Belonging Starts Here Podcast

TW: Childhood Trauma, Childhood Abuse, Homelessness, Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, Positive Mindset

Denise Blake is a Certified Health, Wellness & Trauma Recovery Coach, Mental Health First Aider, Certified Fitness Instructor and Registered Cardiology Technologist.

She empowers trauma survivors, former foster youth, and adoptees to take control of their health, wellness, and healing journey. Master the art of making positive habit changes to avoid or reduce the effects of lifestyle disease, navigate the trauma healing and recovery journey, and learn to love themselves unconditionally. Together she builds individualized systems to reach your full potential in life and wellness.

She also offers private one-on-one and group health, wellness, and trauma recovery coaching programs as well as online courses.

Denise and Nipunika talk about the layers of self-care and how your trauma can lead you to a life beyond your dreams through self-awareness.

Alex, the founder of Foster Independence Foundation and the host of The Podcast Shred the Should. Alex is a coach, speaker, and ninja who inspires me every day to find the balance between vulnerability and strength. Listen to our conversation on testing your shoulds, resilience, how Alex defines power, and much, much more.

TW: Childhood Trauma, Childhood Abuse, Homelessness, Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, Positive Mindset

https://linktr.ee/alex__katz

Today's podcast guest is Erica Myers, who is the founder of Fosterpreneur. Fosterpreneur provides entrepreneurial support and resources to alumni of the foster care system and underserved youth so they are inspired and equipped with mindset development and coaching to become successful entrepreneurs.

Tune into this episode to hear our thoughts and a real-life example of how those that have been through foster care use their experience as a strength and not a weakness in their professional eco-system. Also, learn what Fosterpreneur is doing to help ensure the success of this vulnerable but powerful community.

IG:fosterpreneurs

Join me for a conversation with Dan Parziale, who started Mesa.

Mesa is a whole person approach to assisting Transition Age Youth (18-24 years old), who are at risk of homelessness, or who are already experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. They work with young adults to help them create the foundation for a happy and healthy life. When you experience homelessness or housing insecurity as a kid, your chances of living a stable life as an adult largely vanish. The stats speak for themselves—over 70% of those who exit the foster system experience homelessness or incarceration within two years.

This is why Mesa exists.

Come to the table and join us to hear Dans perspective of the caterpillar and how it relates to the youth he helps and learn more about MESA, a 10-acre sustainable farm where the residents can connect to the earth and to the profound healing power of growing and harvesting one’s own food.

Today's Podcast Guest is Aimee, an adoption specialist in Texas. Amiee has been in child welfare and adoption for 13 years and is currently connecting children with their forever homes with Saint Francis Ministries. Under the direction of Saint Francis Ministries, Aimee has also created an informative Instagram page named @Adoption_Aimee, where she shares advice and stories about the adoption process. Listen to her story and her advice to families looking to adopt and get to know the Amazing Adoption, Aimee.

Nipunika shares her why for Belonging Starts Here podcast and a little bit of background of how she discovered that why. Along with hopes and wishes for The BSH Podcast Series. Podcast episode quote: "It's hard to see the amount of resiliency that wound will give you when it heals. They don't know the level of wisdom that wound you are currently living true will give you once you heal." -Nipunika Coe