, want to help a friend with a disability, want to make sure they don’t say the wrong thing to a person with a disability, neurodivergence, chronic condition, mental health condition. That’s not an ally. Wanting to help a person with a disability is not an ally. To me, wanting to support someone with a disability, that’s an ally in the very basic definition of allyship. Here’s what I think an ally is. To answer the question, I got to do two things. One, talk about the disability umbrella. So the disability umbrella encompasses so many forms of disability. It is neurodivergence, which is ADHD, dyslexia, OCD. It is mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar. It is someone who learns a little differently. It is someone who has explosive situations like anger management. It is someone who has substance abuse disorder, maybe somebody who drinks too much or uses different substances. It is chronic back pain. You know what I’m saying? It is asthma. It is EDS. It’s POTS. It is long COVID. It is different complications that you gain after pregnancy. It is different complications that you gain as you age. It is different complications you gain through menopause. It is temporary. It is breaking your arm and wearing a cast. It is seasonal depression. There is nobody on this earth that is not within the disability umbrella. And I don’t mean that you’re going to grow into it. I don’t mean in the future. I mean right now. Whether you identify as a person with a disability or not, you have disability identity because you have experience in your body disability. And when you figure that out, then you’re an ally. Allyship is seeing yourself through the other person because you can’t look through someone else’s eyes unless you can see yourself in them. And you can’t see yourself in disability until you recognize the disability identity within yourself. All of a sudden, and I say this and people are like, “What? I say this, but I’ve seen this. I’ve seen it happen. I’ve seen people who did not associate themselves with any form of disability or anything and they’re just like, Oh, them. Oh, I’ll help them. We have a conversation and then we have a follow-up conversation and then we’re drinking and then all of a sudden they’re telling me all their disabilities and then they’re walking a little different when they encounter disability. It’s no longer a them thing. And so that’s what an ally is. People with disabilities are also allies. I am an ally to the deaf community because I recognize though I’m not deaf, I see the having to navigate the world differently in you of myself. So that’s how I define an ally. An ally is someone who understands their own disability identity and can see it in others. Michelle Bishop: Don’t mind me over here just taking notes. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Literally. Oh my gosh. Lachi, thank you so, so, so much for being with us and taking time. I know that your website, lachimusic.com is one of the places where folks can stay up to date on all of the latest and greatest things that you’re up to. Is there anything else in particular you would like to plug for our listeners? Lachi: Like you said, LACHI, L-A-C-H-I M-U-S-I-C. I’m on the internets everywhere. Instagram, Spotify, check out the old music. If you’re a creator, a music creator or professional with a disability, check us out at RAMPD, R-A-M-P-D.org. Or if you want to donate or if you want to partner with us over at RAMPD, please do. If you are a cane user, whether you’re a blind cane user or you use Mobility Cane, check out glamcanes.com, get your canes bejeweled. I Identify as Blind, our book is out on Penguin Random House, imprint called Tiny Reparations by Phoebe Robinson, who is also a comedian. So we’re out here all writing very funny books. So please check it out. And lastly, listen, try to find moments in your day of disability joy. And when you find that moment, take a picture of it or write it down so that you can go back to it and live for those moments. So thank you guys so much for having me on this podcast. It’s really been a blast getting to talk at you about all things I identify as blind. Alden Blevins: I love it. I was over here taking notes too because I just found so much of myself in what you were saying and so many things were poignant and empowering. I, as an autistic person, try to be an ally to other parts of the disability community myself. And that’s something where I’m always trying to put myself in the shoes of another person and what they might experience. So I think that’s really powerful. We were so grateful to be able to connect and learn more about you, Lachi. Lachi: Yes, yes, yes. So honored to be here, guys. Michelle Bishop: Before you head out, Lachi, do you want to hear one of Stephanie’s grandpa jokes? Lachi: I was going to say, I was like, “Let’s hear one of these granddad jokes.” Let me see. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Okay. This might be- Michelle Bishop: Okay, do it. Stephanie Flynt McEben: … a granddad joke. Okay. Where do spiders like to get their information? Lachi: The web? Michelle Bishop: That would be something to do with web. Stephanie Flynt McEben: But what kind of web? Lachi: Wow. Really? You are fired from being my comedy writer. You are fired to be my comedy writer. I was rooting for you too. I was like, let’s just… Please. Stephanie Flynt McEben: I wouldn’t even get to the punchline yet. Michelle Bishop: Worldwide web? Stephanie Flynt McEben: It is the worldwide web. Michelle Bishop: Oh. Stephanie Flynt McEben: It’s fine. It’s fine. My wife warned me not to tell that joke this month and I didn’t lose it. Michelle Bishop: Oh my gosh. I’m so glad you stuck around for that part. Lachi: As I live and breathe. Thank you guys so, so much. This has been so much fun and I will see who else I can tell that joke to. And go ahead and just to help you out, Stephanie, I’ll go ahead and embarrass myself by telling that joke to others. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Not my best work, but that is allyship. Yes. Michelle Bishop: Oh my gosh, Lachi, thank you so much. And everyone, please lachimusic.com. Check it out. Listen to the music, read the book. Alden Blevins: Speaking of the worldwide web, this has been National Disability Radio. We celebrate stories, leadership, and talent of people with disabilities. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, share, and continue the conversation with us on that worldwide web at ndrn.org or anywhere you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks for listening and until next time. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Bye.

