Please note that this episode contains discussions of suicide

Francesca Reicherter is a mental health advocate as well as the Founder & President of Inspiring My Generation. This is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide education on mental health and suicide prevention. She is the author of “You Are Not Alone,” a workbook that helps you learn how to cope with your emotions. She is also the host of the podcast “Normalize The Conversation,” where she creates conversations with guests to educate and inspire people on mental health.

Francesca is someone people would describe as genuine, friendly, and caring. With that being said, Francesca was someone who strived to be the best. One example of her dedication was being able to graduate college in two years. Even as she strived to be the best, Francesca always struggled with the idea of if she was ever good enough. Another challenge Francesca had to deal with was loss of loss of family members. One of Francesca’s biggest role models and closest friends was her uncle. He helped Francesca when she attempted to take her own life. However, 27 days after that incident, Francesca lost her uncle to suicide. Just a few months before this, Francesca lost her grandfather. These difficult experiences led Francesca to go to therapy and also admitted into a psych ward. With the support of her family, she was able to recover and find herself again. The experiences Francesca had inspired her to create Inspiring My Generation. Since starting, Inspiring My Generation, she has sent more than 11,000 encouragement cards to people and remind them that they are important and valued. With Inspiring My Generation, she created her podcast “Normalize The Conversation” and has interviewed many people who are experts or passionate about mental health. With all of the things she is currently doing, Francesca makes a habit of checking in on herself every day. She also writes messages to herself to remember that she is capable of overcoming obstacles and doing great things.

In this episode, you will hear:

If you want to follow the “Oh My Curry Goodness” podcast, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube as well. Be sure to also follow the podcast on Instagram @theomcgpodcast for more information on guests, preview clips, and more!

If you want to follow Francesca Reicherter, be sure to follow her on Instagram @freicherter as well as Inspiring My Generation @inspringmygeneration!

You can also check out the website of Inspiring My Generation as well as her personal:

Inspiring My Generation: https://www.inspiringmygeneration.org

Personal: https://www.francescareicherter.com/

Dylan Gambardella is the Founder & CEO of Next Gen HQ, whose mission is to help young people unlock their potential regardless of a person’s background or socioeconomic status. This company uses AI-powered tools to help people as they go through the job process. Dylan is passionate about technology as he believes it is used solve problems happening around the world. He is also a keynote speaker who has spoken on more than 100 stages including a TEDx.

To Dylan, he looks at entrepreneurship as a way of helping people and making the world a better place. From a young age, Dylan learned the importance of giving back and this something he is doing today. With the support of his parents and teachers, Dylan went on to do incredible things, including being the high school valedictorian. Next Gen HQ was started by Dylan while he was a student at Duke University and until then, never had a job outside of his life. Despite creating a company that aims to help others unlock their potential, there were many difficult challenges that have made a Dylan a better person today.

In this episode, you will hear:

If you want to follow the “Oh My Curry Goodness” podcast, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube as well. Be sure to also follow the podcast on instagram @theomcgpodcast for more information on guests, preview clips, and more!

If you want to follow Dylan Gambardella, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dylangambardella as well as Next Gen HQ @nextgenhq!

For more information on how to follow Dylan Gambardella, check out his website and Next Gen HQ:

Personal Website: https://www.dylangambardella.com

Next Gen HQ: https://www.nextgenhq.com

Hunter Williams is a documentary filmmaker and digital content producer. His videos focus on unscripted storytelling and has worked with organizations like Coca-Cola and Hollister. He has also worked with people such as David Blaine and Charli D’Amelio. For his work in filmmaking, he was recognized as a Global Changemaker in 2018 and a finalist for IMDb’s New Filmmaker of the Year.

