All The Wiser

Today, we are reairing Kimi's conversation with Alex Lewis. Alex is a quadruple amputee and one of the most hopeful and inspiring guests we've had on the show. When his episode aired, we had a huge reaction from the audience. People wrote to us talking about how hopeful and uplifted they felt.

Considering the heaviness of all that is happening in the world right now, we thought this was an opportunity to lay down that weight for an hour and revisit Alex's story and message.

*Rebroadcast* (originally aired 3/30/22)

He was given a 3% chance of survival. His partner was told to come in and say goodbye. But Alex Lewis wasn’t ready to go down without a flight. In this harrowing episode, Alex shares why he says “quadruple amputation is the best thing that has ever happened to him,“ plus the one piece of advice you must not forget no matter how bad you feel things are in your life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to recognize signs of escapism and depression.
• Identifying Strep A in the body.
• Navigating his decision between life and death.
• The importance of focusing on what you’re fighting for.
• The power of having a support system.
• Learning to appreciate the present while looking forward to the future.
• How your “why” can provide clarity to your meaning and purpose.

Stay connected to Alex:

Website: www.alex-lewis.co.uk

Instagram: @alexlewistrust

LinkedIn: Alex Lewis

Facebook: Alex Lewis (Alex Lewis Trust)

Twitter: @AlexLewis_Trust

Charity Donation: Project Limitless Campaign

If you enjoy listening to the show and find value and inspiration in the stories you hear, we hope you'll consider supporting our work and becoming an All The Wiser member.

As a thank you for your support, we give you early, ad free access, exclusive content, Zoom meetups with Kimi and the team, and much more. Join us and BECOME A MEMBER ON PATREON!

Or contribute what you can by making a custom pledge.

Follow the show at @allthewiserpodcast on Instagram.

Keep the conversation going! Join our new Facebook group and connect with other listeners like you!

Stay in the know with all things All The Wiser! Sign up for our newsletter for personal reflections from Kimi, new episodes, and recommendations from our team!

On today's episode of A Little Wiser is special guest and filmmaker Patty Dillon. Patty's documentary There Will Be No Stay featured last week's guest, Allen Ault. Patty shares with Kimi her deeply personal and thought provoking experience inside the world of capital punishment.

They talk about Patty’s extensive research journey, conducting cold calls and the numerous challenges she faced along the way. Through it all, Patty stayed resolute in her mission to shed light on a subject that is often shrouded in silence and controversy. From attending a film festival next to Randy Gardner, the brother of the last man to be executed by firing squad to forming a unique bond with Terry, an executioner who dedicated years of his life to the system that ultimately betrayed him, Patty sheds light on the complex moral questions surrounding the death penalty and the emotional toll experienced by those involved. 

They explore how this project pushed Patty to her limits, both as a filmmaker and compassionate human being...it may just leave you questioning your own beliefs and perceptions. 

Film: There Will Be No Stay

A Killer Journey Film Instagram: @akillerjourneyfilm

Film Donations: GoFundMe

If you enjoy listening to the show and find value and inspiration in the stories you hear, we hope you'll consider supporting our work and becoming an All The Wiser member.

As a thank you for your support, we give you early, ad free access, exclusive content, Zoom meetups with Kimi and the team, and much more. Join us and BECOME A MEMBER ON PATREON!

Or contribute what you can by making a custom pledge.

Follow the show at @allthewiserpodcast on Instagram.

Keep the conversation going! Join our new Facebook group and connect with other listeners like you!

Stay in the know with all things All The Wiser! Sign up for our newsletter for personal reflections from Kimi, new episodes, and recommendations from our team!

What is it like to witness the darkest corners of our justice system? Dr. Allen Ault is a former warden and commissioner of corrections. He recounts his experience with the death penalty and the lasting emotional impact on those involved in the process. He also gets deeply personal about his own struggle with feelings of guilt as a result of “murdering somebody,” and his subsequent journey grappling with the moral implications of capital punishment.

In this episode:

• The culture of the Georgia prison system.
• Building relationships and trust within the system along with the prisoners.
• The impact of the death penalty and the emotional toll it takes on the correctional staff.
• Thoughts on why the death penalty still exists.

Links & Resources

Washington Post Article: The hidden victims of the death penalty: Correctional staff

\Movie: There Will Be No Stay

Charity: First Christian Church Richmond, Children & Youth Ministries

If you enjoy listening to the show and find value and inspiration in the stories you hear, we hope you'll consider supporting our work and becoming an All The Wiser member.

As a thank you for your support, we give you early, ad free access, exclusive content, Zoom meetups with Kimi and the team, and much more. Join us and BECOME A MEMBER ON PATREON!

Or contribute what you can by making a custom pledge.

Follow the show at @allthewiserpodcast on Instagram.

Keep the conversation going! Join our new Facebook group and connect with other listeners like you!

Stay in the know with all things All The Wiser! Sign up for our newsletter for personal reflections from Kimi, new episodes, and recommendations from our team!