On this episode of National Disability Radio, we sit down with award-winning recording artist, advocate, and author Lachi for a powerful conversation about disability pride, music, and unmasking. Lachi shares her journey, from navigating the music industry as a blind artist, to founding RAMPD, a coalition amplifying disability culture across the industry. We talk about what it means to say “I identify as blind,” move beyond the medical and social models of disability into a cultural model rooted in identity and joy, and remind listeners that no one can defeat someone who hasn't given up. From glam canes to Grammy stages, this episode is about claiming space, rejecting internalized ableism, and turning perceived flaws into flexes. Transcript: Alden Blevins: It’s Lachi? I feel very- Lachi: Lachi like Versace. Alden Blevins: Lachi like… Oh, I love that. Michelle Bishop: That is the best way to explain it. Lachi: I mean, but you know what I’m saying? Come on. Alden Blevins: Well, we’re really excited about having you today because we’re all music lovers in this group here. Michelle Bishop: Yes. Alden Blevins: We talk about music all the time. Michelle Bishop: So much. Lachi: Good, good, good, good, good, good, good. I’m in the right place. Michelle Bishop: Hi everyone. Welcome back to National Disability Radio, the official podcast of the National Disability Rights Network. I am Michelle Bishop, 1/3 of your podcast hosting team. Stephanie Flynt McEben: And I’m Stephanie Flynt McEben, public policy analyst here at NDRN. Alden Blevins: I am Alden. I am a communication specialist at NDRN and I am so excited today, like I mentioned, we’re all lovers of music, so we got a guest that I’m really excited about. Lachi is an award-winning recording artist and a recording Academy Grammy’s national trustee. She’s also a disability advocate who’s been breaking barriers in the music industry and beyond. She’s the founder of RAMPD, which by the way, is such a fun play name. I really love that. And the author of the upcoming book, I Identify as Blind. So without further ado, Michelle, you’ve got some questions to kick us off, I think. Michelle Bishop: Yes. We’re so excited to have you with us. As Alden said, we are. We’re huge music lovers. I’m pretty sure we spend most of our meetings where we allegedly plan this podcast just talking about music. So you’re absolutely in the right place today, but to get us started, I mean, you’ve been open about the fact, and I’m just really interested in this as a disability rights podcast. You’ve been really open about the fact that it took you some time to really embrace your identity as a blind and disabled woman, especially in the industry that you’re in that often really rewards conformity. Can you tell us a little bit more about that journey for you, both as an artist and as someone navigating just the world with a disability? Lachi: Okay. Yeah, for sure. Hey, everybody. Lachi here, Lachi like Versace. I am a Black woman with cornrows, chilling here in New York in my studio. I also identify as blind, I identify as neurodivergent, and I identify as an Aries. So do with that what you will. Michelle Bishop: All the important points right there. Lachi: All the important points like name, age, sign. Thank you. Okay. Yeah, but I’m really glad to be here. And thank you for that question, and thank you for having me. So music has always been a very integral part of my life of growing up. Where other babies would kick in the womb, when she was pregnant with me, I was playing the piano in the womb. I don’t know how she got a piano in there, but she’s not a liar, so I’m going to take her word for it. When I was super-duper young, I didn’t really have a lot of friends, especially because of the fact that I had differences and this and that. And so I would take to music to, I guess, understand the world better and have the world understand me better. I just knew how to express myself through song and it just said the things I needed to say. It was the prayer I needed. And because of music, I started to find confidence in how to speak and how to behave and how to act. And as I got older, when I was growing up, disability was not necessarily a thing people talked about a lot in schools and teachers didn’t know what to do. My parents didn’t really know what to do. And so I would always just turn to music. It’s actually right now I’m working on a children’s album because I think that kids need to hear music that has to do with disability and neurodivergence, as well as their parents as they grow up. When I got into college, I started wanting to do music, but I studied business and finance because when I told my parents I wanted to do music, they were like, “That’s not how you spell doctor.” because they are Nigerian immigrants and everybody else in my family went to either med school and blah, blah, blah. And I was like, “No, I want to do music.” But I did get a day job after school, after college, and didn’t love it because this girl is not going to exist behind a desk. So I ended up going to South by Southwest and I got signed actually from playing the guitar at a hole in the wall spot that nobody was at, except for this A&R apparently. So we got signed to an imprint under EMI, which was a major label back then, and we started touring and music then became my life. Now today, why wouldn’t I pay my respects back to music? I mean, it’s because of music that I was able to really lean into who I am, my disability, my confidence, et cetera. So because of that, because of how much music has given to me in my life, I’m here using music to give back to other people with disabilities. Now, your question was essentially, how do you sit here and try to bring about change for disability in an industry that is not only about conformity, but also about like, “Hey, pick me to exploit.” is essentially what the music industry is. You’re raising your hand to be exploited and that’s what kind of authenticity is that? But at the end of the day, music is some of the truest forms of storytelling. And I think to myself, just the way that hip hop has amplified Black culture and the way that country music has amplified rural culture and the way that different global musics have represented different global cultures. I want to use music to amplify disability culture. I want to use music to amplify disability stories and feelings that are difficult to put words to, that are words of the soul, which is essentially what music is. And so I started going to studios and realizing things weren’t as accessible as they should be. I started speaking with organizations and realizing things weren’t as inclusive as they should be. And the response I kept getting was like, “Oh, well, there’s nobody with a disability in the music industry, so why would we make these measures?” And so I have made it my life’s goal through RAMPD, which by the way, the best thing we ever accomplished was our acronym, not us working with the Grammys to get sign language on the red carpet, not us getting these partnerships with title, Live Nation, Spotify. I mean, we’ve done so much, not just for artists, but also for professionals. And we’ve started to realize something really interesting with the work we’ve done with RAMPD. We are getting people joining our membership who are director level folks, who are label owners, who are like the big wigs that write the checks, and they’re like, “I’m neurodivergent. I’m actually hard of hearing. I have a TBI.” And so when I originally set out, they said, “We don’t do disability inclusion because nobody’s disabled.” That was three years ago. Now I’m like, not only are there neurodivergent and disabled music professionals out here, but we all are. So really to conclude, it’s just that everyone is navigating trying to make it out in this world, but everyone’s masking. Everyone feels that they have to change some part of themselves to be as close as they can to what success looks like, be as close as they can to what “beauty” looks like, what winning looks like. But really all it is internalized ableism. And I say, as soon as we drop that internalized ableism and we really start to sit in who we truly are and we start to recognize our perceived flaws as flexes, that’s when we truly start to win. And so that’s what we’re finding out with RAMPD, that people are like, “You know what? I’m tired of navigating this difficult industry with the added layer of having to mask.” And so that’s why I do what I do. Michelle Bishop: Yes. And honestly, as ridiculous as it sounds that they say to you, “Oh, there aren’t any people with disabilities.” When I tell you, we see that in everything that we do. I do voting work at NDRN and we’ll have elections officials tell us, “This polling place isn’t accessible, but there aren’t any people with disabilities that vote here.” And it’s like, “What? You realize we’re everywhere and we do all sorts of things.” Maybe the reason they think there’s no people with disabilities here is because they’re stuck outside and they can’t get in because you didn’t make it accessible, just a thought. But I mean, it sounds like coming up against all that is really, correct me if I’m wrong, helped you to develop that identity and that disability pride in the industry. When did you first say, “I identify as blind.” and what did that mean for you? Lachi: Well, so when I first came into really doing the disability thing, really leaning in, I wanted to find out more influencers or thought leaders and such with disabilities. I didn’t really know that many people. This is pre COVID, 2018, 2019, that kind of thing. And so I came across an influencer, her name is Molly Burke, and we’re great friends now, but I didn’t know her back then. I had just seen her tagline and it had said, “I’m Molly Burke and I’m a YouTuber who happens to be blind.” And for some reason I was like, “I don’t know if I love the happens to be blind thing.” I was like, “Well, I’m proud of being blind. Blindness is part of my identity. I don’t just happen to be a woman. I don’t just happen to be a Nigerian. I don’t just happen to be all of the things I am.” And so I would go to… I was touring… We’re always touring and every time I tour and do a show, I do a comedic open where I just introduce myself, I do a quick self-description, et cetera. And in my self-description, I would say, and I don’t just happen to be blind. My blindness is part of my identity, has given me all of the opportunities I have, and it’s really made me a deeper blah, blah, blah. It was just too long. So I had punched it up to be, “My name is Lachi like Versace. She, her, I’m a Black woman with cornrows and I identify as blind.” And the interesting thing about that is people took onto it. They were like, “Oh, that’s cool, nice and punchy.” But whenever I would say it in front of a large crowd or like I’ve said it on interviews or during commercials, I would get this weird, I don’t know, pushback of like, you can’t identify as blind. Blindness is an identity. It’s a medical condition. Or they’ll be like, “Do you read braille or not?” Or they’ll be like, “We don’t want people to think trans blindness is a thing where you just have a blind identity.” And then you can be like, “Well, I’m blind today, so that’s my identity.” And I thought that was really fun. I was like, “Look, everybody’s upset. They’re talking about blindness though.” So I really leaned all the way into it. And I have to say, I am super proud of my disability identity. Was it music that brought me there? I think in a sense and in a way, like today I have a few songs, you guys are music lovers, I have a few songs out that really talk about my disability pride. I think that a lot of the times as we navigate the world, masking our disability, masking our chronic condition, our difference or whatever, we end up overcompensating. We end up building up this really, really thick problem solving muscle or this really, really thick how to get around things muscle and we overcompensate. When we’re finally accommodated, when we finally get to a place where we’re accommodated or we have the tools we need, we’re coming in like bulk as hell. We’re coming in with problem solving muscles. We’re coming in with all of these things that we had to build up because of navigating the world differently, because of every day working through this very difficult maze that is living a life unaccommodated, then when we finally are accommodated, then we are killing it and crushing it. And how could you not be proud of that? How can that not give you a sense of pride? So the songs that I would love for you guys to check out that are mine is I have a song called Life on Hard, which has gone viral several times on Instagram. I’m known as an Instagram rapper, which is like, what? Hello, I do disability advocacy. Look at that stuff. But anyway, so I have a song called Life on Hard, which is essentially about just winning the game of life, playing it on the hardest setting out here while people are still trying to consult the manual. I have another song called Professional, which is oftentimes when I walk on the stage, people see the cane and they’re like, “Aw, she’s going to do a song for us. Is this from Make a Wish Foundation?” And then I bust out these raps or I hop on the piano and I go ape on this piano and then they’re like, “Oh, snap. What? Okay.” And I’m like, “Bro, I’m a professional artist. I’m not object for pity to make you feel good because you felt weird on a Monday and you didn’t feel like getting up for work, but it’s like, she could do it. So can I.” I’m like, “No, I can do it. You most likely probably just can’t.” So that’s what that song’s about. And then there’s The Bag, and The Bag is just essentially like, I’ve been told no so much like, “No, you can’t. No, you’re not good enough. No, we don’t want you.” And I’m like, “You know what? Yes, I am good enough and I deserve everything. So I’m going to throw everything I deserve in the bag, which is everything.” I don’t know. I would not be the person I am if I didn’t love all parts of myself. And that includes my disabilities, that includes my neurodivergences and all of the other wacky, weird body jazz that I bring with me everywhere I go. Michelle Bishop: Lachi, can we maybe, do you and I just FaceTime each other every morning and hype each other up? Stephanie Flynt McEben: I was literally about to say the same thing. I would like in on a true call. Michelle Bishop: I don’t know if you know. Actually, I want to say quickly, I know some of those songs actually from social media, but they’re real. They’re so real. So people haven’t heard music, go check it out. I don’t know if you know one of our co-hosts, Stephanie is blind. You’re speaking directly to her soul right now. Stephanie Flynt McEben: I literally just texted them in our podcast group text and I was like, she’s totally speaking to my soul RN, but of course I don’t want to interrupt anything. Michelle Bishop: No, I know you’re dying to talk to her about the book, Stephanie, and take it away. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yeah, no, absolutely, for sure. And as somebody who is blind and who also identifies as a blind person and definitely does not identify with the medical model of disability, clearly gotten to more of a social model. But yeah, in terms of going through that journey of accepting all of who you are and everything about yourself, for me, I mean, it took a minute, especially when you’re talking about your experiences as a child and I totally feel that. I was that girl playing the harmonica on the jungle gym by herself. Anyway, this is about you. This is not about me, but I’m just saying that I totally relate to you on a spiritual level. And given that, I would love to know, were there any particular moments when it came to writing the book that were particularly hard or healing? Because I mean, I think that we all know that it’s not always a linear journey. Some days are going to be harder than others. And so would love to get your perspective on that. And I think that our listeners would be interested. Lachi: Yeah, absolutely. The journey for me has been one of constantly unwrapping this amazing gift. I always try to use that as the visual, if you will, of you have this big present and you get to unwrap it and then you just keep getting something cooler inside and then you get to unwrap that and you get something cooler inside and you just keep unwrapping this beautiful gift that is yourself. But you don’t realize that when you first get the box, the amazing stuff that’s going on inside, and it takes time to get to it. So a lot of times growing up, I would kick myself in the butt of, I wish I had come to this when I was so much younger. I wish there were people out there when I was younger, role models that I could look up to when I was eight years old and pointing on the TV and saying like, “Okay, well, I mean, I understand that Ray Charles existed, but that’s not going to…” Stephanie Flynt McEben: Stevie Wonder is here, Ray Charles is here, but we need more of us. Hello. Lachi: We need more of us. Hello. Exactly. And so this time and place where I am right now is where I needed to be for this to work. So I can’t really kick myself in the butt of like, “I wish I had this. I wish I knew this so much earlier. I would’ve been so much further.” That kind of thing. You have to be where you got to be where you need to be. Even right now, this conversation we’re having right now is going to have been necessary for the next thing that is happening in our lives. And just the other day, I was hanging out with Queen Herby, who’s been one of my favorite more modern rappers. I just did a thing with Apl.de.ap. I have done some stuff with Black Caviar. Folks that I’ve looked up to, I’m having the opportunity to Snoop Dogg. I’m having the opportunity to work with these days because of the fact that I am here at the right time now. So when I was writing my book, we were peeling back all the layers. I’m a generally very positive and energetic, social butterfly type of person today. But it’s interesting, I wasn’t always this person and I had to unpack all the layers to get there. One of the biggest things that happens to me, so I’ve always been low vision. So I was born with relatively low vision and it stayed the same throughout my teens and early 20s. But one day I woke up and my sight was just gone. Boom. So the interesting thing is anybody listening would be like, “Oh my God, if I woke up and my sight was gone, I would just die or I would not know what to do. My life would be over.” Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yep. Heard that a million times. Yes. Lachi: But for me, it was weird because I was already low vision, so I was going from level one to the underwater level or whatever. So it wasn’t like that life changing of a thing. I was already using screen readers or Zoom text. I was already doing stuff of that nature. So I wake up blind and I’m just like, “Okay, I guess this is it. This is the day that they told me was coming.” What had ended up happening was my corneas had erupted. And so I went to the doctor and he was like, “You’re going to become completely blind. You’re going to go from this much worse vision than you’ve had to complete blindness over the course of time.” So here you go, here’s a coupon. Bye.” or whatever. So I’m like, all right. So I had decided at that moment that I wanted to start a bucket list. So I was like, okay, what are all the things I’ve always wanted to do before completely going completely blind? So I was like, let me go skydiving, let me go spolunking, let me go meet with people, meet with celebrities and just do all of the things I’ve always wanted to do before I lose my vision. So I went out and I did it. This is still me doing it. This is still me doing it. And so I say that because to people who say if I ever went blind, I would just die. Well, when I went blind, it made me want to live. And that’s what opened me up into being this person that I am today. Stephanie Flynt McEben: That is amazing. I genuinely love that. Lachi: We talk about charity model and propping disabled folks up as tools of pity. We talk about medical model, which is really just waiting around for cure, making the cure the hero. We talk about social model, which is a really good place to live in the sense of things are impairing if they’re not accessible. Society is impairing if it’s not inclusive. But honestly, if I have all of the things, like if I have all my tools, if I have all that I need and if folks are inclusive, then I’m still blind, but I’m not impaired. But I like to go a little step further into what is the cultural model. And so the cultural model is it’s not just a discussion of what society should and shouldn’t do. It’s actually a celebration of what you gain as a person who identifies with their disability or their neurodivergence, the things they need to overcompensate because they’re navigating the world a little differently, leaning into that. So let’s say for instance, deaf culture, sign language, and the fact that folks can have complete discussions outside of what we’re talking about, there is so much deaf pride out in these streets, that is a celebration of culture that comes out of disability. And for me, let’s say for instance, I have ADHD and it powers my one million and counting ideas. I have diagnosed OCD, which helps me carry out all those one million and counting ideas. I have diagnosed general anxiety disorder, which gives me my empathy and my excitement. And then I am blind, which when I have the tools I need, it gives me drive. It keeps me determined, it keeps me focused, and it gives me my dope ass glam canes. There was a girl and her mom, and she came up to me after a show and she was like, “Oh my God, your music was great.” I was like, thank you. She’s like, “Mommy, can I get one of those canes?” And then her mom was like, “Ugh, well, you have to be blind.” And I’m like, “Yeah, girl, you better want to be me.” Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yeah. We drive sticks. Anyway, sorry. Lachi: Yes. You know what? I speak softly and I carry a big old stick. Thank you. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yes. Amen to that. Exactly. As somebody who considers themself a lifelong disability advocate, I never really thought about it in the sense of going beyond the social into the cultural. So thank you so, so much. We all learn something new every single day on this podcast, but I’d love to know a little bit more about, obviously you were very, very, very good at talking through these experiences in such a way that they are very relatable and easy to understand and that thing. So I’d love to pick your brain about the intended audience of your book. Who did you write it for? Other blind folks? Did you write it for, was it written for multiple audiences? Lachi: Yeah, honestly, I wrote it for the person who is masking. I wrote it for anyone who is tired of… Listen, let me put it like this. Let’s face it, disability is boring, a lot of the time it’s sad and it’s compliancy. We have to go the extra mile to make it fun because the actual truth of it is that the only reason it’s boring, sad, and compliancy is because society has kept it that way through its collective internalized ableism. And so my book is actually a humor book. It’s a pop culture book. It’s a comedy book. In fact, when we were talking to the publisher, it’s like, we should be putting this up against other comedic books, not necessarily disability books because it’s a book. I got so many jokes. I have dad jokes, they’re corny jokes, I have rap bars. I rap in a lot of the book just because I was like, “Hey, this rhymes.” I’m going to say it like a rap. We’re doing the audiobook right now, so I actually get to wrap it, which is really fun. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Oh, that is so cool. Oh my gosh. Lachi: Which is really, really fun. But really, honestly, what the book is what everything I do is it is using joy, soul, pop culture, jokes, humor, fashion, and just a really good time to celebrate disability, as well as community. So what you’ll find in this book is my story through my story, through historical deep dives, through interviews with some really, really cool popular figures and a really big deep dose of disability joy. And so a lot of folks who have disabilities, they will read this book and they’ll be energized. It’ll be like, “This is really great. I’m glad that I finally get to read a book that talks about disability in a positive way.” For blind specific folks, they might relate to a few of my stories because I talk about the day I woke up blind, I talk about when I went skydiving blind, I talk about just some of my interesting blind moments. But then I also talk about how I would go to red carpets and not know how to talk to anybody. So I’m in this amazing room with all these celebrities I can’t see and I’m just sitting on the wall. So I talk about some of the hard times too as well. But at the end of the day, really what the book is is an invitation in for somebody who feels a little different, a little awkward, has to mask, and just needed that invite in to talk about disability in a fun, joyful, celebratory way, to recognize that yes, that thing in you that’s different, that thing in you that society has told you you should view as a weakness and hide, you should be proud of. And I say this to people all the time. I say it in the industry, I say it to all my friends, I say it to anyone who will listen. I say it to my local barista and they come back and they say things like, “Oh my God, I’m so glad you said it that way. It turns out I have a titanium hip and I’ve never told anybody about that.” And that’s the vibe. The vibe is someone who was like, “I really needed this to be said to me this way, and now I am able to step all the way into my disability identity.” Alden Blevins: I love, especially what you said about joy. I feel like for me as an autistic person, my experience in the arts is that it is really a space where people who maybe don’t belong in other spaces or don’t feel like they belong in other spaces or are made to feel like they don’t belong in other spaces. I think that a lot of them really do find a safe space in music, in the arts, in theater. And I just wanted to ask, why do you think the music space is such a special one for you and why do you think it’s a place where other people with disabilities seem to flock together as well? Lachi: I mean, you hit the nail on the head. Counterculture, I mean, music often rewards counterculture. And then it eventually becomes mainstream and then we got to rebel against that. So music is a place where your soul can speak. And I think a lot of the times with disabilities, especially autism for me, I’m ADHD, OCD, a different neurodivergence situation, but a lot of the issue is communication. We don’t know how to say exactly what we need or whoever we’re talking to just doesn’t know how to hear what we’re saying. And so I think that what music does is it allows a soul to speak to a soul. A lot of the times music does this thing where you’ll be listening to a song and you’ll just be like, “That, that right there. That’s what I it me. That’s the thing I’m feeling.” type deal. Music has the ability to do that. And so for me, right now, this children’s album that I’m working on, the kids’ album, which is an album that is essentially R&B, pop, electronic, sort of the genres that I dance in for kids centered on disability and neurodivergence. Because what I want to do is be able to say, “Hey, I want you to point at that and say, that’s me.” And I think the easiest and quickest way to point at something and say, “That’s me also.” has been music. And so it’s why it’s been my strongest medium. Again, it’s not my only medium. I’m talking to folks through the book, I’m talking to folks through fashion, et cetera, et cetera. But again, music has been just the quickest, easiest point A to point B conversation easer, if you will, about disability. Another thing I also love to use is humor and comedy. So I make jokes all the time. They’re all bad. They’re all very not good jokes. I need to probably get a joke writer, but the fact that I’m having such a good time telling the jokes, I think I think is all that really matters. So I think both music and humor are just really, really great spaces for two people to get to relate to something that may be difficult to talk about. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yo, if you need a joke writer, I’m your girl. I actually do a joke every single episode of this podcast. Michelle Bishop: Her jokes are not better than yours, Lachi. Don’t hire her. Stephanie Flynt McEben: My jokes are pretty bad. They’re worse than dad’s jokes. They’re like granddad jokes. Alden Blevins: Yeah. Stephanie is the queen of the jokes on our podcast. She always brings one through. Didn’t know that you were working on a children’s music album, and I think that’s really interesting. I actually used to be a teacher, so children’s music is something that’s near and dear to my heart. So I just wanted to ask, what would you want to tell to younger people with disabilities, younger disabled creatives about claiming space and being able to tell their own stories? Lachi: Well, one thing that I heard from someone else, I don’t remember who it was. I think it was- Michelle Bishop: Jordan? Lachi: Yes, Jordan. He’s the one that said this. Michelle Bishop: I love him. Lachi: Yeah, he’s so funny. I met him at a… What did I meet him at? The Webby Awards or something. But anyway, no one can ever defeat someone who hasn’t given up. And for some reason that hit me, and I don’t even think he was trying to say it that deep. He was just saying a joke or something. But I took that and it was like, no one can ever defeat someone who hasn’t given up. So at the end of the day, you are really the only one who can end whatever you’re trying to get. Because as long as you are still going for it, it is still still there. It’s like a Schrodinger’s cat. It’s like as long as you’re still running for it, that opportunity is still there for you to have. The opportunity is never lost as long as you’re still going for it. And people can tell you, people can take your shoulders and tell you to go right. People can take your shoulders and tell you to go left. But until you take your own shoulders and go in the direction that your heart, your soul, your passion, your fire, desires, that is when you truly begin to live. And so I say personally, lean into that. I hear from a lot of younger, especially creators with disabilities. I mentor a lot of folks, tons and tons of folks. It’s one of the things I love to do the most. But what I love to tell folks is you are going to be the best you. And that you is going to include all of the different parts of who you are, but it is especially going to include you leaning in to the things that make you different and unique as unique selling points. Earlier I talked about how people try so hard to be the “definition of beauty”, definition of success, definition of whatever. Everyone’s trying to be this reference man. Everyone’s trying to be as close as they can to the reference man. And if I’m as close as I can to the reference man, then I’ll be successful or then I’ll get this job or then I’ll get this gig. But the truth of the matter is when we look at all of the people that are doing all of the big things, they’re “eccentric”. They’re “weird”. They did some big different idea that no one was thinking about and everybody fell into their trend. The further away you are from the reference man, that is when you start to win. That is when you’ll start to see success. That is when you’ll start to feel much better about yourself. That is when you can wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and say, “I am fine.” When you are able to accept all of those different freckles of yourself that are as far away from the reference man as possible, because guess what? There is room outside of the barrel for everyone to win if they are all being their unique self and running their unique purpose. That’s what I would tell to young disabled creators. Michelle Bishop: That’s amazing. Almost feel like we should stop there, but I have so many follow-up questions. Lachi: Listen, I’m here to drop as many mics as they will let me keep breaking. Michelle Bishop: I was wondering how you see the conversation around disability and inclusion and evolving these days. And a lot of our listeners are people with disabilities or people who have other even multiple intersecting identities in which they experience barriers as well. What does allyship look like to you? Lachi: This is one of my favorite questions. So yes, we have folks with disabilities and we have folks who want to work with people with disabilities, want to help a friend with a disability, want to make sure they don’t say the wrong thing to a person with a disability, neurodivergence, chronic condition, mental health condition. That’s not an ally. Wanting to help a person with a disability is not an ally. To me, wanting to support someone with a disability, that’s an ally in the very basic definition of allyship. Here’s what I think an ally is. To answer the question, I got to do two things. One, talk about the disability umbrella. So the disability umbrella encompasses so many forms of disability. It is neurodivergence, which is ADHD, dyslexia, OCD. It is mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar. It is someone who learns a little differently. It is someone who has explosive situations like anger management. It is someone who has substance abuse disorder, maybe somebody who drinks too much or uses different substances. It is chronic back pain. You know what I’m saying? It is asthma. It is EDS. It’s POTS. It is long COVID. It is different complications that you gain after pregnancy. It is different complications that you gain as you age. It is different complications you gain through menopause. It is temporary. It is breaking your arm and wearing a cast. It is seasonal depression. There is nobody on this earth that is not within the disability umbrella. And I don’t mean that you’re going to grow into it. I don’t mean in the future. I mean right now. Whether you identify as a person with a disability or not, you have disability identity because you have experience in your body disability. And when you figure that out, then you’re an ally. Allyship is seeing yourself through the other person because you can’t look through someone else’s eyes unless you can see yourself in them. And you can’t see yourself in disability until you recognize the disability identity within yourself. All of a sudden, and I say this and people are like, “What? I say this, but I’ve seen this. I’ve seen it happen. I’ve seen people who did not associate themselves with any form of disability or anything and they’re just like, Oh, them. Oh, I’ll help them. We have a conversation and then we have a follow-up conversation and then we’re drinking and then all of a sudden they’re telling me all their disabilities and then they’re walking a little different when they encounter disability. It’s no longer a them thing. And so that’s what an ally is. People with disabilities are also allies. I am an ally to the deaf community because I recognize though I’m not deaf, I see the having to navigate the world differently in you of myself. So that’s how I define an ally. An ally is someone who understands their own disability identity and can see it in others. Michelle Bishop: Don’t mind me over here just taking notes. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Literally. Oh my gosh. Lachi, thank you so, so, so much for being with us and taking time. I know that your website, lachimusic.com is one of the places where folks can stay up to date on all of the latest and greatest things that you’re up to. Is there anything else in particular you would like to plug for our listeners? Lachi: Like you said, LACHI, L-A-C-H-I M-U-S-I-C. I’m on the internets everywhere. Instagram, Spotify, check out the old music. If you’re a creator, a music creator or professional with a disability, check us out at RAMPD, R-A-M-P-D.org. Or if you want to donate or if you want to partner with us over at RAMPD, please do. If you are a cane user, whether you’re a blind cane user or you use Mobility Cane, check out glamcanes.com, get your canes bejeweled. I Identify as Blind, our book is out on Penguin Random House, imprint called Tiny Reparations by Phoebe Robinson, who is also a comedian. So we’re out here all writing very funny books. So please check it out. And lastly, listen, try to find moments in your day of disability joy. And when you find that moment, take a picture of it or write it down so that you can go back to it and live for those moments. So thank you guys so much for having me on this podcast. It’s really been a blast getting to talk at you about all things I identify as blind. Alden Blevins: I love it. I was over here taking notes too because I just found so much of myself in what you were saying and so many things were poignant and empowering. I, as an autistic person, try to be an ally to other parts of the disability community myself. And that’s something where I’m always trying to put myself in the shoes of another person and what they might experience. So I think that’s really powerful. We were so grateful to be able to connect and learn more about you, Lachi. Lachi: Yes, yes, yes. So honored to be here, guys. Michelle Bishop: Before you head out, Lachi, do you want to hear one of Stephanie’s grandpa jokes? Lachi: I was going to say, I was like, “Let’s hear one of these granddad jokes.” Let me see. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Okay. This might be- Michelle Bishop: Okay, do it. Stephanie Flynt McEben: … a granddad joke. Okay. Where do spiders like to get their information? Lachi: The web? Michelle Bishop: That would be something to do with web. Stephanie Flynt McEben: But what kind of web? Lachi: Wow. Really? You are fired from being my comedy writer. You are fired to be my comedy writer. I was rooting for you too. I was like, let’s just… Please. Stephanie Flynt McEben: I wouldn’t even get to the punchline yet. Michelle Bishop: Worldwide web? Stephanie Flynt McEben: It is the worldwide web. Michelle Bishop: Oh. Stephanie Flynt McEben: It’s fine. It’s fine. My wife warned me not to tell that joke this month and I didn’t lose it. Michelle Bishop: Oh my gosh. I’m so glad you stuck around for that part. Lachi: As I live and breathe. Thank you guys so, so much. This has been so much fun and I will see who else I can tell that joke to. And go ahead and just to help you out, Stephanie, I’ll go ahead and embarrass myself by telling that joke to others. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Not my best work, but that is allyship. Yes. Michelle Bishop: Oh my gosh, Lachi, thank you so much. And everyone, please lachimusic.com. Check it out. Listen to the music, read the book. Alden Blevins: Speaking of the worldwide web, this has been National Disability Radio. We celebrate stories, leadership, and talent of people with disabilities. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, share, and continue the conversation with us on that worldwide web at ndrn.org or anywhere you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks for listening and until next time. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Bye.

