As we reach the one-year mark of "Strangers You Know," I want to express my gratitude and provide some important updates. I apologize for letting the anniversary slip by without acknowledgment, as it was a disservice to my guests and listeners. The podcast's inception was an unexpected shift from a novel project, and since then, it has become a platform for transformative conversations with remarkable guests.

We've released over 40 episodes in the past year and achieved significant milestones. However, juggling multiple projects has impacted the podcast's quality and consistency. To address this, I've made the decision to wrap up Season One and take a short break. During this time, I will find space, silence, and complete the neglected novel that inspired the initial project.

While there won't be new episodes for a few months, I want to assure you that I'm still recording captivating conversations for Season Two. The upcoming season will feature guests who bring fresh perspectives and inspiring stories. I'm excited about the future of the podcast and the opportunity to provide even more thoughtfully curated content.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the guests who have shared their stories and to all our amazing listeners for their support. Your engagement, reflections, and willingness to share have created a space for genuine connection and meaningful conversations. I invite you to continue being part of our vibrant community, sharing your thoughts on past episodes, and spreading the word to others.

During this hiatus, I ask for your continued support by sharing the show, engaging with our social media, and inviting others to listen and subscribe. Your efforts make a significant difference in helping "Strangers You Know" reach more people and touch more lives. Thank you for joining me on this incredible journey, and I'm eagerly looking forward to reuniting for Season Two with renewed energy and a deeper well of experiences to draw from.

All my love,

Brian

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Born in the Central African Republic, Amira Kherrallah has faced the unimaginable challenges of leaving her home, family, and friends behind during a time of conflict. Her inspiring journey as a refugee and entrepreneur has taught her the importance of resilience, determination, and hope. She puts God first in her life and likes to make herself useful and serve her community.

“My story made who I am today... when I see myself I would never believe that I am that Amira stronger, independent, and hard worker.. I wont be this Amira today if all of those events, challenges never happened in my life.”

1. Explore Amira's harrowing experiences as a refugee in the midst of war and crisis.
2. Realize the importance of vulnerability and honesty in fostering strong, meaningful interactions.
3. Embracing your past and relying on God to become your best self and create your best future.

The death of Amira's mother contributed to who she is today. It was the driving force behind her founding, PreventHer.org, a non-profit dedicated to providing resources and raising awareness about Breast Cancer in refugees. Visit her organization at www.PreventHer.org

Share this episode with a friend. Learn more about the unnecessary obstacles our society and government burden immigrants, refugees, and new Americans. Help forge a path to citizenship by visiting https://business.utah.gov/immigration/

#Refugee; #Religion; #Entrepreneurship; #BreastCancerAwarness; #Africa; #Education;

OTHER EPISODES YOU WILL LOVE!

#124 - Marie: Finding a Space to Belong

#104 - Amanda - Understanding Real Poverty

#132 - Sol Vargas' Journey to Justice: An Immigrant's Story of Resilience and Hope

LISTEN to Amira's episode and all other episodes and show notes at www.StrangersYouKnowPodcast.com 

#Refugees, #NewAmericans, #Resiliance, #Entrepreneurship, #BreastCancerAwareness

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• Loved this episode? Leave us a 5-Star review and rating here!
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Support the show

• Loved this episode? Leave us a 5-Star review and rating here!
• Financial contributions greatly appreciated!
• Join the conversation online at our Facebook Community Page with many of our listeners and guests.
• Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Linked-In, or TikTok.
• Email us at [email protected]

Matt Gilhooly's life took a sharp turn at the age of eight when a tragic accident claimed the life of his mother. Thrust into a world of grief and confusion, Matt struggled to make sense of his loss, eventually burying his pain deep within. As he grew older, he strived for perfection in all aspects of life, fearing abandonment and seeking validation from those around him. It wasn't until his 30s that Matt confronted his grief head-on and began the process of healing, thanks in part to a therapist who helped him see the impact his mother's death had on his life.

"The boy that walked into that room was not the same as the boy who walked out. His life was changed forever based on that single, sudden announcement."

