Send us Fan Mail

What if being an outsider isn’t evidence that you don’t belong, but part of the path toward discovering who you are?

Jermaine Ee attended 14 schools while growing up between cultures, continually learning how to enter unfamiliar places as “the new kid.” Music became one of his first safe places, while the unwavering love of his mother taught him that his worth was never dependent on achievement.

In this deeply reflective conversation, Jermaine shares how his immigrant family shaped his understanding of sacrifice, success, identity, and home. He takes us from an American high school music room to USC, from helping immigrant families access financial aid to humanitarian work in Ukraine and ultimately to the creation of HeirLight, inspired by intimate conversations with his mother about mortality, money, and what we leave behind for the people we love.

Along the way, Jermaine discovered the power of his own voice and began redefining the identity he once tried to escape:

“Being an outsider is where I belong.”

Together, Melissa and Jermaine explore what it means to live between cultures, how a parent’s love can anchor us through uncertainty, why clarity can be an expression of care, and whether home is something we find in a place or cultivate within ourselves.

This is a conversation about legacy in its most human form: not simply what we leave behind, but how deeply we help others know that they are loved.

The Belonging Podcast is presented by Elev8 Villages, a nonprofit creating holistic, resource-rich villages where young adults who have experienced foster care can find stability, opportunity, and—most importantly—belonging.

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone. 

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together. 

Send us Fan Mail

Twenty-five conversations. One extraordinary journey.

When I began The Belonging Podcast, I thought I was collecting interviews.

Instead, I found myself collecting pieces of a puzzle.

Over the past six months, I sat down with psychologists, pastors, educators, entrepreneurs, foster care advocates, coaches, and changemakers from many different walks of life. Each arrived with their own story, their own language, and their own understanding of belonging.

What surprised me most wasn't their differences.

It was how often they finished one another's thoughts.

Although none of these guests have ever met, their voices weave together into one continuous conversation about one of the deepest human longings we all share:

To know that we matter.

The Journey Into Belonging is not a "best of" episode. It is a documentary created entirely from the wisdom of the remarkable people who have joined us throughout this first season.

As you listen, you may discover that this isn't simply their journey.

It may become your own.

Thank you for walking this road with us.

And thank you for helping create a world where more people know what it feels like to belong.

With gratitude,

Melissa Kaye

Founder, Elev8 Villages

To support this work go to: https://givebutter.com/Z0LM5V

To learn more about Elev8 Villages go to: https://www.elev8villages.org/

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone. 

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together. 

Send us Fan Mail

At sixteen years old, Majd Abdallah entered foster care with nothing more than a backpack and an uncertain future. What he discovered over the years wasn't just safety—it was family, purpose, and a profound sense of belonging.

In this powerful episode of The Belonging Podcast, Melissa Kaye sits down with Majd Abdallah, founder of Foster the Bear, to explore his remarkable journey through foster care, healing, identity, and the relationships that transformed his life. Majd shares the unexpected moments that helped him discover who he was meant to become—from finding freedom in early morning runs to realizing, during his high school graduation party, that his foster parents had quietly become his forever family.

Together, Melissa and Majd explore what it truly means to belong, why community is essential to healing, and how simple acts of compassion can change the trajectory of a young person's life.

This conversation is a moving reminder that belonging is not about where you come from—it's about the people who choose to walk beside you.

In this episode you'll discover:

• How belonging shapes identity and resilience
• The emotional journey of entering foster care as a teenager
• Why relationships matter more than programs
• How sports, mentorship, and community create lasting transformation
• The inspiring story behind Foster the Bear and its mission to support children and young adults experiencing foster care
• Why every young person deserves to know they are worthy, valued, and never alone

Whether you're connected to foster care, work with young people, are a foster parent, or simply care about building stronger communities, this episode offers hope, wisdom, and a fresh perspective on what it means to truly belong.

About our guest

Majd Abdallah is the founder of Foster the Bear, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and young adults who have experienced foster care through comfort, connection, scholarships, and community awareness. Drawing from his own lived experience, Majd is helping ensure that no young person feels forgotten as they navigate life's most challenging transitions.

If this conversation resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who believes that every person deserves to belong.

Learn More: 
TedX Talk: https://youtu.be/atEFz5DwkiQ?si=DvLaMMRq12i5KF7C
Foster The Bear: https://www.fosterthebear.org/

Learn More About Elev8 Villages:

Website: https://www.elev8villages.org/
Download your FREE Belonging Kit: https://www.elev8villages.org/FREEkit

💭 If this episode inspires you, don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE!

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone. 

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together. 

Send us Fan Mail

The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages | 025 | Pastor Shawn

Have you ever felt like you didn't truly belong anywhere?

In this inspiring episode of the Belonging Podcast, Melissa Kay sits down with Pastor Sean to explore identity, neurodiversity (ADHD), belonging, authentic living, faith, leadership, and the power of radical acceptance.

Pastor Sean shares his personal journey of never quite fitting into traditional spaces—from church to business—and explains why creating communities built on love, safety, and acceptance is more important than ever.