Starting a family often changes how people think about money, responsibility, and risk. The real challenge is not access to information, but turning it into clear action before small gaps become big problems. In this episode, Iván Watanabe and Russell J. Carpentieri, Founder and Managing Partner at OPUS Private Client, LLC,  walk through the foundational planning steps families should address as life becomes more complex. They focus on understanding cash flow, evaluating employee benefits, and identifying coverage gaps before making bigger financial decisions. The conversation highlights how simple check-the-box actions can reduce exposure, why wills are often overlooked, and how planning brings clarity when expenses and responsibilities grow. Key takeaways: How cash flow clarity creates better decisions as family expenses grow Why employee benefits are often the fastest starting point for coverage How to think through insurance needs using real math instead of guesses Why non-working spouses still represent significant economic value The risks families face when wills and basic documents are delayed And more! Connect with Iván Watanabe: Opus Private Client, LLC  iwatanabe@opus-pc.com LinkedIn: Iván Watanabe YouTube: OPUS Private Client, LLC Connect with Russell J. Carpentieri: Opus Private Client, LLC  rcarpentieri@opus-pc.com LinkedIn: Russell J. Carpentieri YouTube: OPUS Private Client, LLC About Our Guest: Russell J. Carpentieri has over 34 years of experience in the Health/Welfare industry. He is the co-founder of Opus Private Client, LLC, and Opus Advisory Group, LLC. Russell manages the life insurance, retirement, and healthcare practices within each entity. His clients represent various industries, including finance, private equity, retail, real estate, healthcare, entertainment, and professional services. A believer in continuous professional development, Russell is an active member of the American Association of Life Underwriters, National Association of Health Underwriters, J.P Morgan, and Westchester County Blue Ribbon Task Force for NYS healthcare. As well, he spends time guest lecturing for numerous private equities, CFO and real estate symposiums, and insurance carrier conferences. Russell also cares deeply about his community. In fact, he is a founding member of the Make-a-Wish Foundation's Westchester Chapter. In addition to serving on the Syracuse University Athletic Board and National Football Foundation Board, Russell enjoys being involved in the American Heart Association, 21st Century Board of White Plains Hospital, and the Pajama Program at Turtle Bay Music School in New York City. After graduating from Syracuse University's management and finance program in 1983, Russell joined the New York Jets Football Club for two seasons as a special-teams player. Russell lives in Bedford, New York, with his wife, Suzanne. They have four children: Stefan, Nikolas, Maia, and Sophia.

RoboCorp, SunGlass Weapon, SG Rays, Newrope, New Territorists, Proposalosis, Spanish Human Tower Nemisis, Maccas Paramilitary, Fake a Wish Foundation, Outbuilt Obsolescence, TITTT Kids, Tongue Kiss For the Boys, NutziYou can now purchase A Listener hats by emailing twointhethinktank@gmail.comCatch up on the 500th episode hereCheck out the sketch spreadsheet by Will Runt hereAnd visit the Think Tank Institute website:Check out our comics on instagram with Peader Thomas at Pants IllustratedOrder Gustav & Henri from Andy and Pete's very own online shopYou can support the pod by chipping in to our patreon here (thank you!)Join the other TITTT scholars on the TITTT discord server hereHey, why not listen to Al's meditation/comedy podcast ShusherAlasdair Tremblay-Birchall: @alasdairtb and instaAnd you can find us on the Facebook right here(Oh, and we love you) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this inspiring episode of Grit, Grace, and Glitz we are honored to have Shawnee Baker, a remarkable woman whose story of resilience, advocacy, and heart is truly inspiring.Shawnee is a mother, registered nurse, author, grief advocate, and founder of Bailey's Wish Foundation. Her journey began with a career in healthcare, but after tragically losing her daughter Bailey at the University of Miami, Shawnee turned her grief into action. She's dedicated to raising awareness about campus safety, advocating for legislative change, and helping other families navigate their own tragedies.In this episode, Shawnee shares the heartbreaking details of Bailey's story—her last moments, the dangers of hidden campus risks, and the urgent need for transparency and reform. She discusses her journey through grief, her experience with abusive marriages, and the incredible resilience that has propelled her to make a difference.Connect with Shawnee:⁦https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnee-l-baker/⁩Connect with your host, Erika:LinkedIn (primary)⁦⁦https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikarothenberger⁩⁩IG⁦⁦https://www.instagram.com/erikalearothenberger?igsh=MmhjeTRhbnB1aXM2⁩⁩FB⁦⁦https://www.facebook.com/share/69wqEYVzFKKnci9u/?mibextid=LQQJ4d⁩⁩

After experiencing stomach pains and fevers in the spring of 2023, Jordan Vanstee's then 2 year old son Kian was diagnosed with B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Kian went through very difficult treatment at McMaster's Children's Hospital in Canada , but with the help of his Disney Hero Mickey Mouse and the Make a Wish Foundation, Kian is now in remission and is living his best life possible. 

A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help pay Alan Blyweiss' family pay for his end of life arrangements and to helping classroom teachers buy school supplies through the Make a Wish Foundation. The August 2025 Spam Update continues to mulch its way through Google's index with few changes reported thus far. The rollout might take several weeks to complete. Google has updated its policies and guidelines for Google Business Profiles. There's a lot to go over so we're referring listeners to SERoundTable for highlighted details. The penalty for one of the Google Anti-Trust cases has been announced. Speculation had Google losing one or more parts of its business such as the Chrome browser after being declared a monopoly however the judge only ordered Google to share some data with its competitors. Released court records have shown us a bit more about how Google operates, including the FastSearch process of rapidly checking the veracity of AI generative statements. We also learn more about how Google ranks and scores documents in its index. A study shows AI and organic search converting at relatively even rates, WordPress introduces a new AI building tool called Telex, Character AIs (including one with that domain name) might be unsafe for children (duh?), Google fixes its crawl problem, and, Google's crawl budget is generally unrelated to algorithm updates. All this and a lot more ... Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/webcology/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this episode of HALO Talks, host Pete Moore sits down with Beverly Wolfer, Executive Director of Tina's Wish, to dive into the critical topic of health literacy and the power of community-driven change. Beverly shares her journey from the world of consulting to the nonprofit sector, where she leads efforts toward early detection of ovarian cancer—a mission inspired by the legacy of Judge Tina Brosman. Pete and Beverly explore how HALO sector leaders (health, active lifestyle, outdoors) can champion women's health through partnership, awareness, and education. Beverly sheds light on the life-saving potential of spreading knowledge about ovarian cancer's subtle symptoms, and explains how Tina's Wish is building a powerful platform—“What to Know Down Below”—to bridge gaps in health literacy and empower women to advocate for themselves. Listeners will also hear Beverly's inspiring perspective on purposeful career pivots, the importance of giving back, and the deep meaning she finds in honoring her brother's legacy through another nonprofit supporting American Jewish troops. On 'solving herself' out of a job, she states, "My goal is for us to solve Tina Brosman's dying wish and to find an early detection. And I can't think of a better way to put on my next resume, you know, how to put myself out of a job. Because we solved the problem that we went into solving, right?!" Key themes discussed Health literacy and gynecologic cancer awarenes. Importance of early detection for ovarian cancer. Tina's Wish Foundation mission and impact. Community partnerships and fundraising in fitness spaces. Personal fulfillment in nonprofit career transitions. Honoring veterans and family legacies through service. A few key takeaways:  1. Mission of Tina's Wish-Early Detection for Ovarian Cancer: Tina's Wish was founded in memory of Judge Tina Brosman, who passed away from late-diagnosed ovarian cancer. The foundation's mission is to fund research to develop an early detection screen for ovarian cancer—a test that currently doesn't exist. The foundation has raised $29 million since 2008, fueling innovation and bringing hope closer to reality. 2. The Power of Health Literacy and Community Education: Beverly emphasized the importance of health education, especially about gynecologic cancers and women's health. Her organization's “What to Know Down Below” platform and podcast series empowers women to recognize symptoms and advocate for themselves, literally saving lives through awareness and knowledge. 3. Partnership Opportunities for Health and Fitness Communities: Tina's Wish is seeking collaborations with fitness clubs, yoga studios, and wellness businesses. Ways to get involved include co-branding materials, distributing educational decals (such as in locker room bathrooms), and participating in turnkey fundraising events—making it easy for organizations to support the cause and educate their communities. 4. Running a Nonprofit: Purpose and Professional Fulfillment: Beverly's transition from the corporate world to nonprofit leadership was driven by a desire for purpose. While the daily work still involves tasks like HR and accounting, knowing her efforts are mission-driven makes a profound difference. She shared that her ultimate goal is to “put herself out of a job” by solving the very problem her organization was founded to address. 5. Honoring Personal Legacy and Service: Beyond her role at Tina's Wish, Beverly runs a foundation in memory of her brother, a Jewish American soldier killed in Iraq. Her family focuses on education, awareness, and meaningful care packages for deployed soldiers, highlighting both the personal impact of service and the ongoing need to keep memories and lessons from the past alive. Resources:  Beverly Wolfer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverly-wolfer-nerenberg-38749467  Tina's Wish: https://tinaswish.org  What To Know Down Below podcast: https://tinaswish.org/whattoknow  Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com  Promotion Vault: http://www.promotionvault.com HigherDose: http://www.higherdose.com

