Heromakers Podcast

After too long of a hiatus, we are back for Season Three of the Heromakers Podcast! Here, Laurie and Ann talk about some things they learned and noticed in 2021, how kindness creativity is flourishing in some areas, and why friendship and networking are so important. Laurie also talks about the role of self-discovery and fun in heromaking and the two share a few analogies for all of us to consider as we enter 2022.

Special invitation: Laurie will be hosting a writer's retreat in May 2022 in the Midwest region of the U.S. More details to come later in January. 

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com.

You can watch this and other episodes of the podcast on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuVDFP8jEcv5bdhr8VLzXjA.

Like us and follow us today!

And share this episode with your friends.

Want to support this work we do?? We are on PATREON and would love if you would join our growing community! Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/heromakersmovement. 

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, we talk with Julie Anne Kelly, cancer survivor and co-founder of Haymakers for Hope, which gives everyday men and women the chance to fight back against cancer by training for and competing in charity boxing events to raise money and awareness. Here, we talk about Julie's own journey with a cancer diagnosis at age 22, how boxing was part of her healing journey, and how she merged the two. Building a community of "ass-kicking do-gooders," Julie and the team have helped trained hundreds of everyday people to pick up their boxing gloves for the sake of those they love who are suffering. 

We also talk about boxing--how to train for a match, and what to do if you freeze in competition. 

You can find Haymakers for Hope on IG @Haymakers4Hope and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/haymakers4hope. Their website is: http://haymakersforhope.org.

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com.

We are also on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuVDFP8jEcv5bdhr8VLzXjA.

Like us and follow us today!

And share this episode with your friends.

We are on PATREON and we would love if you would join our growing community! Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/heromakersmovement. 

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, we talk with Nicholas Kristock, founder of Fleece & Thank You, a non-profit focused on connecting people who want to make blankets for children in the hospital with the heroes who receive them. A former soccer player, Nicholas sought out different volunteer opportunities while not on the field and when his twin sister told him there weren't enough blankets for the children in the hospital where she served, he knew he had found his calling. 

In this episode, we talk about power of empathy and courage and why curiosity can lead us to remarkable places we may never have discovered. 

You can find Fleece & Thank You on IG @tfleeceandthankyou and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/fleecethankyou. Their website is: https://fleeceandthankyou.org.

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com.

We are also on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuVDFP8jEcv5bdhr8VLzXjA.

Like us and follow us today!

And share this episode with your friends.

We are on PATREON and we would love if you would join our growing community! Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/heromakersmovement. 

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, we talk with Ian Hockey, co-founder and executive director of Dylan's Wings of Change and the Wingman program. In December 2012, Ian's life changed forever when he lost his son, Dylan, in the Sandy Hook shooting. Here, Ian shares about those early moments, the butterfly effect, and why grief is powerful but love more so. Grief, Ian says, is love with nowhere to go.

In this episode, we  dive into some of the hero traits like authenticity, courage, and empathy, and talk about the incredible initiative Ian is leading to empower a generation and communities to embrace change and love and goodness for the sake of others. 

We invite you to support what Ian and his team are doing and to keep fighting for empathy and courage as we navigate these difficult times we are in. 

You can find Dylan's Wings of Change on IG @thewingmanprogram and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Dylanswingsofchange. Their website is: https://www.dylanswingsofchange.org.

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com.

We are also on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuVDFP8jEcv5bdhr8VLzXjA.

Like us and follow us today!

And share this episode with your friends.

We are now on PATREON and we would love if you would join our growing community! Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/heromakersmovement. 

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Katie Spotz, endurance athlete and clean water advocate. Katie has completed a number of significant physical fitness challenges--being the youngest person to row across the Atlantic Ocean (70 days, over 1 million strokes), biking across America, and being the first person to swim the Allegheny River to name just a few feats. She is currently working on a bike down the coast of Maine for H2O for Life. 

And if that's not enough, Katie is hoping to complete a trip around the world within the next two years.

Blending the "why" and the "how", Katie pushes herself for the sake of others, raising money and awareness to provide access to clean water around the world. 

In this episode, we talk about training for these events, the role of the mind in pushing ourselves, and why even though an event might be just for a day, an impact can last for a lifetime.

You can find Kate on IG @KatieSpotz and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/hellokatiespotz. Her website is: https://www.katiespotz.com.

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com.

