Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?

My guest this week is Jennifer Dukes Lee. She lives on a 5th generation Lee family farm in Iowa, where she and her husband are raising crops, pigs and two beautiful humans. She writes books, she loves queso and enjoys singing loudly. Once upon a time she didn't believe in Jesus, and now He is her CEO.

She just released her latest book, Growing Slow: Lessons on Un-hurrying Your Heart from an Accidental Farm Girl.

4:14 – Jennifer 101

• She lives in northwest Iowa. Her husband's great, great, great grandparents had the original farm.
• She is a farm wife, even though she never imagined being in that role.

7:40 – Growing fast and slowing down

• Jennifer is an over achiever, and her personality makes her want to grow things fast.
• She left her newspaper job to be on the farm with her family.
• Even though she was in the more peaceful setting of a farm, she kept working hard and was told by a doctor that she was stressed out and "had a hurried heart."
• She has since adopted a new way of living.

14:57 – A growing slow year

• Jennifer began studying her farmland and how seeds grow to find out why some things grow faster and others slower and how seasons affect the farm.

26:50 – Soil of your heart

• Jennifer says you should take time every day to examine the soil of your heart. Come to God with your hands open and ask him to take some of your burdens or worries.
• Go through your seasons of life with open hands.

32:52 – Practices to slow down

• To slow yourself down, there are little things you can do, like not checking your phone at stoplights. Also, don't multitask. Uni-tasking is better and you have more focus.

36:50 – Remember, reflect, return

• Jennifer asks me to remember, reflect and return. I also share my struggle with not being as far ahead as I planned.

4:30 – Get to know you

• Her hype song? Chumbawumba "I Get Knocked Down"
• Favorite TV show growing up? Three's Company

FEATURED QUOTES

"I'm a farm wife, and I didn't expect to be in this life." – Jennifer

"You can be busy and still go about it with a peacefulness in your heart." – Jennifer

"Take time every day to examine the soil of your heart." – Jennifer

CONNECT:

https://jenniferdukeslee.com/

ABOUT JENNIFER:

Jennifer Dukes Lee lives on the fifth-generation Lee family farm in Iowa, where she and her husband are raising crops, pigs, and two beautiful humans. She writes books, loves queso, and enjoys singing too loudly to songs with great harmony. Once upon a time, she didn't believe in Jesus; now he's her CEO. Find Jennifer at JenniferDukesLee.com and on Instagram at @JenniferDukesLee.

My guest this week is Richard Lui. As a veteran journalist, he has spent more than 30 years in television, film, technology and business. He previously worked with CNN Worldwide and is currently at MSNBC. He is the first Asian American man to anchor a daily national cable news program. He just released his first Book, "Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness."

5:17 – Richard 101

• Richard says he has lived a life of zigging and zagging. He has worked in many different fields, including small business, technology, Fortune 500 and journalism.

7:16 – What led him to journalism?

• He says his family encouraged him to be open to life, which is why he has worked in several different jobs.

11:03 – Selfishness pandemic

• Richard's goal was to create an anti-self-help book. He says the idea that we are living through a selfish pandemic is real.
• He wanted to dig into the topic in an approachable way without being too heady.

16:42 – Generous people are happier and live longer

• Gratitude is the healthy cousin of selflessness. It's giving, it's vulnerable.
• When you send a gratitude letter to someone, you get a personal benefit by thinking of others.
• Studies show you'll live longer, look better, be happier.
• One chapter in Richard's book is called "Goodness is Gorgeous," because you look better when you are generous.

27:30 – Reminding himself about selflessness

• Even though he wrote a book about selflessness, Richard sometimes has to remind himself to practice what he writes about.

32:54 – Stories that stick with him

• In Ferguson, Mo., a man's store was looted every night, but he still opened every morning. Richard asked the man why he continued opening the store, and the man said he kept opening for his customers because they needed him.

36:05 – What's on the horizon?

• Richard wants to do a project about caregiving and look at organizational selflessness.

