Happy You're Here: A Podcast

On this week’s episode, we sit down with Rachel and hear her story. Rachel shared the following with us: 

“Just a 24-year-old woman and former collegiate athlete grooving to the internal beat of life and trying to find myself again. From Minnesota to Chicago, I’m still searching for a place to “settle down,” as my folks call it. My greatest accomplishment is keeping a daily journal for the past six years. Social media is my job. Writing, reading and music are my passions. I don’t have regrets. Coffee is a beautiful thing. Explorer. Soccer player. Wannabe guitarist. I enjoy bringing people together for the simple things in life like card games, listening to records, four square and a good bonfire."

Instagram: @huser_30

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelhuser2022?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Journalism portfolio: https://muckrack.com/rachel-huser

Make sure to stay connected with us on socials (@happyurherethepod) and leave us a review. If you have topic ideas, a question, or want to be a guest—head to the link in our bios on social media for more information. 

We are so happy you’re here!!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyurhere.substack.com

On this week's episode, I share a glimpse into my journey of faith. This episode is for EVERYONE..if you know God, don't know Him, or wherever you are in your walk. I share some valuable life lessons I have learned from my faith that can be applied across the board. take was resonates, leave what doesn't. Stay curious and open this week ;)

Stay connected with us on socials (@happyurherethepod) and leave us a review. If you have topic ideas, a question, or want to be a guest—head to the link in our bios on social media for more information. 

We are so happy you’re here!!!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyurhere.substack.com

On this week’s episode, we sit down with Brian and hear his story. Brian shared the following with us: 

My name is Brian Tinashe Shangwa. I am from Harare, Zimbabwe but live in Raleigh, NC. I came to the United States in 2011 and attended college here and have been doing project management for about 6 years now. I am very passionate about helping the community which has built up my vision of potentially starting an orphanage back home in my home country Zimbabwe shortly and being able to make an impact on the country I love and help the less fortunate in a way of giving back.

Make sure to stay connected with us on socials (@happyurherethepod) and leave us a review. If you have topic ideas, a question, or want to be a guest—head to the link in our bios on social media for more information. 

We are so happy you’re here!!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyurhere.substack.com

We relaunch the podcast on this week’s episode and share all the new updates! I am so excited to be back after a long break...and even more excited to continue building this community with you all! I even share a little glimpse into my fears around sharing my own personal story.

Make sure to stay connected with us on socials (@happyurherethepod) and leave us a review. If you have topic ideas, a question, or want to be a guest—head to the link in our bios on social media for more information. 

We are so happy you’re here!!!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyurhere.substack.com

Check out a special episode for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (TW: rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, mental health, and suicidal ideation)

Meet Ellie:

Ellie Villa-Wilson (she/her) currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts. She's worked in the postsecondary access and success industry for the past ten years and loves helping students and their families navigate all things college & career related. Ellie is passionate about advocating for social justice, human rights, and sexual & reproductive freedom. The month of April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, is particularly important to Ellie as a two-time survivor of sexual violence and exploitation. She believes in the importance of storytelling, vulnerability, and community building when it comes to overcoming adversity and trauma. As she shares her story publicly for the first time, Ellie hopes to spread awareness about sexual violence, uplift survivor voices/stories, and empower those around her to take an active approach to stop sexual exploitation. Ellie believes that knowledge is power and discussing topics that are often viewed as taboo or uncomfortable is necessary when it comes to creating & implementing change. 

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyurhere.substack.com

“I am Hailee B. Roye, and I am a Pre-K teacher. I graduated from Tennessee University with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and have been teaching for two years. I attend Vanderbilt University for my master’s in public policy, specifically educational policy. Outside of being a teacher and student, I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and the President of the NACWC Power Adult Club in Nashville, Tennessee. For fun, I love traveling to new places, eating delicious food, and hanging out with friends. My life motto is “explore discover, and grow while constantly giving grace and trying your best.”