Kimi and Tara reflect on last week's episode featuring Kara Robinson Chamberlain, who was held captive for 18 hours at the age of 15 and managed to escape. They discuss Kara's remarkable ability to regulate her kidnappers' emotions and gather information, all while enduring a highly traumatic situation. 

In the aftermath of the trauma, Kara spent decades suppressing and storing her emotions before beginning the hard work of healing.

Tara shares her personal experience of trauma, highlighting how it can leave a lasting impact on one's body over the years.

Kara openly discussed the expectations others placed on her after her abduction, including how she should feel and what she could or could not handle. Her story serves as a reminder of how crucial it is for law enforcement and related agencies to support survivors in reclaiming their autonomy and experiencing a sense of empowerment.

If you enjoy listening to the show and find value and inspiration in the stories you hear, we hope you'll consider supporting our work and becoming an All The Wiser member.

As a thank you for your support, we give you early, ad free access, exclusive content, Zoom meetups with Kimi and the team, and much more. Join us and BECOME A MEMBER ON PATREON!

Or contribute what you can by making a custom pledge.

Follow the show at @allthewiserpodcast on Instagram.

Keep the conversation going! Join our new Facebook group and connect with other listeners like you!

Stay in the know with all things All The Wiser! Sign up for our newsletter for personal reflections from Kimi, new episodes, and recommendations from our team!

At 15, Kara Robinson Chamberlain was kidnapped. While her remarkable bravery and quick thinking allowed her to escape, the coping mechanisms she employed to survive impeded her ability to heal from the ordeal. In this harrowing episode, Kara dives into the importance of authentic emotions in healing, and the dangers of toxic positivity culture. She sheds light on the complexity of trauma and its long-term effects on the mind and body. She also shares how the experience led her to a career in law enforcement, educating and empowering other survivors of traumatic experiences.

In this episode:

• Long term effects of trauma on the body. 
• The importance and impact of victim advocacy. 
• Different ways PTSD can present itself. 
• Disassociation of the body.
• How to begin true healing.
• Establishing safety and body autonomy as a mother.

Links & Resources:

Instagram: @kararobinsonchamberlain

Twitter: @KR_Chamberlain

Facebook: Kara Robinson Chamberlain

YouTube: @karachamberlain

TikTok: @kararobinsonchamberlain

Charity: South Carolina Victim Assistance Network

If you enjoy listening to the show and find value and inspiration in the stories you hear, we hope you'll consider supporting our work and becoming an All The Wiser member.

As a thank you for your support, we give you early, ad free access, exclusive content, Zoom meetups with Kimi and the team, and much more. Join us and BECOME A MEMBER ON PATREON!

Or contribute what you can by making a custom pledge.

Follow the show at @allthewiserpodcast on Instagram.

Keep the conversation going! Join our new Facebook group and connect with other listeners like you!

Stay in the know with all things All The Wiser! Sign up for our newsletter for personal reflections from Kimi, new episodes, and recommendations from our team!

Kimi and Erica explore the incredible resilience of Alice Johnson, an advocate for criminal justice reform. They talk about the significant and devastating realities of "invisible populations" such as incarcerated people. Kim Kardashian's star power made Alice Johnson "visible" and illuminated her path to justice, ultimately resulting in her freedom.

In Season 5, Fernando Murillo was released from prison after a journalist wrote a viral article highlighting his redemption, compassion, and service as a Prison Hospice worker. Alice and Fernando are both incredibly rare examples of individuals who have broken through the barriers of invisibility to receive justice and freedom. 

If you’re an All The Wiser member on patreon, don’t forget to RSVP to our virtual event next week! We will be talking about the wisdom within ourselves with my dear friend and business coach, Paige Nolan. 

Want to join us?

If you enjoy listening to the show and find value and inspiration in the stories you hear, we hope you'll consider supporting our work and becoming an All The Wiser member.

As a thank you for your support, we give you early, ad free access, exclusive content, Zoom meetups with Kimi and the team, and much more. Join us and BECOME A MEMBER ON PATREON!

Or contribute what you can by making a custom pledge.

Follow the show at @allthewiserpodcast on Instagram.

Keep the conversation going! Join our new Facebook group and connect with other listeners like you!

Stay in the know with all things All The Wiser! Sign up for our newsletter for personal reflections from Kimi, new episodes, and recommendations from our team!

Alice Johnson has a knack for finding hope in hard circumstances. Even though a terrible mistake cost her everything she knew and loved, Alice still found a way to help and inspire others. From fighting for education and against discrimination, to finding solace in writing poetry, Alice shares how she became a force for change and an advocate for the incarcerated. She also shares her own story of clemency after being taken under the wing of one Ms. Kim Kardashian.