Styne from Howrah calls in to tell Kaz and Tubes all about a charity concert taking place at the Granada tomorrow, honouring late Hobart musician, Tony Voglino, and raising funds for the Make a Wish Foundation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Search of Excellence Podcast - with Randall KaplanMy guest today is Mike Tyson, a former heavyweight boxing champion of the world and one of the greatest boxers of all time!  At the age of 20, he became the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title.  He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold WBA, WBC, and IDF titles and a member of the international boxing Hall of Fame.Mike has appeared in many movies and TV shows.  He is the actor and creator of a one-man Broadway show Undisputed Truth, and the author of the best-selling book of the same name.Mike is also a very successful entrepreneur and a founder of two cannabis companies, including Tyson 2.0.  He is an incredible person and a dedicated philanthropist through his Mike Tyson's Care foundation, and the support of other charities including The Make a Wish Foundation and The Special Olympics.00:00 Mike's childhoodHis dad was a pimp, his mom an alcoholic and a sex industry workerHe was bullied in his childhood ("you can't run from them, you must confront them")Started robbing people to buy food for his pigeonsA traumatic event with the birds that changed himMike's first fight and from being bullied, to being the bullyWent pick-pocketing and stealing with his friendsStarted with crime at 11, by the age of 13, he was arrested more than 37 timesThe stealing mentality - nobody else mattersHis mom encouraged him to steal (his goal was to be a professional criminal)18:13 Juvenile facilities and Mike's first steps in boxingWatched the movie “The Greatest”, the story of Mohammed AliTransferred to Elwood CottageMike was always handcuffed in a dangerous environment Met Bobby Stewart who inspired him to finish school and started training himAt 13, Bobby wanted to take him to the next level - introduced him to Cus D'Amato21:14 Mike's first mentor - Cus D'AmatoRelationship with Cus D'Amato (Cus taught him to never give up)Cus became a father figure for himThe time Mike first experienced loveCus saw in him the future world championWorking out for 6 hours a day while going to schoolWanted to get kicked out of school, but Cus didn't allow thatThere is no progress without struggle (study about rats)29:32 The beginning of his fighting careerAt 18, a fight with Hector Mercedes - beat him in one roundWasn't afraid of losing, but being a bad loserMike's desire to be the world champion consumed him completelyBecame the youngest boxing champion everHis mother's reaction - never got affirmed by her34:47 From millions of dollars to bankruptcyStarted making millions of dollars (became highest paid athlete in the world)Went bankrupt being reckless, didn't know how to manage money as a street kidBeing rich and going broke multiple timesFame and money won't make you happyBecome your own alarm systemThe pain is the same at the top and the bottom of the worldListen to this episode on the go!

It began with a mother's intuition, an uneasy text from her daughter, and a phone call that would shatter the world as she knew it. In this unforgettable episode of A Fresh Story, Shawnee Baker walks us through the life-altering days that followed a tragic accident involving her daughter Baylie Grogan, a brilliant pre-med student with her entire future ahead of her. As Shawnee and her husband raced to Miami from a remote sailboat off the coast of Maine, they were plunged into a nightmare of trauma, legal barriers, and helplessness—held back not just by grief, but by a medical system that refused to acknowledge her as her daughter's legal advocate due to the lack of a healthcare proxy.What followed was a month-long battle for truth, agency, and peace. Shawnee shares how she navigated the heartbreak of watching her daughter remain unresponsive in a hospital bed, denied access to toxicology results, second opinions, and even basic updates on her daughter's condition. With fierce love and resilience, she fought for Baylie's right to be released from a life she had once said she never wanted—one without consciousness or freedom. This story is not just about a mother's worst fear come true—it's about the laws that failed her, the signs Baylie left behind, and the sacred, painful work of letting go.But this is also a story of new life. Amid unimaginable loss, Shawnee gave birth to two daughters—both conceived through IVF and wrapped in the spiritual echoes of Baylie's presence. With a renewed mission, Shawnee now leads the Baylie's Wish Foundation, advocating for college safety, digital healthcare proxy access, and systemic transparency. This episode is a reckoning with maternal love, legal injustice, and the powerful belief that healing can begin—even when it starts with heartbreak.Learn more about Baylie's life at: https://www.baylie.com/

The Rod and Greg Show Daily Rundown – Tuesday, April 29, 20254:20 pm: Senator Mike Lee joins Greg and Carolyn for his weekly visit to discuss what's happening in Washington, D.C., and today they'll discuss the deportation of illegal immigrant criminals and budget negotiations.4:38 pm: Derek Miller, President of the Salt Lake Chamber joins the show for a conversation about his piece for the Deseret News on how the Trump trade negotiations and tariff drama creates opportunities for the beehive state.6:05 pm: Brad Bishop, President of the Utah Police Chiefs Association joins Greg and Carolyn for a preview of tomorrow's law enforcement career day, an effort to build interest and recruit the next generation of police officers in the state.6:38 pm: Summer Airman of the Make-a-Wish Foundation and Brad Strong of the Strong Automotive Group join the program for a preview of the Drive for Wishes campaign

Lindsey has worked at Mountain Vista high school for 20 years in a number of different roles. She taught in the Career Tech Ed world for 14 years, was the head volleyball coach, ran student leadership, and was on a building leadership team. She was also instrumental in the growth of their relationship with the “Make a Wish Foundation.” The partnership with the school community, along with local clothing brand, Be A Good Person, has raised almost 2 million dollars for the Foundation.Now Ms. Jaffe is an Assistant Principal and Activities Director, managing over 65 clubs within the school. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her 2 children, support their sports/activities, travel, and do yoga!https://mvhs.dcsdk12.org/*************************************************************Judy is the CEO & Founder of the Judy Carlson Financial Group. She helps her clients design, build, and implement fully integrated and coordinated financial plans from today through life expectancy and legacy.She is an Independent Fiduciary and Comprehensive Financial Planner who specializes in Wealth Decumulation Strategies. Judy is a CPA, Investment Advisor Representative, Life and Health Insurance Licensed, and Long-Term Care Certified.Judy's mission is to educate and empower her clients with an all-inclusive financial plan that encourages and motivates them to pursue their lifetime financial goals and dreams.Learn More: https://judycarlson.com/Investment Adviser Representative of and advisory services offered through Royal Fund Management, LLC, an SEC Registered Adviser.The Inspired Impact Podcasthttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-inspired-impact-podcast/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-inspired-impact-podcast-with-judy-carlson-interview-with-lindsey-jaffe-asst-principal-activities-director-mountain-vista-high-school

Provisions on size and weight, ELDs, retention and more could form the core of what might be the most pro-trucker highway bill ever. Then, Trina Skywalker and Lisa Waske of OOIDA's Truck Insurance Department discuss leasing on and your insurance. Also, for 35 years, truckers have put together the largest benefit convoy in trucking – the Mother's Day Convoy benefitting the Make-a-Wish Foundation. 0:00 – Newscast 10:01– Creating the most pro-trucker highway bill ever 24:27 – Leasing on and your insurance 39:25 – Mother's Day Convoy gets ready for another big event

6:45am US Congressman Juan Ciscomani 7:00am US Congressman David Schweikert 8:00am Rob Lamaster Make a Wish Foundation 8:30am Alan Michaels Children's Advocacy Network

Hey guys...did anythinghappenthis past weekend?

Nancy Stanley talked with me about her book Pillow with a Heartbeat, in which she told the story of how her chocolate poodle, Truffles, went from being the runt of the litter to working with children as a very effective therapy dog. During this podcast episode we also talked about the differences between a therapy dog and a service dog, how she came to realize that Truffles would make a great therapy dog and the role that Truffles plays in the Make a Wish Foundation. Listen to this interview to find out more about the qualities that Nancy saw in Truffles that makes him a great therapy dog. Who knows? Your dog, cat or rabbit may have similar traits and would enjoy working with children, too!

MPF Discussion with Bernie MullinFrom Liverpool To the NBA: Bernie Mullin's Playbook For SuccessAbout BernieDr. Bernie Mullin is a groundbreaking sport and entertainment industry executive who's turned around franchises, set all-time revenue and attendance records, and generated $1.5+ billion in revenues for brands from the NFL to the US Open Tennis with his agency, Aspire Marketing Group. He was CEO of NBA and NHL teams and CMO of the NBA. He's also a globally acclaimed speaker, podcaster, author, and humanitarian who has served on multiple boards, including the United Way; YMCA; and Make a Wish Foundation. His The Aspire Difference Foundation (TADF) focuses on supporting single parents with preschool children. All net proceeds from his consulting, podcasts and books go to support TADF. His new book is Reimagining America's Dream: Making It Attainable for All.From Liverpool To The NBA: Bernie Mullin's Playbook For SuccessWhat does it take to build a billion-dollar career in the sports industry? In this episode of My Perfect Failure, I sit down with Bernie Mullin, a global leader in sports business, to break down his winning mindset, fearless leadership, and game-changing strategies.Bernie takes us through his journey—from a football-loving kid in Liverpool to a sports marketing pioneer who's worked with the NBA, NHL, NFL, and more. He shares his biggest challenges, biggest wins, and why failure was the secret ingredient to his success.

Our story tonight is called Plates and Bowls, and it’s a story about keeping a promise to yourself after the bustle of the holidays has settled down. It’s also about a quiet, clean environment that brings some ease, coffee cups, and spoon rests, smooth porcelain, and hand-painted ceramics, and finding ways to celebrate the every day. We give to a different charity each week, and this week, we are giving to Make a Wish Foundation. They create life-changing wishes for children. Order your own NMH weighted pillow now! Subscribe for ad-free, bonus, and extra-long episodes now, as well as ad-free and early episodes of Stories from the Village of Nothing Much! Search for NMH Premium channel on Apple podcast or follow the link below nothingmuchhappens.com/premium-subscription. Listen to our sister show, Stories from the Village of Nothing Much, on your favorite podcast app. Join us tomorrow morning for a meditation at nothingmuchhappens.com/first-this. Relax and unwind with the Nothing Much Happens Wind-Down Box! Save over $100 on Kathryn's hand-selected favorites, designed to help you slow down and embrace tranquility.Purchase Our Book: https://bit.ly/Nothing-Much-HappensSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Bernie Mullin is a groundbreaking sport and entertainment industry executive who's turned around franchises, set all-time revenue and attendance records, and generated $1.5+ billion in revenues for brands from the NFL to the US Open Tennis with his agency, Aspire Marketing Group. He was CEO of NBA and NHL teams and CMO of the NBA. He's also a globally acclaimed speaker, podcaster, author, and humanitarian who has served on multiple boards, including the United Way; YMCA; and Make a Wish Foundation. His The Aspire Difference Foundation (TADF) focuses on supporting single parents with preschool children. All net proceeds from his consulting, podcasts and books go to support TADF. His new book is Reimagining America's Dream: Making It Attainable for All Learn more at: www. berniejmullin.com

In this episode, we're joined by John Guagliano, the Chief Marketing Officer of MLS club Minnesota United FC. John shared his fascinating journey through professional sports, which spans across major sports leagues including the MLS, NBA, MLB, and NHL, detailing the path from his humble beginnings to now being at the helm of the marketing department for Minnesota United FC.John dove into his early love for sports, particularly soccer, and how it shaped his career aspirations. He reminisced about his unique start in sports in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets, starting as a Mascot Coordinator (yes, that's a job!) later returning to spearhead the game-day energy and fan engagement, crafting memorable experiences that went beyond just watching a game. Transitioning to soccer, John discussed his move to Minnesota United prior to their MLS debut in 2017, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of joining a new club transitioning to America's premier soccer league. He reflected on the strategic marketing shifts necessitated by the move from a large college stadium to the more intimate, soccer-specific environment of their new home in 2019, and how he drew inspiration from other clubs globally to create a unique fan culture. John opened up about his most recent rewarding project - recently working with the Make a Wish Foundation to fulfill a child's dream of scoring a goal in front of his great grandparents at Allianz Field. He shared the profound impact of integrating community service into the club's identity and how these efforts resonate deeply with fans and staff alike.Finally, John touched on the broader trends in sports marketing and soccer's growing place in American culture, offering insights into how MLS clubs like Minnesota United are not just competing on the pitch but in the hearts of their communities.Whether you're a sports fanatic looking to get a peek into the brain of one of the soccer industry's sharpest marketing minds, or simply enjoy stories showcasing how hard work and determination is always the recipe for success, you're going to want to listen to this one.Now Live on Youtube, Spotify, Apple and everywhere else.#OffThePitch • #SoccerBusinessPodcast    ----------------------------------------------------Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@PodcastOffthePitch/Follow Off the Pitch on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/podcastoffthepitch/Follow Off the Pitch on TikTok:http://www.tiktok.com/@podcastoffthepitchFollow John Guagliano on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnguagliano/Follow Matt Cunningham on social:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcghm/Follow David Kinnear on social:https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-kinnear-b48857195/

Have you ever looked back at a day in your life, and said "WOW - I Can't Believe I did That!"? In this podcast series, listen to QT2 athletes tell the stories of how they achieved goals that they once never dreamed possible. Season 2, Episode 1 features QT2 Systems athlete Bill Murphy, coached by Hillary Schmitt. In November, Bill will run The Great World Race - seven marathons, on seven continents on seven consecutive days. He will be running to raise awareness and funds for the Make a Wish Foundation. His journey on how he got here is a series of Greatest Moments. Over and over again achieving what he never thought possible. Seventeen years ago, hanging out with friends, he decided that he wanted to run the Boston Marathon. At that time, he had no run training, but the seed was planted and once Bill decides to do something, quitting is not an option. He raced the Boston Marathon in 2008 and again in 2009 and 2010 for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. After focusing on other life goals, in 2019, he returned to the Boston Marathon, this time for the Make a Wish Foundation. While waiting in the starting area, he struck up conversations with other athletes who shared their stories. From here, he was motivated to do his first IRONMAN Triathlon later that year - even though he didn't own a bike and hand't swam in thirty years. The following year, Bill participated in the Virtual Boston Marathon - on crutches (and nearly set a World Record)!!! Constantly pushing his limits and always finishing what he started, Bill continued to look for bigger challenges. In 2023, he completed his first Ultra - the Sun Up Sun Down 50K. In 2024, he went bigger, participating in the 24 Hour Anchor Down Race. With all of these challenges, Bill also found his Why. Although pushing his limits remained a focus, he also came to appreciate the importance of letting others in and experiencing these journeys together. He found the power of people lifting each other up. His mindset became Change the World. Change the World. Change the World. Change within before you can Change the World. From there, the idea of The Great World Race and Racing for Wishes came about.  If you would like to make a donation to Bill's Great World Race fundraising efforts for the Make a Wish Foundation, follow this link - https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/n3U8kw?vid=17q6zj&fbclid=IwY2xjawEgqNFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHUuPzUYYoENOTGYPT7oZZ_hB7skAdjpkE1Imzqnh7Duw8nEYKidI8e0MwA_aem_aLGqrhBellOXP9pn_9xu1Q Feeling motivated by this Podcast? Check out Bill's recently published book Thriving in the Storm, available on Amazon at https://a.co/d/0bU4fYT To learn more about The Great World Race, visit https://thegreatworldrace.com To learn more about QT2 Systems, visit https://www.qt2systems.com