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyurhere.substack.com

My name is Ashley Mielenhausen! I just got married in Jan 2022 and had a career change in August 2022! I have always wanted to work with kids in some aspect. I started with special needs kids in college and when I graduated from Western I took a break to be a stay at home to mom my son who was born just 3 days later! When I went back to work I went to work for the Davenport community school district. My first experience in a Davenport school was so much different from my small town of Wilton! I saw there was so much need for extra resources and the kids were needing help beyond academics. I had my second child just 2 years in and knew I wanted to be home with her but it was not possible at the time. I found a job at a daycare where she could come with me but I could still work. I did not at all feel like I was making a difference there but my priority was my kids. I planned to just be there until she began kindergarten but COVID ruined that for me. When school did not go back normal I had to stay longer because some of her days were spent in school and some at the daycare still. Seeing how greatly that effected her made me think of all the kids who I knew were truly falling between the cracks. When I was working at the school, sometimes we were the students only compliments of the day, their only meals and eyes to see abuse happening in the homes. Once school went back to normal I knew I wanted to do something different. I found my now dream job as a school based care coordinator at Family Resources, which is a nonprofit in Davenport. I get referrals from the schools assigned to me and I am able to reach out and help the parents with resources they need help with. It can be community resources or assistance being heard in their child’s school with IEP/504 plans, bullying and discipline. When there is an altercation in a one of high schools I have the opportunity to attend a mediation with the students and the school officials to help keep them out of suspension, which is great because in our community there are a lot of families who can not stay home when their child may be forced out of school for 3-5 days or longer. They also miss out on real instruction when they are home and that has proven to be a huge issue in the last couple of years. I help families get food, clothing, bill paying assistance and more! I feel so great helping the kids in my community. It is truly where my heart is. I also have an amazing employer! The way they treat the employees can not be matched. It feels so good to be apart of this organization. Another passion of mine is domestic violence awareness and my job allows me to help with that as well. We have advocates and therapists on site who specialize in that area and I am able to work with them and help in their processes as well.  I feel like I am making a real difference and can not wait to see myself grow with them.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyurhere.substack.com

Larenz Kristopher (He/They) is a 23-year-old newly up-and-coming media artist! He has a new lease on life and is looking forward to unlocking and mastering every level, he can, of this game, we call life on Earth. After spending the majority of his childhood in and out of hospitals suffering from Sickle Cell Anemia, his modern reality changed almost in an instant. When he received a life-changing Bone Marrow Transplant. Now, physically healthy, Larenz is on the path to becoming everything he was told he’d never be! This interview will serve as his reintroduction to the world, as the new and improved man that can’t be moved. Chasing his dreams while doing all the things he could only imagine as a child. Oh, he’s taking it! By stepping out on faith he knows he’s gonna go far!! Be on the lookout for his YouTube channel which will be published later this year.



Instagram: @LARENZtheMAN

Twitter: @LARENZtheMAN

YouTube: @LARENZtheMAN

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyurhere.substack.com

Cindy O’Neal, a proud 47-year-old, bi-racial woman who is the wife of a military veteran, mother of 6, and grandmother to 2.



She spends her days serving as a Speech-Language Pathologist, serving children with various communicative, cognitive, feeding and swallowing issues. She has been proudly involved with this work for nearly 20 years and has served individuals across the lifespan, helping to effect meaningful change in their lives and for those who support them.



Cindy is a proud member of LAUNCH, a nonprofit organization dedicated to early exposure to healthcare careers for children and adolescents, especially those in underserved communities, in hopes to inspire and ignite various passions. She also recently partnered with Brown Beauty Magic-Royal Events LLC, when her daughter joined their cast.



Cindy is passionate about de-stigmatizing mental health concerns across the lifespan, improving health literacy in underserved communities, supports NAMI and the American Heart Association. She has a soft spot for military families and combat veterans.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyurhere.substack.com

Meet Onesha Britton--“I am a Chicago native though I lived in Las Vegas for 4 1/2 years (10-2007 thru 08-2012). I am a non-traditional student, meaning I didn’t go straight to college after graduating high school. I am a first-generation graduate student, last person to graduate in my family was my deceased great-grandmother who passed away at 91 years young. Currently, I am a Mental Health Counselor at Loyola Hospital in the emergency department. I love what I do! I am also currently beginning my MCAT journey of preparing to take the MCAT to come Feb 23’! Long term goal is to be a pediatric psychiatrist! I love all things psych! Currently, I am working towards releasing my own podcast beginning of 2023."

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyurhere.substack.com