Facing Fear

An article from Courtney Ariel (For Our White Friends Desiring to be Allies) showed me exactly how I can use my privilege and platform.

“Listen more; talk less. You don’t have to have something to say all of the time. You don’t have to post something on social media that points to how liberal/how aware/how cool/how good you are. You are lovely, human, and amazing. You have also had the microphone for most of the time, for a very long time, and it will be good to give the microphone to someone else who is living a different experience than your own.”

I’ve figuratively and literally had a microphone in my hand for years as a professional speaker and podcaster. I set this week aside to rest, no new episode, content or promotion planned. The universe has showed me otherwise. It’s time to work. It’s time to share. It’s time to hear someone else’s voice. And that time is now.

I’ve set up a voicemail line for our Black brothers and sisters to call in and tell your story. Here’s how you can...

• Call 317-296-3737 (for nonverbal, direct message me here, on Facing Fear with Sara or email [email protected]). To remain 100%  anonymous, fill out this form.
• Share a life experience, an impactful story, your hope, fears, perspective or whatever’s on your heart
• If you're a Black business owner and would like to promote your business or share how you've been effected, I invite you as well
• Leave your first and/or last name, location, email and phone (for me to contact if needed) OR choose to remain completely anonymous
• Please leave a message by Friday night

The mission of #FacingFearWithSara is to encourage individuals to face fear in pursuit of an unapologetically authentic life. Every human deserves a chance at that life. Facing Fear with Sara uplifts others stories in hopes to inspire, transform and empower.

I look forward to listening to this episode/segment/story/blog however it comes together. You have my microphone. Let’s give this a try. Your story deserves to be told.

Finally, I will be a better ally and am open to more education and information on what I can do. In peace and love, Sara.

Please share this episode with anyone that you think would be interested in sharing their story or business.

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"I had lost myself, wasn't the same person at all. And then I got around all these wonderful people and it just completely changed my life." Today's guest, Elijah Leonard, experienced severe anxiety and depression as a kid. He became more involved at the Boys & Girls Club of Indianapolis and started to pull himself out of this rut by facing his fear.

He shares moments from his childhood including watching his father mistreat his mother, causing him to lose his best friend for a few years. He found a home at the Club and then won the most prestigious award the organization offers, Youth of the Year.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 5:18 - Elijah's Interview 
• 22:02 - About the breeze thru and a special offer to start your own podcast
• 47:43 - Facing Fear tips from Elijah

READ & WATCH

• From the IndyStar: 'They made me a better person': How Boys & Girls Club changed this Ben Davis junior's life
• Meet Elijah, the 2018-2019 Youth of the Year
• The FIRST EVER Facing Fear Podcast guest was Zach Sigmund, Elijah's mentor. Listen to his episode here!

OFFER

• Sign up for the breeze thru, one-on-one consulting with yours truly to give you the EASY process and confidence you need to start your own podcast! For $99, you'll get an interactive presentation from me, unlimited questions via email afterwards, my equipment recommendations and a step-by-step guide to launch your show. Visit facingfearwithsara.com/thebreezethru to sign up. 

CONNECT

• Instagram - @facingfearwithsara
• Facebook - @facingfearwithsara
• Website - facingfearwithsara.com
• Email - [email protected] 
• With the guest, Elijah Leonard and Boys & Girls Club of Indianapolis, Boys & Girls Club of America

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Love conquers all. This isn't what Jacob and I imagined, but it's everything we needed to be reminded over and over, this marriage is about us. We scheduled our wedding in April 2019 for May 16, 2020. With COVID-19 shaking the world to it's core, we too were forced to move our date to April 2021. We decided to move forward with eloping on May 16, 2020 (watch our wedding video here).

It's about love, trust and a partnership. On this super special episode, I share what it was like getting married during quarantine and invite two very special guests to talk facing fear in marriage, my grandparents, Nana and Grandbob.

This week's episode reaffirms what we're really here on earth to do, love each other. I interviewed my grandparents who have been married for 60+ years, Nana and Grandbob. They share their incredible story from "meeting her in a tree to proposing in the hospital." Moving from Mexico to Europe to the US, they've conquered it all.

