It's incredible to witness how much can be done with so little.  Quinton Brown is the pastor of a small church on a side of town that is embattled by crime and poverty.  Along with a supportive wife and small band of congregants, Pastor Brown is making a major impact in the community.  He is taking the message of hope and love beyond the walls of his church to touch the lives of people that need it the most.  He has already developed one park with the plans for another already in the works.  The accolades and awards are adding up,  but the only reward that matters to this pastor is in seeing first hand the positive change in the lives of his church members and nearby residents.  Pastor Brown is proving that you can never underestimate the power of prayer and purpose.  With all of the pressure that comes with being not only a pastor, but family man and healthcare professional, I wanted to know how he balances it all.  In this podcast episode you will hear what it takes to manage his hectic life and keep his happy gauge on full.

Singing comes naturally to Juanita Williams.  She hails from a family whose legacy is rich in vocals and musicianship. She is a pastor's kid or PK as known in church circles.  Having her as a guest for the podcast was a delight.  She is as real and down to earth as they come.  She brings to her ministry an empathy that can only come from surviving personal pain.   Her career in gospel music has taken her from singing in her local church choir, to providing backing for many groups.  Her talent has now taken her from the background to the foreground.  She has recently released an incredible EP entitled "Expected Glory". You can download it right now on ITunes and Google Play.  If you are a gospel music lover, Juanita's voice will truly bless you. You will hear a snippet at the end of this podcast.  Now it's time to get to know Juanita, in her own words and her own voice.

When I was 19 years old, I too was a college student, but unlike Nathaniel I was just concentrating on getting by in my classes and my social life.  In all honesty, my priorities were not necessarily in that order.  Nathaniel Prather is a young man on a mission to help as many people as he can.  He has already helped to feed tens of thousands of hungry Americans in cities all across the country.  That's right, hungry Americans.  Millions of adults and children go to bed hungry every night and with no idea where their next meal is coming from.  The so-called booming economy hasn't touched every household, far from it.  Listen to this week's podcast and you will hear how Nathaniel is making a difference and get some ideas on ways you can help too.  We may not have to energy, expertise or time management that he possesses, but each of us can find something to do in our own communities to impact lives.  To donate to Nathaniel's effort to feed students in need, go to http://www.hoosiersagainsthunger.org.

It's a blessing to not look like what you have been through in life.  This is especially true of Lester Reed.  If you ever have the pleasure of encountering this gentle soul, you will not be able to guess the horrors he has experienced. The reason is that he does not allow those past troubles to define the man he is today.  Instead of dwelling on haunted memories of his childhood and early adult years, he will share an encouraging word and one of his amazing smiles.  Lester knows what it is like to overcome abuse and substance use issues.  He knows what the view from rock bottom looks like, but he also knows how to rise above it.  In an upcoming episode we will be defining and examining the concept of resilience, of which Lester is a perfect study.  I dare you to be able to listen to his inspirational story and not smile. Listening to him will drive the conviction of being a better person right through your heart.  As always, I would love for you to join this happy movement by subscribing to the podcast, liking our Facebook page and commenting and reviewing what we are doing. Thank you!

We are three weeks into the phenomenon that is Black Panther!  Wakanda forever!  I left  my local movie theater with the biggest grin on my face and an extra pep in my step.  To say I was proud of the beautiful melanin displayed in that film is an understatement.  In this week's episode I have a friend on as a guest and we discuss the cultural relevance of the movie.  Many people get to take for granted having positive images of themselves in film and television, but for African Americans this is a rare representation.  We are used to images of brown bodies seen as dangerous, unstable and something to be feared.  More often than not black men are seen as drug dealers, lazy, or thugs.  Black women are usually seen in subservient roles or as hyper-sexual vixens.  To be able to experience over two hours of a cinematic experience where absolutely none of those stereotypes existed was a dream come true.  Hollywood managed to get one right!  If you have not had a chance to see this film, I am not sure what you are waiting on.  This is not a "black" movie.  This is a movie with a super hero anyone can look up to.  It's clean and family friendly.  There is something for everyone to enjoy.  Share your experience and opinion of the film Black Panther on my Facebook page or on the website.

Dr. Akers concludes her discussion on how to love yourself.  Be prepared to laugh!  The phrase "Now That We Found Love" comes from an old school Heavy D record of the same name.  The song actually questions, now that we found love, what are we gonna do with it? First, listen to the episode, and then decide what you are going to do to love yourself better.  Once you begin to practice self love and self care, then you can reevaluate how well you are actually loving others.  So, now that you found love, what are you gonna do with it?  Do yourself a favor and do a You Tube search of that classic hit.  It will get you moving and grooving!  Be sure and check out the website this week and I will post a blog which list all of the points outlined by Dr. Akers in this three part series.  http://www.gethappywithj.com

Dr. MaryAnn Akers continues her exploration of self love in this podcast episode.  Last week we defined what it means to love yourself and determined the importance of self love.  This week Dr. Akers begins to outline the steps of loving yourself.  While you enjoy the podcast, ask yourself how many of her points do you practice on a regular basis? Self care takes practice.  Listen, laugh and learn now.

This episode is the first of a series dealing with loving oneself and self-care.  Dr. MaryAnn Akers will make you smile as she spins her warm stories and make you think as she challenges the traditional ideas of self-love.  Dr. Akers says that loving yourself takes daily practice.  As she outlines her 12+ step guide to loving yourself, share with us how many of these steps you practice and feel free to add your own ideas.  Nothing was off limits in this chat, so be prepared.  Just as I was preparing for this interview, I came across this quote from the great Quincy Jones, "The most important lesson in life is to know who you are and love who you are."  Listen now as class is in session!

The beautiful couple featured in this podcast are living proof that when it comes to love, age is nothing but a number.  The trials and tribulations that have made up their lives would leave many people with the conclusion of giving up on the very notion of love.  JoAnn lost her husband of 32 years about four years ago.  Walter has endured two difficult divorces.  Instead of being paralyzed by grief or bitter from divorce, these two decided to open their hearts once more and give love a chance.  It is their hope that by sharing their story, they will encourage others to not give up on the chance at a great relationship.  You never know when you might meet that perfect someone.  It's never too late for a new beginning, even when it comes to romance.  We would love to hear your love story.  Comment on the Get Happy With J Facebook page or at the website http://www.gethappywithj.com.

All during the month of February the podcast is featuring discussions about relationships.  In the first episode of the series I am talking to two girlfriends, one who is single and the other who is in a committed dating relationship.  The ladies chat about what they look for and expect from the men they want to date.  This is an unveiled conversation that will allow you to hear what women really talk about with their friends.  It's a fun and lively discourse on the state of dating in 2018.  Check it out and let us know what you think on the Get Happy with J Facebook page!

https://www.facebook.com/gethappywithj/