Frankly Speaking with Tyra G

Legacy is about life and living. It's about learning from the past, living in the present, and building for the future.

A legacy can take countless shapes: children, grandchildren, a thriving business, a spark of an idea, a cherished book, a vibrant community, a welcoming home, or simply a fragment of our spirit. We are naturally drawn to the question of how the world will remember us. Will our legacy surprise us? Are we living in a way that truly honors what we hold closest to our hearts? Are we choosing integrity and courage each day?

The desire to leave a legacy is woven into our humanity. Some of us long for immortality, to leave something that endures long after we are gone. We yearn to matter, to ripple through the vast ocean of humanity.

The ties that bind our world are not made of molecules, but of stories, traditions, memories, hopes, and dreams. We are linked by the legacies handed to us by those before us, and by the ones we will one day leave behind.

Let my guest, poet, artist, educator, and creator of The Urban Legend Series, Mr. Paris White, inspire you. His talents are sure to bring a smile to your heart.

In 1977, the Muhammad Ali film introduced the world to “The Greatest Love of All,” a soulful anthem written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed and performed by George Benson. Its opening lines set a heartfelt stage for this week’s Frankly Speaking radio show: Were it not for Those Who Care.

“I believe that children are our future.

Teach them well and let them lead the way

Show them all the beauty they possess inside

Please give them a sense of pride to make it easier

Let the children’s laughter remind us of how we used to be.”

This vision is the childhood we dream of for every young person. Yet, the World Health Organization reveals a sobering truth: around 1 billion children worldwide, ages 2 to 17, have endured physical, mental, or sexual abuse in just the past year.

What time is it on the clock for our children’s safety, achievement, and happiness? How can we reach, teach, and love those children who are left out, left behind, and left over, so that what happens to them is different than who they were created to be? How can we help them discover and walk in their worthiness?

This week, we discovered a national nonprofit that is making a real difference. Girls on the Run (GOTR) empowers girls in grades three through eight, nurturing their social, emotional, physical, and behavioral strengths so they can thrive. Through a thoughtfully crafted curriculum, GOTR helps girls build competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and a spirit of contribution, all woven into lessons that blend running with life skills. Dedicated coaches, trained to inspire and guide, bring these lessons to life.

Ashleigh Conrad, Program Engagement Manager for GOTR Northern Virginia, shares the magic behind the girls, their coaches, the annual 5K, and the transformative impact that is resetting the clock on happiness for every girl in the program.

Tune in, let yourself be inspired, and help spread the word by sharing and subscribing.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girls_on_the_Run.

The recent challenging cultural and societal circumstances have forced my heart to turn to our future and ask the question, “What About the Children…and those who love them”. The children are both our future and our now. What they see us do, what they hear us say, shapes who they become.

To give the question a platform, Frankly Speaking, has been highlighting stories where young people speak for themselves through their testimonies, their gifts, conversations with peers, siblings, and parents. The outcome has created a dramatic landscape that is entertaining, creative, courageous, and inspiring.  I title these stories "Voices from the Future."  I have also included stories that inform the development of legacies and family traditions. This week’s podcast is one example.

I often say everyone has a story. I have expanded my thought as I grow in life's lessons that everyone is a story. But today, with me in the studio, is more than one story and more like a human library. A family, mother, father, and four of their children. Each a dynamic story, each with unique gifts, and together, WOW! Today showcases intergenerational love, spirit, and fun! It’s a family affair.

Frankly Speaking, enters the land of Script Hop 101… yes, I said Script Hop, not Hip Hop. Meet the Praise Warriors!

Click below and be inspired.

Meet Patrick.

"Patrick has autism and an intellectual disability. Until 2008, Patrick lived with his biological mother in Texas. She worked hard to ensure that Patrick had every opportunity to achieve his fullest potential. She socialized Patrick, taught him manners, and gave him basic skills. Sadly, after so many years of her life dedicated to the care and growth of her son, Patrick's mother was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Patrick's grandparents brought him to West Virginia following their daughter's untimely death. While they were in good health, they were elderly and began looking for housing and care options that would be in Patrick's best interest. His aunt became his legal guardian and the entire family came together to make sure he had a safe and happy place to live with caregivers who were specially trained to care for him based on his disability"1

This story is not always the case. Intellectual disability affects about 1% of the population, and of those, about 85% have a mild intellectual disability. Males are more likely than females to be diagnosed with intellectual disability. Our guest this evening is professionally, and emotionally dedicated to improving the quality of life for this population.

Listen, learn, and share.

https://sfcp.cedwvu.org/personal-stories/

No one told her she couldn't, so she lives in a world of possibilities. Student, musician, dancer, competitive athlete, and faith-based servant leader, Naomi Nero, a Gen Z member, decided to become a game-changer. Using her Master’s Honor thesis as her launch pad, she leaves the University of Chicago to continue her research in a five-year Doctorate Program at Georgetown University in Northern Virginia.

In this episode, Naomi unpacks her thesis Title: Psychopathy, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Violent Crime in Male and Female Inmates. Naomi helps us understand the impact of not considering gender differences when designing criminal justice rehabilitation programs.

Fueled by family and faith, one feels she believes she cannot fail. Naomi possesses a quality that is not earned or purchased, yet its value is irreplaceable — wonder. Listen to the end and be treated to one of her other gifts.

Get smarter.

Be inspired.

Share.

Looking back, in 1986, Whitney Houston sang a powerful, positive message about nurturing our children and believing in their potential, titled “The Greatest Love of All.”