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   This episode of RIMScast is proudly sponsored by Hillwood. Hillwood is a leading multinational real estate development company and part of the Perot family of companies. For more information, visit Hillwood.com.   In the spirit of #InternationalPodcastDay on Sept. 30, RIMScast was produced live and onsite at the DFW RIMS Fall Conference in Irving, Texas on Sept. 19. You can hear the electricity on the floor of the Irving Convention Center as RIMS members, risk professionals and vendors from the greater Dallas Fort Worth area convened to learn, share knowledge, and network.   Former and current DFW RIMS Presidents join RIMScast today to discuss the state of risk in DFW, Safety, and ERM trends they are noticing, and why this event marks the closing chapter in one book and prepares for an all-new one in 2025.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About Hillwood, the proud sponsor of this episode of RIMScast. [:15] About this episode, coming to you live from Irving Texas at the DFW RIMS 2024 Fall Conference and Spa Event. This is the Texas risk roundup; we're juggling risks and lassoing opportunities. [:46] This episode is sponsored by Hillwood, a Perot company. Learn more at Hillwood.com. [:52] It's an exciting event. It's also the end of an era for the DFW RIMS Chapter and we'll talk about that. [1:07] Events! Visit GreaterBluegrass.RIMS.org to learn more about the Greater Bluegrass Chapter of RIMS and their upcoming annual conference and meeting event, on October 8th and 9th. They've got some great speakers lined up. Check out their website and LinkedIn. [1:35] Last call for the RIMS Western Regional Conference, September 29th through October 1st at the Sun River Resort in Oregon. Register at RIMSWesternRegional.com. [1:47] The RIMS Canada Conference 2024 is coming up, October 6th through the 9th in Vancouver. Visit RIMSCanadaConference.ca to register. [1:57] The 2024 RIMS ERM Conference will be held in Boston, Massachusetts on November 18th and 19th. Visit RIMS.org/ERM2024. [2:10] Interviews! My first guest is the Ex Officio of the DFW RIMS Chapter, LaToya Lee. She is Vice President of Crew Safety at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers. LaToya Lee, welcome to RIMScast! [2:33] The DFW RIMS 2024 Fall Conference and Spa Event at the Irving Convention Center is Texas-themed with a carnival. It is electrifying! Justin and LaToya met at the Risk Manager Exclusive Forum Lunch at the conference. It was a lunch for risk managers to speak freely. [3:43] At the luncheon, LaToya raised an excellent point about an emerging risk from social media. Raising Cane's has so many employees who are young people on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. Raising Cane's has great policies and procedures to prevent employees from posting. [5:01] Most employees don't bring their phones to the restaurant, but if they do, they must store them in their lockers. Raising Cane's has about 840 locations in the U.S. About 800 are corporate-owned with a few franchise partners. LaToya is the Vice President of Crew Safety. [5:57] As a fast-casual. Quick-service restaurant, with four menu items, Raising Cane's is a people business. The Raising Cane's culture is a fun, cool culture, with disco balls and smiling faces. The crew is in shorts. It's a family-oriented business. They cater to all. [7:29] The growth of Raising Cane's is astronomical. When LaToya started, there were 248 restaurants. LaToya will soon be celebrating her 9th anniversary with Raising Cane's and there are 800-plus restaurants now. [8:04] As DFW RIMS Ex Officio, LaToya says the conference turnout is simply amazing. The attendees, vendors, and speakers are phenomenal. The topics of ERM, Work Comp, Property Damage, and Nuclear Verdicts, are everything you want in a one-day conference. [8:37] What excites LaToya for the next year's conference is the growth. Having all of the Texas Chapters coming together for one conference in San Antonio is going to be amazing! [8:55] LaToya, it has been such a pleasure to meet you! I look forward to seeing you in San Antonio and at RISKWORLD 2025! Thank you so much! [9:10] We are joined by former DFW RIMS Chapter President and a RIMS Global Board Director, Penni Chambers. Hello, Penni! [9:46] Penni grew up in Texas and has lassoing skills! She moderated a session with the State Office of Risk Management. It was one of the favorite sessions she has moderated. It was lassoing the panelists, keeping them on track, and not going over time, with audience questions! [10:40] Justin notes that it is International Podcast Day, and this is a special live episode. There's electricity here at the Conference! [11:09] Penni thinks the growth of risk management in Texas is in part because of the economic growth in Texas, with big Fortune 500 companies coming into the region. North Texas has grown. The Dallas membership for the DFW RIMS Chapter grows with the companies coming in. [11:35] Their risk managers want to get to know other risk managers. There is a camaraderie among peers. The marketing effort of the chapter spans decades. The fall conference gives everyone a chance to reconnect and meet new people at events leading up to the conference. [12:36] It's exciting to Penni as a seasoned professional to see these young faces and new faces at the Conference. It's incredible! It's also bittersweet to Penni that this is the last DFW RIMS Fall Conference, after decades of conferences. [13:22] Next year, DFW RIMS will team up with the Huston, San Antonio, and Central Texas RIMS Chapters to host the first-ever Texas Regional RIMS Conference, August 4th through 6th, in San Antonio near the Alamo, on the river walk. San Antonio is a beautiful place to kick it off! [14:21] Penni is excited because she will get to meet members from other chapters. She says the collaboration that's going to come from this is going to be phenomenal! [14:53] Penni says they are planning this conference in collaboration with Global RIMS. It's super exciting. It's the first time Global RIMS has done something like it for a regional conference. It's going to be a “drop-dead stunner” of a conference! [15:17] It has been such a pleasure to sit with you in person to do one of these interviews for International Podcast Day! You did a wonderful job moderating this morning. I want to thank you and thank Hillwood for being our sponsor for this episode! I'll see you at RISKWORLD 2025! [15:44] I wanted to close out this RIMScast episode with some symmetry. We had two former DFW RIMS Presidents on the show today. We will close it out with the current DFW RIMS President, Emily Casso Ford, who has been fantastic to work with. [16:05] Emily has led sessions and in many ways has been the face of the conference. I wanted to hear from her directly, not just about DFW RIMS but also to discuss her experiences in the ERM space. She leads ERM at Globe Life. [16:23] We're also going to talk about her experience with the RIMS-CRMP and how it is impacting her overall organization. Let's get to it! [16:37] I'm joined by the President of the DFW RIMS Chapter, Emily Casso Ford! Welcome to RIMScast! We have had such a great time for these last 36 hours or so! We're talking at the very end of the final DFW RIMS Annual Conference. How does it feel, now that you're done? [17:06] Emily says she feels fantastic! She gives a shout-out to the Conference Chair, Chapter Vice President Marissa Holland, who did an outstanding job! This conference is our best yet! [18:12] Emily gives an overview of her work at Globe Life for the last two-and-a-half years. She started as an island of one leading an ERM function, explaining to C-Suite and board why risk management matters. The board believed in it and demanded that the ERM function expand. [18:41] Emily started hiring. She had great buy-in from the top. She spearheaded a program in a company that just needed to get around a table and talk about what the risks are and what they look like. Emily refers to ERM as getting comfortable talking about the elephant in the room. [19:18] Emily started a Risk Liaison Program to work with areas of the organization that weren't represented on the ERM Committee. She asked the members of the ERM Committee to identify the leaders on their teams who understand the emerging risks on the horizon. [19:52] These people, the Risk Liaisons, would come together to have good conversations about what those emerging risks look like. They are up to 43 Risk Liaisons, from all across the enterprise of over 3,000 full-time employees. Globe Life is a $6 billion company. [20:30] All the functions of the company are represented among the Risk Liaisons. Emily's goal was to pass the mic and give people a voice who hadn't had a voice or a seat at the table to share the insight and perspectives they have. They are closer to the work that's being done. [21:02] They sometimes see the risks coming faster than the folks in upper leadership do. Emily wants to champion that and give them a voice. [21:21] Emily says the ERM team wants to make sure they share the risks with the board in the right way, giving them the information they need and desire. That changes from quarter to quarter. They are constantly on a trajectory or increased maturity. [22:16] Some of you listening may recognize Emily Casso Ford as one of our more recent RIMS-CRMP Story interviewees. Emily has an update. Her entire ERM team at Globe Life has now earned the certification of RIMS-CRMP. She's very proud of each member of the team. [23:00] Emily's boss, the SVP of Risk at Globe Life, provided the impetus for the team members to obtain the RIMS-CRMP. The Globe Life Chief Risk Officer fully supported the ERM team members each getting the RIMS-CRMP certification. It showcases their expertise in the industry. [23:39] The Make-a-Wish Foundation received at least $5,500 in donations at the DFW RIMS Conference this year. A match is expected from a generous benefactor. [24:04] This has been a great way to close out a wonderful tradition and start a new one. I want to thank you for inviting me! It's a real privilege to be here! I want to thank Hillwood, a Perot Company, for sponsoring this episode. [24:26] Emily, you're doing a great job as President of the DFW RIMS Branch! We look forward to more great work from you! [24:36] Special thanks to all of my RIMScast guests here who attended the DFW RIMS Annual Fall Conference and Spa Event. A very special thank you to Marissa Holland, DFW RIMS Vice President. As Emily said, she was the unsung hero of this year's event. She's fantastic! [24:55] Visit DFWRIMS.org for more information and to learn more about the Texas RIMS Regional 2025 Conference, which will be held in San Antonio from August 4th through the 6th. [25:06] We are very grateful for our sponsor, Hillwood, a Perot Company. Visit Hillwood.com for more information. A link is on this page. [25:18] It's RIMS Plug Time! The RIMS App is available to RIMS members exclusively. Go to the App Store and download the RIMS App with all sorts of RIMS resources and coverage. It's different from the RIMS Events App. Everyone loves the RIMS App! [25:50] You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in our show notes. RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [26:31] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [26:48] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [27:04] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [27:17] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. You can email Justin at Content@RIMS.org. [27:24] Thank you for your continued support and engagement on social media channels! We appreciate all your kind words. Listen every week! Stay safe!   Mentioned in this Episode: About our sponsor, Hillwood: Hillwood.com RIMS ERM Conference 2024 will be in Boston, MA Nov. 18‒19 | Register Now RIMS Western Regional — Sept 29‒Oct 1, Oregon | Registration is open! RIMS Canada Conference 2024 — Oct. 6‒9 | Registration is open! RIMS Greater Bluegrass Chapter Annual Meeting & Conference — Oct 8‒9 | Last call for Registration RIMS DEI Council RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center NEW FOR MEMBERS! RIMS Mobile App Spencer Internship Grants — Deadline Oct. 15 The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — New interviews featuring DFW RIMS President Emily Casso Ford!   RIMS Webinars: The Future of RMIS: Beyond Traditional Approaches | Sponsored by Archer | Sept. 26, 2024 Mastering ERM: Leveraging Internal and External Risk Factors for Strategic Advantage | Sponsored by Diligent | Oct. 3, 2024 Long-Term Property Strategies for a Resilient Future | Sponsored by Zurich | Oct. 10, 2024 From AI to the SEC: The Future of D&O Litigation and Regulatory Exposures | Sponsored by Hub International | Oct. 24, 2024 Lessons from Veterans on Strategic Risk Leadership | Presented by RIMS | Nov. 4, 2024 Risk Perception and Management: Insights for a Changing Landscape | Sponsored by Marsh | Nov. 14, 2024 RIMS.org/Webinars   Upcoming Virtual Workshops: Applying and Integrating ERM | Sept 25‒26 and Dec 4‒5 Fundamentals of Risk Management | Oct 3‒4, 2024 Fundamentals of Insurance | Oct 9‒10, 2024 See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops   Related RIMScast Episodes: “Bigger Risks with the Texas State Office of Risk Management” | Sponsored By Hillwood   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “Weathering Today's Property Claims Management Challenges” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “Storm Prep 2024: The Growing Impact of Convective Storms and Hail” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company (New!) “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer “Alliant's P&C Outlook For 2024” | Sponsored by Alliant “Why Subrogation is the New Arbitration” | Sponsored by Fleet Response “Cyclone Season: Proactive Preparation for Loss Minimization” | Sponsored by Prudent Insurance Brokers Ltd. “Subrogation and the Competitive Advantage” | Sponsored by Fleet Response “Cyberrisk Outlook 2023” | Sponsored by Alliant “Chemical Industry: How To Succeed Amid Emerging Risks and a Challenging Market” | Sponsored by TÜV SÜD “Insuring the Future of the Environment” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Insights into the Gig Economy and its Contractors” | Sponsored by Zurich “The Importance of Disaster Planning Relationships” | Sponsored by ServiceMaster   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model® RIMS Events App Apple | Google Play   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guests: LaToya Lee, Vice President of Crew Safety at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers and DFW RIMS Ex Officio Penni Chambers, Vice President of Risk Management at Hillwood. Penni is also a former DFW RIMS President. She is currently a RIMS Board Director. Emily Casso Ford, Esq., RIMS-CRMP, VP of Enterprise Risk at Globe Life. Emily is also the DFW RIMS President. Postables (Edited For Social Media Use): Kids like to be on their cell phones. They like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. At Raising Cane's, we have good policies and procedures to help guide our young crew to be the best fry cook cashiers they can be, put their cell phones up, and stay off social media. — LaToya Lee   It's exciting to me as a seasoned professional to see these young faces and new faces at the DFW RIMS Conference. This is incredible! — Penni Chambers   The people who are in that first line are closer to the work that's being done and they sometimes see the risks coming faster than the folks in upper leadership do. We want to champion that. We want to give them a voice. — Emily Casso Ford, Esq.   As our function grows, we are constantly on a trajectory of increased maturity. — Emily Casso Ford, Esq.  

