Welcome back to Fearless, Inspired and Free, a conversation with Dana Wright and the women she has been fortunate to connect with to discuss their life's journey…the great things they are doing, overcoming life's obstacles, navigating their work and personal businesses; becoming Fearless in their actions, Inspired to live authentically and Free to live a life they choose!

Fearless, Inspired and Free Podcast endeavors to build a community of learning, appreciation, encouragement, resilience, growth, acceptance, kindness and support!

This week’s guest, Jeaneen Sica is a first time published author of the novel, The Walls Begin to Crumble. She is a former English and television production teacher; and after ten years of teaching at Curie High School, she left the profession to stay home and raise her three children. However, she knew deep in her soul, she wanted to be a writer. So while home, she wrote whenever she could find the time, which was not very often. Jeaneen discusses how she used her free time to write scenes and how her process of "thoughts becoming sentences and sentences becoming pages" became her first novel.

When discussing how she came to decide to write the book, Jeaneen takes us back to when she first fell in love with reading and books herself and how she had to establish her mantra of "I AM a writer". Jeaneen talks about her book's inspiration, her former students at Curie High School being just like her and how in her writing process she looked to "evoke emotion" and create an experience. Many times, quiet devoted time with music as her motivation got her through her writing sessions. Jeaneen shares tidbits about her journey to become an author and how her hard work has paid off. She reminds us all to "never give up" and to follow our passions and our paths.

Jeaneen's book can be found on Amazon, and she can be reach by email: [email protected] / Phone: 630-302-2546 / Instagram: @jeaneensicaauthor / Website: jeaneensicaauthor.com

Welcome back! It has been a minute, but Fearless, Inspired and Free is back with host Dana Wright to connect with more phenomenal women and to continue to build a community of learning, support, resilience and GROWTH one story at a time. By listening to these stories of women in our communities, we learn and we grow. We also learn how we can support women. When we support women, we support our communities!

This episode's guest, Wey-ni Langdon, has been in the field of law enforcement for over 10 years, after a woman saw her potential and referred her to apply to her first police department. She currently serves as a police officer with the Chicago Police Department. She started her career in 2007 at the Northern Illinois University Police Department. In her career, she has served in several different capacities including Patrol, Investigations, Crime Analysis & Planning and much more. She also had the opportunity to serve as an undercover officer on a federal task force with the United States Postal Inspection Service and is also a Medal of Valor recipient from the NIU Police Department and the DeKalb Police Department.

Wey-ni was instrumental in developing positive relationships between the community and the NIU police department where she contributed to creating the Community Policing Unit...all while working to implement the first NIU Citizens Police Academy. 

Throughout her career, Wey-ni has been blessed with many mentors who have provided her with a wealth of knowledge and guidance. Because of these positive influences, one of which was her father, she was led to a career she loves and to start an organization to support women in law enforcement. Women in law enforcement represent a fraction of the numbers who serve in police departments across the U.S. (approx. 13%). Her passion for creating Women of the Shield was to create an event and space where women in law enforcement can be celebrated among their peers while offering support and encouragement. She also wanted to provide an opportunity for people to be educated on the struggles women have faced in the criminal justice system and celebrate their determination to overcome obstacles. Her desire to “pay it forward” constantly keeps her motivated to work with the community and encourage young women to pursue careers in law enforcement. 

In her spare time, Wey-ni loves spending time with her family including her fur baby, Sir Duke Mix-a-Lot and traveling.

Listen in to hear about how strongly influenced Wey-ni has been by her father as a self-proclaimed "Daddy's Girl". Her parents, a law enforcement officer and a teacher, both laid the foundation of service and were positive role models leading to her strong work ethic and desire to give back. Wey-ni created a space for women in law enforcement so that they could be supported and educated by other women. It is her desire to insure the numbers of women in law enforcement increase because she knows their value and that if women in law enforcement are strongly represented, communities can thrive.

Wey-ni can be reached at [email protected]  You can also call her at 708-261-6119. To get more information about Women of the Shield email [email protected] or go to www.womenoftheshield.org / Wey-ni can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.

Welcome back to Fearless, Inspired and Free (SEASON 2), a weekly conversation with Dana Wright and the women she has been fortunate to connect with to discuss their life's journey…the great things they are doing, overcoming life's obstacles, navigating their work and personal businesses; becoming Fearless in their actions, Inspired to live authentically and Free to live a life they choose!