“I believe that children are our future

Teach them well and let them lead the way

Show them all the beauty they possess inside

Please give them a sense of pride to make it easier

Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.”

That was then,

Today, the UN Secretary-General urgently reminds us of our duty to leave no child behind. We now face a new battle against a monster called human trafficking—a grave violation of human rights that preys on the most vulnerable among us, our children.

As we confront this crisis, it is shocking to realize that children make up one-third of all trafficking victims, enduring horrors that range from forced labor and sexual exploitation to being forced into armed conflict.

The rise of the digital age has only deepened this threat, giving traffickers new ways to reach and exploit young lives across the globe. The scars left behind—both seen and unseen—steal away childhoods and futures. In the United States alone, nearly 10,000 children are now trapped in the nightmare of commercial sexual exploitation, forced to endure unspeakable acts day after day. Meanwhile, the perpetrators often slip back into everyday life, escaping justice and leaving their victims in the shadows.

Against this backdrop, we are delighted to feature an educational perspective from our guest storyteller, Ms. Chloe Brackens, a current graduate student at George Mason University in Virginia.

Take action: Learn more, speak out, and support efforts to protect children from trafficking.

I can remember when an application was required for employment. A program was a TV show. Memory was something you lose with age, and a CD was a bank account.I love intergenerational conversations about the past and the present. Perhaps this is because I believe life is a process, not an event. It is a journey, not a destination. We also know that events shape values and behavior. Trends change over time.

This week, we feature another group in our "Voices from the Future" series. Our episode focuses on how Millennials' unique experiences—both inherited and self-created—have shaped their values, behaviors, and perspectives. Specifically, we explore how these influences inform Millennials’ approaches to technology, bullying, and social media in their daily lives.

Joining our conversation are three Millennials, young adults who began their adulthood in the 21st century. Often described as family-focused and achievement-minded, they value teamwork and seek fulfillment, sometimes changing roles to find it. Their openness to attention and new experiences shapes their approach to life and work.

In this episode, our guests discuss their views on technology, bullying, and social media. They share why they do not use voicemail. They discuss how perspectives on bullying have evolved. They also explain why they see social media as both valuable and risky. This discussion offers listeners insight into how Millennials navigate key issues today.

Don’t miss out—click below now to listen, learn, and join the conversation with these diverse, future-oriented voices.

I celebrate veterans and active-duty military who keep us safe, often at significant cost. War is part of human history. I aim to share diverse war stories, including their impact on families and cultural legacies, across age, gender, and racial lines.

The Vietnam War was my coming-of-age war. I was immersed in—and confused by—the war at home over US involvement, while grieving school friends who paid the ultimate price.

There were so many bold and untold stories. Today’s story, although historical, is also her story. We will hear about women who decided to make history instead of reading about it. The Voices of Women in Vietnam is a replay of a weekly National Public Radio show, 'With Good Reason.'

When I first heard about this show, I knew I had to share it with you. In their voices, wives, widows, nurses, and librarians tell how they removed their white lace gloves and struggled culturally, socially, intellectually, and physically to lay the foundation for ongoing gender-based challenges. Nurse Lan's voice remains vivid; she recounts cutting off her blood-soaked gloves in the sweltering monsoon heat, a visceral struggle that echoes through history, embodying the relentless determination of women against overwhelming odds.

Settle in with a cup of tea and listen to this story, told 30 years later, dedicated to women and future generations. I hope that by sharing these voices, we gain a deeper understanding of the long-lasting effects of war and the significance of women's experiences.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, then and now.

I don’t know if you have noticed in the past few years how many podcasts, self-help books, and talk shows have focused on surviving uncertainty, unrest, feelings of powerlessness, and sustaining and maintaining relationships.

The term self-care has increased its presence in our vernacular, rustling its importance, but only present in authentic conversations and relationships.  According to Google Trends, the number of searches for “self-care” has doubled since 2015.

 

The World Health Organization says that self-care is being mindful of your own needs, so you are better able to support the people you care about. When you take care of yourself and are not stressed, you are better able to meet the needs of others.

Seems simple enough right? Well not so much. You need to be intentional to be successful.

I recently stumbled upon one of the most refreshing, authentic, and vulnerable podcast conversations about self-care with a generational twist.

And you know I had to share!

Sit back, listen, learn, and be inspired.

Join a conversation about self-care as viewed through the lens of millennials. It is a rebroadcast of NPR’s On Being with Krista Tippett, featuring Writer and Teacher Alex Elle. I love the reflections of how self-care can be dressed in personal vulnerability yet accessorized by a servant’s heart to serve others.

Tell me what you think. [email protected]

We are living through uncertainty, civil unrest, unnatural disasters, global misadventures, and loss. This time forces us to face reality and recognize our own and our society's fragility. We must speak up for hope and reconsider what truly matters in our lives.

Getting through tough times means encouraging ourselves. Remember, we are constantly growing and changing. Even when we are still, we show love, help others, and support one another. We may feel caught between old habits and new possibilities. When you wonder, "Am I enough?" the answer is YES.

When we recognize our worth, we can achieve more than survival. We can thrive. We are powerful. When we use our power, we become the change. Impossible only describes the degree of difficulty.

My guest storyteller this week embraces his power and shares it with a servant heart. He shows leadership by guiding, influencing, and inspiring others toward common goals. He gives direction, encourages commitment, and builds a positive environment.

Meet Mr James Bierman, Fairfax County Supervisor, Dranesville District. Listen to his insights, learn from his experiences, and share what inspires you with others.