“Strong back, soft front, wild heart” -Brene Brown

Guest: Tonya Cairo

Co-Host: Dawn Marie Rose

Topics Covered:

Death of family members, loss, grief, mental illness, fostering children, adopting children, suicide, suicidal ideation, serving others, education, teaching, and living with a strong back, soft front, and wild heart.

This episode was co-hosted by Dawn Marie Rose, a student at Ralston Academy. Dawn Marie Rose has overcome the death of her brother in the Army, the death of her father from illness, and the death of her mother from suicide. She shares her amazing story of recovery and redemption after these losses. She now works at the Boys and Girls Club, serving the at-risk-youth in our area, providing them with hope for the future. Dawn received the Optimistic Award in 2019 for being the brightest and most positive student at Ralston Academy.

Tonya Cairo is a Principal at Pioneer Elementary in Lebanon, Oregon. At one point she was the foster parent, with her partner Rob Hess, to ten children at once. She has an amazing story of overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and using those experiences in hiring the right staff and working with at-risk-youth. Tonya embodies a quote from Brene Brown that she uses in the interview, “Strong back, soft front, wild heart”.

Books Referenced:

12 Rules for Life- Jordan Peterson

Brene Brown Quote from “Braving the Wilderness”

Commencement Speech Referenced:

Admiral William H. McRaven University of Austin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxBQLFLei70

Episode Street Art:

Nick Fewings. Follow on Instagram @jannerboy62