GIVEAWAY

• Sign up for the breeze thru ONE MORE FREE SESSION up for grabs. The breeze thru is one-on-one consulting with yours truly to give you the EASY process and confidence you need to start your own podcast! This session is everything I wish someone would have coached me on before I started. I'm giving away three sessions for free. Visit facingfearwithsara.com/thebreezethru to sign up. 

CONNECT

• Instagram - @facingfearwithsara
• Facebook - @facingfearwithsara
• Website - facingfearwithsara.com
• Email - [email protected] 

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This month is all about students to give them a platform to spread their incredible stories in the midst of a season that has taken so much from them including prom, graduation and freshman year. Teya Weaver is another example of a young woman who has her head on straight. Teya is originally from Chicago who spent middle and high school in Indianapolis before enrolling at Indiana University Bloomington. Like David Bell (last week's episode), Teya is another shining star from Warren Central High School who remained motivated despite the challenges of her environment growing up on the Far Eastside of Indianapolis.

Teya's episode is filled with hope... between navigating the expenses of college, overcoming the grief of gun violence and starting her own organization at IU called You See Me. Her organization brings together women of color to discuss empowerment, colorism, racism, LGBTQ+ and mental health. May is National Mental Health month and this episode dives deeply into it.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 3:54 - Teya's Interview 
• 39:01 - Facing Fear tips from Teya
• 10:39 - Updated interview done in April of how Teya's adjusted to quarentine life as a student

RESOURCES MENTIONED 

• 21st Century Scholars 
• Nikko Berrios' episode 
• National Mental Health Month: Tools 2 Thrive 
• We LIVE Indy 

GIVEAWAY

• Sign up for the breeze thru ONE MORE FREE SESSION up for grabs. The breeze thru is one-on-one consulting with yours truly to give you the EASY process and confidence you need to start your own podcast! This session is everything I wish someone would have coached me on before I started. I'm giving away three sessions for free. Visit facingfearwithsara.com/thebreezethru to sign up. 

CONNECT

• Instagram - @facingfearwithsara
• Facebook - @facingfearwithsara
• Website - facingfearwithsara.com
• Email - [email protected] 
• With the guest Teya Weaver and You See Me IU

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I had the pleasure of interviewing football star, David Bell, back in February. David is a Warren Central High School legend, Purdue Football Boilermaker and the 2019 Big 10 Freshman of the Year. Among his many athletic accolades, David is just a kid from the Far Eastside of Indianapolis, a community known for its' underdog spirit and immesnse pride despite the violence and poverty present. He's a stud figure on and off the field who has continued his legacy by returning to Indianapolis to speak and mentor elementary and middle school kids.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 3:41 - Interview with David
• 38:08 - Facing Fear Tips from David
• 41:10 - Juwann Nelson, Legacy Canvas Films, Interview

WATCH

• A Far Eastside Story: David Bell by Legacy Canvas Films
• Big 10 Freshman of the Year Highlights
• David's Freshman Year Purdue Football Stats

GIVEAWAY

• Sign up for the breeze thru ONE MORE FREE SESSION up for grabs. The breeze thru is one-on-one consulting with yours truly to give you the EASY process and confidence you need to start your own podcast! This session is everything I wish someone would have coached me on before I started. I'm giving away three sessions for free. Visit facingfearwithsara.com/thebreezethru to sign up. 

CONNECT

• Instagram - @facingfearwithsara
• Facebook - @facingfearwithsara
• Website - facingfearwithsara.com
• Email - [email protected] 
• With the guest David Bell, Juwann Nelson and Legacy Canvas Films 

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"I'm not going to let the pageant industry tell me who to be anymore, I am going to be myself. And by being myself, I am going to change the game."

Alexis is on a mission to break the mold of what it's like to not just be one thing, you can be both. In her case, a badass Division I volleyball player AND crown holder of Miss Indiana USA. After doing some research, she realized people have the same stigmas against both athletes and the pageant world. Athletes are airheads, jocks and only good at playing sports. Pageant queens are there to look pretty, are superficial and narcissistic.

