Erik Douds and I met while studying abroad in Denmark. It was a long time ago, but even then he seemed on a mission. Having been diagnosed with diabetes at a young age, he was really drawn to help others like himself who suffer from this. But not to help in the traditional sense, the one that takes pity on those who have to work a little bit harder in life, but instead he wants to turn diabetics into DIABADASSES, but it's not enough for him to just talk about it, write about it, or to just create an online community about this (all of which he has done, I might add) but after being compelled by those in his online community to go out into the world to spread his message. He packed up his bike and did an entire year of travel around the US and Canada connecting with other Type 1's, friends, family, and strangers to share his story and experience and to empower those around him.

If it isn't obvious from our discussion, Erik is an incredibly charismatic and energetic guy. It therefore should be completely unsurprising that he has managed to bike into a town a stranger, and leave a member of a community. We talk about travel, we talk about biking, we talk about Amtrak, we talk about diabetes, we talk about movements, we talk about people, we talk about small town and big town America, but at it's core what we really discuss is how to connect with people on topics that matter to you and the power of sharing stories. Erik is a walking (or riding depending on the day) inspiration and this is just the beginning. But let’s get into it - ladies and gentlemen Erik Douds, the Diabadass himself.

Get Involved with the Diabaddasses!

Website: https://www.diabadass.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imadiabadass/

Follow on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/erikdouds

Check out their Miles of Portraits Project: https://milesofportraits.com/

Contribute to their Miles of Portraits Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1567547110/miles-of-portraits-a-magazine-and-film

Contribute to the Diabadass Movement: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=q9zebpXp-8Rl2_KpXlXwCoPkMtCmDZzXPMcSah0xlSy7m9fzdPu6ZoMHaVLcy1bQpUvWoW&country.x=US&locale.x=

Music: Ben Browning - Sunshine Baby

Edited by the one and only, Alison Morales!

Andrew Cassara is a Canadian -born singer and songwriter. He is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada,  and with dual citizenship in the U.S.A., he frequents is family home in Vero Beach Florida. In 2013, Andrew signed a production deal with his current producer, Steve Gardiner of SGMGRoupArtists, and has been writing and recording music consistently for his own releases as well as for other artists. Under a development deal with SGMGRoupArtists, Andrew has developed a very strong presence online, and with a significantly engaging social media influence, he has established an ever growing world wide fan base. 

Over the summers of 2016/2017 and now 2018, Andrew and his band have become a familiar sight at many summer festivals, and in 2017, Andrew headlined the Youth X Canada Tour, which had him performing at Youth Centres across Ontario in support of an open and honest dialogue on the subject of Youth Mental Health.  In the current year, Andrew’s most notable performance will be at the Ottawa RBC Bluesfest sharing the main stage with Shawn Mendes. Andrew tends to spend most summers performing live, but his focus is shared by a great deal of studio time, writing and recording new music.

With an ever developing team of professionals in his camp, Andrew continues to write and release new music and with each release, his reach stretches further. His team is looking for touring opportunities with already established artists.

To date, Andrew has released an E.P. as well as a dozen or so singles, and there are plans for an album release towards the end of 2018. In the meantime Andrew continues to take his music to live audiences and with an ever-growing fan base.   

In a way that only she can, Kay Soul has managed to build a venerable music career. By sharing her unique story and embodying an image of incredible power and positivity, Kay Soul has used her platform as an artist to cultivate a movement around positive body image and in the process has been an inspiration for those that struggle with the issue as well as an example of the power that comes from comfort in ones body. On this episode, we discuss music as a tool to make deeper connection comfortable, developing a message and believing in that message to generate an impact, and the importance of starting from within in finding what really means something in your life and working tirelessly to project and refine that vision.

Link to Youtube Full Album Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiaBm_IFuOxCHwyB6--i6-Gm-SVdDkLSx

Link to Kay’s feature in Luxe Kurve Magazine “Unwrapping the Standards Placed on Women in Music": http://luxekurves.com/2017/09/12/the-package-upwrapping-the-standards-placed-on-women-in-music-kay-soul/

Kay released a mini-documentary over the summer “As I Am: Behind the Mic w/ Kay Soul":  https://youtu.be/60aNFuBzpso

iTunes purchase Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hiding-in-plain-sight/1310262362