When Hunter was eight years old, he picked up a handycam and since then, started recording videos whenever he was able to. While there were other interests he found such as painting and drawing, he was not good at either of the two. He would make YouTube videos with his friends and learn about directors and their ways of filming. He was even in charge of taking photos for a wedding when he was 13 years old. He has also taken photos and videos that hold significance to him even after a period of time. Now as an adult, he is able to do filmmaking as a career. Despite his passion, there are still challenges Hunter faces whether personal challenges, financial challenges, or not getting support from other filmmakers. In addition to being a filmmaker, he is also an entrepreneur as the is the founder of Tudor Park Productions where they create video content for brands and individuals on social media. Filmmaking has helped Hunter get access to unique opportunities and work with incredible people. However, Hunter is still motivated to share authentic stories and treat people as human beings regardless of how popular they are.

In this episode, you will hear:

If you want to follow the “Oh My Curry Goodness” podcast, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube as well. Be sure to also follow the podcast on Instagram @theomcgpodcast for more information on guests, preview clips, and more!

If you want to follow Hunter Williams, be sure to follow him on Instagram @hntrwilliams!

You can also check out Hunter’s personal website as well:

Personal: https://www.hunterwilliams.net/

Fikayo Aderoju is the Founder & Executive Director of Project Impacting Lives, an organization that creates positive change in people who are facing homelessness in Canada. His organization has provided winter care packages as well as creating scholarship funds and distributing food to different communities. For his work with Project Impacting Lives, he became a recipient of this year’s Princess Diana Award. Despite all his success, Fikayo aims to keep inspiring people to make an impact in their communities. Fikayo has also done modeling but has not spent too much time in this field since working on Project Impacting Lives.

Fikayo was born in Nigeria before moving to Canada to continue his education. When Fikayo turned 20 years old, he wanted to find ways to help out his community. To do this, Fikayo decided to give clothes to people who were homeless. Unfortunately, the experience did not go well as the people did not want what Fikayo and his friends were giving. After doing research on homelessness, Fikayo tried again, this time listening to what people needed and making sure they got what they wanted. This was the start of Project Impacting Lives. Throughout his journey, he has credited his faith for helping him through difficult tests and shaping his perspective on life. While Fikayo has helped many people in his life by distributing foods and creating scholarships, he has received help from others in order to help him get to places. Fikayo also finds it important to be as best dressed as possible wherever he goes. With the combination of modeling and advice from his father, he aims to look good whether he is doing podcasts, attending events, or doing speeches. If you watch the video version of the podcast, you will see Fikayo showcasing his talent in fashion!

In this episode, you will hear:

If you want to follow the “Oh My Curry Goodness” podcast, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube as well. Be sure to also follow the podcast on instagram @theomcgpodcast for more information on guests, preview clips, and more!

If you want to follow Fikayo Aderoju, be sure to follow him on Instagram @fikayo_aderoju as well as Project Impacting Lives @projectimpactinglives.

You can also check out the website of Project Impacting Lives:

Project Impacting Lives: https://www.projectimpactinglives.org/

Joshua Gabriel Oluwaseyi is a Climate Change Activist and founder of LEARNBLUE, a youth-led nonprofit organization that raises awareness of global environmental issues and encourages young people to take action. In 2019, Joshua was recognized as one of the most influential young leaders in Nigeria, and in 2021, he was honored in Teen Vogue’s 21 Under 21 Young People Shaping Tomorrow.

In 2018, Joshua was impacted by allergies due to air pollutants from smoke and dust. When he learned that in the year before more than 100,000 people had died in Nigeria from air pollution-related causes, it inspired him to get involved in raising awareness about Climate Change. Despite being involved in this field of activism, Joshua has lost a lot of friends and acquaintances because many believe that Climate Change is a lie. Since founding LEARNBLUE in 2019, he has spoken at many events around the world talking about the issue of Climate Change. Even though it can be mentally draining, Joshua remains committed to his why.   

In this episode, you will hear:

If you want to follow Joshua Gabriel Oluwaseyi, be sure to follow him on Instagram @joshgseyi as well as his nonprofit LEARNBLUE @learnblueglobal.