Together they discuss how belonging differs from simply fitting in, why diversity strengthens communities, how ADHD shaped Pastor Sean's life, and what it means to create environments where everyone feels seen and valued.

In This Episode:
- Belonging vs fitting in
- ADHD and neurodiversity
- Authentic leadership
- Faith and inclusion
- Love over division
- Building safe communities
- Diversity and acceptance
- Foster care and belonging
- Creating meaningful relationships
- Community building

If you've ever struggled to find your place, this conversation will encourage you to embrace who you are and help create spaces where others feel they belong too.

Follow Pastor Shawn:

TACA Church: https://taca.church/
TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@shawnriffraff
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taca.church/

Learn More About Elev8 Villages:

Website: https://www.elev8villages.org/
Download your FREE Belonging Kit: https://www.elev8villages.org/FREEkit

💭 If this episode inspires you, don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE!

#belonging #belongingpodcast #pastorsean #community #authenticity #adhd #neurodiversity #leadership #faith #acceptance #personalgrowth #mentalhealth #podcast #foryou

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone. 

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together. 

Send us Fan Mail

The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages |Episode 024 | Kathleen White

What happens when your need for love, acceptance, and belonging leads you to become a people pleaser?

In this powerful episode of the Belonging Podcast, Melissa Kaye sits down with Coach Kathleen White to discuss codependency, toxic relationships, childhood trauma, boundaries, self-worth, and the journey toward healing.

Kathleen shares her personal story of growing up in a dysfunctional home, navigating unhealthy relationships, and discovering how to break free from people-pleasing patterns. Together, they explore why so many people struggle to say no, seek validation from others, and lose themselves in relationships.

You'll learn practical insights on setting healthy boundaries, building self-confidence, overcoming codependency, and creating genuine belonging in your life.

Topics Covered:
- Codependency and people pleasing
- Childhood trauma and emotional healing
- Healthy boundaries
- Self-worth and self-respect
- Toxic relationships
- Foster care and belonging
- Personal growth and recovery
- Learning to say no
- Emotional healing and resilience

If you've ever struggled with self-worth, unhealthy relationships, or feeling like you don't belong, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Kathleen White:

Facebook Business page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573485023496 
Instagram Business account: https://www.instagram.com/whtkthln 
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PhoenixRisingLLC-e7y
Website: https://phoenixrisingllc.org/

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone. 

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together. 

Send us Fan Mail

The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages |Episode 023 | Kara Stonehouse

 What if joy not fear, guilt, or outrage was the key to creating lasting change?

In this inspiring episode of The Belonging Podcast, host Melissa Kaye sits down with Kara Stonehouse, founder of Love Organized, to explore how communities can create meaningful transformation through belonging, collective intelligence, spiritual connection, and joy.

Kara shares lessons from eco-villages around the world, the importance of conflict resolution, conscious communication, and her ambitious five-step framework for building regenerative economies and thriving communities.

Topics Covered:
- Belonging and human connection
- Joy as a catalyst for change
- Eco-villages and sustainable communities
- Conflict resolution and conscious communication
- Collective intelligence and leadership
- Love Organized framework
- Regenerative economies
- Spirituality and systems thinking

Whether you're passionate about leadership, sustainability, personal growth, social innovation, or community building, this conversation offers a hopeful vision for the future.

Connect with Kara on LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karastonehouse/
Love Organized:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/122863923
The Hague Center: https://www.linkedin.com/company/77635540/
Webpage: http://www.loveorganized.com,
Kara’s TEDxtalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejjjeruh7hE

Learn More About Elev8 Villages:
Website: https://www.elev8villages.org/
Download your FREE Belonging Kit: https://www.elev8villages.org/FREEkit

💭 If this episode inspires you, don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE!

#belongingpodcast #KaraStonehouse #communitybuilding #joy #leadership #podcast

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone. 

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together. 

Send us Fan Mail

In this powerful conversation, host Melissa Kaye sits down with Dr. Li-Mei Lin, a world-class neurosurgeon who spent decades at the pinnacle of medicine before stepping away from the operating room to explore a deeper question:

What does it truly mean to belong - to yourself?

Dr. Lin shares her remarkable journey from elite achievement and high-performance success to a life centered around self-leadership, inner authority, authenticity, and personal transformation.

Together they explore:

- Why external success doesn't always create inner fulfillment
- The difference between empathy and being empathic
- How high achievers often lose connection with themselves
- The neuroscience behind intuition and self-awareness
- Why many people stay loyal to identities and systems that no longer serve them
- The courage required to leave familiar paths and answer a new calling
- How to develop self-trust and inner authority
- The connection between belonging, purpose, and personal growth
- What self-mastery really means
- Practical ways to reconnect with your authentic self

Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, healthcare professional, creative, or someone navigating a major life transition, this conversation offers profound insights into creating a life that feels aligned from the inside out.