Fearless, Inspired and Free Podcast endeavors to build a community of learning, appreciation, encouragement, resilience, growth, acceptance, kindness and support!

This week’s guests are the three amazing women Founders of NoorFit. Tune in today to hear about the impressive backgrounds of Jeanne Roberts Johnson, Carla Pace and Yvette Porché Cheaney…how they met, how busy business owner moms fit it all in and why they chose to create this brand. Learn about how they poured their desire to create a community of wellness and self-care while embodying the colorful and unique spirit of every woman into their fitness apparel. 

They describe NoorFit as a fitness brand that mirrors the complexity, strength and vivaciousness that lives in the soul of every woman. “Our fitness wear line is designed with vibrant colors and fun, funky prints to reflect the many facets and fashion moods of every woman's personality. We know fitness comes in all shapes and sizes and fitness looks different for everyone, so we've carefully crafted each piece with YOU in mind”.

They are endeavoring to associate their brand with self-care for women and to spread the message that it is necessity that should be normalized and celebrated. What they want everyone to know is that simply put, “NoorFit is fitness wear with flair and self-care is woven into our brand. Our clothes are comfortable, functional, fashionable, flattering and they're made by women, for women”.

NoorFit is black-owned, women-owned , and they proudly make all of their fitness clothes right here in the U.S.A.

Finally, Jeanne, Carla and Yvette want to warmly welcome ALL to the NoorFit Family and for you to “come find your flex with us and be fit, fashionable, fabulous and unapologetically you!”

NoorFit is an experience in itself!!

To get additional information, see the amazing offerings or request a “pop-up” shop please visit: www.noorfit.com

You can also find them on:

IG - @noorfitstyle

TikTok - @noorfitstyle

Facebook - NoorFit

Use hashtags #NoorFit and #FlexYourFit

Welcome back to Fearless, Inspired and Free, a weekly conversation with Dana Wright and the women she has been fortunate to connect with to discuss their life's journey…the great things they are doing, overcoming life's obstacles...both triumphs and loss, navigating their work and personal businesses; becoming Fearless in their actions, Inspired to live authentically and Free to live a life they choose!

Fearless, Inspired and Free Podcast endeavors to build a community of learning, appreciation, encouragement, resilience, growth, acceptance, kindness and support!

This week may be a difficult story for our listeners as a mother tells the story of losing her daughter after she died from suicide. But with this being the last day of Mental Health Awareness Month, we thought the discussion was important and we wanted to support her as she continues to find her way to healing and as she becomes the voice and "fulfilled wish" for her daughter Neyla, who always chose to put others first and wanted to, as her mother says, "help the world".

Our guest this week is Lisa Vargas. She is a mother of 3, a law enforcement professional and a survivor. She is a fighter and her mission is help others however she can and to bring awareness to Suicide Awareness and Prevention...pushing this difficult topic out of the darkness and into a space where it can be discussed and so that those struggling in silence can get the help they need.

Lisa discusses the day she found her daughter and how her life changed from that moment forward. She talks about the process she has gone through to work on her continued healing, the reasons she had to forgive and the flood of emotions that sometimes take over. Lisa reminisces about getting to know her daughter more intimately through her beautiful art, poetry and journaling, the signs she gets from Neyla letting her know that she is near and how after getting the help she says she needed..she "picked up where Neyla left off".

Tune in today to hear Lisa's story of loss and how she works everyday to keep herself moving forward and keeping strong for her two sons. She works tirelessly to continue with her healing and she has become a strong advocate for mental health awareness....ultimately becoming the voice of her daughter's "fulfilled wish". 

Lisa supports organizations like The Compassionate Friends (TCF) on Facebook, Crisis Text Hotline...of which you can text 741-741 from your phone to get immediate help and someone to talk to...and she participates in the Out of the Darkness Walk each year organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Lisa can be reached at [email protected]. If you'd like to donate to the walk this year or participate, her team page is called "Neyla's Wallflowers" and can be found at:

https://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=2413913#donate 

Welcome back to Fearless, Inspired and Free, a weekly conversation with Dana Wright and the women she has been fortunate to connect with to discuss their life's journey…the great things they are doing, overcoming life's obstacles, navigating their work and personal businesses; becoming Fearless in their actions, Inspired to live authentically and Free to live a life they choose!

