Heromakers Podcast

In this episode of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann talk with retired Oklahoma City firefighter Chris Fields. Best known around the world for his role in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, where he was featured in the iconic photo  carrying 1-year-old Baylee Almon, Chris served for 31 years before retiring to now be a mentor and guide for other first responders dealing with trauma.

In this conversation, we talk about what it takes to be a firefighter and the (sometimes silent) toll it can sometimes take on those serving. We also talk about Chris' journey with PTSD and depression, which led down a suicidal path where he hit rock bottom. There he discovered the strength to find help and hope. Chris candidly opens up about his own journey and today leads a weekly webinar called Trauma Behind the Badge with three other first responders who serve as guides for those who are silently suffering.

You can find Chris on IG @FF4OU. You can visit his website here: https://www.chrisfields.org. You can find Trauma Behind the Badge on IG @trauma_behind_the_badge and on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/traumabehindthebadge.

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.

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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 Kellie Haddock, a Christian singer-songwriter who has an incredible story of hope.

Losing her husband in a car accident while also having her baby's life saved, Kellie has lived through tragedy and found hope and joy on the other side. Through that horrific event, however, Kellie has learned much about hope and life, and 10 years after the accident, Kellie's story was documented in The Thank You Project, a short film in which she seeks out the doctors and nurses who helped save the life of her baby. The Thank You Project has attracted more than 150 million views and has been featured on The TODAY Show, The Huffington Post, and Cosmopolitan among other national and international media outlets. 

Here we talk about hope in the midst of pain and how the love of God compels her to keep speaking hope to a weary world. Kellie shares about the power of music to express hidden things and to allow us to grieve and to find joy. Not shying away from her faith, she shares how her music speaks life into those of all backgrounds and why love conquers all.

You'll walk away inspired to press into grief in order to find hope on the other side.

Kellie is releasing a new single, "Even When," which drops February 26. You can pre-save it here: https://show.co/gUppA2E.

You can find Kellie on IG @KellieHaddockMusic and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/kelliehaddockofficial. You can visit her website here: https://www.kelliehaddock.com, where you can find links to all of her music.

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

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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 Teresa Goines, the founder of Old Skool Cafe, a faith-based, violence prevention program that provides job training, employment, and a second chance by way of a 1920’s speakeasy, jazz restaurant run by at-risk, formerly incarcerated, and foster care youth.

As a youth, Teresa grew up taking care of her father and learning how to be a caretaker and notice those on the margins of society. As a juvenile detention officer, she developed a deep compassion and empathy for young adults who come from difficult backgrounds. 

When she began to dream about how to help kids in these situations, she envisioned what would later become Old Skool Cafe. 

In this episode, we talk about "bringing out the gold" in others, why hope is so powerful, and how even her restaurant embraces the diversity of a variety of backgrounds. You'll walk away excited about the possibilities of putting passion and business together, and will truly believe that no dream is too big if we keep at it.

You can find Teresa on IG @Teresa_Goines and Old Skool Cafe @OldSkoolCafe. You can find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/oldskoolcafe. You can visit their website here: https://www.oldskoolcafe.org. 

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com. 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 Nick Skytland and Ali Llewellyn about working at NASA, finding your calling, helping others to dream big, and of course, their new book, What Comes Next?: Shaping the Future in an Ever-Changing World - A Guide for Christian Leaders.

Nick is an author, consultant, technologist, innovator, and triathlete. He is cofounder, along with Ali, of Quite Uncommon, a strategy and consulting firm that helps ministry leaders navigate the future. He also works at NASA in the Exploration Technology Office helping usher in the future of human space exploration. His technical and leadership experience has helped him build high performing teams and pioneer new ways of doing business in both government and industry for over two decades. He has trained astronauts, designed next-generation spacesuits, developed open source technology, led missional movements, and created some of the largest purpose-driven collaborations in history.

Ali is co-founder of Quite Uncommon and is a strategist and collaboration leader at NASA, currently directing the 1958 Coworking Space at the Johnson Space Center. She has more than two decades of cross-sector experience in growing effective teams and building engaged communities with resiliency and foresight - including for some of the largest hackathons in the world. 

We talk about their journeys to both NASA and launching a consulting firm as well as the importance of sharing what you know and pouring into other people. 

You can find Nick on IG @Skytland and Ali @adllewellyn. You can visit their website here: http://quiteuncommon.com or here: https://futuresframework.com. 

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com. 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 Aalia Lanius, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Unsugercoated Media, which seeks to help survivors of trauma through media and works of art that address the critical issues facing society today. As a survivor of homelessness, domestic violence, and cancer, Aalia shares openly about what got her through those times and how the power of self love can have a tremendous impact on our lives and those around us. 