Follow Dr. Li-Mei Lin
Website: https://www.truewhealthness.com/mawy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlimeilin/, https://www.instagram.com/true_whealthness/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlimeilin/
Substack: https://morethanneurosurgeon.substack.com/

Learn More About Elev8 Villages:
Website: https://www.elev8villages.org/
Download your FREE Belonging Kit: https://www.elev8villages.org/FREEkit

Subscribe for more conversations about belonging, purpose, community, healing, and human connection.

#belongingpodcast #selfleadership #personalgrowth #authenticity #DrLeeMayLin #selfmastery 
#innerauthority #belonging #podcast #trending #foryou

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone. 

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together. 

Send us Fan Mail

The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages | Frankie Edwards | Episode 21

What happens when humans lose connection with their body, nature, community, and their true sense of belonging?

In this deeply emotional and inspiring episode of the Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages, host Melissa Kaye sits down with Frankie Edwards, a nature-based nervous system specialist and founder of Abundance World.

Frankie shares their powerful journey growing up in Newfoundland, navigating identity, belonging, elite athletics, grief, concussions, healing, nervous system regulation, and reconnecting with nature. This conversation explores how modern life disconnects us from ourselves and why returning to community, embodiment, mindfulness, and the natural world may be one of the most important forms of healing today.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

- The true meaning of belonging
- How nature calms the nervous system
- Forest bathing and mindfulness practices
- Healing trauma through embodiment
- The emotional impact of losing identity
- Queer identity, authenticity, and community
- Why humans crave connection and safety
- The science behind awe, grounding, and mental health
- How nature creates emotional regulation
- Powerful reflections on healing and self-acceptance

Frankie also shares practical ways to reconnect with yourself through nature, water rituals, grounding practices, and mindfulness techniques that anyone can start today.

Follow Frankie:

IG https://www.instagram.com/thefrankchapter/ and
TIKTOK https://www.tiktok.com/@abundance_world
website: https://abundanceworld.today/

If you’ve ever felt disconnected, unseen, overwhelmed, or out of place, this conversation offers hope, healing, and a reminder that you belong.

🌿 Watch until the end for one simple daily practice that can help restore inner peace and emotional grounding.

Learn More About Elev8 Villages:
Website: https://www.elev8villages.org/
Download your FREE Belonging Kit: https://www.elev8villages.org/FREEkit

💭 If this episode inspires you, don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE!

#belonging #naturehealing #mentalhealth #forestbathing #mindfulness #healingjourney #podcast  #nervoussystemhealing #selfhealing #communityhealing #foryou

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone. 

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together. 

Send us Fan Mail

The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages | Liana Cassar | Episode 20

In this insightful episode of the Belonging Podcast by Elevate Villages, host Melissa Kay sits down with Liana Cassar, former Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica and current advisory board chair of the Oasis Leadership Network.

Together, they explore the powerful connection between leadership, democracy, belonging, and community.

Liana shares her experiences serving as a community development worker with the Peace Corps, her journey through public service, and the important work Oasis Leadership Network is doing to support women and gender-expansive legislators across the United States.

This inspiring conversation explores:

• What belonging truly means in leadership
• The challenges women face in politics
• Power “with” vs power “over” leadership
• Creating inclusive communities and democracy
• Why representation matters in government
• How leaders can create spaces where everyone feels seen
• Supporting women legislators through resilience and community

If you’ve ever wondered how we can build stronger communities, healthier leadership, and a more inclusive democracy, this episode offers hope, wisdom, and practical insight.

Learn more about Liana’s work:
https://www.oasisleadershipnetwork.org/

Learn More About Elev8 Villages:
Website: https://www.elev8villages.org/
Download your FREE Belonging Kit: https://www.elev8villages.org/FREEkit

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about belonging, leadership, healing, community, and personal growth.

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone. 

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together. 

Send us Fan Mail

The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages | Episode 019 
Guest: Rebecca Justus, Ethical Leadership Coach and Mentor

In this episode, we explore one of the most important and often misunderstood topics of our time, Leadership.

But not just leadership…

👉 Ethical Leadership

Melissa sits down with Rebecca Justus, a coach and mentor in ethical leadership, to unpack what it truly means to lead with integrity, intention, and care in today’s complex and divided world.

💡 In this conversation, you’ll learn:

What leadership really means (and why most people get it wrong)
The difference between leadership and ethical leadership
Why leadership often turns into control or harm
How power changes people (and how to stay grounded)
The role of curiosity in great leadership
How to create safe spaces and belonging in teams
What inclusive leadership looks like in real life

This episode will challenge the way you think about influence, power, and responsibility.

Follow Rebecca

Websites: https://www.rebeccajustus.com/
https://www.reproductiveautonomy.org/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/therebeccajustus/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-justus/


If you lead in any way, at work, in your community, or even in your family, this conversation is for you.

This podcast is made possible by the generosity of our patron: Deana Laughlin. 
Thank you Deana!!

Learn More About Elev8 Villages:
Website: https://www.elev8villages.org/
Download your FREE Belonging Kit: https://www.elev8villages.org/FREEkit

This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone. 

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together.