You can also check out LEARNBLUE’s website:

Website: https://learnblue.org.ng/ 

This week is the first time I talk to two guests! I am speaking with Joseph and Monica Blanco. Both of whom are a part of FilExcellence which is a nonprofit charity organization that aims to empower the Filipino Community. In addition, they are getting ready to launch their own podcast “Opo Podcast” which discusses the impact Filipinos have had in this world and educate people about their way of living. Both are proud of their identity, but want to do more to honor their ancestors and others before them.

Joseph Blanco is the Director of Special Projects for FilExcellence. Aside from being involved with FilExcellence, Joseph is also involved in tech and engineering as he studied electrical computer engineering in college. Given his talent in math and science, Joseph felt this was the best fit for him.

Monica Blanco is a personal trainer and content creator. She is the Vice President of FilExcellence. She has posted many videos on her Instagram that dive into topics such as fitness, her journey to connecting with her Filipino identity, and self-care. Her content has been viewed by thousands of people.

In this episode, you will hear:

If you want to follow the “Oh My Curry Goodness” podcast, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube as well. Be sure to also follow the podcast on instagram @theomcgpodcast for more information on guests, preview clips, and more!

If you want to follow Joseph and Monica Blanco, be sure to follow them on Instagram @jtablanco and @asapmonny!

Be sure to check out the website of FilExcellence as well:

Filexcellence: https://www.filexcellence.com/

Please note that this episode contains discussions of sexual assault and domestic violence. Some audio issues were present.

Kaylyn Ahn is a student at Northwestern University and is a sexual assault survivor who has used her platform to advocate for victims of sexual assault. She currently serves on the Illinois Council on Women & Girls, advising Governor Pritzker and the State’s General Assembly on issues that affect women and girls. She has also advocated for colleges to help improve students’ well-being on campus. With her advocacy work, she has been named one of GLAAD’s 20 Under 20 LGBTQ+ changemakers. In addition to her advocacy, she is passionate about poetry which still plays a meaningful role in her life.

In July of 2021, Kaylyn experienced sexual assault. Three months after it happened, Kaylyn made a police report and pressed charges a week later. Unfortunately, the police sergeant said that no one would support this case. This led her to speak to legislators in the State to help her and others who were victims of sexual assault. After testifying in front of the Illinois House and Senate, she helped pass House Bill 5441 to change the definition of consent. She also had other challenges such as leaving her home in the same year as she was a victim of domestic violence. Recently, she has called for Universities such as Northwestern to help students after her personal experiences. During that time, Kaylyn was a Conference Student (similar to a Research Assistant) which meant she had to work a lot of hours. She was also part of Emerging Scholars, a program for first-generation low-income students, took part in breakfast tutoring, and worked at Mudd Library. She did all of this for her to pay for her apartment as well as pay for her tuition. Throughout her journey, Kaylyn credits her friends and her community for helping her get through difficult times. This has inspired her to advocate for others and raise awareness about important issues affecting people.

In this episode, you will hear:

If you want to follow the “Oh My Curry Goodness” podcast, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube as well. Be sure to also follow the podcast on Instagram @theomcgpodcast for more information on guests, preview clips, and more!

If you want to follow Kaylyn Ahn, be sure to follow her on Instagram @kaylynahn!

There was one question Hamza asked Kaylyn: When it comes to making decisions, does she listen to her heart, mind, or gut the most? Hamza referenced Jay Shetty who hosts the podcast called On Purpose where he asks President Joe Biden the same question. If you are interested in checking out Jay Shetty’s episode with President Joe Biden check out the link below:

Jay Shetty’s episode with President Joe Biden: ⁠https://spotify.link/IBLVfenC4Cb⁠

Please note this episode contains discussions of anxiety.

Alyx Ang is a mental health advocate and content creator. In May of 2022, Alyx was invited to the Mental Health Youth Action Forum at the White House as one of 30 mental health advocates and content creators. Her content on instagram focuses on topics such as relationships, anxiety, and careers, and has been viewed by thousands. She is also the host of “a is for anxious,” a podcast where each episode will focus on an anxiety that Alyx or her guests have experienced. Each episode will highlight a new letter of the alphabet.