In response, Alexis started a speaking tour called, "Break the Mold" where she talks on owning your own ability to do whatever your heart is called to regardless of associated stigmas. After letting others' opinions drown self-confidence after earning her Miss Indiana USA crown, Alexis emerges as a confident queen ready to change the game and inspire you to do the same.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 3:19 - Her journey to the Miss Indiana crown
• 24:40 - Her volleyball career at George Washington and as a professional overseas
• 31:45 - Life in LA and social media content creation tips
• 39:42 - Facing Fear Tips from Alexis

WATCH

• Watch as Alexis Lete Miss Indiana USA 2020 challenges us to be the change we want to see in the world at Spark Networking. 

OFFER - 20% PHOTOGRAPHY WITH HANNA POITRAS

•  Making a good first impression MATTERS! Whether you're looking to impress your future boss on LinkedIn, freshen up your personal brand or win a crown like Alexis, professional photography makes a difference. My friend and #smallbizowner Hanna has your back! Get 20% from @hannapoitrasimagerydesign when you mention "Facing Fear Podcast." Hanna does it ALL - portrait, events and product photography. Visit hannapoitras.com today!

GIVEAWAY

• Sign up for the breeze thru ONE MORE FREE SESSION up for grabs. The breeze thru is one-on-one consulting with yours truly to give you the EASY process and confidence you need to start your own podcast! This session is everything I wish someone would have coached me on before I started. I'm giving away three sessions for free. Visit facingfearwithsara.com/thebreezethru to sign up. 

CONNECT

• Instagram - @facingfearwithsara
• Facebook - @facingfearwithsara
• Website - facingfearwithsara.com
• Email - [email protected] 
• With the guest Alexis Lete or Miss Indiana USA

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Rikki and Dash, the founders behind Hav A Sole, kick off Season 3. Hav A Sole's mission is to provide the homeless and at-risk youth population with quality footwear to encourage healthier lifestyles and prevent disease while fostering a sense of community along the way. As a young boy, Hav A Sole founder, Rikki, spent years in a shelter with his mother. During that challenging time, they couldn’t even afford to buy a pair of shoes. Fast forward, to 2014, Rikki had over one hundred and fifty pairs of shoes, when he suddenly realized there were people out there who had none. That’s when he loaded the back of his car and drove the streets until he found someone who could benefit from a newer pair of shoes. Dash joined the team shortly after Hav A Sole kicked off bringing his own story, creativity and passion to helping the homeless in Los Angeles and around the country.

GIVEAWAY

• Sign up for the breeze thru THREE FREE SESSIONS up for grabs. The breeze thru is one-on-one consulting with yours truly to give you the EASY process and confidence you need to start your own podcast! This session is everything I wish someone would have coached me on before I started. I'm giving away three sessions for free. Visit facingfearwithsara.com/thebreezethru to sign up. Spots will go quickly! 

CONNECT

• Instagram - @facingfearwithsara
• Facebook - @facingfearwithsara
• Website - facingfearwithsara.com
• Email - [email protected] 
• With the guests from Hav A Sole, Rikki and Dash

READ

• We reference the book Rikki's mom wrote called, "Mother Load" by Wendy Adamson

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The show is finally back after a two-week break. On this episode, I share what I've been up to during my break and how we're living this Quanentined Lifestyle we've all gotten used to by now.

FACING FEAR WITH SARA UPDATES

• The Facing Fear with Sara Facebook Page is official! Please share and hit "like" as I begin this journey of bringing incredible stories, tools and inspirational speaking to Facebook.
• www.facingfearwithsara.com got a facelift! While I've done what I can to make it good, I know it can be great. There's a rebranding in the works as I've hired someone to partner with. Super excited to unveil our work in the coming months! 
• I've begun transcribing my episodes for my friends who may have some challenges listening, the blog version is on the way! 
• I've launched the breeze thru! the breeze thru in one-on-one consulting to give you a peak into what it takes to start your own show. Our session together will provide an easy explanation of the process and the confidence you need to do the damn thing. I'm giving away THREE FREE SESSIONS! Go visit my website now to sign up!