This episode of the Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast sponsored by Bearing Advisors, Jim Hunt interviews Andy Nickerson, President of Hdl Companies, both attending the ICMA Conference this September.  7 Steps to an Amazing City: Attitude Motivation Attention to Detail Zing Inclusiveness Neighborhood Empowerment Green Awareness Thanks for listening and look forward to having you join us for the next episode. Links Mentions During Show:  https://www.hdlcompanies.com/  ·       www.AmazingCities.org ·       www.AmazingCities.org/podcast to be a guest on the podcast   About Andy Nickerson, President of Hdl Companies:    As President of HdL, Andy has proven instrumental in guiding market expansion and new product development for all three of our affiliated companies. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day management of our sales tax programs and services, he also guides market expansion and new ventures, all while working to ensure quality of service and foster long-term client relationships. Andy has 30 years of experience working with local government agencies, assisting these agencies with programs to enhance sales tax, property tax, RDA increment, and documentary transfer tax revenues. Throughout his career, he has been involved with various municipal organizations including The Institute for Local Government, The International City Manager's Association, The League of California Cities, California Society of Municipal Finance Officers, State Association of County Auditors, California State Association of Counties, Alliance for Innovation, Texas Municipal League and Government Finance Officers Association. Mr. Nickerson earned a Bachelor of Science degree (Finance & Real Estate Law) from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.   About Your Host, Jim Hunt: Welcome to the “Building Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast” … The podcast for Mayors, Council Members, Managers, Staff and anyone who is interested in building an Amazing City. Your host is Jim Hunt, the author of “Bottom Line Green, How American Cities are Saving the Planet and Money Too” and his latest book, “The Amazing City - 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City” Jim is also the former President of the National League of Cities, 27 year Mayor, Council Member and 2006 Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine. Today, Jim speaks to 1000's of local government officials each year in the US and abroad. Jim also consults with businesses that are bringing technology and innovation to local government.   Amazing City Resources: Buy Jim's Popular Books: ·       The Amazing City: 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City:   https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/the-amazing-city-7-steps-to-creating-an-amazing-city   ·       Bottom Line Green: How America's Cities and Saving the Planet (And Money Too)  https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/bottom-line-green-how-america-s-cities-are-saving-the-planet-and-money-too   FREE White Paper: ·       “10 Steps to Revitalize Your Downtown”  www.AmazingCities.org/10-Steps   Hire Jim to Speak at Your Next Event: ·       Tell us about your event and see if dates are available at www.AmazingCities.org/Speaking   Hire Jim to Consult with Your City or Town: ·       Discover more details at https://www.amazingcities.org/consulting   Discuss Your Business Opportunity/Product to Help Amazing Cities: ·       Complete the form at https://www.amazingcities.org/business-development   A Special Thanks to Bearing Advisors for the support of this podcast:  www.BearingAdvisors.Net    Show Summary: Andy's Journey to Becoming HDL CEO Andy shared his journey to becoming the CEO of Hdl, starting with an internship in finance that was required for his college graduation. His college roommate's date, who was the daughter of Hdl's founder, Lloyd Dalamas, passed on his resume to her father, leading to his first job offer. Over the years, Andy was given numerous opportunities and eventually became the CEO in 2010. Jim agreed with Andy's path to success, emphasizing the importance of following opportunities and finding one's passion.   HDL Company History and Expansion Discussion Jim and Andy discussed the history and growth of Hdl, a company founded in 1983 by a former city manager. Initially focused on gathering sales tax data and providing analytics to cities in California, the company expanded under Andy's leadership as CEO since 2010. Hdl now has a national footprint, offering services beyond sales tax to include economic development and having acquired companies in Texas, Colorado, Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia.   Exploring Public Agency Services and Data Analytics Andy discussed the services provided by his company to public agencies, emphasizing the administrative, compliance, data analytics, and revenue forecasting aspects. He highlighted the acquisition of data sets from over 750 public agencies, which aids in benchmarking and revenue forecasting for cities recruiting new businesses. Andy also explained the forecasting model used by his team, which combines a top-down and bottom-up approach for accurate predictions. Jim, a former city official, expressed interest in the data analytics aspect, noting its potential value in decision-making and long-term financial planning. Jim also suggested that this data could be a deciding factor in economic development decisions for businesses.   Discussing Business Engagement and Tax Equity Andy and Jim discussed their engagement with the business community, focusing on education and ensuring tax equity. Andy explained that their teams help businesses understand and correctly fill out tax forms, particularly in states with complex rules. Jim agreed, emphasizing the importance of consistency and professionalism in government dealings. They both acknowledged the potential for tax inequities and the need to level the playing field for businesses.   Discussing Data Management and AI in Local Governments Jim and Andy discussed the rapid growth of data generation in local governments due to technological advancements. They agreed that cities often lack the capacity to manage this data, necessitating third-party involvement. Andy highlighted the cost and time-consuming nature of data acquisition and software development for local governments, which can be more efficiently handled by companies like theirs. They also touched on the potential of artificial intelligence in interacting with large data sets for forecasting and trend prediction. Andy discussed their tools' effectiveness in increasing productivity and their work on revenue forecasting models that incorporate multiple data sets and macroeconomic trends. Jim agreed with Andy's points, emphasizing the importance of understanding both the advantages and potential dangers of artificial intelligence.   Discussing ICMA Event and Public Sector DNA Jim and Andy discussed their upcoming attendance at the International City County Managers Association (ICMA) event in Pittsburgh. Andy explained that their firm, Hdl, has a strong public sector DNA due to its founding by two former city managers and the presence of many former public sector employees. He emphasized their passion for serving the public sector and their belief in the importance of local governments in providing services that enrich people's lives. Jim, who works within a city manager form of government, expressed his admiration for the professionalism and adherence to the code of ethics within the city manager profession.   City Management Systems and Pittsburgh Revitalization Jim and Andy discussed the growth and transition of city management systems in West Virginia, with Jim mentioning a city that recently switched from a strong mayor to a professional city manager. Andy, who is visiting Pittsburgh for the first time, expressed his excitement about the city's revitalization and planned to extend his stay for a bike tour along the rivers. Jim shared his positive impressions of Pittsburgh, emphasizing its impressive cityscape and the convergence of the three rivers.   Understanding Make-a-Wish Foundation and Andy's Involvement Jim and Andy discussed Andy's involvement with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Andy explained that the organization provides support to families with children facing terminal illnesses, not by providing treatment, but by granting wishes to these children. He emphasized that the organization's work is often misunderstood, as most children go through treatment and recover. Andy shared his journey with the organization, starting with a committee role and eventually joining the board. Jim expressed his appreciation for Andy's work and highlighted the importance of understanding that not all problems can be solved by the government. Andy also mentioned that giving generously is a core value in his organization, which includes supporting local charities and sponsoring events.

Originally Published May 30,2022. Join Dr. Allen Lycka as he delves into the creation of the inspiring book "Grad to Grown-Up" with its co-authors, Gene Rice and his daughter, Courtney Bejgrowicz. Gene, a seasoned executive recruiter, shares how his life lessons for college interns evolved into 68 tips covering career, personal finance, health, and relationships. Courtney adds a fresh perspective, making the advice relatable to younger audiences. Together, they discuss the importance of finding purpose, personal fulfillment, and how this book can help readers navigate both professional and personal success. This episode highlights the power of generational wisdom and collaboration.   Gene Rice & Courtney Bejgrowicz:  Gene Rice, Chairman and Co-Founder of Rice Cohen International, is a renowned executive recruiter with nearly 30 years of experience. Recognized as one of the top Executive Search professionals globally, Gene has completed over 1,000 retained searches, including 211 C-suite placements and 300 in Management Consulting and EdTech. Recruiter.com named him one of the “100 Most Influential People in the History of Executive Recruiting.”     Gene also co-founded Rice Cohen Training & Consulting, the largest training firm for executive recruiters. Their “25 Common Traits of the Big Billers” series has been adopted by over 2,300 companies worldwide. Passionate about his industry, Gene serves as an Executive Coach to CEOs of search firms.   Beyond business, Gene is deeply committed to community service. After years of involvement with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, he and his wife Michele founded the Plant A Seed, Inspire A Dream Foundation, a non-profit providing scholarships to financially challenged youth. Since 2008, the foundation has awarded over 700 scholarships and has been featured in People Magazine. As Chairman of Rice Cohen International, Gene focuses on strategy, innovation, and international expansion.   Courtney Bejgrowicz is a high school English teacher who uses her passion for literature and desire to inspire others to inform her work. She enjoys mentoring teachers and helping her students find their inner voices.   In her first book, Grad to Grown-Up, Bejgrowicz teams up with her father Gene Rice, entrepreneur and top executive recruiter, to offer advice for young adults to excel in their personal and professional lives. Bejgrowicz looks forward to writing more books to help people live fulfilling lives.   Social Media:  Website: https://www.gradtogrownup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gradtogrownupbook/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Grad-to-Grown-Up/100071156958203/  Gene Rice Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grice113/    Thanks for listening to the show! It means so much to us that you listened to our podcast! If you would like to continue the conversation, please email me at allen@drallenlycka.com or visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/drallenlycka. We would love to have you join us there, and welcome your messages. We check our Messenger often.   This show is built on “The Secrets to Living A Fantastic Life.” Get your copy by visiting: https://secretsbook.now.site/home   We are building a community of like-minded people in the personal development/self-help/professional development industries, and are always looking for wonderful guests for our show. If you have any recommendations, please email us!   Dr. Allen Lycka's Social Media Links Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/drallenlycka Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_allen_lycka/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/drallenlycka LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allenlycka YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/c/drallenlycka   Subscribe to the show. We would be honored to have you subscribe to the show - you can subscribe on the podcast app on your mobile device

This week's show featured Food Bank for the Heartland president and CEO Brian Barks discussing the need to donate to help those less fortunate in our community, Innocence Freed founder and CEO Julie Shrader illuminating the issues related to human trafficking in our area, and Omahawks president Grant Schulte inviting the public to their annual airshow fundraiser for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

[Content Warning]: Ritualistic sexual abuse, psychological torture, violenceToday, Jan is joined by Jimmi Toro, an American contemporary, internationally acclaimed artist, author of his new book HEAL, founder of the non-profit Rescue11 whose mission is to protect children against predators. He is also a composer, and a music producer. Jimmi has spoken at numerous events and mental health panels, including the 2023 NBA All-Star event. He has also created art for various charity-related projects with Rescue11, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Make a Wish Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and The Orange Duffel Bag Initiative.Jimmy Toro shares his experiences of childhood trauma and abuse, as well as his journey of healing and advocacy. He discusses the prevalence of child abuse, including ritualistic sexual abuse, and the hidden nature of perpetrators within communities. Toro emphasizes the importance of believing survivors and the need for men to be advocates in preventing and addressing abuse. He also highlights the work of his organization, Rescue11, in protecting children from predators. Toro shares insights on facing trauma head-on and the power of healing from suppressed memories. Jimmi and Jan highlight the book 'The Body Keeps the Score' by Dr. Van Der Kolk as a valuable resource for understanding trauma. Jimmi shares his personal experience of facing and transforming traumatic memories, emphasizing the importance of empowering the inner child. He explains how art and storytelling can be powerful tools for healing and expressing personal power. The conversation concludes by addressing the need for greater awareness of child predators and the urgency of addressing the epidemic of childhood sexual abuse.Connect with Jimmi Toro:Rescue11JimmiToro.comBuy Jimmi's Book:HEALMentioned Resources:The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der KolkIf you are someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264Subscribe / Support / Contact:

Dr. Bernie Mullin is a groundbreaking sport and entertainment industry executive who has turned around franchises, set all time revenue and attendance records, and generated $1.5 billion in revenues for brands from the NFL to the U.S. Open Tennis with agency Aspire Marketing Group. Bernie has definitely moved from Success to Significance with involvement in the United Way, YMCA, Make a Wish Foundation and The Aspire Difference Foundation supporting single parents with pre-school children. On this podcast learn about the empowerment of today's youth through education. You will also hear about America's top 10 key soclal problems. Hear Bernie's proposal to have a summer camp for all incoming high school freshmen, giving them orientation as American citizens and how to be an adult. Visit www.berniejmullin.com to support this visionary.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/success-made-to-last-legends--4302039/support.

Dr Bernie Mullin is a groundbreaking sport and entertainment industry executive who's turned around franchises, set all-time revenue and attendance records, and generated $1.5+ billion in revenues for brands from the NFL to the US Open Tennis with his agency, Aspire Marketing Group. He was CEO of NBA and NHL teams and CMO of the NBA. He's also a globally acclaimed speaker, podcaster, author, and humanitarian who has served on multiple boards, including the United Way; YMCA; and Make a Wish Foundation. His The Aspire Difference Foundation (TADF) focuses on supporting single parents with preschool children. All net proceeds from his consulting, podcasts and books go to support TADF. His new book is Reimagining America's Dream: Making It Attainable for All Learn more at: www. berniejmullin.com GUEST WEBSITE: www. berniejmullin.com SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernie-mullin-6852a18 https://twitter.com/bernard_mullin Hashtags: #RAD#MakingItAttainable#Dr B#DrBPodcasts This segment is about how to help all Americans achieve the American Dream — by the first immigrant CEO of a US Major League team turned global marketing expert. Big idea: Pew Research identified ten key issues stopping too many Americans from attaining the American Dream. The best way to address them is with simple, cost-effective solutions, starting with giving every child a true head start. Why it matters: Toxicity and political division in the U.S. have a terrible impact on Americans, creating roadblocks to education, family health, income growth, criminal justice and more. Income equality is getting worse and educational access is wildly disparate. But to unify a nation we need to stop pointing fingers — and get to work. Key messages: One man looked at his own journey from immigrant to CEO of a company earning $1.75B in revenue — who has created immense generational wealth for his own family — and saw practical approaches that translate into social good for all. He created a roadmap for revitalizing the futures of countless Americans. The author can also discuss: • How to empower today's youth through education — with a national investment that provides a head start for all. • Why generational wealth is so critical for our future — and how to create it. • How to solve America's 10 key social problems within one single generation. • How to reinstate the U.S. as the "world's cop," ensuring peaceful co-existence and balancing global trade and world affairs. • How to unify the nation with PAL, an ethos/ greeting campaign based on Peace and Love. • Why the author donates all book proceeds to The Aspire Difference Foundation for single parents of preschool children. The source: Dr Bernie Mullin is a groundbreaking sport and entertainment industry executive who's turned around franchises, set all-time revenue and attendance records, and generated $1.5+ billion in revenues for brands from the NFL to the US Open Tennis with his agency, Aspire Marketing Group. He was CEO of NBA and NHL teams and CMO of the NBA. He's also a globally acclaimed speaker, podcaster, author, and humanitarian who has served on multiple boards, including the United Way; YMCA; and Make a Wish Foundation. His The Aspire Difference Foundation (TADF) focuses on supporting single parents with preschool children. All net proceeds from his consulting, podcasts and books go to support TADF. His new book is Reimagining America's Dream: Making It Attainable for All.

This week's show featured Joy Bartling talking about Scatter Joy Acres animal rescue, Nina Rongisch of Outlook Enrichment inviting listeners to their golf fundraiser to help the blind and visually impaired, Joshua Murray with the American Red Cross promoting their upcoming blood drives, Chelsey Brooks discussing a concert event at Truck Center Companies to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and Nebraska A.G. Mike Hilgers conversing about his legal action against TikTok.