We are also on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuVDFP8jEcv5bdhr8VLzXjA.

Like us and follow us today!

And share this episode with your friends.

We are now on PATREON and we would love if you would join our growing community! Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/heromakersmovement. 

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Dorris Walker-Taylor, Senior Ambassador of Thistle Farms. Here, she opens up about the painful incident of seeing her father murdered and how that led to a lifestyle of drugs and selling herself on the streets of Nashville. 

Dorris shares openly about her decades of feeling lost and alone and how the prayers of her mother and the love of a friend finally led her to safety. In her 50s, she finally found freedom, and with it, great joy. A newlywed, Dorris now goes around sharing her love of music, the love of God, and the important mission of Thistle Farms to help women who have been victimized. 

You can find Thistle Farms on IG @ThistleFarms and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ThistleFarms. The website is: https://thistlefarms.org.

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com.

We are also on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuVDFP8jEcv5bdhr8VLzXjA.

Like us and follow us today!

And share this episode with your friends.

We are now on PATREON and we would love if you would join our growing community! Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/heromakersmovement. 

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Darcy Olsen, founder and CEO of Gen Justice, which "works to mend the child protection system and bring a permanent end to innocent children enduring violence." A foster parent to 10 and now having adopted 4 children, as a single mom Darcy has thrown herself into caring for kids who are sometimes forgotten on both a micro and a macro scale. Gen Justice is committed to changing federal and state laws and allowing children to have a voice when they are being harmed and overlooked. 

In this episode we talk about how Darcy got involved in this important issue, the role of community and positivity in raising strong children, and how every person can get involved in giving a voice to the little voices who need it the most.  

You can find Gen Justice on IG @GenJustice and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/GenJustice/. The website is: https://www.genjustice.org.

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com.

We are also on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuVDFP8jEcv5bdhr8VLzXjA.

Like us and follow us today!

And share this episode with your friends.

We are now on PATREON and we would love if you would join our growing community! Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/heromakersmovement. 

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Dion Dawson, founder and visionary of Dion's Chicago Dream. Growing up in Englewood on the south side of Chicago, Dion later spent time in the Navy, serving as a journalist and communications specialist. When his time of service was up, Dion returned to his neighborhood in the hopes of helping the people there. 

In this episode, we talk about Dion's path to launching his Chicago dream (which was not at all easy) and about the work he is tirelessly pursuing to bring fresh food and unconditional love to those in his neighborhood. 

We loved this conversation and know you will as well. We invite you to check out what Dion and his "dream team" are doing and to partner with him. 

You can find Dion's Chicago Dream on IG @DionsChicagoDream and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/DionsChicagoDream. The website is: https://www.dionschicagodream.com. 

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com.

We are also on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuVDFP8jEcv5bdhr8VLzXjA.

Like us and follow us today!

And share this episode with your friends.

We are now on PATREON and we would love if you would join our growing community! Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/heromakersmovement. 

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Samantha Tan, a 23-year-old phenom who is setting the stage for a new generation of women in race car driving. At the age of 14, with the encouragement of her father, Samantha began her love for driving fast. Today, she owns her own race car team (ST Racing) and just won her first 24-hour race in Dubai. 

Here we talk about racing cars, what got her to where she is, and the obstacles she has faced along the way. Her encouragement to others? Don't let failure stop you, stay focused, and let your actions speak for themselves.

You can find Samantha on IG @Samanthaatan and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/samanthatanracing. Her racing website is: https://www.st-racing.org. 

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com. We are also on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuVDFP8jEcv5bdhr8VLzXjA.

Like us and follow us today!

And share this episode with your friends!

We are now on PATREON and we would love if you'd become a partner! Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/heromakersmovement. 

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with Mark White, founder of Run Grateful and Your Town, about the power of community and why we all need physical proximity even as we continue to communicate virtually. Mark shares his own journey of recovery and how those around him stood with him as he took his life back. 

We talk about fatherhood, finding your calling, and how to make time for gratitude in your daily routine. 

You can find Mark on IG @MarkWhite_0602 and Run Grateful @1gratefulrun. You can find Run Grateful on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/1gratefulrun.

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com.We are also on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuVDFP8jEcv5bdhr8VLzXjA.

Like us and follow us today!

And share this episode with your friends!

We are now on PATREON and we would love if you'd become a partner! Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/heromakersmovement.