Overcomers Overcoming

Tyler Foley, a 17-year old aspiring stage and screen actor at the time of this reminiscent podcast, experienced a major medical anomaly on New Year's day 1997 when he awakened. Even after several diagnoses, medical technicians could not identify the cause of what he was experiencing. Symptomatically, he was experiencing something similar to palsy. While Tyler has largely recovered, as of this podcast, from the medical anomaly, you will learn how he overcame the mental challenge of possibly having to pivot to another career choice.

Anita Santoyo describes a part of her past life where she felt she could not express her true inner feelings candidly. Through a combination of life factors, she did not have the confidence to respond candidly to questions involving her inner feelings. Through a self-affirmation process and support from friends, she defined a life purpose through which she discovered her value and healthy confidence. Through this life discovery journey that will continue throughout her life, she developed a healthy self-confidence, resulting in several not-for-profit organizations.

Kawan Glover joins us for episode #4 and shares his life experience of finding and affirming life passion and purpose. This is a process that could require several years to affirm while enlisting a group of accountability partners who believe you in and want to help advance you and others. Your life goals and pursuits might, and likely will, change as you gain life experience. Life experience will change your perspective of various pursuits as it relates to personal value and fulfillment. Be willing to engage others who share your values and desire to advance others. Listen to Kawan's life experience and how he pivoted through various pursuits to find his life passion.

Anita Santoyo and Antoine White are at the inception of building an organization of those with shared values to provide a listening forum. This group is an adjunct to Evoke Purpose, Inc. This listening forum can help others overcome any life challenges. The primary (but not exclusive) focus on this group is teenagers. This group is apolitical and multi-ethnic to promote the greater good of those they serve. Those with a heart and passion to serve others can be considered to participate in this group.

Emiley Bargo is a relational person who had an emptiness that only Jesus could completely and permanently fill. We encourage everyone to listen to Episode 76 in conjunction with this episode to get a complete understanding of a father-daughter relationship and to know how Jesus fills our ultimate need for a covenant relationship. Emiley was six years old when her father, Steve Lane, was incarcerated. She knew, even at that young age, that her father loved her unconditionally. Jesus loves us unconditionally. We just need to accept the relationship He made available to us through His death on the cross.

After spending several years blaming "god" for many things that were not right in his life, Steve Lane found a new life in Christ. Steve learned that the "god" he blamed in early life was not the God of the Bible. After spending many years incarcerated for his alcohol addiction, he found a friend who invited him to church. Through his friend's persistence and friendship, Steve learned about the God of the Bible and what His Son did on the cross to pay for our sins. It is through that relationship that Steve found his life. Click here to see a video of Steve's story. Click here to view Steve's art.

Anita Santoyo is a successful person who overcame several life challenges. One of her greatest challenges was overcoming the thought of not having value because she did not fit a "stereotypical" life of college degrees, marriage, number of children, and several other images some people have of success. Anita has an entrepreneurial spirit in that she has ideas that meet other people's needs. As she explains, she sometimes reaches a low point in her thoughts because she is uncertain if she can make good on her ideas. However, she has learned that positive thoughts will overcome any negative thoughts.

Kawan Glover is an African-American who has experienced various forms of discrimination. He is confident enough to know who he is while striving to help others achieve their greatest potential. Kawan's remedy to most relational problems is to try to establish a meaningful dialogue. If possible, have that dialogue in-person to know and experience each other's facial expressions. Listen more than talk to understand the other person. Frequently, people will know your true intent for a genuine relation through the tone of your voice. Let your genuineness show.

Kawan Glover joins us for a second episode during his recovery from a third surgery to remove a cavernous malformation. He developed resiliency after a seven-year period that he describes as being latent in his youth. How can we be resilient to 1) Negative statements made to or about us, 2) Recovering from failures, 3) A dysfunctional upbringing, or 4) Failed relationships? Everyone's situation is unique. However, resilience has some common traits. Let's learn from Kawan.

Coach James Johnson is the defensive line coach for the Calvert High School football team. He came from a broken family in which his parents divorced when he was 12 years old. Raised in the "hood," he could have followed others to a life of drugs and other illicit activity on his street. However, his mother's values prevailed along with a teacher and his police officer football coach, who were all three instrumental in his life to instill values and courage. He is passing forward his life experiences with high school students and student-athletes.