38:07 – Get to know Richard

• What child's movie scarred him? Christmas Story
• Something you would never guess about him? He has a bunny

FEATURED QUOTES

"Who knows what's next? … Anything's possible." – Richard

"Our goal was to create an anti-self-help book." – Richard

"Gratitude is the healthy cousin of selflessness. It's giving, it's vulnerable." – Richard

https://richardlui.com/

About Richard Lui:

Veteran journalist Richard Lui has more than 30 years in television, film, technology and business. Currently at MSNBC and previously with CNN Worldwide, he is the first Asian American man to anchor a daily national cable news program, and a team Emmy and Peabody winner. In addition to journalism, Richard's 15-year business career involves a fintech patent and launching six tech brands over three business cycles. He has lived, worked, and volunteered on every continent. Richard is a Celebrity Champion for the Alzheimer's Association, Caregiving Champion for AARP and Caregiving Ambassador for BrightFocus Foundation. His first book, Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness, releases in March 2021.

Thank you to our partner of the show:

It's time for a SPRING CLEAN REFRESH! Let's get that home sparkling, the safe way with MamaSuds!

Castile soap is the superhero of soaps, it really does it all- from the windows to the walls! It's truly the only soap you need. What can you do with MamaSuds Castile Soap? Clean the floors, scrub the counters, bathtubs and tile, clean the baseboards, the windows and the blinds, you can even use it to clean the carpets! Grab a gallon of MamaSuds Castile Soap and start tackling all of your Spring Cleaning to-do's at www.mamasuds.com and use code MOLLY for 15% off your order!

My guest this week is Richard Lui. As a veteran journalist, he has spent more than 30 years in television, film, technology and business. He previously worked with CNN Worldwide and is currently at MSNBC. He is the first Asian American man to anchor a daily national cable news program. He just released his first Book, "Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness."

5:17 – Richard 101

• Richard says he has lived a life of zigging and zagging. He has worked in many different fields, including small business, technology, Fortune 500 and journalism.

7:16 – What led him to journalism?

• He says his family encouraged him to be open to life, which is why he has worked in several different jobs.

11:03 – Selfishness pandemic

• Richard's goal was to create an anti-self-help book. He says the idea that we are living through a selfish pandemic is real.
• He wanted to dig into the topic in an approachable way without being too heady.

16:42 – Generous people are happier and live longer

• Gratitude is the healthy cousin of selflessness. It's giving, it's vulnerable.
• When you send a gratitude letter to someone, you get a personal benefit by thinking of others.
• Studies show you'll live longer, look better, be happier.
• One chapter in Richard's book is called "Goodness is Gorgeous," because you look better when you are generous.

27:30 – Reminding himself about selflessness

• Even though he wrote a book about selflessness, Richard sometimes has to remind himself to practice what he writes about.

32:54 – Stories that stick with him

• In Ferguson, Mo., a man's store was looted every night, but he still opened every morning. Richard asked the man why he continued opening the store, and the man said he kept opening for his customers because they needed him.

36:05 – What's on the horizon?

• Richard wants to do a project about caregiving and look at organizational selflessness.

38:07 – Get to know Richard

• What child's movie scarred him? Christmas Story
• Something you would never guess about him? He has a bunny

FEATURED QUOTES

"Who knows what's next? … Anything's possible." – Richard

"Our goal was to create an anti-self-help book." – Richard

"Gratitude is the healthy cousin of selflessness. It's giving, it's vulnerable." – Richard

https://richardlui.com/

About Richard Lui:

Veteran journalist Richard Lui has more than 30 years in television, film, technology and business. Currently at MSNBC and previously with CNN Worldwide, he is the first Asian American man to anchor a daily national cable news program, and a team Emmy and Peabody winner. In addition to journalism, Richard's 15-year business career involves a fintech patent and launching six tech brands over three business cycles. He has lived, worked, and volunteered on every continent. Richard is a Celebrity Champion for the Alzheimer's Association, Caregiving Champion for AARP and Caregiving Ambassador for BrightFocus Foundation. His first book, Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness, releases in March 2021.

Thank you to our partner of the show:

It's time for a SPRING CLEAN REFRESH! Let's get that home sparkling, the safe way with MamaSuds!

Castile soap is the superhero of soaps, it really does it all- from the windows to the walls! It's truly the only soap you need. What can you do with MamaSuds Castile Soap? Clean the floors, scrub the counters, bathtubs and tile, clean the baseboards, the windows and the blinds, you can even use it to clean the carpets! Grab a gallon of MamaSuds Castile Soap and start tackling all of your Spring Cleaning to-do's at www.mamasuds.com and use code MOLLY for 15% off your order!