Strengthen your relationships by nurturing honest, vulnerable, and bold conversations with those around you. Strive for clarity in understanding your life-shifting moments and learn how to use them as opportunities to forge your personal transformations.

Matt Gilhooly is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Spurred by his own life-altering experiences, Matt helps others share the stories of pivotal moments in their lives that changed everything forever on The Life Shift Podcast. He also enjoys designing content, such as communication materials, coloring books, digital art, pitch decks, and other forms of media. Matt has self-published over 10 coloring books on Amazon and released a children's book that celebrates individuality and confidence, "I Can Be Anyone: A Soul's Journey," in June 2021. Matt earned his master’s in mass communications from the University of Florida in 2022 and an MBA from the University of Central Florida in 2004. 

OTHER EPISODES YOU WILL LOVE!

#133-Dani Bates-Telling My 3-Yr-Old About Her Dad's Suicide

#118-Pierre - Finding & Losing Purpose

#104-Keegan - Psychedelics and the Bathtub Funeral

LISTEN to Matt Gilhooly’s and all other episodes and show notes at www.StrangersYouKnowPodcast.com 

 #TheLifeShift, #MentalHealth, #Healing, #Death, #Greiving, #Connection, #Creativity 

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• Join the conversation online at our Facebook Community Page with many of our listeners and guests.
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• Email us at [email protected]

Samantha Hodder has explored the power of storytelling since she was five-years-old. Today she shares the behind-the-scenes stories that led her to the most remote spot on earth and why that story was nearly silenced forever. Four years of setbacks, separation from family, taking risks at the end of the world, and nearly losing everything to fire, only to start from scratch and then put everything on hold indefinitely. 

"I wanted to be in another world, another zone. I wanted to communicate. I had a voice in me that just couldn't shut up and it needed to find a way out. So I looked for the story, because that's what humans do. We tell stories to help us understand ourselves and the world around us."

 Why creators create? How creators create? What happens when they don't create?

Samantha Hodder has been making media across multiple formats for over two decades. An audio producer and writer, Sam publishes regularly on Medium and her Substack is called Bingeworthy, which is a newsletter about narrative podcasts that are just that good.

OTHER EPISODES YOU WILL LOVE!

#123 Lance - Survivor Archetypes: Allowing Curiosity & Wonder

#115 Hardy - Pattern Interrupt

#106 Charlie - Why is This Funny?

 LISTEN to Samantha Hodder’s and all other episodes and show notes at www.StrangersYouKnowPodcast.com 

 #Antarctica, #Podcasts, #ImposterSyndrome, #StoriesChangeTheWorld 

Support the show

• Loved this episode? Leave us a 5-Star review and rating here!
• Financial contributions greatly appreciated!
• Join the conversation online at our Facebook Community Page with many of our listeners and guests.
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• Email us at [email protected]

#137 James Hadlock: Human beings can lose themselves in even the noblest of causes. Understanding ourselves and our motivating factors can raise us to great heights, or crush us. In the case of James Hadlock, it did both.

"The more that I went on that journey, the more that I started to notice that transformation is possible for anyone, any time."

The same motivation that drives us to success can also drive us to complete ruin. Understanding what is driving our feelings and tapping into our inner wisdom is key to which direction we are heading.

James is an experienced entrepreneur, mental health activist, and executive coach. He's the Co-founder and Chief Evangelist of Blunovus, an emotional support service and leadership training company that helps organizations move upstream and proactively address life-work well-being on a cultural level. 

OTHER EPISODES YOU WILL LOVE!

#123 Lance - Survivor Archetypes: Allowing Curiosity & Wonder: Nobody makes it to the NBA without talent and determination. This accomplishment is exponentially difficult when you're deaf.

#115 Hardy - Pattern Interrupt: Making bold life changes by listening to your inner voice.

#127 Jaynee - Comparing vs. Cheering: Our Expectations - Their Self-Worth: How our motivations affect our children.

