HyperLocal(s)

This Malaysian beauty may not look like her neighbors within small town Homer. However, she is fully embedded in the community and close-knit culture of Midwest Americana. From mompreneur to marketing maven, Nicole has been more than busy. This summer she, and many others, have decided to take a step back and slow down.

 Listen as Nicole talks about looking different than her childhood classmates, how she handles the haters, growing a thriving online boutique business and a loyal community of women from the ground up, why our generation is scared to stop, slow down, lose followers, likes, momentum. Why do we feel guilty for not constantly producing, creating, pushing forward? Nicole also teases a new venture that has flexed her marketing muscles. Finally, Nicole talks about a miscarriage that made her dive deeper in her faith in order to cope, heal and grow.

Thank you so much for listening! However your podcast host of choice allows, please positively: rate, review, comment and give all the stars! Don’t forget to follow, subscribe, share and ring that notification bell so you know when the next episode drops!

Also, search and follow hyperlocalscu on all social media. If I forgot anything or you need me, visit my website at HyperLocalsCU.com. Byee.

A long-ago St. Louis area transplant now has roots deeply embedded in our community. She has seen first hand how coaches, schools, parents and the youth in our area can lift you up when you are down. Share a kind word. Spread a message. Keep one young man's name alive and well so that your biggest fear following the loss of a child isn't realized--that child being forgotten.

 Listen as Prudence talks about the tragic accident that caused her to lose her only son and first born exactly three years ago to the date of this podcast's release. She openly and honestly and bravely discusses developing unhealthy habits to pound down her pain, doing the work in therapy and developing healthy coping skills, Drew coming through dreams and earthly signs when she needed him to say, "I'm OK," realizing that she can do hard things--impossible things, that relationships come before to-do lists, how to console someone who is grieving in the most effective way and why she in no longer irritated when someone calls her strong. Resilient. Brave.

Thank you so much for listening! However your podcast host of choice allows, please positively: rate, review, comment and give all the stars! Don’t forget to follow, subscribe, share and ring that notification bell so you know when the next episode drops!

Also, search and follow hyperlocalscu on all social media. If I forgot anything or you need me, visit my website at HyperLocalsCU.com. Byee.

Blue Ridge School graduate, Retired Sergeant in the U.S. Army, stay-at-home dad turned Community Outreach Coordinator and Student Recruiter for the University of Illinois Chez Veterans Center tells his story of a post-September 11th war with humor and zero regrets.

 Listen as Garrett talks about 130-degree days in full body armor, marrying his now wife of 17-plus-years on a whim just days before deployment, trying to build relationships with Iraqis while never knowing a good guy from a bad guy with an AK-47 and how it wasn’t uncommon for women and children to literally become human bombs in the name of their religion. In a few months Garrett would see and experience more pain than most will see in a lifetime, yet he lives with no regrets. He lights up when he talks about coaching at area schools, his daughters and his wife, local attorney, Sami. He tears up when he talks about a fellow soldier and friend who could never recover from the injuries that Garrett sustained in an ambush—a severely broken jaw and a lost arm. His friend, Sonny, blamed himself to the point of no return. Through all this pain and remembrance, he still maintains a positive disposition as he recounts the way he always has to face the door at a restaurant in an effort to maintain vigilance. As Memorial Day approaches, think of Garrett and all other soldiers who fought for our freedoms—some returned forever changed and some never returned. 

Thank you so much for listening! However your podcast host of choice allows, please positively: rate, review, comment and give all the stars! Don’t forget to follow, subscribe, share and ring that notification bell so you know when the next episode drops!

Also, search and follow hyperlocalscu on all social media. If I forgot anything or you need me, visit my website at HyperLocalsCU.com. Byee.

This Champaign-based father and son (in-law) duo shares much more than business ventures. At the time of this recording, Dan and Greg were celebrating their 2nd year “kidneyversary.” When Greg’s kidneys were poisoned because of an undiagnosed prostate issue, family and friends around the globe stepped up to help in many ways.
 