Creating a Digital Heirloom | Business with Purpose Podcast EP 243: Ashley Kenny, Heirloom

My guest this week is Ashley Kenny, the CEO and founder of Heirloom, a startup company founded in 2020 that allows you to send video cards to friends and loved ones. As a journalist, she spent 15 years traveling the world and making groundbreaking documentaries. She lives in Washington D.C. with her husband and two children.

4:06 – Ashley 101

• She fell in love with long-form documentary making and worked for National Geographic and other outlets.
• Now she is the CEO and founder of Heirloom, which she launched with her brother.

9:09 – Tapping into her passion

• Ashley is a storyteller who has worked in different mediums. She loves asking questions and investigating.

17:12 – A need for community and connection

• Ashley called her grandma last spring and noticed she seemed down and not like her usual happy self. She was in lockdown during Covid and missing her family.
• She mailed her grandmother a video of her children to cheer her up, and she wanted to do the same for other people, especially seniors who don't have access to computers or phones.
• Ashley's brother helped her with the technology.

29:03 – Different kinds of videos people send

• People have sent many different kinds of videos – graduations, birth announcements, ultrasounds, gender reveals, birthday tributes

36:52 – A powerful message

• Send videos to people who have impacted your life, and let them know how much you care.
• It could be a really powerful opportunity to send a message to somebody in your life that has really had an impact on you, and maybe you haven't really told them.

38:12 – Get to know you

• First thing she does when she gets home from a long trip? She gets a cup of fresh water from her tap.
• Favorite food? Fried rice

FEATURED QUOTES

"I've always been super curious about people's backgrounds, about what makes somebody who they are, about where they're from." – Ashley

"I was a huge snoop growing up as a child … I had to see everything." – Ashley

"This is a way to connect people when they can't be together." – Ashley

"We're hoping this is an heirloom, a keepsake, something people will hold onto for years to come." – Ashley

TRY HEIRLOOM - use code MOLLY10 for $10 off! https://sendheirloom.com/

My guest this week is Jenny Nuccio. She's a dear friend of mine and founder and CEO of Imani Collective, a social enterprise and holistic women's empowerment program in Kenya, committed to breaking generational poverty.

9:44 – Jenny 101

• Most people know her as the founder of Imani Collective. She is married and has three children.
• Jenny has some cool projects coming up, but she can't share what they are just yet. She hasn't even told her parents about the projects yet.
• She has been in Kenya for the last decade of her life and plans to stay there.

14:14 – Swahili

• She speaks Swahili, but she's much better at understanding it.

19:23 – What led her to Kenya

• She saw a church bulletin about going to Kenya. There was a peace that resonated in her soul, and she realized she needed to be on that trip.
• She kept coming back to Kenya and doing what she calls "radically listening."

27:50 – Doing it all

• Jenny says she gets asked all the time how she does so much, but she says no one is doing it all.
• She believes God is using her as a vessel to help others.

38:14 – Pivoting her business

• Jenny does a lot of custom orders and creates beautiful products, but she has made some changes to her business during the pandemic.
• She wanted to be an e-commerce business, so she started leaning into it. She also wanted to diversify her line more.

44:39 – Getting her EdD

• She's getting her doctorate. She partially wants it for credibility, because she wants to be taken more seriously. She felt annoyed after meeting with mostly white men at investment meetings and being treated like a little girl.

51:58 – Get to know you

• Favorite TV show when she was younger? Friends
• Something people would never guess about her? She didn't travel outside the country until she was 18

FEATURED QUOTES

"I have some really exciting projects happening this year that I can't even share with you guys. Just be looking out for that … Not even my parents know. That's how behind-the-scenes it is." – Jenny

"There was just this peace that resonated in my soul, and it was like, 'You need to be on this trip (to Kenya).'" – Jenny

"I did go on a mission trip, but not with the mentality or intention of like, 'I'm coming to serve and I'm coming to make things better.' It came of like, 'I'm coming to learn and grow and see what else is out there in these beautiful cultures.'" – Jenny

"I've always just said, 'God used me as a vessel. I'm just a vessel for this.'" – Jenny

CONNECT:

https://imanicollective.com/

About Jenny Nuccio:

Jenny is the Founder and CEO of Imani Collective — a social enterprise + holistic women's empowerment program in Mombasa, Kenya committed to breaking the generational poverty. Having lived as an integral part of her Kenyan community since 2013, she is committed to the collaborative advancement of equitable opportunity for the friends she works with every day, as well as for marginalized populations world-wide.