(CW: Drugs, Addiction, Suicidal Ideation)

 LISTEN to James Hadlock’s and all other episodes and show notes at www.StrangersYouKnowPodcast.com

Support the show

• Loved this episode? Leave us a 5-Star review and rating here!
• Financial contributions greatly appreciated!
• Join the conversation online at our Facebook Community Page with many of our listeners and guests.
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How does being an identical twin influence your understanding of yourself?  What if people only knew you by way of reference to another person? You're the tallest in your family, you're much quieter than your sister. Who takes more after their mom?  What if your referent looked just like you? Had the same smile, same face, an exact DNA replica? 

"The irony with being an identical twin is that people think they know you because you have someone who shares your same DNA. You feel like a ghost because people think they see you, but they don't take the time to really get to know you as an individual."

Rachel is an incredible leader. She shares the deconstruction of her high-demand religion, redefining motherhood, and how she can best show up for those in need. She also gives the inside scoop about what drove her to launch her non-profit, Common Thread, and we talk about the massive impact she is having in the community and on nearly a thousand teens who are struggling with trauma and dealing with significant adversity.  

Rachel Garrett is a former high school teacher, a licensed foster parent, and a certified CASA. Rachel has a master's degree in Psychology: Child and Adolescent Development, emphasizing how trauma impacts brains and behaviors. Rachel is Founder and Executive Director of Common Thread, a non-profit dedicated to building community and strengthening teens who are experiencing significant adversity in their lives. 

OTHER EPISODES YOU WILL LOVE!

109 Meg-Friendly Refuge (Deconstruction, Reframing "Motherhood"),

111 Kseniya-Nomad Alliance (Building a non-profit that serves those in need, Labor of Love)

132 Sol-Journey to Justice (Dedicated service to underserved communities, Making a Difference)

#IdenticalTwin, #Identity, #FosterCare, #Depression, #Identity, #CommonThread, #Acceptance 

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Is your life transition leading to authentic discovery or are you falling victim to another toxic trap? James Barnes has spent the majority of his life trying to find his authentic self in a world that desperately needed him to conform to pre-approved stereotypes.  Several times he tried to find his true path, only to find himself trying to fit into a different, equally ill-fitting, pre-defined box. 

"We're deeply trained to please other people. Often, in key transitions, we trade one false identity only to completely embrace another - simply because that's what other people want from us. We must learn to avoid pre-defined stereotypes and look inward if we want to find our true selves."

James Barnes is an entrepreneur, teacher, and bridge-builder. After being born and raised in a Christian home, James spent years trying to figure out where he fit in. It wasn't until eight years ago, when James came out as trans, that he started to find the answers he was looking for. James' story is an inspiring one of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of owning your identity. Through his coaching and online activism, James is creating a safe space for honest, vulnerable, and bold conversations about masculinity, mental health, trans rights, and all of life's transitions.

Resources:
"Permission to Feel" by Dr. Marc Brackett
James' "Connect Course"
MUST WATCH James' post on toxic distancing in male relationships.

Other episodes you'll enjoy:
#101 Jaxon - "The Man at My Wedding." Jaxon, a transgender man, tells the story of his brave journey to self-acceptance and love.
#104 Amanda - "Understanding Real Poverty." Amanda tells how a single question changed her life forever, opening her eyes to a world of possibilities, and instilling a strong desire to live and work abroad.
#116 Kauri - "Healing Oasis" Kauri bravely shares her experiences with racism, sexual abuse, incarceration of a loved one, and even her own death.
#107 Santiago - "Cui Bono?" We discuss philosophy, politics, existential crisis, religion, expressions of God, worldviews, power, friends, family, and machismo.

Support the show

• Loved this episode? Leave us a 5-Star review and rating here!
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After thousands of hours of leadership training and tens of thousands of hours of committed service Jed and I independently left the Mormon religion. In this conversation, we evaluate how well/poorly we handled our exits. We both stumbled through uncharted waters, weighed down by guilt and shame. Disoriented and angry, we made many mistakes and damaged relationships with good people.

