Bring A Friend

Four out of five women who experience chronic pain feel that their doctors don’t take their issues seriously. Women of Color report an even higher level of dismissal. Meet our friend Melissa Muganzo Murphy, known as MMM by the people who know her best. Melissa took her own experience of being discounted by her healthcare providers and decided that she would create real change for other women so that they don’t have to suffer in the way she did. She’s an activist, a filmmaker and a champion of the underserved who will leave you feeling that real change is possible.

Have you eaten “California Cuisine” lately? Maybe you call it farm-to-table or food based on locally-grown ingredients. Whatever you call it, you can thank Alice Waters for being the woman who began the movement to bring the people who grow, catch and ranch our food directly to the people responsible for turning it into delicious meals. As the Founder of Chez Panisse over 50 years ago, Alice has been feeding, nourishing and educating her diners all her life. Twenty six years ago she launched the Edible Schoolyard as a way to engage students and educators in the process of growing and preparing healthy meals. Fast forward to today, Alice is trailblazing again - this time with a regenerative food program within the University of California school system. 

Growing up in racially charged New Orleans, Nick Sensley learned at a young age that there was a tension between the residents of his inner city neighborhood and the police assigned to work there. Yet as a young man, he chose to follow a career in law enforcement himself. The murder of George Floyd resulted in Nick dialing up his efforts to provide insight and understanding across the divides, and our conversation with him shed light on moments that have the potential for us to create bonds between those who serve and those who benefit from safe and supportive communities.

What's your story? That's the question we pose to Katie Hafner, award-winning New York Times journalist, seven-time author and celebrated podcast creator this week. Katie's life story meanders across country, across generations and across literary genres, and it leaves a trail of love, devotion and willingness to take creative risks. 

What do Lil Nas X, Kelly Roland, Britney Spears and Clive Davis all have in common? Music, of course. But they also share a connection with KJ Rose. KJ literally “rose” out of her career working for Pfizer to become a background singer for the likes of Britney, Janet, Common and more. And when Clive Davis got to know her, he saw that not only did she have musical talent, but also the incredible ability to bring the best out of his artists. That’s what she does now. Kelly takes artists from the top of their craft to heights that even they couldn’t have imagined.

Parlez-vous Crypto? We’re trying! But this is a complex new world and we all could use some insight. Very few people are as deeply steeped in it as Sam Bankman-Fried. The 29 year phenom is the founder of FTX, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, and the richest 29 year old in the world. Sam spoke with us from his communal workspace in the Bahamas, where between the background noise and the chatter of a self-described messy start-up, Sam took us a baby step closer to understanding his quest to harness the power of this new form of currency. What’s more, he surprised and lifted us with what he plans to do with his newfound wealth.

Almost 78 million people are enrolled in the Medicaid system. But how many of those people know how to claim their benefits and how can the system pool forces with the technology sector to improve the experiences and the outcomes for all? Those are the questions that our friend Adimika wrestled with when coming out of her high powered career as a Hospital Administrator. Her answer? To found HealthTech4Medicaid, a non-profit organization that is hell-bent on making our safety net one that truly lifts those it serves.

It’s almost impossible to imagine losing a child to gun violence. But maybe even more unimaginable is having the strength to channel grief into action. Pati Navalta Poblete did just that. Following the tragic death of her son Robby, Pati began her quest to take guns that are turned in as part of government buy-back programs and to turn them into community art. What’s more, she has been able to bridge the conversation between gun-owners and those who wish to curb gun possession, fostering understanding and dialogue that brings both sides closer together

...And just like that, we're back with a fourth season of Bring A Friend! 

If you're a loyal listener, you know that each season we pick a theme for our conversations. Season four is no different and we're highlighting people who give those around them a lift, a hand, or a BOOST to a higher level. It might be a higher level of knowledge, of feeling, of acceptance or inspiration, but whatever the angle, it's our way of spreading positivity at a time it's needed most.

As always, our guests will be real people who shine and people who shine who are willing to get real with us. There will be laughs, tears, vocab lessons, and yes, karaoke moments. You know how we roll.

If you like what you hear, you can dig even deeper by joining us for our ongoing conversations at Parlay House. Signup here and see what the excitement is all about.

Imagine yourself in the center of a stadium filled with screaming sports fans who are there to watch you try to set a new world record for the long jump. Your heart is thumping and it’s nearly impossible to hear. You accelerate in sixteen steps down the runway and on the final step you leap as far as you can into the pit of sand that awaits.

This is the experience of Lex Gillette, a multiple-time world record holder and Olympic medalist in the Paralympics who achieves all he does without being able to see. He achieves these feats because he has Wesley Williams by his side to direct, encourage and guide him every step of the way. We spent our hour hearing from this dynamic duo, not only hearing how they have set records and won medals, but how they have achieved athletic symbiosis through collaboration, friendship, openness and trust.