She also is the Co-Founder of the School of Ethical Impact and brings a unique intersection of both classroom + real-world social entrepreneurship expertise. But this is only part of her identity: Most days you can find her laughing with her kiddos, wondering the streets of Mombasa, or simply enjoying a great cup of Kenyan coffee. She wears many hats, but some of her favorites are being a wife and mother of three who is passionate about spreading joy and helping inspire women from all walks of life to pursue their dreams and step into their true potential.

Thank you to our partner of the show:

It's time for a SPRING CLEAN REFRESH! Let's get that home sparkling, the safe way with MamaSuds!

Castile soap is the superhero of soaps, it really does it all- from the windows to the walls! It's truly the only soap you need. What can you do with MamaSuds Castile Soap? Clean the floors, scrub the counters, bathtubs and tile, clean the baseboards, the windows and the blinds, you can even use it to clean the carpets! Grab a gallon of MamaSuds Castile Soap and start tackling all of your Spring Cleaning to-do's at www.mamasuds.com and use code MOLLY for 15% off your order!

My guest this week is Adisyn Pyles, co-founder and CEO of Freeleaf, an international social enterprise making beautiful products while providing employment and holistic care to at-risk, abused and exploited women.

2:29 – Adisyn 101

• She moved to China in 2011 and started Freeleaf in 2016. She knew she was passionate about women's empowerment and poverty alleviation.

6:30 – Starting Freeleaf

• Adisyn didn't want to start a business and she had no business experience, but she knew she wanted to serve vulnerable women.
• She wanted to highlight traditional art and design as part of her business.

10:11 – How her products have evolved

• She started with home décor and wanted to create something unique, brighter and statement pieces.

13:11 – What has surprised Adisyn

• There have been so many surprises along the way, including how difficult the job is at times and how tough it is to develop a product. She's also surprised by the community they've development at the company.

15:53 – What she loves about China

• Although she's an introvert, she loves the pace, energy and opportunity in China. There's such fast movement.

17:25 – Leaving China

• Adisyn and her family decided to leave China when Covid hit last year. They expected to be in the U.S. for a couple weeks until the pandemic was over, but it has taken longer.

26:23 – The core of her business

• During Covid, Adisyn has had to focus on the core of her business and the core of her family and let go of larger expectations, hopes and pressures.

29:42 – Her staff in China

• Adisyn has kept in touch with her staff in China, but it has been challenging. They have faced a lot of the same problems working women in the U.S. face, including finding childcare during a pandemic.

34:08 – On the horizon

• Adisyn wants to develop new products, but the process has been taking a long time. She wants to create more home décor products.

37:30 – Get to know you

• Child's movie that scarred her for life? Bambi, The Lion King
• Favorite Chinese dish? Spicy shrimp

FEATURED QUOTES

"I knew I was passionate about women's empowerment and poverty alleviation." – Adisyn

LINKS:

https://www.freeleafltd.com/

https://www.instagram.com/_adisyn/

https://www.instagram.com/freeleafltd/

About Adisyn Pyles:

Adisyn Pyles is the co-founder & CEO of Freeleaf, an international social enterprise making beautiful products while providing employment and holistic care to at-risk, abused, and exploited women. Combining her passions for women's rights, collective freedom, and finding beauty amidst chaos, Adisyn co-founded Freeleaf alongside JiaYi Lan in 2016.

With an MA in International Community Development, a tenacity for excellence, and a commitment to sustainability, Adisyn has led the Freeleaf brand through considerable growth—employing over 20 women in the last few years, being recognized by the Kerring Foundation as one of the top 5 social enterprises in China, and being highlighted as a female founder by the Spanx Red Backpack Brigade.

Adisyn and her family have had a wild year, being displaced from their home in China by COVID since January and welcoming their second son in October. They are currently living in Austin, TX waiting out the pandemic and eagerly looking forward to returning to their lives and work in Asia.

Happy Episode 240, everyone! Normally, each week I interview a nonprofit director, community leader or person who is trying to make an impact. But it is time for a solo episode, so my special guest this week is my husband, John.