Before being involved in mental health advocacy, Alyx was creating content where she would review books and share her thoughts on in the internet. It was not until she attended the Mental Health Youth Action Forum at the White House where she met Selena Gomez and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murphy that she found her interest in mental health. This inspired her to create the podcast “a is for anxious.” When Alyx first started her podcast, she was nervous about having discussions about anxiety. For one, she is diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder as well as Social Anxiety. However, after discussions with each guest, she is grateful to have those discussions in order to better understand how people describe their relationship with something they are anxious about.

In this episode, you will hear:

If you want to follow the “Oh My Curry Goodness” podcast, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube as well. Be sure to also follow the podcast on Instagram @theomcgpodcast for more information on guests, preview clips, and more!

If you want to follow Alyx Ang, be sure to follow her on Instagram @alyxandriaang as well as “a is for anxious” @aisforanxiouspod!

Micah Dawanyi is a nationally licensed soccer coach and author of two books. His first book, “Step Into My Shoes: Memoirs From the Other Side of America” is a series of memoirs focusing on social injustice while his second book, “Battle Scars & Blossoms”  explores themes of grief and mental health awareness (Description of book comes from Medium Article With Link Below).

Growing up, Micah wanted to become a professional soccer player. However, at 15, he was forced to give up soccer after injuries and a life-threatening heart condition. This led to Micah being a coach which allowed him to help players from underfunded and marginalized communities. When transitioning from athletics to creative writing, it took Micah time to figure out how to express his creativity knowing that art is not objective but subjective. After Micah published his first book, it motivated him to become more involved. He uses his work to raise awareness on issues such as social justice and mental health. His goal when it comes to creativity is to share stories that can make an impact on communities and start conversations about creating change.

In this episode, you will hear:

If you want to follow the “Oh My Curry Goodness” podcast, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the podcast on YouTube as well. Be sure to also follow the podcast on Instagram @theomcgpodcast for more information on guests, preview clips, and more!

If you want to follow Micah Dawanyi, be sure to follow him on Instagram @micahdawanyi!

This is the link where information to describe “Battle Scars & Blossoms” on podcast description was found: https://medium.com/@threeand10/an-author-interview-with-micah-dawanyi-43a34182fe8c

Fatimata Cham is a Human Rights Advocate and poet. In the past, she has used her platform to raise awareness about issues such as environmental injustice, racism, Islamophobia, and gender inequality. Her work in poetry has allowed her to connect with different individuals and organizations. In 2022, Fatimata landed a spot in the Apple TV Series “Dear…” which shows notable figures reading letters by people who were inspired by their journey. Fatimata wants to continue using poetry as a way to help people and hopes to bring them together to combat issues that are affecting marginalized communities.

Originally from New York City, Fatimata was around people who looked like her but after moving to New Hampshire for boarding school she was surrounded by people from different backgrounds. This experience allowed her to understand different perspectives and learn about different cultures as well as inspiring her passion for community. Fatimata’s journey with poetry started in middle school. While not passionate at first, she started becoming interested after doing one on mental health. Her presentation was liked by her classmates and gave her the realization that she can do this. At the time, Fatimata had interest in other areas such as STEM and still does to this day but has been involved with poetry and activism more often. When Fatimata creates poetry, she does it based on feelings or emotions. This is done in order to connect with her audience on a personal level. While she enjoys doing poetry, it has also been difficult for her as she has struggled with overthinking and verbal attacks. Even with these issues, Fatimata credits the support of her friends and family who have allowed her to keep pursuing poetry and activism. She hopes to one day hold a position in Public Office so that she can continue to advocate for her community.

In this episode, you will hear:

If you want to follow the “Oh My Curry Goodness” podcast, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube as well. Be sure to also follow the podcast on Instagram @theomcgpodcast for more information on guests, preview clips, and more!

If you want to follow Fatimata Cham be sure to follow her on Instagram @fatimatacham__!