  Listen as they retell the story of Greg’s dramatic health decline. A previously energetic and youthful Greg shares the moment things went down, literally, as he was dancing the Cha-Cha at a wedding and could not get up after “going down low.” From that point many diagnostic tests and complications would lead to complete kidney failure. His son-in-law would ultimately be a willing match for a kidney transplant. These entrepreneurs talk about the importance of faith, family, selflessness, fear of the unknown and putting your ultimate trust in a higher power.  You can hear the respect from Dan as he talks about protecting the patriarch of the family. You can hear the relief from Greg as his body and spirit continue to heal from months of poor health. When you are a mover and shaker and your energy is zapped, it’s hard to accept the change of pace. Both men show vulnerability and a true love of family in this story with a happy ending.

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 Please, please subscribe (so you know when new episodes drop) and share! Find at linktr.ee/hyperlocals_cu or wherever you find podcasts. Also, find the podcast on Facebook and Twitter at HyperLocals C-U Podcast. Need more, hyperlocalscu.com

Thank you so much for listening! However your podcast host of choice allows, please positively: rate, review, comment and give all the stars! Don’t forget to follow, subscribe, share and ring that notification bell so you know when the next episode drops!

Also, search and follow hyperlocalscu on all social media. If I forgot anything or you need me, visit my website at HyperLocalsCU.com. Byee.

This townie actually attended middle school and high school at the same time as me! Different paths never intersected our stories, however, until this interview. Larcina hasn’t had an easy road, but she has remained steady and consistent in her choices—putting food, shelter and her two children at the top of her priorities.
 
  Listen as this Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) talks about finding out she was pregnant in high school, never actually talking to her mom about the pregnancy, her obsessive budgeting, growing up too fast and getting behind in her studies—ultimately failing to graduate with her class. Years later, Larcina becomes pregnant with her second child. This time she has a devastating stillbirth. Later, she successfully gives birth to another child, a girl, leaving her with two children to raise on her own. Larcina prides herself on her children beating the odds as her oldest, Ray, is childfree and years older than she was when she had him. This mama worked hard to earn a CMA license while giving her kids a better life along the way. 

Thank you so much for listening! However your podcast host of choice allows, please positively: rate, review, comment and give all the stars! Don’t forget to follow, subscribe, share and ring that notification bell so you know when the next episode drops!

Also, search and follow hyperlocalscu on all social media. If I forgot anything or you need me, visit my website at HyperLocalsCU.com. Byee.

This Centennial grad chose to enlist in the military to gain discipline, direction and to see the world. He got much more than he bargained for after September 11th tested the defensive infrastructure of our nation. Thousands of men and women were sent overseas to fight in a war no one was anticipating or prepared for. 
 
 Listen as this United States Army Veteran talks about going from working at Bagelmen’s one day to being deployed to the Middle East the next, saying goodbye to his dad, his friends and all of his possessions except for a backpack. From training in the Wisconsin winters to 130-degree desert, Brian and his fellow soldiers were initially tasked with setting up a military base before a lot of the proper equipment was even in place—like bathrooms and showers. As the opposition became more organized and unpredictable, his company would escort supply vehicles on day long treks up and down dusty, sandy, treacherous roads. Saddam Hussein was captured during his stint, but this US victory was only the beginning of the battle where so many soldiers didn’t get to come home.

Thank you so much for listening! However your podcast host of choice allows, please positively: rate, review, comment and give all the stars! Don’t forget to follow, subscribe, share and ring that notification bell so you know when the next episode drops!

Also, search and follow hyperlocalscu on all social media. If I forgot anything or you need me, visit my website at HyperLocalsCU.com. Byee.

This Decatur diva moved to the big city of Champaign to accelerate her career in hair design. Tara found that her destructive behavior followed her no matter what her zip code was. She found and partied with “connects” after hours until the party had to stop.  After all, nothing changes if nothing changes. 
 
  Listen as this creative, dynamic, outspoken beacon of light explains why she always aspired to be a “drug dealers’ girlfriend,” what was happening at home that made her want to escape, getting shot at, dropping out of high school TWICE, saying goodbye to her love for the betterment of herself and lastly a DUI that forever changed her direction. Tara realized she had an allergy of the body and obsession of the mind to recover from. This realization led her away from darkness and into the light of faith and GRATITUDE. 