2:21 – One of my most popular episodes

• My last solo show, episode 230, was one of my most popular episodes. I told the story about us buying a farm. I got an influx of questions from people wanting to know more.

4:10 – Did we always want a farm?

• John always wanted land. He grew up on a large piece of property and was frustrated as a kid that his family couldn't have chickens because of the neighborhood HOA.
• John has been pretty tight with money most of his life, but he believes it prepared him for our big move to the farm.

8:54 – The transition from land to farm

• We decided to turn our land into a farm because we wanted to be more self-sufficient and self-sustainable.

10:30 – Animals and things we'll grow

• We'll start with chickens. Maybe turkeys later this year and bees. Next year, goats and maybe a pig. I want a horse, but John is not interested in them because it sounds like a money pit. We've talked about donkeys.

13:42 – What we want to grow

• Corn, okra, tomatoes, cantaloupe, cucumbers, watermelons and fruit trees – nothing too exotic. We have a ton of walnut trees. If you have walnut recipes, send them our way.

16:55 – Will farming be our new job?

• No, it will not be our main job. Part of the goal is to reduce our expenses and create some independence and sustainability.
• We want to have some revenue associated with the farm. That is a goal we are working towards. We also want to bless people with the food we grow.

18:55 – Do we have a name for the farm?

• We don't have any farm names yet. Send us suggestions – [email protected]

19:42 – John's vision for the farm

• John enjoys doing physical work and wants our kids to enjoy being outdoors and living sustainably.

FEATURED QUOTES

"We officially moved into the farm last week, and it still honestly feels really surreal." – Molly

"I've been pretty tight with money most of my life." – John

"My house is worth 75 times my car value, and it's not cause it's a million-dollar house. It's because I have a 2007 Tundra that I bought 11 years ago." – John

"We want God to just use this place to bless others however He sees fit." – Molly

Thank you to our partner of the show:

It's time for a SPRING CLEAN REFRESH! Let's get that home sparkling, the safe way with MamaSuds!

Castile soap is the superhero of soaps, it really does it all- from the windows to the walls! It's truly the only soap you need. What can you do with MamaSuds Castile Soap? Clean the floors, scrub the counters, bathtubs and tile, clean the baseboards, the windows and the blinds, you can even use it to clean the carpets! Grab a gallon of MamaSuds Castile Soap and start tackling all of your Spring Cleaning to-do's at www.mamasuds.com and use code MOLLY for 15% off your order!

My guest today is Veronica Villanueva, who discovered her "why" in life after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2016. Through her work as a wellness expert, she aims to inspire others through a holistic lifestyle built on a commitment to self-growth and good nutrition.

She is a trained chef and health coach based in Los Angeles and the co-founder of Alive Well Thrive, a cannabis line aimed at creating the highest quality cannabis products to help others live their healthiest lives. This is an area I don't know much about, but I want this to be a place where we can be curious and ask questions.

2:24 – Veronica 101

• "I'm very excited to say I am alive despite doctors telling me I had less than 6 months to live in September 2016," said Veronica.
• She was told she wouldn't make it to 50 years old. She's now 53 and credits her survival to studying integrative medicine.

4:45 – What her life was like before cancer

• Before her cancer diagnosis, people would have assumed Veronica had a perfect life. She was a super mom with three beautiful, smart children.
• She protected her kids from reality and sheltered them with a bubble of perfection. But on the inside she was an anxious mother.
• She was raised to believe that she should stay home with her children, which she did, but she wanted more in her life.

8:42 – What led to her lung cancer diagnosis?

• Veronica was going through a divorce, but she and her husband agreed to wait until their kids were in college. The divorce became ugly, and it was a shock to her system.
• She didn't eat, didn't sleep and ate tootsie rolls and drank coffee.
• She started having back pain, and that was the first sign of lung cancer.

14:18 – Loving herself

• Veronica knew she would beat the cancer and live. The diagnosis opened her eyes to how she was living. She finally felt like she mattered, and she decided to prioritize herself.
• "I live a life right now where I come first all the time, and that's not being narcissistic. That's not being egotistical. It's honoring myself. I'm rarely depleted. I'm always replenished," said Veronica.