Hello and welcome to the Q-T.A.L.K.S

When Chris Welton last graced our studio, he was poised at the edge of a corporate cliff, ready to leap into the abyss of coaching and speaking. Now, he returns to the Uncommon Leader podcast, not just surviving the fall, but soaring – his book "One Jordan" has etched its name on the Amazon bestseller list. Welton's journey hasn't been all accolades and achievements, though; it's also been woven with personal trials, including welcoming his son Leo into the world under heart-wrenching circumstances. This episode isn't just about triumphs, but the real, raw connections that make them possible – the kind that Welton has masterfully cultivated and now shares through his touching narrative, insightful coaching, and transformative speaking engagements.Let's pull back the curtain on the often misunderstood world of networking and genuine relationship-building with insights from a man who's seen the power of authentic connections first-hand. Beyond the spotlight of his bestseller and the heartfelt philanthropy at a Make a Wish Foundation event, Welton opens up about tackling the Goliaths of self-doubt and the resilience needed to come out on top. As he recounts his interactions with the likes of David Meltzer, John Gordon, and Coach Michael Burt, you'll see it's not about who you know, but how deeply you connect. Welton's expertise shines as he offers practical strategies for expanding your network with intention, overcoming fear, and letting faith and gratitude guide you to your own legacy of meaningful relationships and lasting impact.Connect with Chris:InstagramLinkedInPurchase his best-selling book:https://onejordanbook.com/Thanks for listening in to the Uncommon Leader Podcast. Please take just a minute to share this podcast with that someone you know that you thought of when you heard this episode. One of the most valuable things you can do is to rate the podcast and leave a review. You can do that on Apple podcasts, or rate the podcast on Spotify or any other platform you listen. Did you know that many of the things that I discuss on the Uncommon Leader Podcast are subjects that I coach other leaders and organizations ? If you would be interested in having me discuss 1:1 or group coaching with you, or know someone who is looking to move from Underperforming to Uncommon in their business or life, I would love to chat with you. Click this link to set up a FREE CALL to discuss how coaching might benefit you and your team) Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!!Connect with me

International speaker and creator of 11 startup companies, Holly Porter stands as a beacon of resilience. A 13-time best-selling author, seasoned philanthropist, and true survivor, her remarkable journey includes a 70-day battle with COVID-19. Emerging from this challenging experience with unwavering determination, Holly is not just a speaker but a living testament to the power of resilience. Passionate about wellness, she goes beyond her achievements in the business world. Holly leads a non-profit dedicated to aiding the long COVID community, showcasing her commitment to making a positive impact on people's lives. Her infectious joy embodies hope, and her wisdom uplifts others, proving that healing is possible after the toughest of battles. Inspirational and influential, Holly Porter continues to inspire countless lives along the way. Through her diverse accomplishments and commitment to philanthropy, she has become a source of motivation for those facing challenges, illustrating that one can overcome adversity with strength, positivity, and a generous spirit. For more, go to https://hollyporterinternational.com/

In this inspiring episode of [Podcast Name], we dive into the transformative world of expressing gratitude through the timeless art of writing thank-you letters. Join us as we sit down with Carew Papritz, renowned author and advocate of the written word, to explore the profound benefits of penning heartfelt thank-you notes. Carew Papritz shares his deep insights into the magic of appreciation and its positive impact on our lives and relationships. From boosting personal well-being to strengthening connections with others, discover how writing thank-you letters can bring about a wave of positivity and joy. About Carew Carew Papritz, also known as The Cowboy Philosopher, is the author of the multi-award-winning book The Legacy Letters. Though fictional, The Legacy Letters has won acclaim as a life lessons book for all generations, gaining the distinction of being the only book in publishing history to win awards in both fiction and non-fiction categories. A Renaissance Man in an age that lauds the specialist, The Huffington Post says Papritz "intrigues and enlightens, charms and catalyzes change for every reader." As part of his many innovative and adventurous first-ever book signings, Carew truly lives his book's central message to “live life to the fullest” while signing books on top of volcanoes and horses. These events and other YouTube videos, such as the “I Love to Read” series and his annual literacy-driven charity event, “The Great Book Balloon Launch,” inspire kids and adults to rediscover the joy of reading! Proceeds of the summer's sales of The Legacy Letters went to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Proceeds from his recent “First-Ever Book Signing while Stomping Grapes” went to the Seattle Children's Hospital. Other charities include Reading is Fundamental and the Military Mama's Network. About Theresa Inman A wife and a mother to two children and grandmother, Theresa Alexander Inman is a Parenting Coach, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and Infant Toddler Development Specialist. She was introduced to the field of behavior analysis in 2007 after working in many capacities in the juvenile justice system. Her goal is to improve the lives of children and families by helping them strategize child develop skills to prevent or reduce the effects of possible delays while having fun! Theresa is also an author, having published ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠“How Can I Help My Child Communicate?”⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in 2022. Connect with Theresa today! • Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theresa Inman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • LinkedIn | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theresa Inman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • BabyBoomer.org | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theresa Inman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • YouTube | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Parenting with Confidence⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Tiktok | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@parentcoachtheresa • Spotify via Anchor.fm | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Parenting with Confidence ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: https://www.theresaalexanderinman.com/ About Parenting with Confidence Parenting with Confidence with Theresa Alexander Inman presents you with answers if you are a tired and frustrated parent with a child diagnosed with a developmental delay. We aim to lift you up from the pressure of doing it right and provide you with the resources to set you and your child up for success! Please comment, share, and download Great Message! Please forgive the video quality! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theresa-alexander-inman/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theresa-alexander-inman/support

PTF is here with Paul Halloran of the HHH Racing Podcast as the two reflect on the life and legacy of Cody Dorman.In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Make a Wish Foundation. You can find the link here.

PTF is here with Paul Halloran of the HHH Racing Podcast as the two reflect on the life and legacy of Cody Dorman.In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Make a Wish Foundation. You can find the link here.

An old friend returns to The Zone to talk about football commemorating the 100th anniversary of Memorial Stadium that benefits The Make a Wish Foundation.

Nurse Blake...yes, the Tik Tok Sensation, uses his unique blend of humor, stress relief, and a one-of-a-kind perspective to bring the funny to the nursing community. Blake is a nurse, creator, internationally touring comedian, healthcare advocate, and keynote speaker. Hailed as a "genuine phenomenon" by The New York Times, Blake worked in trauma centers around the country before his career in comedy. As a way to cope with the stress of his nursing job, Blake started posting original comedy videos aimed at his profession. His lighthearted videos connected with nurses, nursing students, and healthcare workers around the world gaining Nurse Blake over 3.5M followers on social media and over 300M views. He now takes his comedy to stages around the world bringing nurses together through his humor and inspiration. Nurse Blake's sold out 2022 PTO Comedy Tour began as a 14-show run and grew to 55 shows due to demand. Nurse Blake will follow that with his massive 100 city Shock Advised Comedy Tour across North America in 2023.Blake is also the creator of NurseCon at Sea, one of the largest and most popular nursing conferences, and the NurseCon App which provides free continuing nursing education courses. He recently designed a line of footwear for nurses with a portion of the sales benefitting the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Blake also launches the Nurse Blake Magazine in the summer of 2023.He previously managed several large programs including The Banned4Life Project, which ended an outdated FDA blood donor policy, and Nurses Support Their Young which promotes healthy work. Nurse Blake is also the author of the best-selling children's book "I Want To Be A Nurse When I Grow Up" available online and at bookstores everywhere.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nurseblake/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nurseblake Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurse.blake/More at nurseblake.comNurses and Medics: This is your platform! We want to hear your stories of the good, the bad and the ugly. Send us an email at cominghomewell@gmail.comDo you know a health worker that needs a laugh? B2B N.F.L.T.G. Certificate click here Get the ammo you need to seize your day at Soldier Girl Coffee Use Code CHW10 for a 10% off at checkout!Special Thanks toArtwork: Joe Weber @joeweber_tattoos Intro/Outro/Disclaimer Credits:Pam Barragan Host of 2200TAPS Podcast "Racer" by Infraction https://bit.ly/41HlWTkMusic promoted by Inaudio: ...

In this episode, Debra Moerke discusses her book, Murder, Motherhood, and Miraculous Grace.   I was immediately curious about the murder portion of the book's title and wanted to dive into the story.  It was nothing as I had imagined. The story begins with Debra and her husband being foster care parents and ends with a heavy but transformational end of forgiveness and God's amazing love.  Debra's story will make you laugh, cry, and find hope in the smallest of things.  Debra Moerke Debra Moerke is a Christian speaker and the author of the book Murder, Motherhood, and Miraculous Grace, a true story about tragedy and forgiveness. She served as the Executive Director of a pregnancy resource center for ten years and on the boards of numerous ministries and organizations such as Prison Fellowship, Youth for Christ, Child Evangelism Fellowship, and Make-a-Wish Foundation. She has taught sign language and formed two performing groups of children called The Silent Singers. The groups traveled around two states, Texas and Wyoming,  sharing the beauty of sign language and awareness of the deaf population. She has been a jail officer with the Sheriff's Department in Phoenix, Arizona, a rescue mission chaplain for women and children at the Central Wyoming Rescue Mission, and a lay jail chaplain in her home town in Wyoming. After joining her son-in-law on a mission trip one year, she was excited to have the opportunity to lead two teams to Honduras. She has been a Bible study leader for 12 years and continues to lead two 'community groups' in her church. She has experienced hope as well as tragedy in her family dealing with cancer which launched her into becoming the founder of The McKenzie Home, a unique faith-based nonprofit transitional home for single moms and their children. It will be the first of its kind in Wyoming. She holds a certificate in Christian Ministries from Gateway Seminary and was honored as Business Person of the Year by the Casper Board of Realtors, in Wyoming.    She is the mother of six, an adoptive parent, and over an eighteen-year period, a foster parent to more than 140 children. She's the grandmother of nine great kiddos and proud to share that her two sons serve our county in the Air Force and in the Army.   

Wes Horton is a musician, formerly the bass player in Falling in Reverse and now the singer in Flat Black. His latest project is the brainchild of Jason Hook, formerly of Five Finger Death Punch but has also worked with Alice Cooper and Vince Neil. The band has two singles out and is currently tour with Godsmack. We discuss his musical path, his time in Falling Reverse, the new band Flat Black and much more! 00:00 - Intro00:13 - On Tour, Set List & Interviews 02:20 - Making Videos & Joining Falling in Reverse 06:35 - Connecting with Jason Hook 08:00 - Connecting with Ronnie Radke 11:00 - Time in Falling in Reverse 15:15 - From Playing Bass to Singing 17:50 - Ronnie Radke Vs. Sebastian Bach 24:05 - Fan & Band Barrier 25:52 - New Band Flat Black 33:30 - Myspace Deathcore & Influences 35:47 - New Single "Lack of Respect" 42:20 - Future Singles & Album 43:45 - New Generation of Bands 47:55 - Make a Wish Foundation  48:43 - Outro Flat Black band site:https://flatblackmusic.com/Make a Wish Foundation site:https://wish.org/Chuck Shute website:https://www.chuckshute.com/Support the showThanks for Listening & Shute for the Moon!

Peter first came to prominence with Stylus in 1975, releasing four albums with hits such as ‘Summer Breeze' and ‘World of Make Believe' before the band split in 1980. A successful solo career followed throughout the 80's, with a top 20 hit for his first release, ‘Fear of Thunder', and success with the song ‘Blame it on the Weather' – not only for Peter but also for John Farnham, whose voice, incidentally, Peter's soaring vocals are often compared to. Peter also became a regular on TV shows such as The Midday Show, Hey Hey It's Saturday, Tonight Live, and Carols by Candlelight at the Myer Music Bowl. Other albums released include ‘Still Alive' (with a reformed Stylus); ‘Changes', ‘Bac2basix' – a roots album filled with wonderful storytelling songs such as ‘Pioneers', ‘Family' and the ‘Poor Man's Al Jolson; a jazz standards album, ‘About Time'; and ‘Home Grown' – Peter's own tribute to some of his favourite Aussie artists. Over the last decade, Peter has toured both solo and with Stylus, and with his close friend, Australian rock legend, the late Jon English. Their collaborative show, Uncorked', filled with nostalgia and good humoured banter, delighted audiences everywhere throughout Australia. Peter works with many charities and has written songs for the ‘Make a Wish Foundation' and the ‘Sacred Heart Foundation'. His album, ‘OBSERVATIONS' – which he describes as ‘a collection of songs that look at the heart of our everyday existence, some personal, some not' – was released in October 2016. “I am extremely proud of this album,' says Cupples. “I truly believe it is probably one of the best things I've ever done.” He is now bringing a night of great entertainment to the Taphouse with the songs of Burt Bacharach. From 'Say a Little Prayer' to 'What the World Needs Now' enjoy the songs you know and love.

When @stevenizen was just 19 years old, his beloved grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, an event that brought him to his personal low in life. It was during this time that Steven founded @lokai - the iconic bracelet brand that encourages people to find hope in their darkest moments. Each Lokai bracelet incorporates water from Mount Everest and mud from the Dead Sea - the highest and lowest points on earth - to serve as a simple daily reminder to remain humble and hopeful through life's inevitable highs and lows. To date, Lokai has given $9M+ as part of its 10% profits to charity pledge, supporting a growing list of incredible organizations like The Humane Society, Alzheimer's Association, The Make-a-Wish Foundation, Stand Up to Cancer, and One Tree Planted. Steven was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 List for Retail and Ecommerce in 2017, was the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Finalist in 2016, and currently serves as the youngest member on the national board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In this episode, Michael and Steven discuss the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur, what it takes to run a successful business in 2023, and how to avoid burnout.

Adrian Vandenberg is a Dutch rock guitarist, best known for his tenure as one of the guitarists in Whitesnake, as well as his own band Vandenberg which he started in 1981. He has a new album out now with Vandenberg titled “Sin”, and a tour across the United States will follow. We discuss the new album, and a variety of things from throughout his amazing career including why Vivian Campbell left Whitesnake, Vinnie Vincent, playing with Warren DeMartini and much more! 00:00 - Intro00:13 - Hair & Wigs 01:25 - Touring with Kiss 03:40 - Learning From Other Bands 06:35 - Stage Moves 08:05 - Stevie Ray Vaughan  & Manic Eden 09:30 - New Vandenberg Record "Sin" 11:00 - Song Inspiration & Songwriting Process 14:12 - New Vandenberg Songs 16:25 - New Singer Mats Levén17:15 - New Songs & Placement  19:15 - Musician Income 23:20 - Show with Metallica & Dave Mustaine 25:45 - Whitesnake, Aerosmith & Poison Tour 27:05 - Warren DeMartini & Other Guitarists 29:01 - Discussions with other Guitar Players 30:00 - Vivian Campbell Leaving Whitesnake 32:30 - Relationship with David Coverdale 34:00 - Humor, Offending People & Wokeness 39:36 - Gender, Kids & Identity 43:47 - Vinnie Vincent 44:42 - Kevin Spacey & Accusations 48:00 - Make a Wish Foundation 49:37 - Future Shows 50:45 - Outro Vandenberg website:https://vandenbergband.com/Make a Wish Foundation: https://wish.org/Chuck Shute website:https://www.chuckshute.com/Support the showThanks for Listening & Shute for the Moon!