Thank you so much for listening! However your podcast host of choice allows, please positively: rate, review, comment and give all the stars! Don’t forget to follow, subscribe, share and ring that notification bell so you know when the next episode drops!

Also, search and follow hyperlocalscu on all social media. If I forgot anything or you need me, visit my website at HyperLocalsCU.com. Byee.

My husband returns from the FIRST podcast episode over a year ago to document in real time, rather than reflecting on the past, the latest challenge in his recovery story. 

 Listen as Andrew, fellow townie, shares the continuation of his battle to live a life free of substances. And not just any life. A life of peace, contentment and calm. As mentioned in the first episode with Andrew, pot has been a huge point of contention between us. His addiction to marijuana caused him to lie and keep secrets while creating an overall lack of trust on my side. Most recently, he has experienced symptoms of panic attacks and physical withdrawals. Weed always gave him something to look forward to, something to "relax him," "keep him creative" and ultimately keep him on the marijuana maintenance program--a dry drunk. California sober and high and dry. Find out what happens after I let go of his tether and hand him the reins of his addiction. 

Thank you so much for listening! However your podcast host of choice allows, please positively: rate, review, comment and give all the stars! Don’t forget to follow, subscribe, share and ring that notification bell so you know when the next episode drops!

Also, search and follow hyperlocalscu on all social media. If I forgot anything or you need me, visit my website at HyperLocalsCU.com. Byee.

This Southern Illinois transplant found her talents wasted as an accountant wanting a lucrative career. She turned her focus on education and coaching in order to empower tweens and teens (and their parents) who made need a lesson in confidence and realizing their self-worth.

 Listen as this author, coach, speaker and unapologetically authentic lipsticked, top-knotted mom, leaves us with these little pearls of wisdom each day on social media and all throughout this podcast. Erin created the backbone of her principles from the acronym: FIERCE. “Feel gratitude.” “I am statements (affirmations).” “Exercise (not just physical).” “Read (a quote each day).” “Create.” “Encourage.” By following Erin’s processes, you’ll be living a fiercer life. Erin schools me on: using a contract before allowing social media and a phone, overscheduling, establishing your family’s core values, mental health in your kids after the pandemic, talking about S-E-X, fighting back vs. walking away, car conversations, focusing on the difficulty of transitions, teaching the importance of listening to our bodies and finding a balance in the middle of pendulum parenting. Get ready to parent with a more purpose after this pod. Put her pearls into practice, and your life may get a whole lot easier!

Thank you so much for listening! However your podcast host of choice allows, please positively: rate, review, comment and give all the stars! Don’t forget to follow, subscribe, share and ring that notification bell so you know when the next episode drops!

Also, search and follow hyperlocalscu on all social media. If I forgot anything or you need me, visit my website at HyperLocalsCU.com. Byee.

This townie tried to escape when touring the country as a traveling nurse. Now married to a farmer, living in the country and mothering to a little boy and girl, she has planted her roots firmly in the Midwest while working as a nurse practitioner.
 
  Listen as this guest (and fellow Franklin Magnet Middle School Knight) reunite to explain how she made friends while moving rapidly from city-to-city in the world of health care. A slip in the grocery store and a mom’s intuition turned what Leah thought as an unsightly bump into a life changing mass with a 50 percent, 5-year survival rate. Leah shares how she was in the right place at the right time when a normally pediatric cancer aggressively took hold of her leg causing her to undergo surgery and treatment that would result in an adorable pixie cut and endless days without work and feeling down and out. In an emotional recollection, she remembers the countless people who reached out to wish her well. These moments, people and trinkets kept her afloat during the hardest days.  

Thank you so much for listening! However your podcast host of choice allows, please positively: rate, review, comment and give all the stars! Don’t forget to follow, subscribe, share and ring that notification bell so you know when the next episode drops!

Also, search and follow hyperlocalscu on all social media. If I forgot anything or you need me, visit my website at HyperLocalsCU.com. Byee.