Despite joining a gang at just five years old, Mark Mathabane’s mother encouraged education and he found hope and a new path through tennis. With the help of legend Stan Smith, he secured a college scholarship in America and his life changed forever. But Mark's message goes beyond personal success.

On this episode of Being Different, New York Times bestselling author Mark Mathabane shares his honest and eye-opening account of growing up in South Africa during apartheid. He joins host Liz Durham to talk about the crucial role of mothers and parents in educating children with balanced experiences and and opportunity. He emphasizes the importance of embracing our common humanity and reaching across racial boundaries.

Want to learn more about talking to your kids about race? Stay tuned for part two, airing next week.

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As more expecting parents consider alternatives to traditional hospital settings, the choice of where to give birth is becoming an increasingly interesting topic. In this episode of Being Different, Liz Durham talks with Lexi Young Peck about her experiences with pregnancy, home birth, and farm life.

Lexi transitioned from city life to farm life with her husband in 2020 and has chosen home birth for all her children, embracing an approach that she says puts the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of the family at the forefront. Lexi shares the benefits, explains the support systems available, and addresses common concerns and misconceptions.

Plus, she talks about her recently published children's book, What Do You Say to a Dragon?, about facing fear and anxiety.

Lexi Young Peck Website

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After leaving the military, Erica Webster decided to redefine what it means for women to be fit and strong. With her own business venture - Dub Fitness - she created a unique support system of female empowerment through fitness for any stage of life.

In this episode of Being Different, Erica shares the challenges she faced while juggling back-to-back pregnancies, and how her personal experiences transformed her outlook on fitness, motherhood, and ultimately her business plan.

Liz and Erica dive deep into persistent struggles moms face – time management and motivation – and the secrets to overcoming them, like the importance of finding your tribe, and the power of a workout accountability partner. They discuss the delicate balance of weight gain and loss during pregnancy, and how to embrace body positivity for moms.

Tune in to hear why "bouncing back" after pregnancy is an outdated myth that needs to be busted. Plus, how can we influence our kids by teaching them to love and appreciate their bodies?

Eric Webster Instagram | LinkedIn

Dub Fitness Instagram 

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Are you puzzled by the organic vs. non-organic debate? Caught in the whirlwind of food fads and anxious about what and how much to feed your family? In this week's episode of Being Different, Liz and her guest, Kellie Cope work to lift the veil on the organic food marketing machine and debunk common misconceptions.

Kellie is a nutrition and fitness expert from Nourishing Our Needs in Knoxville, Tennessee. In this episode, Kellie shares her observations on the biggest nutrition challenges families are currently facing and the growing "fear" of feeding choices. Liz and Kellie explore the significance of continued food exposure, the danger of labeling food as "good" or "bad", and the impact of making mindful decisions around your meals.

Plus, Kellie opens up about her own family's meal routines, making grocery shopping a family affair, and the benefits of supporting local farmers. To learn more about Kellie and Nourishing Our Needs, or to check out any of the resources mentioned, head to the lizdurham.com.

Nourishing Our Needs Website | Instagram 

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Recently on Being Different, Liz engaged in conversations about special needs education in Tennessee and across the country. 

Liz was joined by Will Edwards, Michael Collins and Mercedes Lawson to discuss how state and government funding impact education systems.

In this episode, Liz is joined by Anthony Palmer, producer of Being Different, to reflect on the role of advocacy in all special needs families and what we can do to support our community. 

What’s up next? We want to hear from you! Email [email protected] to let us know what you want to discuss on Being Different.

Special thanks to our guests for offering information and vulnerability when sharing their stories. 

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After nine years working as a Special Education teacher, Mercedes Lawson knew she wanted to make a bigger difference. She realized that not every student had access to an equitable education, so she started her own company to help parents and students find success on their own.

In this episode, Mercedes talks to host Liz Durham about issues with government funding and how it is distributed in Tennessee, why staffing matters, and why teachers need to be advocates for their students. She shares her experience growing up with a sibling with disabilities and working alongside her mother to support their community.

A.C.C.E.S.S, Advocacy & Consultation Center for Educational Student Supports, provides advocacy services, IEP consultation, tutoring, and homeschool support at an affordable rate. To learn more about Mercedes and A.C.C.E.S.S., check out the show notes.

Mercedes Lawson Website | Facebook | Instagram

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Finding resources and support systems can be challenging for parents and caregivers, especially when they age out of the traditional school system. Michael Collins, the chief financial officer at Sertoma Center Incorporated, has dedicated his career to providing services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Michael is also a member of the Governor's Council on Autism Spectrum Disorder and has served on the East Tennessee Chapter of the Autism Society of America. In this episode of Being Different, Michael joins our host Liz Durham to discuss his work at Sertoma, challenges in adult care, and what he’s learned from his personal experience. 

Plus, they explore ways in which people who don’t have kids with disabilities can support their friends who do. The simplest efforts like listening, offering help, and learning more can make an enormous difference in their lives.

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As the parent of a special needs child, Will Edwards knows first hand how complex it can be to receive support in the school system - and in life - and he’s on a mission to change that. 

Will sat down with our host Liz Durham to offer insight into care in Tennessee. He shares his experience advocating for his child with autism at many levels, from working with guidance counselors in the public school system, to reps on the school board.

In the world of disability support, it often comes down to money. Will walks us through the process, and helps us understand whether it’s possible to close the gap in the education budget for special needs. Plus, Will offers advice for parents and families facing similar hurdles. 

This is an important episode full of resources. If you know someone who could benefit from tuning in, please share. Special thanks to Will for helping support our Tennessee families who need it most. 

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Recently on Being Different, Liz engaged in conversations about the state of American agriculture and our role in it: How much do we know? What can we expect for the future? What can we do now?

Liz was joined by Andrew Garfield and Art Whaley to discuss what has changed in farming and how farmers are at the mercy of nature - and the economy. In this episode, Liz was joined by Anthony Palmer, producer of Being Different, and shares her experiences farming at home and encourages listeners to slow down, get outside, and go visit a farm or a garden.

What’s up next? We want to hear from you! Email [email protected] to let us know what you want to discuss on Being Different. 

Special thanks to our sponsors, Henderson Farms, for supporting this episode. 

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As trends drive people toward rural living, homesteading, and farming as a lifestyle choice, statistics show a dwindling agricultural workforce across America. This week, Liz is joined by long-time friend Art Whaley to investigate the realities of supporting farmers in today’s economy. 

Art, who studied Agriculture Economics at University of Tennessee, is the Chief Lending Officer for Rural 1st, the consumer lending division of Farm Credit Mid-America. He shares his insight into the process of lending and financing for farmers and how extension agents like Farm Credit work to support farmers. 

Liz and Art discuss why it’s important to teach our kids about agriculture, and how their own experiences with farming have changed their perspectives. Plus, what can we do as parents to make sure our families get the most well-balanced, healthy foods? 

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Being Different with Liz Durham is a Palm Tree Pod Co. production