Back with an all new episode, Nate bemoans the heat and takes a look at the effect the Telecommunications Act of 1996 had on the music industry before sitting down with Preston Elliot of the Preston & Steve Show. They talk about meeting at this year's Take Step's walk, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, A Mother's Wish Foundation, growing up in St. Louis, discovering KSHE, the legacy of WMMR, WDRE & Y-100, the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the /reply-all/ episode "The Case of the Missing Hit," regional acts, the live nature of radio, trusting your instincts, discovering that radio was what he wanted to do, how an internship in Salem, MO kick started his career, making his way to the St. Louis market, meeting Jim McGuinn and getting tapped to join WDRE in Philadelphia, Marilyn Russell, dealing with challenges throughout the years, contract negotiations, the loyalty of the Preston & Steve Show fan base, giving back to the community, being inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame, dream guests, and the band Rush. Then, Preston enters the Jawntlet!Preston & Steve Show websitePreston & Steve Show on InstagramPreston & Steve Show on TwitterPreston & Steve Show on Facebook Subscribe to the Y!TMJ Newsletter! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ytmj/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ytmj/support

Juan Croucier is musician and music producer, best known as the bassist for Ratt. He also played on some early Dokken songs and was briefly in Quiet Riot. Ratt has a new box set available with their 5 albums from the Atlantic years.  We discuss the box set, the songwriting process, an unreleased song, touring issues and much more! 0:00:00 - Intro0:01:07 - Doing Interviews 0:03:03 - Concert History & Promoters 0:05:38 - Detonator Tour 0:08:13 - Music Business & Success 0:14:47 - Early Music Years 0:20:35 - Ratt Box Set & Re-Mastering 0:27:00 - Band Dynamics & Psychology 0:33:00 - Juan's Role with Songwriting 0:38:35 - The First Record & Producer Choice 0:42:18 - Unreleased Song Wishing Well 0:48:13 - Juan's Songwriting Habit 0:55:02 - Predicting a Hit Song 0:58:10 - Making the Detonator Album 1:02:15 - Having Discipline & Setting Limits 1:09:40 - Producing Bands & Liquid Sunday 1:14:15 - Make a Wish Foundation 1:17:09 - Outro

The Make a Wish Foundation is one of the most important and iconic organizations for children and adolescents who are undergoing treatment for a variety of diseases, with many of them battling Pediatric Cancer. On todays podcast Julie Abel and Amy Carroll from Make A Wish will talk about the innerworkings of an organization that is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and is about to grant its 10,000th wish to a deserving child or adolescent.  Courtney and her son Colby will discuss the more than 800 day treatment regiment that Colby has completed for Pediatric Lymphoma and what the Make a Wish Foundation has meant to them. 

This week, no signs of Murphy anymore, a lot of Fantasyland attractions will be down together, new Make a Wish windows, new Guardian's items and a new Guardian's character, we talk about our Star Wars Nite and Disneyana event experience and more! Please support the show if you can by going to https://www.dlweekly.net/support/. If you want some DLWeekly Swag, you can pick some up at https://www.dlweekly.net/store/. Book your travel through ConciEARS at no extra cost to you! Be sure to mention that you heard about ConciEARS from DLWeekly at booking! DISCOUNTS! We have partnered with the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground to get great deals for our listeners! Book your stay at the Howard Johnson Anaheim and get 15% off your stay (code 1000022077)! Magic Key Holders get 20% off their stay (code 1000025935) as well! Book now! Need the perfect bag for your days in the parks? Look no further than Designer Park Co.! Purchase the Rope Drop Bag as featured on Episode 222 and get 10% off your purchase! Use coupon code DLWEEKLY to get the discount. If you want some awesome headwear or one of a kind items, be sure to visit our friends over at All Enchanting Ears! You can use the promo code DLWEEKLY10 to get 10% off your order! News On the heels of Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3's huge weekend debut, there's a new face at their Awesome Dance Off. Mantis has taken Gamora's place for the street show bringing some new humor. Along with Mantis, there are new treats inside Avengers Campus including Milky Fizz, a dessert pear-flavored soda water with cream, now available at Pym Test Kitchen is the Orloni on a Stick, a Salmon Poke Pretzel, and Experiment 7290: Cookies & Cream Cold Brew. And next door at Pym Tasting Lab, enjoy the Zarg-Bits, a tasty snack inspired by the Zarg Nuts eaten in the film! - https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2023/05/awesome-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-additions-coming-to-disney-parks/ Along with World Wish Day, a celebration of the founding of the Make a Wish Foundation, the windows were dedicated around the corner on Main Street. The three windows include a center window dedicated to Make-A-Wish and all the wish kids past, present and future; and side windows honoring Chris Greicius, the wish that inspired the creation of Make-A-Wish, and Frank “Bopsy” Salazar, the first official wish granted by Make-A-Wish (and the first Disney wish). Disney as a whole has made nearly 150,000 wishes come true and Disneyland was part of the first official wish. - https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2023/04/disneyland-resort-dedicates-3-windows-on-main-street-usa-to-make-a-wish-to-celebrate-world-wish-day/ An unexpected pause in Disney entertainment doesn't get much more adorable than this. Last month Magic Happens had to pause as a Mama duck and her ducklings crashed the parade and ran in front of the Coco float. Miguel noticed and started waving. Cast members helped guide them to safety and the parade continued. - https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2023/04/28/the-disney-parade-was-unexpectedly-delayed-for-the-cutest-reason-ever/ There's a new big dog at Imagineering in Florida. No, really. It's the first canine imagineer in the U.S. Noodle is a service dog for imagineer Jacklyn, assisting with her cardiac and respiratory issues. In her spare time, Noodle tends to dozens of rubber ducks under Jacklyn's desk, lounges in her orthopedic bed, or visits cubicles searching for pets and cuddles. Jacklyn's team recently threw Noodle a surprise fourth birthday party, “complete with puppy presents and a cake.” - https://dlnewstoday.com/2023/05/disney-introduces-noodle-the-first-canine-imagineer/ A new twist for the backdrop of World of Color: ONE. The Orange County register reporst the Incredicoaster, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind and Jumpin' Jellyfish will stay open during the nighttime spectacular for the first time. Jessie's Critter Carousel and the Pixar Pal A Around will remain closed. - https://dlnewstoday.com/2023/05/confirmed-incredicoaster-inside-out-emotional-whirlwind-jumpin-jellyfish-will-run-during-world-of-color-one/ As of May 8th, the scrims have come down around the Fantasmic! stage on Tom Sawyer Island. There is almost no indication that a fire happened on the stage, with the exception of a small amount of soot near the edge of the platform that covers the lift which rases Murphy into place. - https://www.micechat.com/354214-shocking-news-disneylands-fantasmic-dragon-engulfed-in-flames/ We saw the biggest lines ever for Dok Ondor's on May the Fourth. Star Wars day brought out the fans and many of them were on the hunt for the limited edition Cal Kestis lightsaber hilt. It appears to have made it onto ShopDisney now for those looking to pick up a $400 collectible. We'll talk more about Star Wars Nite in our discussion topic this week. - https://dlnewstoday.com/2023/04/new-limited-edition-cal-kestis-lightsaber-coming-soon-luke-skywalker-return-of-the-jedi-40th-anniversary-lightsaber-available-now-on-shopdisney/ With the live action Little Mermaid coming out later this month, guests can look forward to meeting the new Ariel some time in the parks. Halle Bailey who plays Ariel announced it, but didn't provide any dates. When she arrives from Atlantica, you'll be able to say hello on the promenade near it's a small world. - https://dlnewstoday.com/2023/04/confirmed-live-action-ariel-character-meet-greet-coming-to-disneyland-disneys-hollywood-studios-and-disneyland-paris-this-summer/ Lots of refurbishment is coming to Fantasyland next month. According to the park calendar, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Peter Pan's Flight and Alice in Wonderland will be down starting Monday, June 5. The calendar shows Alice and Toad coming back Friday the 16th, but no date is set for Peter Pan. The good news is, the Matterhorn should be back before all of these closures. - https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2023/04/25/3-disney-rides-are-temporarily-closing-soon/

My guest today is Mike Tyson, a former heavy-weight boxing champion of the world and one of the greatest boxers of all time.At the age of 20, he became the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title. He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold WBA, WBC, and IDF titles and a member of the international boxing Hall of Fame.Mike has appeared in many movies and TV shows. He is the actor and creator of a one-man Broadway show Undisputed Truth, and the author of the best-selling book of the same name.Mike is also a very successful entrepreneur and a founder of two cannabis companies, including Tyson 2.0. He is an incredible person and a dedicated philanthropist through his Mike Tyson's Care foundation, and the support of other charities including The Make a Wish Foundation and The Special Olympics.(1:52) Fame and moneyNeither will make you happyBecome your own alarm systemThe pain is the same at the top and the bottom of the world(06:43) Three years in prisonThree best years of his lifeEverything in life is psychologicalConfidence brings successPrison shifted his perspective (no one's better than anyone else)(11:33) Mike's famous fightsEvander Holyfield - The Bite FightFirst fight in 1996, rematch 1997The Sound and the Fury matchIn the second fight – Mike got frustrated and got disqualifiedNow they are partnersBuster Douglas – lost a fight from an underdogMike was happy that happenedHe learned that losing is not as bad as you thinkNever got discouraged in his lifeWon the title againHis message to people who want to give upThe story of Don KingAdversities never stop, it's how you handle them that can change(19:16) Mike and Rodney JerkinsGreat friends with Rodney Jerkins DarkchildRodney is one of the nicest people he ever metOne of his best friendsGodley soul(22:31) The importance of Extreme PreparationIt's not for everyoneBalance doesn't existTrained more than everyone elseExtreme preparation came from fear of failingEverybody has a plan until they are punched in the mouth(26:23) Life after boxingWent totally broke after boxing and didn't know what to do (called his wife for help and she helped him get back his life)Discovered cannabis and got into the businessPeople allowed to drink and smoke on the showRegrets he didn't smoke pot while fightingMike Tyson's definition of successThe ingredients of successWhat motivates Mike Tyson today?The advice to a young boxer (prepare for disappointment and never give up and fight to your last breath)Mike Tyson as a dad (7 kids)Mike Tyson Cares Foundation(39:16) Fill in the blank to ExcellenceMike Tyson's 10 year visionMike Tyson's biggest accomplishment Mike Tyson's biggest regretMike Tyson's bucket listMike Tyson's heroSponsors:Sandee | Bliss: BeachesWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

My guest today is Mike Tyson, a former heavyweight boxing champion of the world and one of the greatest boxers of all time!  At the age of 20, he became the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title.  He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold WBA, WBC, and IDF titles and a member of the international boxing Hall of Fame.Mike has appeared in many movies and TV shows.  He is the actor and creator of a one-man Broadway show Undisputed Truth, and the author of the best-selling book of the same name.Mike is also a very successful entrepreneur and a founder of two cannabis companies, including Tyson 2.0.  He is an incredible person and a dedicated philanthropist through his Mike Tyson's Care foundation, and the support of other charities including The Make a Wish Foundation and The Special Olympics.(00:00) Mike's childhoodHis dad was a pimp, his mom an alcoholic and a sex industry workerHe was bullied in his childhood ("you can't run from them, you must confront them")Started robbing people to buy food for his pigeonsA traumatic event with the birds that changed himMike's first fight and from being bullied, to being the bullyWent pick-pocketing and stealing with his friendsStarted with crime at 11, by the age of 13, he was arrested more than 37 timesThe stealing mentality - nobody else mattersHis mom encouraged him to steal (his goal was to be a professional criminal)(18:13) Juvenile facilities and Mike's first steps in boxingWatched the movie “The Greatest”, the story of Mohammed AliTransferred to Elwood CottageMike was always handcuffed in a dangerous environment Met Bobby Stewart who inspired him to finish school and started training himAt 13, Bobby wanted to take him to the next level - introduced him to Cus D'Amato (21:14) Mike's first mentor - Cus D'AmatoRelationship with Cus D'Amato (Cus taught him to never give up)Cus became a father figure for himThe time Mike first experienced loveCus saw in him the future world championWorking out for 6 hours a day while going to schoolWanted to get kicked out of school, but Cus didn't allow thatThere is no progress without struggle (study about rats)(29:32) The beginning of his fighting careerAt 18, a fight with Hector Mercedes - beat him in one roundWasn't afraid of losing, but being a bad loserMike's desire to be the world champion consumed him completelyBecame the youngest boxing champion everHis mother's reaction - never got affirmed by her(34:57) From millions of dollars to bankruptcyStarted making millions of dollars (became highest paid athlete in the world)Went bankrupt being reckless, didn't know how to manage money as a street kidBeing rich and going broke multiple timesFame and money won't make you happyBecome your own alarm systemThe pain is the same at the top and the bottom of the worldSponsors:Sandee | Bliss: BeachesWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

We are back with another two-parter interview! This time with mommy blogger Ashley Stock. Once upon a time, Ashley worked in marketing but decided to be a full-time mom after having her first baby. Blogging was an outlet to help her rediscover herself and find a community where she could feel less lonely and connect with other moms. Eventually, her blog turned into a business – turning Ashley into a mompreneur! This episode deals with loss, particularly the loss of a child. Ashley shares great information on navigating loss and communicating with those experiencing grief.  She also provides her firsthand account of living with loss and finding light in the darkness. If this topic makes you uncomfortable, please skip this episode but feel free to reach out to Ashley or me if you need support. Much love to y'all! In this episode, we discuss: Ashley's determination to find light in the darkness The story of Ashley's daughter Stevie and how people don't know how to talk about grief Permitting yourself to grieve the life you had envisioned How everyone experiences grief differently Why you have to be open emotionally in front of your children The importance of holding onto things that bring you joy Resources from this Episode: Ashley Stock's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlemissmomma/ Ashley Stock's Website: https://www.littlemissmomma.com Make a Wish Foundation: https://wish.org Stars for Stevie: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/starsforstevie/ Episode 9 Sensory Play with Beth Rosenbleeth Team Building For Solopreneur Mamas: Guide and Video Course PTSD Symptoms Heather's favorite grief workbook   Please Leave a Rating and Review: We'd appreciate you subscribing to this podcast and leaving an Apple Podcasts review. Reviews help others discover and learn what Healthy with Heather Brown is all about. It only takes a second and helps us out a lot! Don't forget to follow HWHB on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content! *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.