Here we discuss what it means to have vision and passion, and why it's never too late to discover your next life-giving mission. Aalia shares her vision of a world which breaks down prejudice and offers everyone the opportunity to authentically tell their story. We hope you walk away feel as though you are here for a reason and that the possibilities are endless as to how you will love our world well.

You can find Aalia on IG @Aalia_Unsugarcoated or on FB at https://www.facebook.com/unsugarcoatedmedia. You can visit her website here: https://unsugarcoatedmedia.com. 

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com. 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 kick off Season 2 with a fun and engaging conversation about joy, diversity, dance, and it's like to live way up in the Yukon, the land of the midnight sun. Gurdeep Pandher travels the world (and now via Zoom) to teach the lively and joyful dance called Bhangra, which was developed by rural Sikh farmers in India.

We talk about his journey from India to becoming a Canadian citizen and the lessons he's learned about people and cultures from his time traveling throughout Canada. Gurdeep believes deeply in the power of getting to know those different than ourselves and the power of joy to change how we see the world. He touches upon his Sikh heritage and how he has captured the hearts of so many--from rural communities to major cities. 

You can find Gurdeep on IG @GurdeepPandher or on FB at https://www.facebook.com/GurdeepPandher. You can visit their website here: https://gurdeep.ca. 

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com. 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 wrap up Season 1 of the Heromakers Podcast with an incredible conversation with Col. Jim McDonough (USA, Ret.), Executive Director of Headstrong, an organization dedicated to healing the hidden wounds of war among our active duty military, veterans, and their families. Jim shares lessons he learned from his 26 years of active duty along with other positions he has held in civilian and non-profit sectors. Jim was previously Director of Veteran Affairs for the state of New York. You can find his bio here: https://getheadstrong.org/jim-mcdonough.

Jim talks about his time overseas and those who impacted him the most, lessons he learned about working with others and leadership, and the power of vulnerability and failure in becoming a better leader. 

We talk honestly about suffering in silence and about the power of breaking silence to find healing. Grab a notebook for this episode as you will find lots of great takeaways about everything from selfless servanthood to the difference between being a supervisor and being a leader. 

You can find Headstrong on IG @GetHeadstrong or on FB at https://www.facebook.com/HeadstrongProject. You can visit their website here: https://getheadstrong.org. 

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

Wow! We made it to 27 episodes--and have had a great time doing so.

Nearly four months into the launch of the Heromakers Podcast, Laurie and Ann discuss memorable moments and walk through each heromaking trait and share which episode highlighted each so well. 

We want to thank all of our listeners for making the first months of the podcast so fun, and for all of our guests, who shared with vulnerability and authenticity their own stories so that others could be encouraged and moved to openly consider how they too have an indelible place in our world. 

As we wrap up Season 1 of the Heromakers Podcast, we want to hear from you! Message us on IG or FB or shoot us an email. What have you loved? Who do you want us to interview? Season 2 is coming soon - and we know you will love it. 

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com. 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 have a lively conversation with Darrion Cockrell, a PE teacher from the St. Louis area who recently was named "Missouri Educator of the Year." The three talk about Darrion growing up bouncing from foster home to foster home until he found a couple of people who went above and beyond to care for him. Darrion credits his middle school coach (and surrogate "dad") to allowing him to believe in himself and to dream big. 

Darrion shares honestly about his history, why we should all consider ways to go beyond the call of duty, and his hysterical journey to finding out he was named the state's educator of the year. 

You will walk away smiling, with a deeper appreciate for our teachers, and with a renewed step to invest in the lives of those around you. 

You can find Darrion on IG @DarrionC20 or on FB at https://www.facebook.com/DarrionDC20Cockrell. 

Heromakers can be found on IG @heromakersmovement and on FB @heromakersmovement. You can also visit our website at: https://www.heromakersmovement.com. 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 Jay Shifman, author, speaker, podcast host, and founder of Choose Your Struggle. As we bear down on 10 months of Covid-19 shaking up our lives, Jay talks about his own struggle with depression and anxiety and attempted suicide. We discuss the all-too-common problem of substance misuse and how good things can go bad quickly. Jay has been sharing his story for years in an effort to educate others on how to care for and advocate for yourself when being diagnosed with a mental health illness. 

Jay's own story is powerful and speaks to the importance of family, self-care, and mindfulness as ways to pick a "struggle" that is worth fighting for. Oh, and Jay tells us why the term "struggle" isn't always bad.

You can find Jay on IG @JayShifman or on FB at https://www.facebook.com/ChooseYourStruggle. You can visit his website here: https://www.jayshifman.com.

List of resources from the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community: https://www.westernmassrlc.org/helpful-links-to-other-websites.

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

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