Be The Good

Michael Williams Stark is an improv comedian, public speaker, voice actor and musician who is the subject of the international-award-winning CBC radio documentary, "Making Faces". The documentary, also featured on National Public Radio in the U.S., bears the same name as the registered charity Michael founded to foster life skills through improvisation for children with facial differences. 

On this episode of Be The Good, Christy and Michael discuss the emotionally heavy challenges and adversity that he faced as a child due to his own facial differences, and how he channelled this pain and used his own talents to help children who are battling the same type of circumstances he faced in his youth.

Michael's story and perspective offer us a host of inspirational moments in this interview as Michael helps shed light on how important it is that we accept those who seem different from us, and how our own differences can, in fact, be the greatest thing about us.

View links discussed in this episode:
Making Faces: http://www.makingfaces.ca
Donate to Making Faces: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/9743
Adam Bighill BC Lions/Making Faces YouTube video: https://youtu.be/LwkOakp3I7A

To learn more about host, Christy McCaffrey, visit:
https://www.christymccaffrey.com/about

Betty Esperanza is an artist and humanitarian, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founder of Skateboards For Hope, a charity that fosters leadership to empower children living in poverty worldwide. 

Inspired by her own love for skateboarding and the skateboarding culture coupled with a desire to help kids escape the cycle of poverty, Betty has created her organization, Skateboards For Hope, to help introduce the sport of skateboarding to children in countries who otherwise would have no access.

Her team collects used parts and turns them into refurbished skateboards sending them to Skateboards for Hope Ambassadors all over the world to distribute. Betty has created a thriving community of skateboard enthusiasts often in the least likely of places. Her heart and her mission are so pure and kind and she is truly inspiring. 

 With or without an interest in skateboarding, everyone and anyone can connect to the compassionate work she is doing!

Listen as Christy and Betty discuss what initially inspired her to create this organization and all the good that she is doing.

View links discussed in this episode:

Skateboards For Hope:   https://www.skateboardsforhope.com/
Betty Esperanza Ted X Talk:   https://youtu.be/ia39GHeszkk
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/skateboardsforhope/

To learn more about host, Christy McCaffrey, visit:
https://www.christymccaffrey.com/about

Joshua Santiago grew up in North Philadelphia, and due to his circumstances growing up  was no stranger to the world of addiction and homelessness. 

Following the lead of the only examples he knew, Joshua says he ended up in a lot of trouble. It wasn’t until he followed his passion and went to barbering school that he found his true calling and a desire to be of service.

Joshua’s experience with those close to him who struggled with addiction and homelessness in his youth turned out to be the greatest tool of inspiration for the incredible compassionate work he does now with the homeless community in Philadelphia.

Listen as Christy and Joshua discuss what ultimately led him to create "Empowering Cuts", his free haircutting service for the homeless, as well as his documentary videos.

Visit links discussed in this episode:

Empowering Cuts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweringcuts_/
Empowering Cuts Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/EmpoweringcutsMobilebarbershop

To learn more about host, Christy McCaffrey, visit:
https://www.christymccaffrey.com/about

You won’t find someone who adores seniors like Katie Cheesman does.

She fell in love with her elderly patients, their endearing humor, and their incredible stories while serving them as a home health care nurse. 

Katie quit her job to focus on The Listening Ear Project: A labor of love where she visits with elderly people from all walks of life to film and share their stories, timeless advice, and the occasional bit of humor. 

Listen as Christy and Katie discuss all the ways that our society can benefit from this generation and how powerful and transformative it can be for us all if we commit to listening to each other more.

Visit the links discussed in this episode:
The Listening Ear Project: https://www.thelisteningearproject.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelisteningearproject/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheListeningEarProject/

To learn more about the host, Christy McCaffrey, visit:
https://www.christymccaffrey.com

Karen Millsap's story of resilience and determination to live life fully despite the unthinkable tragedy she endured is incredibly inspiring. She is a true light and example to us all as she learned to heal from her own pain and has since dedicated her life's work to helping others grow and flow with life's ups and downs.

In this interview with Karen, she helps us better understand how we can best show up for those around us who are grieving, how we can turn pain into power for the good, and how we can use our own tragedies or setbacks to make a difference in the world.

Listen as Christy and Karen have a real and honest conversation about learning to flow with life and how to show up for each other when we need it the most.

Visit the links mentioned in this episode:

Karen's Website: https://www.karenmillsap.com/
Supportal: https://www.meetsupportal.com/
Karen's Ted Talk: https://youtu.be/BypYSAzxyyY

For more information about the host, Christy McCaffrey, visit:
https://www.christymccaffrey.com