SEASON THREE PREVIEW

• Hav A Sole - The health of the feet is paramount in allowing the homeless to get through their day while living on the streets. Hav A Sole has touched thousands of lives through, social activism, volunteering and building community.
• Miss Indiana USA, Alexis Lete - After graduating from New Albany High School,  Alexis was awarded a full-ride scholarship for athletics to The George Washington University. Alexis is currently a model, actress, creator, and still an athlete.
• Big 10 Freshman of the Year, David Bell - "Just a kid from Warren," David has grown from the Warren Central High School superstar to Purdue freshman winning Big 10 Freshman of the Year after an incredible football season.
• You See Me Founder, Chaunteya Weaver - Another Far Eastside role model, Teya started "You See Me" during her freshman year at Indiana University to motivate, empower and embrace women of color. 
• My Grandparents, Nana and Grandbob - After 63 years of marriage, my grandparents have faced fear in various forms throughout their relationship. 
• BGCI Youth of the Year, Elijah Leonard - "I had lost myself, wasn't the same person at all. And then I got around all these wonderful people ... and these people just completely changed my life." 
• adidas North America, Brandon Walker - As #FNLFam alum, Brandon shared something with me I'll never forget, "Wait and see how much you change in your twenties." 
• Your Push Coach, Josh Coats - Josh trains some of the top leaders in the networking marketing industry. He’s a speaker, podcaster and

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Teeklef grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, and began learning music in the church. He learned to sing, harmonize, play multiple instruments and ultimately began writing his own music. At 18, he moved to America landing in Indianapolis. His style of music combines his Nigerian roots with American hip hop. His debut album, Room 2027, is a celebration of letting go of life's burdens. It's deeply personal tracing Teeklef's struggle through a messy and painful divorce and custody battle over the last few years.

Our conversation includes the behind the scenes of our friendship which helped make the podcast a reality, the creation behind my intro music, details of his debut album and what he's learned along the way that's made him stronger, and happier, today.

TAKE THE FACING FEAR PODCAST SURVEY

CONNECT

• With the host at @sarajmcinerney or www.saramcinerney.com
• With the show at [email protected] or @facingfearwithsara
• With Teekflef on iTunes, Spotify, Instagram and check out Hype Magazine's album review
• We reference the book "Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds" by Indiana native, David Goggins 

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Earlier this month, I attended Podfest, the largest podcasting conference in the world! I met an incredible community, learned so much and most of all understood that this show would not exist with YOU - the listeners. This episode is dedicated to letting my listeners in on my Podfest experience, reading aloud many beautiful reviews I've received and sharing behind the scenes on how this podcast journey is really going for me.

I decided to stick to my schedule rather than create something around COVID-19 because I know you are sick of hearing and talking about it. The one useful tool I do want to share is the podcast Made of Magic Episode 123 called "PEP TALK on COVID-19." It's the most calming, helpful and peaceful podcast episode I've heard around this topic. Grab you Monday coffee and enjoy. 

I mentioned many podcast friends I met during Podfest. Below you will find these wonderful people and their show information. Check them out and support indie podcasters! 

• Girl Gotta Hike - Melissa Goodwin is the founder of Girl Gotta Hike, podcaster, freelance photographer and New York certified hiking guide. Learn more at girlgottahike.com. I recommend Episode 3 - listen here!
• SOL Podcast - Drew Baker of the Baker Law Group from Cincinnati created this show to make law FUN and understandable. Looking for COIVD-19 positivity? Check out their episode called Corona Virus 10 Positives to Consider in the Midst of Mayhem.  
• The Life Whispers - Viviana Soto, creator of Life Whispers on a mission to tell extraordinary stories from ordinary people because everyone has a story. Check out Episode 1 with Natalie Pizarro - it left my jaw on the ground. 
• Turmeric & Tequila - Looking for entertainment? Listen to Episode 34 - Podfest 2020 Thank You that we recorded live on-site at the conference with special guest, William Hung. I've also been a guest twice where Kristen's gotten me to talk about some pretty deep and vulnerable stuff... Episode 2 - Big Dreams and the Little Things and Episode 12 - Breakdown, Breakthrough. 

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