Fearless, Inspired and Free Podcast endeavors to build a community of learning, appreciation, encouragement, resilience, growth, acceptance, kindness and support!

This week's guest is Jennifer Matthews. She is a single mother of one son and a life-long learner. She has worked hard to obtain her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, Masters of Management w/Specialization in Law Enforcement Administration, Masters of Philosophy in Criminal Justice and is a current PhD candidate in Criminal Justice with specialization in Criminal Justice Administration.

While Jennifer's work, son and educational endeavors have kept her busy, she seems to have been able to always keep them in balance. What had plagued her most in her life was her weight. "It was generational" she explains. "my bar, and the reason I didn't feel like it was an issue, was because I was not bedridden like I saw my aunt was growing up". Because she explains she didn't see her weight as too much of a problem because most if not all of her family was overweight, she didn't really register it until doctors began to use words like "obese" and make alarming remarks about her weight.

Jennifer then began to take notice after hearing from doctors, but also decided she wanted to look and feel better in her clothes and wanted to be here for her son. After Jennifer tried, as she says "every diet there is out there", she gave it one last try when her friend told her about a doctor that could help her. Jennifer agreed cautiously to try one last thing and she says it changed her life. This doctor analyzed her bloodwork and started her on the Keto diet.

Fearless, Inspired and Free Podcast does not endorse any diet or program and encourages all listeners to go to their own doctors for medical advice and guidance on weight loss and health. No one diet is good for everyone, everyone is different. BUT what FIF Podcast does endorse is women doing what they feel they need to do for them and to give themselves the best chances in life...taking control of their health and any other circumstance that may be holding them back.

Tune in to hear how Jennifer lost 72 lbs in 2019 and today, in 2021, she has maintained that loss; but also has improved her relationship with food and exercise. Jennifer has found the balance, better health and a new love of fitness! She has learned how to balance her diet and knows when to "go hard" on her prescribed diet and when to give her body a rest and a treat. She doesn't stress about food and strives to live life to the fullest and to be here for her son long-term. Jennifer has also created a new and supportive community on Instagram where she helps others daily. She has built a community of over 5,000 followers and can be found at @ChiFabFit

Welcome back to Fearless, Inspired and Free, a weekly conversation with Dana Wright and the women she has been fortunate to connect with to discuss their life's journey, the great things they are doing...overcoming life's obstacles, navigating their work and personal businesses; becoming Fearless in their actions, Inspired to live authentically and Free to live a life they choose!

Fearless, Inspired and Free Podcast endeavors to build a community of learning, appreciation, encouragement, resilience, growth, acceptance, kindness and support!

This week's guest, Dr. Carletta E. Griffin, is the CEO of Dominion Disability Advocates, LLC. She serves the greater Detroit area as well as Nationally, advocating for clients seeking Social Security Disability benefits. She is also an Adjunct Faculty with the University of Detroit Mercy. She was most recently awarded the National Association of Disability Representatives "Member of the Year" honor for 2020-2021.

As a native Detroiter, Carletta is passionate about giving back to the community that has given so much to her. So much so, that as an extension of her doctoral dissertation, "The Role of the African American Church Leadership within the City of Detroit", Carletta has launched a foundation. The One Conscious Detroit Church Foundation (OCDCF) is dedicated to uniting the citizens of Detroit of varying Christian faith- based groups in serving community and the challenges presented therein.

Carletta is married to her high school sweetheart, a story she speaks so fondly of regarding the power of prayer, and they have one son Joshua. Carletta is passionate about her values of Faith, Family, Freedom, Fun, and Fitness. She enjoys long hikes and exploring a few of her passions in the area of esthetics and real estate in her spare time.

Tune in to hear how her parents planted seeds of faith and service early in her life and how her father's illness and subsequent death early in her life, and the lessons learned from his life, are showing up today in her life's work.

Although in Carletta's life she has experienced a series of trials and tribulations, including the tragic loss of a dear friend in college, she has never given up and has always been dedicated to self-improvement, education, her community and living as an example of her Faith. In doing so, she has also experienced beautiful moments of joy, success and the realization of God's promise and faithfulness.

You don't want to miss this episode as Dr. Carletta realizes that she has been called to remain "faithful and consistent".