18:16 – Detoxing her body

• Veronica detoxed her body with good food and her environment by choosing which people she wanted to be around, what she read, etc.
• "I really cleaned my life from the inside out," said Veronica. "There's not bad fat in my life."

20:21 – Her businesses

• She has VeronicaVillanueva.com, which is where she coaches people and helps them become healthy.
• She also has Alive Well Thrive, which has medicinal cannabis for people with cancer.

25:00 – Why cannabis?

• Veronica's company uses cannabis for medicinal purposes, not for vaping.
• It helps shrink and eradicate tumors, especially at high doses. It can also help with nausea and loss of appetite.

35:30 – Her faith

• Veronica's faith has played a huge role in her recovery. She doesn't believe she got cancer because she did something bad, and she doesn't believe in karma.

41:25 – Get to know you

• Her favorite meal – Carrot ginger soup and lentil soup
• People think she's an extrovert, but she prefers to be home
• Cooking and music make her happy

FEATURED QUOTES

"I'm very excited to say I am alive despite doctors telling me I had less than 6 months to live." – Veronica

"I learned to love myself and to give myself all the care and love that I am so amazing at for other people." – Veronica

"I live a life right now where I come first all the time, and that's not being narcissistic. That's not being egotistical. It's honoring myself. I'm rarely depleted. I'm always replenished." – Veronica

"I really cleaned my life from the inside out." – Veronica

• http://veronicavillanueva.com/
• https://alivewellthrive.com/

About Veronica:

Veronica Villanueva discovered her "why" after being diagnosed with stage IV cancer in 2016. Through her work as a wellness expert, Veronica aims to inspire others to embrace a holistic lifestyle built on a commitment to self-growth and good nutrition. Veronica is a trained Le Cordon Bleu chef and a Health Coach with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and she has a degree in International Relations from UC Berkeley. Veronica is currently based in Los Angeles, CA and is the Co-Founder of Alive Well Thrive, a cannabis line aimed at creating the highest quality cannabis products around to help other live their fullest and healthiest lives yet.

Thank you to our partner of the show:

It's time for a SPRING CLEAN REFRESH! Let's get that home sparkling, the safe way with MamaSuds!

Castile soap is the superhero of soaps, it really does it all- from the windows to the walls! It's truly the only soap you need. What can you do with MamaSuds Castile Soap? Clean the floors, scrub the counters, bathtubs and tile, clean the baseboards, the windows and the blinds, you can even use it to clean the carpets! Grab a gallon of MamaSuds Castile Soap and start tackling all of your Spring Cleaning to-do's at www.mamasuds.com and use code MOLLY for 15% off your order!

We are going to face tragedy in our lives. It's a guarantee. It seems unfair and we have questions about why bad things happen. But as a person of faith, I know what Jesus said – in this world we will have trouble, but take heart because he has overcome the world. We don't have to let tragedy define us.

My guest today took an unimaginable, world-shattering tragedy and used it for good. Amy Downs is the CEO of Allegiance Credit Union, formerly known as the Federal Employees Credit Union, which lost more than half of its employees in the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995.

In the years since the bombing, Amy became a mother, lost more than 200 pounds, competed in an Ironman Triathlon, got her MBA and became CEO of the same credit union that was bombed.

4:17 – Amy Downs 101

• Amy is 53 years old. She has a side hustle as a book writer and speaker. She loves riding her bike and adventure.
• Surviving the Oklahoma City Bombing changed her life in a lot of ways.

6:20 – Big hair and lack of purpose

• In 1989, Amy had big, amazing hair. She says it was the only thing she had going for her at the time. She dropped out of college and was floundering, not knowing what to do with her life.
• She took a job as a teller at the credit union in Oklahoma City.

9:35 – April 19, 1995

• On April 19, 1995, Amy was sitting at her desk on the third floor when the bomb went off.
• She was screaming "Jesus help me!" but she didn't recognize the sound of her own voice. She fell three floors and was buried under 10 feet of rubble. Then, all the noise stopped.
• She was lying there, not knowing if she was dead or alive.

14:40 – Buried alive

• "I'm buried alive," said Amy. "All I can do is think about, I'm getting ready to die at 28 years old, and I'm realizing, I've actually never lived. I've never lived with purpose."
• She was buried for more than 6 hours.