In this episode:

• How a poem opened doors of opportunity.
• Life takes a drastic turn after meeting a man with a gambling problem.
• Living a double life as a phone mule.
• Being found guilty of attempted possession after a six week trial.
• Discovering her talent during prison and finding forgiveness.
• Creating change within the prison system and gaining massive public recognition.
• Being offered representation by Kim Kardashian.
• The day Alice is granted clemency and the return to her family.

Links & Resources:

Facebook: Alice Marie Johnson

X (Twitter): @AliceMarieFree

Instagram: @alicemariefree

Website & Charity: Taking Action For Good

Book: After Life

LAST DAY TO VOTE for us to win a 2023 Signal Award!

www.allthewiserpodcast.com/vote

If you enjoy listening to the show and find value and inspiration in the stories you hear, we hope you'll consider supporting our work and becoming an All The Wiser member.

As a thank you for your support, we give you early, ad free access, exclusive content, Zoom meetups with Kimi and the team, and much more. Join us and BECOME A MEMBER ON PATREON!

Or contribute what you can by making a custom pledge.

Follow the show at @allthewiserpodcast on Instagram.

Keep the conversation going! Join our new Facebook group and connect with other listeners like you!

Stay in the know with all things All The Wiser! Sign up for our newsletter for personal reflections from Kimi, new episodes, and recommendations from our team!

Kimi and Erica discuss last week's episode with Haley Holm, a veteran air force pilot and transgender woman who bravely shared her story for the first time on All The Wiser.

Erica reflects on the pain of hiding one's true self and the accompanying feelings of guilt and shame. Kimi shares some behind-the-scenes moments from the day she and Haley met to record the conversation.

Haley's story and sharing served as a reminder of one of our greatest intentions for this show, to hold space for one another's stories and witness their humanity.

VOTE for us to win a 2023 Signal Award!

www.allthewiserpodcast.com/vote

If you enjoy listening to the show and find value and inspiration in the stories you hear, we hope you'll consider supporting our work and becoming an All The Wiser member.

As a thank you for your support, we give you early, ad free access, exclusive content, Zoom meetups with Kimi and the team, and much more. Join us and BECOME A MEMBER ON PATREON!

Or contribute what you can by making a custom pledge.

Follow the show at @allthewiserpodcast on Instagram.

Keep the conversation going! Join our new Facebook group and connect with other listeners like you!

Stay in the know with all things All The Wiser! Sign up for our newsletter for personal reflections from Kimi, new episodes, and recommendations from our team!

Haley Holm is a veteran air force pilot. She completed 22 combat missions in Afghanistan. But during this time, Haley was known as Jim. Jim was described by friends as a very masculine man from a military family. But Jim had a secret. He longed to be female. How does a person find the courage to explore a new identity in one of the most male dominated workplaces in the world? For Haley…it was one sock at a time. 

In this episode:

• Haley’s first memories of questioning her gender.
• Joining the Airforce and finishing at the top of the class.
• Stepping out as Haley for the first time and navigating this new identity.
• Letting go of her biological family and gaining a new support system.
• What it means to belong and provide a safe space for others.

Stay connected to Haley on Instagram @haley_go_lightly

This episode is benefitting The Paseo Project.

VOTE for us to win a 2023 Signal Award!

www.allthewiserpodcast.com/vote

If you enjoy listening to the show and find value and inspiration in the stories you hear, we hope you'll consider supporting our work and becoming an All The Wiser member.

As a thank you for your support, we give you early, ad free access, exclusive content, Zoom meetups with Kimi and the team, and much more. Join us and BECOME A MEMBER ON PATREON!

Or contribute what you can by making a custom pledge.

Follow the show at @allthewiserpodcast on Instagram.

Keep the conversation going! Join our new Facebook group and connect with other listeners like you!

Stay in the know with all things All The Wiser! Sign up for our newsletter for personal reflections from Kimi, new episodes, and recommendations from our team!

"A Little Wiser" takes you behind-the-scenes of each All The Wiser interview and explains how you can apply the lessons from the guests to your own life. 

In our first mini-episode of the new season, Kimi and Erica discuss sibling abuse and how common and misunderstood it is. They also explore the public fascination with true crime and how it can be reported and consumed ethically. Kimi discusses how her experience in journalism has changed the way she handles these delicate and heartbreaking stories. 

Erica ends with a challenge, as she always does!

1. If you are a victim of sibling abuse, please reach out to a professional for help and support.
2. Be mindful when consuming stories about other people's pain and suffering.

If you enjoy listening to the show and find value and inspiration in the stories you hear, we hope you'll consider supporting our work and becoming an All The Wiser member.

As a thank you for your support, we give you early, ad free access, exclusive content, Zoom meetups with Kimi and the team, and much more. Join us and BECOME A MEMBER ON PATREON!

Or contribute what you can by making a custom pledge.

Follow the show at @allthewiserpodcast on Instagram.

Keep the conversation going! Join our new Facebook group and connect with other listeners like you!

Stay in the know with all things All The Wiser! Sign up for our newsletter for personal reflections from Kimi, new episodes, and recommendations from our team!