I asked my friend, my mentor, my 'big brother' Fred to humor me in 2020, by allowing me to have him on my podcast. I affectionately called him "Boss", and per usual, he was willing and excited to encourage my creative, storytelling nonsense. He knew this would go live online. A few months before he died I mentioned that I still hadn't edited the episode. "What's to edit?"So. I share this with you.Fred, I am grateful we stayed in touch until the end, but I would have liked to come and see you ...

JUST SAY IT – S01 E23 - Esther Pearl, PIXAR Studios, and reel-stories.com*FINAL EPISODE OF SEASON ONE *Esther Pearl is the founder and Executive Director of Reel Stories. She received her Bachelor’s in Visual Arts from the University of California, San Diego and her M.B.A. in Sustainable Management from The Presidio Graduate School. She spent 15 years working in Production Management in the entertainment industry. The majority of Esther’s film career was spent at Pixar Animation Studios where...

JUST SAY IT – S01 E22 - Rene Howitt & COPE24, Changing Our Parenting ExperienceRene Howitt is the founder of a non-profit child advocacy organization COPE24…Changing Our Parenting Experience. She is also an appointed member of Missouri’s Task Force on Children’s Justice and the Critical Event Review committees. She has authored two books:Whose Best InterestFosterhoodCo-Authored a Bible study:Family. It’s Complicated. A Bible Study of Adverse childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Genesis. She is...

JUST SAY IT – S01 E21 - Troy Williams and the film "The Prison Within"*Trigger Warning - difficult topics discussed**EXPLICIT LANGUAGE*JUST SAY IT podcast with host and author, Jen SluMac: Seeking Beloved Community through stories, conversations and questions. Learn more at her website.Interview Recorded: August 24, 2020Troy Williams was released on October 29th, 2014 after serving 18 years of a life sentence in San Quentin State Prison. One of the most notable parts about his incarceration i...

JUST SAY IT – S01 E20 - Charlie - She escaped a forced marriage. Survivor, Sister & Artist *Trigger Warning - difficult topics discussed**EXPLICIT LANGUAGE*JUST SAY IT podcast with host and author, Jen SluMac: Seeking Beloved Community through stories, conversations and questions. Learn more at her website.Interview Recorded: September 28, 2020Charlie Lewin is an artist and songwriter living in London, UK. She escaped the expectations she was born into just two days before she would be fo...

JUST SAY IT – S01 E19 - Michelle Ashe, 42 year old African American Woman*Trigger Warning - difficult topics discussed**EXPLICIT LANGUAGE*JUST SAY IT podcast with host and author, Jen SluMac: Seeking Beloved Community through stories, conversations and questions. Learn more at her website.Interview Recorded: June 16, 2020Michelle Ashe "I am a 42 year-old African American Woman - Daughter of a beautiful, beautiful, amazing woman. From what she hears, a pretty awesome, cool father. I pride myse...

JUST SAY IT – S01 E18 - Ginny Berson, Activist, Olivia Records & Racial JusticeJUST SAY IT podcast with host and author, Jen SluMac: Seeking Beloved Community through stories, conversations and questions. Learn more at her website.Interview Recorded: June 6, 2020Ginny Z Berson has been a social justice activist her whole life, and is thrilled to be alive at this time of social change. She is Director of Outreach for World Trust Educational Services; a co-founder of Neighbors for Rac...

JUST SAY IT – S01 E17 - Diatra Simpson, Chains are Meant to be BrokenJUST SAY IT podcast with host and author, Jen SluMac: Seeking Beloved Community through stories, conversations and questions. Learn more at her website.About Diatra: Diatra is the founder of DLS Inspirations, LLC and author of the all inspiring book Chains Are Meant To Be Broken: A Preparation For Mental and Emotional Healing. She is a Change Agent who inspires and empowers others in their transformation process through trai...

JUST SAY IT – S01 E16 - Kim Boardman, Educating our YouthJUST SAY IT podcast with host and author, Jen SluMac: Seeking Beloved Community through stories, conversations and questions. Learn more at her website.Kim says: After 32 years as a middle school science teacher, I have a few thoughts, opinions and ideas about the job and how teachers and students touch each other's lives.About Jen SluMac: Jen SluMac is a hope dealer, living a life that aims to make the world beautiful and just for all....

JUST SAY IT - S01 E15 - Charles Ryan, Reentry Mentor & MoreJUST SAY IT podcast with host and author, Jen SluMac: Seeking Beloved Community through stories, conversations and questions. Learn more at her website.This conversation took place around 2018. I met Charles through work we were both doing at a company called Five Keys Charter Schools. We went into the jails and prisons to serve as teachers and mentors. I loved this mans heart immediately, and his story is a story the world needs ...