19:57 – Desperate to live

• Amy's rescuers talked about whether they needed to amputate her leg to get her out of the rubble. She told them to do what they needed to do to get her out. She was desperate to live.
• She remembers looking up at the sky, taking a breath of fresh air after being rescued.

25:15 – Changing her life

• She wanted to be a different person, but she had so much physical and emotional trauma that she didn't know what to do. But she didn't let go of that belief.
• First, she began praying every day.

34:19 – Hope is a Verb

• Amy wrote a book, "Hope is a Verb." It was a 10-year project. She wanted to figure out how to help people.

41:43 – Coping with PTSD

• Amy still struggles with PTSD. She gets nervous if she's in a crowded space with a lot of people. She also struggles when April comes around each year.

50:20 – Get to know you

• What kids' movie scarred her? Wizard of Oz monkeys
• Something you'd never guess about her? She was a DJ on a radio station

FEATURED QUOTES

"It was like I had this incredible come to Jesus meeting that I haven't been able to shake for the rest of my life." – Amy

"There is a purpose for you. I don't care what it is, what business it is that you're doing. There is a purpose for you." – Amy

"All of a sudden, everything went dark. I could hear people screaming all around me." – Amy

"I'm buried alive … All I can do is think about, I'm getting ready to die at 28 years old, and I'm realizing, I've actually never lived. I've never lived with purpose." – Amy

CONNECT:

• https://amydowns.org/
• https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Verb-Journey-Impossible-Transformation/dp/1734645407

Thank you to our partner of the show:

It's time for a SPRING CLEAN REFRESH! Let's get that home sparkling, the safe way with MamaSuds!

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One of my favorite verses of scripture is 1 Peter 4:10, which says: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."

I really believe that we were all given a gift to use to help, serve and bless others. I think serving, teaching and nurturing children is one of the best gifts. It takes a special person to be able to work in the life of a child, especially with children who are neurodivergent or neurodiverse.

My guest today is Brittni Winslow, a dear friend of mine who lives in Durham, N.C. She is an occupational therapist and executive director of Emerge Pediatric Therapy in North Carolina. She helps create confident kids through customized therapy.

6:46 – Brittni 101

• Brittni is married and has three daughters. She is an occupational therapist and always wanted to open her own business.

8:17 – How is occupational therapy different from physical therapy?

• Brittni works on functional skills for kids, such as play, caring for themselves, sitting at the dinner table, etc. Physical therapy is working on strengthening or rehabilitating.

9:17 – What makes Emerge so different?

• Brittni wants Emerge to be different from other occupational therapy providers. A big part of that is working with the kids and educating the parents, teachers and community partners.
• "We want to make sure everyone is on the same page and everyone is educated on how to best work with this child," said Brittni.
• "I truly believe that no kid is intentionally trying to be bad. There are some ways that their system might be wired that makes it really hard for them," said Brittni.

14:07 – Generational changes in helping children

• Brittni says she'll often hear parents say, "I dealt with this [issue] as a kid."
• Kids are sometimes misjudged as being lazy, disinterested or having behavioral problems. But really, there are some underlying issues that could easily be addressed.

16:48 – Removing the stigma

• "It's not that how these kids are wired is wrong. It's just a different wiring," said Brittni.
• You need to uncover what will work best for kids.

20:51 – Has Brittni's job affected how she parents her own kids?

• She's always taking one hat off and putting another hat on. She tries to use her tools to help her own children.
• Even though Brittni has helped hundreds of kids, it can be hard to help her own children. But, having kids has helped her be a better OT and help other parents.

26:35 – How Covid has impacted her business

• Brittni has worked on compassion fatigue with her therapists to make sure they are OK.

31:10 – Sensory night at the Durham Bulls

• They partnered with the Durham Bulls baseball team and did a sensory night for kids. Some parents said it was the first baseball game they ever took their child to.

36:20 – Get to know you

• Song she has to sing? Any song from the Trolls soundtrack
• Who has influenced her the most? Her grandfather
• Favorite meal? Angus Barn steak and salad

FEATURED QUOTES

"We want to make sure everyone is on the same page and everyone is educated on how to best work with this child." – Brittni

"I truly believe that no kid is intentionally trying to be bad. There are some ways that their system might be wired that makes it really hard for them." – Brittni

"It's not that how these kids are wired is wrong. It's just a different wiring." – Brittni

https://www.emergepediatrictherapy.com/