Welcome back to Fearless, Inspired and Free, a weekly conversation with Dana Wright and the women she has been fortunate to connect with to discuss their life's journey, the great things they are doing, overcoming life's obstacles, navigating their work and personal businesses; becoming Fearless in their actions, Inspired to live authentically and Free to live a life they choose!

Fearless, Inspired and Free Podcast endeavors to build a community of learning, appreciation, encouragement, resilience, growth, acceptance, kindness and support!

This week's guest is Michelle Wells. She is a self-described "fighter, mom and survivor of life!". Michelle has put her hard earned Bachelor degree in Business Administration Management to good use as a successful Program Manager, but adds that she is an entrepreneur and dreamer at heart! If anyone can realize their dreams it will be Michelle. She came into this world fighting to be here after she's been told she was born with her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck, making it here with barley a minute left before she may not have survived the birth. Ever since then, Michelle has fought to be here and she has done it with positivity, determination, grace and God's guidance.

Listen in as Michelle discusses leaving home young and living on her own after her childhood experiences in her home left her with bouts of depression and diagnosed anxiety. She then worked to build a life she dreamed of. Married to her high school sweetheart, she suffered the loss of her first child, only to become a mother to her beautiful daughter Jocelyn a short time later. Jocelyn came early, and as a preemie was fighter just like her mother! Michelle's marriage ended in divorce some years later. Just after the divorce, when she thought life was looking up and that her and Jocelyn were on their way, Michelle was diagnosed with breast cancer. The fight of her life began as she battled a cancer that was both "aggressive and invasive". A single mom, newly divorced, Michelle was determined with God and Jocelyn on her side to make it through.

Tune in this week to hear this amazing story of resilience and determination. Although Michelle has experienced tough things, she says "no matter what curve ball life has thrown my way or has yet to come, it is up to me and what I can do in those situations that make all the difference. It does not matter how many times I get knocked down, what does matter is that I get back up and not let the world defeat me."

If you want to hear how making herself a priority saved her life on many occasions, why managing stress is so very important and why May 24th and Disney World hold such a significance in Michelle and her daughter's lives, listen today! You don't want to miss this conversation.

Welcome back to Fearless, Inspired and Free, a weekly conversation with Dana Wright and the women she has been fortunate to connect with to discuss their life's journey, the great things they are doing, overcoming life's obstacles, navigating their work and personal businesses; becoming Fearless in their actions, Inspired to live authentically and Free to live a life they choose!

Fearless, Inspired and Free Podcast endeavors to build a community of learning, appreciation, encouragement, resilience, growth, acceptance, kindness and support!

This week's guest on the Fearless, Inspired and Free Podcast is Aprill Edwards. Aprill is a Transformational Coach who helps women lose the physical, mental and emotional weight she feels is holding them back from living their best, most bold, most intentional life. She is SHE.E.O. of Because She Matters. The mission is to equip and empower women and girls, primarily of color, by helping them get healthy, happy, healed and whole--from a whole person's perspective.

Aprill helps women identify and overcome the obstacles in their life holding them back from living their most fulfilled life—a life that is soulfully aligned, full of power and purpose. Aprill helps them break generational curses, broken mindsets and learned patterns and behaviors that keep them playing small in some areas of life instead of fully launching into a life that they may only dream about today.

Aprill uses not only her education, professional certifications and experience, but also considers herself most qualified because she is a certified overcomer of the very issues that she serves and supports other women in today. From attempted suicide, teen pregnancy, emotional and physical abuse, toxic relationships, bankruptcy, and the death of her mother when she was only 13 years old, Aprill’s resilience, determination and life experience allow her to serve others in a way uncommon to most transformational leaders.

Aprill holds a MBA. She is a Certified Life/Success Coach, Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor, has multiple certifications in Nutrition, Certified Transformation Coach, Certified Diversity & Inclusion Specialist and Certified Program Manager.

Tune in to hear why Aprill says "I AM my client. I AM the women I serve". She goes on to discuss her own life of repressed trauma after the death of her mother and never hearing her father verbalize the love he had for her, although his love language was through action. Aprill knew it was time to begin her journey of self-discovery when she "hit rock bottom". She says, "It's not that I didn't like what I saw, I just didn't know her".

