Story 35/100: Dr. Orletta Caldwell is joyfully ditching assumptions about what's next for her after earning a Ph.D in 2021. She decided to live beyond the expectations of others in order to embark on the most important "I'm Not Sure. But, It's Okay." season of her life. 

Episode Highlights:

1) How often family and societal expectations lead us on a different pathway than we have for ourselves.

2) Research findings on the historical and cultural impact of African American/Black women in nonprofit leadership.

3) Shifting perspectives around doubt, questions, therapy and wisdom.

4) Making time to rediscover parts of ourselves and early affinities.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Orletta Caldwell:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ocaldwell/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ocaldwell/?hl=en

Website: https://beyondexisting.com

Rate our Show. Learn more about our project at www.NotSureOkay.live

Story 34/100: Audra D Carson's commitment to leaving people and places better than she found them shines through in every aspect of her being. Audra’s love-in-action way of being is experienced through her work as Chief Beautification Strategist of Izzie, LLC, Environmental Justice and Sustainability Consultant, Tire Nerd, Mentor, hostess of the CommuniD podcast — and New Author. She’s always on brand and operating in purpose. We went deep into her journey to living better, learning daily, and leading boldly — all while Glorifying God … in this season of life.

Episode Highlights:

1. Meaningful spiritual, mentoring, and civic relationships

2. Origin story: family + legacy

3. Equitable development, Placemaking, Curriculum Development with Eastern Michigan University

4. Pingree Row Initiative in Detroit’s Northend Community

5. The evolution of Izzie, LLC

6. Audra’s new permeable rubberized turf product

7. Breath work, grief, forgiveness, humor — healing journey

8. New Book Release: Litter, Laughter, Lamenting

9. Inspirational tunes, CT (Cass Tech connections), and so much more.

🔗 Connect with Audra D. Carson:

IG | Facebook | LinkedIn

Izzie LLC ( IzzieLLC.com )

CommuniD Podcast

Rate our Show. Learn more about our project at www.NotSureOkay.live

Story 33/100: Geoffrey Ingram and I chatted about how he has evolved from the highly energetic 6th grader in the late 90’s — who finally had his chance to be in my math class (smile) into a husband, father of eight (plus one angel), certified coach, founder of the iCreate leadership and philanthropic global movement (Atlanta, Bahamas, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos) and author.

Episode Highlights:

1. Living holistically

2. Path forward to broaden his servant leadership (youth pastor; in college and small business communities)

3. Creating an entrepreneurship pipeline (birth to adulthood)

4. Life partnership with his wife of 16 years

5. Parenting journey, as a teen father through today

6. Personal growth and development

7. ISE life habit

8. The Power of One Leadership Playbook

9. How his children are creating

*”Am I Wrong” by NiKo and Vinz clip via YouTube. For inspo only. We do not own the rights to this music.

Connect with Geoffrey:

@thegeoffingram

IG | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

The Power of One Academy and Podcast | ICreate Studios | ICLD

www.icreateleadership.org

Rate our Show. Learn more about our project at www.NotSureOkay.live

Story 32/100: Crystal L. Gunn understands both the painful turbulence and amazing revelations that can occur when the life and business you designed caves in. Crystal came through it all --reminded of her own dopeness in God’s eyes; autonomy to attract and experience what she desires; and the amazing assignment of gathering and empowering women holistically.

Episode Highlights:

- Using her knowledge as a former Credit Union VP, Mortgage Company Owner, and personal faith walk to help realign the financial and emotional mindsets of women in our community

- Learning to be grateful for the valleys

- Remembering yourself before the failure

- AWN: Fight to End Period Poverty

- Survival mentality, burnout, and misperceptions about the need to walk alone

- Power of sharing your story (I co-signed in a major way here)

- No People Days...and much more

🔗 Connect with Crystal:

Crystal L Gunn

www.crystalized.faith 

Phone: 313-403-7765

FB: /crystalgunn.pageone 

IG: @crystal_l_gunn

Rate our Show. Learn more about our project at www.NotSureOkay.live

Story 31/100 features Tonia Wilson and LaCharmine Jefferson, co-hosts of the Conversations Between Widows podcast

Four years into their widowhood, Tonia and LaCharmine discuss their healing journey, and how they are leading boldly with raw and relevant topics to support each other as well as widows within their age group.

Their optimistic perspectives about navigating life as a solo act, declaring what you need, and parenting after loss are points we all should be mindful of when moving through and beyond major life changes — to live better.

I’m inspired by Tonia and LaCharmine’s transparent journey of rediscovering themselves in this season.

🌺Follow Tonia and LaCharmine’s Journey:

https://linktr.ee/betweenwidows

[Podcast, IG, ClubHouse, Blog]

Story 30/100 features Christopher Scott (nationally celebrated Millennial Engineer, Husband and Father) takes us back to his first acknowledgement of depression / anxiety in college through his journey of building a legacy with “positive thoughts solutions” today.

He is breaking generational cycles at home, at work, and in multiple college communities.

Listen in for the strategies and resources shared.

|•| Live in the Moment.

|•| Everything is Going to Be Okay

|•| Rejection Isn’t a “Bad Thing”

🔗 Connect with Chris:

IG: @bluesouldier // @im_blackand

FB: @imblackandbrand

Web: www.positivethoughtsolutions.com // www.imblackand.net

Story 29/100 features Sandra Epps (Creative, Artist, Detroit Doll Show Founder/Curator, Author, Lupus Thriver, Vegetarian, Legacy Builder)

🦋Sandy boldly and creatively leads a growing community of women and girls toward loving the skin they’re in — with Sandysland Entertainment products and experiences.

🦋 Listen in to hear how Sandy compares her entrepreneurial evolution to the 5 stages of butterflies she recently started growing — to prevent their extinction and contribute to our community sustainability.

🔗 Connect with Sandy

IG: @sandysland / @detroitdollshow

Web: www.sandyslandllc.com // www.detroitdollshow.com

Story 28/100 features Bobby Burton (Co-working community co-owner, IT mentor/advisor, Believer, proud Flint Native, and Husband)

Pivoting in Life and Business: With God + Like-minded Community — sums up how Bobby persevered through several moments of uncertainty.

Bobby and I chatted about ways that his chosen community of friends, faith, and trusting himself has positioned him to live better and lead boldly — personally and professionally. Catch a few of his favorite places to be and consume great eats around Detroit as well.

🔗 Connect with Bobby Burton:

[email protected] | www.SpaceLabDetroit.com

Story 27/100 features Curtis Smith (Husband, Father, Community Advocate/Housing Security Professional, Film/Documentary Producer)

Curt and I chatted about how his habits of gratitude, compassion, volunteerism, “meeting people where they are”, and rest has helped him to live better and give whole heartedly.

🌍Connect with Curt:

Check out the 9 Stacks the movie trailer

https://youtu.be/sJ3mlGjzVsg

IG: @curtissmith3762

Story 26/100 introduces the analogy of Flowing Like Water. Kelly Brittain (PhD, RN, Mom) — my Cass Tech High School classmate reflects on the habit she developed over the past 10 years to be fully present, embrace change, and live more purposefully.

We chatted about music (her Fav Ladies), faith, family, career trajectories, and soul stirring experiences.

So many wisdom bombs related to acknowledging and prioritizing SELF in order to serve, learn, live better — during life’s highest and lowest points.

Connect with Kelly

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-brittain-phd-rn-56093634

Follow Kelly’s endeavors with the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation. She’s expanding her mission of well-being from her heart —> home —> community.