LISTEN to Jed's original episode "#112: Jed-- Deconstructing the House of Cards" or See his complete SHOW NOTES for this episode.

"There's definitely no section of the handbook on how to leave the church. Everything is designed to keep you in. You’re supposed to doubt your doubts, not question church policy. There was no soft landing getting out when it doesn't work anymore. So, yeah, you feel very isolated and alone."

Jed was a Mormon Bishop when he began asking hard questions about the religion he'd dedicated himself to his entire life.

This episode doesn't get into details about why we left organized religion. Instead, it focuses more on how we navigated that transition, in a word - poorly. But that's the whole point. Our lives are filled with transitions. Physically moving from one community to another. Mentally moving from one belief to another. Seeing the world through a broader or different perspective. Emotionally shifting between relationships. Changes of professions. We are constantly re-inventing ourselves in the search for authenticity.

 These transitions are often confusing, emotionally draining, and almost always messy. Understanding that chaos can help us through our next shift. It can also help us find the grace and the space for helping others through their difficult transitions.

Support the show

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• Financial contributions greatly appreciated!
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• Email us at [email protected]

Do we have difficult conversations or allow the silence of suicide to create stigma, shame, and isolation? 

Talking with her 3-year-old daughter about her father’s death by suicide was almost unthinkable. But to Dani Bates, a 29-year-old widow, not talking about it wasn’t even an option. 

"I don't want ‘suicide’ to be a swear word for my children. I want them to be able to say it and be okay with it, just like if their dad died of cancer."

COMPLETE SHOW NOTES

We must normalize conversations about suicide. It is the best way to help those currently suffering and prevent future trauma. Suicide is the 2nd-highest cause of death among teens and 10th-highest cause of death for all adults in the U.S.

Dani Bates is a 33-year-old mother of three who lost her husband to suicide four years ago. She is an advocate for mental health awareness and is passionate about educating the younger generations on the importance of mental health.

After experiencing abandonment by being given up for adoption, getting divorced, and then her second husband’s death by suicide, Dani Bates shares important lessons that have helped her cope with mental health, suicide, and abandonment.

 CW: This episode contains information about suicide.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, there are ways to get help. Call or text 988 for free, confidential crisis counseling and referrals.

For more information or help visit - 988lifeline.org

Support the show

• Loved this episode? Leave us a 5-Star review and rating here!
• Financial contributions greatly appreciated!
• Join the conversation online at our Facebook Community Page with many of our listeners and guests.
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"Together, we fight for a better future for our undocumented community, for a world where everyone is treated with humanity and afforded equal rights."

"If we're not fighting for all of us, it's not good for anybody. We all deserve to be treated as human and to have access to the same rights and opportunities." - Sol Vargas

LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE EPISODE

Sol Vargas was only 15 when her father was deported and is now presumed dead. She is a community organizer who works for the non-profit organization Comunidades Unidas to support the Latinx undocumented and immigrant population for equal rights and a pathway to citizenship. She has a degree in political science and recently, at the age of 22, shared her story in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

1. How did Sol Vargas get involved in advocating for immigrants in the US?

2. What did Sol Vargas talk about in front of the Supreme Court?

3. How did the DACA program fail to provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented Americans?

Resources:

Comunidades Unidas

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

Marie - Finding a Space to Belong Another story of an immigrant (from USSR) and her assimilation / adjustment to U.S.

Amanda’s story of a U.S. emigration to Argentina and social justice

Kseniya’s story. USSR Immigrant, and social justice for unsheltered population.

— 

Connect with me: Instagram: @strangers.you.know

Facebook: StrangersYouKnowPodcast

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Website: www.StrangersYouKnowPodcast.com

Join the Conversation on our Strangers You Know Community Page. Continue the discussion with other listeners and past guests.

Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here.

Support the show

• Loved this episode? Leave us a 5-Star review and rating here!
• Financial contributions greatly appreciated!
• Join the conversation online at our Facebook Community Page with many of our listeners and guests.
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