On this episode of the Speakeasy we talk to Melissa & Meredith from Home of the Innocents. We talk about why we decided to have them as our Cause of the Month, all of their programs (over 20!), foster care and adoption, and much more. 

We are proud to support Home of the Innocents for the 2019 holiday season. 

For more information visit us at blofish.com or homeoftheinnocents.org. 

On this episode of the Speakeasy we talk to some of our favorite friends Ryan and Shelly. Ryan, 10 years old, was born with Spina Bifida and has endured over 30 surgeries. Shelly, her mom, also explains what it's like to have such an amazing young daughter and how they have overcome many of the obstacles put in front of them on a daily basis. 

On this episode of the BLōFISH Speakeasy we talk to our friends from Best Buddies, Austin and Emily. Austin is a participant in the program which has helped people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in over 50 countries and all 50 states. Emily is a director at Best Buddies. Together, they talk about the impact the Best Buddies organization has on the communities around them. You can check out more about Best Buddies and how you can get involved at BestBuddies.org. 

From starting out in a corporate marketing firm to creating her own freelancing career, Jess has been through it all. On this episode of the Speakeasy, the wonderful Jess Amburgey tells her story of breaking away from the corporate environment and how she's used her plethora skills to not only create a career, but one that allows her to work with the clients and enter in the partnerships she wants. In addition to helping out many for profits, Jess is heavily involved in the non-profit world.

On this episode Abigail Mattingly, founder of Bourbon Baekery and  Cookies, talks about her story of being bullied in grade school, motivation, how to help others, and her dad's story about coming out as transgender. Her outlook on bullying from so many different perspectives gives a remarkable view of the problem across a lifetime. After being bullied in grade school and resorting to self-harm Abigail was able to gain control of her problem and find self-love. 

She's gone on to start Bourbon Baekery Cookies and is now enrolled in law school. Be sure to snag one of her cookies when they release @bourbonbaekery on instagram. 

Imagine serving your country for years and wanting to re-enlist. You’ve been out for a while but decide you miss it and want to go back and serve, picking up where you left off. You were a good soldier and everyone thought the same. Not only are you in better shape than before, but you feel like you are better mentally and have more of your life together.

Then you were told no.

You can’t come back.

This is what happened to Jay, when he tried going back into the armed forces. What changed you may ask? And why wouldn’t they let him back in?

The only thing that changed was his sex. Jay had transitioned from a woman to a man in the time since he had served.

Imagine waking up on the street. Not because you chose to, but because you were kicked out of your family's house for coming out. You have exhausted all your options with friends, and have no one left to turn to. 

This is the situation many youth in the LGBTQ+ community find themselves in. In today's podcast, we talk to Dr. Maurice Gattis who is spearheading a shelter named Sweet Evening Breeze in Louisville, KY. 

Among the topics we talk about are: what can you do to help, how people end up homeless, Sweet Evening Breeze, and after episode notes talking about scattered housing and why it works and why it doesn't. 

In this episode of the Speakeasy, we talk to Dalton Maldonado about his story of being forced out, being a gay athlete, and much more. 

***This podcast or pages it links to, contains information about sexual assault and/or violence which may be triggering to survivors.

In the third episode of our second season, we sit down with Jackie  Chism to discuss body positivity and eating disorders. Please note that this episode contains a trigger warning for discussion of EDs.

In this episode we sit down with Mike Hayes, pro-wrestler and veteran, to discuss his time in the military, how veterans are treated after they come home, mental health, and how wrestling changed his life.

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