Aprill's powerful story of releasing trauma, facing her own toxicity, setting "strong boundaries" and challenging then overcoming generational curses to become the best version of herself and the coach women could relate, learn and grow from is transparent and projects the authenticity we all can appreciate.

Welcome back to Fearless, Inspired and Free, a weekly conversation with Dana Wright and the women she has been fortunate to connect with to discuss their life's journey, the great things they are doing, overcoming life's obstacles, navigating their work and personal businesses; becoming Fearless in their actions, Inspired to live authentically and Free to live a life they choose!

Fearless, Inspired and Free Podcast endeavors to build a community of learning, appreciation, encouragement, resilience, growth, acceptance, kindness and support!

This week's guest, Shanita Straw is the epitome of PERSISTENCE. She overcame many obstacles early in life within her family and in her academic studies, but through it all, she NEVER gave up her dream of becoming an Attorney. Just wait until you hear about her applications to law school!

Shanita learned how to be a woman of faith from her grandmother at an early age, which was ultimately the foundation she needed to navigate life's journey, realize the strength she needed to keep going and to discern what decisions would be best for her and her children.

Shanita discusses how she never let the unexpected, no matter how bad, deter her because she says, "life happens and it happens to everyone". "Life is not easy" she goes on to say, but you "have to have faith in yourself".

Tune in and listen as Shanita encourages those who are listening to trust God, be persistent, believe in yourself and to have people in your life who will tell you the truth. She says that she has learned that "delay is never deny" and to "trust the process".

Shanita gives the listeners some areas in life they definitely need to prepare for and how she can help them accomplish those needs.

Shanita is the founder of Golden Law, a general practice firm in Oak Park, Illinois. She practices in the areas of Real Estate, Probate/Estate Planning, Administration, Labor and Employment Law, Corporate and Business formation, Family Law and Bankruptcy.

Shanita is admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, United States District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District ofIllinois Eastern Division. She is also a member of the Federal Trial Bar. In addition to practicing law, Shanita is an adjunct professor with the City Colleges of Chicago where she teaches Sociology courses in the Social Science Department.

We will definitely need a part 2 with Shanita. Tune in for some inspiration!

Welcome back to Fearless, Inspired and Free, a weekly conversation with Dana Wright and the women she has been fortunate to connect with to discuss their life's journey, the great things they are doing, overcoming life's obstacles, navigating their work and personal businesses; becoming Fearless in their actions, Inspired to live authentically and Free to live a life they choose!

Fearless, Inspired and Free Podcast endeavors to build a community of learning, appreciation, encouragement, resilience, growth, acceptance, kindness and support!

This week Dana hosts and it is a solo conversation. After a week of high stress, anger and continued divide in the country, Dana wanted to take a moment of pause to allow for her guests to reflect and work through their grief, anger and feelings of anxiety. She talks about it being ok to be sad, but that ultimately the sadness does not define us. We must make space for grief and all of the feelings that come with it...not resist...but accept and work through it. 

Dana plays a healing and self-comforting clip she found on Instagram that got her through some tough times this past week on a page of a woman named @ElizaBoquin. Please tune into this episode and try this exercise as she plays it during her talk! 

Dana also discusses self-care and it's importance at different stages of life, but most importantly in the present day.

Dana has come to realize that "No" is a real word and she firmly believes it one of the most important words you can learn. Also, a lesson learned and one that has helped her is that what someone thinks of you is none of your business. Finally, she encourages all who are listening to remember that when things get tough, remember to tap into your support system of friends and family...and if not them then a counselor/mental health provider. Saying you need help and then getting that help is the best thing you can do to work towards healing and getting mentally healthy and strong. Ultimately Dana wants you to know you are loved!

This episode ends with a recap of her 5 past guests, Carmen Gercone, Carmen Teague, Tajuana Hill, Vanetta Roy and Nicole Jackson-Hopkins. She gives the community of listeners a few highlights of each episode and the nuggets and lessons each has to offer. Please go back and take a listen to those episodes. And then next week, you won't want to miss Attorney, Shanita Straw of Golden Law. What an amazing story of persistence!

At the episode's conclusion Dana gives the listening community 3 Affirmations to repeat and believe as we all make this journey through life and work to make it the best it can be...full of passion and purpose. 

Tune in today, subscribe, share and listen up!