The Illuminate Podcast

Rebecca Fleetwood Hession is the CEO and founder of WEthrive.live a company to Ban Burnout, Build Community and Boost Business.

Rebecca writes, speaks, coaches and consults on those topics she has knowledge, empathy and experience. This includes decades of experience in leadership, sales, strategy, leading change, execution, team building, consultative selling, transforming HR and training professionals to become business consultants. She also speaks on parenting, especially those parenting children with ADHD/ADD.

She is currently authoring a book based on her personal experience and her work helping women RISE and THRIVE.

As a writer and speaker she has nearly 100k views on her TEDx talk ADHD as our Innovators. She was chosen to speak an original piece at a Listen to Your Mother event and has blog posts with over half a million readers. Rebecca uses storytelling to engage audiences with humor, vulnerability and practical take aways.  She connects well with the executive team as well as the front line employee.

This episode is hosted by Lindsey Hein.

Show Notes:

We Thrive.Live

Rebecca on Instagram

Badass Womens Council Podcast

East of Eden

Dove Recovery House

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Illuminate on Instagram

Illuminate on Twitter

Illuminate on Facebook

The post Episode 37: Rebecca Fleetwood Hession – Community and Connection appeared first on SandyBoy Productions.

Today’s guest is a woman who is a beacon of light and hope. Her beautiful story and message come at time where the world faces so much uncertainty. More than 10 years ago, on a sunny morning bike ride in Brooklyn, 24-year-old Katie McKenna was forever changed when she was run over by an 18-wheeler. Being crushed under a massive semi wasn’t something Katie should have survived. After 10 hours of emergency surgery, she woke to find herself in a body and a life that would never be the same.

In today’s episode she shares her personal story of this trauma, her recovery and her incredible outlook on life. She has chosen the path where she celebrates small bites and little victories. And feels she is living life for all people who didn’t get a second chance. For Katie, this translates into living in the present moment and aggressively chasing joy.

Katie uses her story as a parallel to what the world is facing today and asks some tough and beautiful questions and challenges us to live fully present and find joy, despite uncertainty, fear, and a new “normal”. You will leave this conversation inspired, hopeful and ready to dream and aggressively chase joy.

This episode is hosted by Kristin Srour.

Show Notes:

Katie McKenna

Katie’s Memoir: How to Get Run Over by a Truck

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Alison Roman’s Spiced Chickpea Stew

Alison Roman’s Garlic Braised Short Ribs

The Illuminate Podcast

Follow The Illuminate Podcast on Instagram

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This week we are talking to Amanda Stevenson and Courtney Hoyle. Amanda and Courtney share a daughter through open adoption, Courtney the birth mother, and Amanda the adoptive mother. They share their story about creating a family for Margot their daughter that is filled with love. They, along with Amanda’s husband Micah, have chosen to raise Margot in a way that supports family, adoption and loving each other through hard places.

Hosted by Emily Reddington

The post Episode 35: Courtney Hoyle and Amanda Stevenson- Open Adoption appeared first on SandyBoy Productions.

This week we are talking to Colleen Stine. Colleen is the co-owner of EVERYKIND, a t-shirt shop aimed at spreading a message of kindness to kids and adults, mom to 5 kids and one of the most positive people I’ve met through the midst of some pretty awful life circumstances. We talk a lot about starting her business with her online friend and business partner, the mission and passion behind her business, and she shares the tragic story of her sister’s death and how Colleen and her husband have stepped in to raise her sister’s kids along with 3 of her own. I hope that Colleen’s life experiences, her outlook on life and her passion for her business encourage you to look on the bright side, even when that seems so difficult to do.

Hosted By Emily Reddington

EVERYKIND

The post Episode 34: Colleen Stine- Creating a Legacy of Kindness appeared first on SandyBoy Productions.

Episode 33: Jennie Weiner – Engaged Compassion Through the Uncertainly of COVID-19

Dr. Jennie Weiner authored the viral New York Times Op-Ed, I Refuse to Run a Coronavirus Home School. Today on the show, Jennie talks about the narrative that led her to write this piece and how she’s approaching having her kids home full time (hint: it doesn’t involve color coded schedules). Jennie is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at University of Connecticut with a focus on Kindergarten through 12th grade. We talk about how the school systems are handling the shut downs, how coronavirus has further illuminated inequities in schools that need our collective attention and advocacy, and how to show engaged compassion and grace during this unprecedented time. 

Jennie asks two important questions that got me thinking: Who do you want to be to your kids? Who do you want to be in the world right now?

This conversation is insightful, real and looks toward how this time can lead to positive change.

This episode is hosted by Kristin Srour.

Show notes:

Jennie Weiner

Jennie on Twitter

The Teaching Wars by Dana Goldstein

WEALF

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

The post Episode 33: Jennie Weiner – Engaged Compassion Through the Uncertainty of COVID-19 appeared first on SandyBoy Productions.

Sarah and Mark Canney are on the show today talking about encouragement based parenting! Most of us are spending a lot more time at home and if we have kids, a lot more time in the house with the kids. I wanted to talk with Sarah and Mark because I have heard them discuss their parenting style for a couple years now and I personally aspire to bring some of the core values they talk about into my own home.

Mark became interested in a better way of parenting right from the start of the adventure of having three kids who they now home school. Reading lot’s of books on the topic, he eventually went on to get a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Sarah runs her own business connecting and empowering women through her retreats – Rise Run Retreat and Mark, a retired plumber is the full time home schooling parent in their home. Wait until you hear about the meditation practice they do with their kid every morning. It sounds intimidating but it’s not!

This is a great conversation- no perfection here, just helpful ideas we can all implement into our lives. If we want. I hope you take some helpful information here and more than anything I hope you walk away feeling encouraged to take one small step!

This episode is hosted by Lindsey Hein.

Show Notes:

The Time Timer

Beneath the Scarlett Sky – Mark Sullivan

The Denial of Death – Ernst Becker

Follow Sarah & Mark:

Sarah on Instagram

Mark on Instagram

Follow Illuminate:

Illuminate on Instagram

Illuminate on Twitter

Illuminate on Facebook

The post Episode 32: Sarah and Mark Canney – Encouragement Based Parenting appeared first on SandyBoy Productions.

What is going to happen with the economy over the next few months? Should I invest now? Should I wait? Should I have cash on hand? What should I do if I do get a stimulus check from the Government?

These are all questions, Peter Dunn, also known as Pete the Planner answers for us today amidst the financial strain some are facing during the COVID19 outbreak.

Pete is an award-winning comedian and an award-winning financial mind. He’s a USA TODAY columnist and the author of ten books. He is the host of the popular radio show and podcast The Pete the Planner Show . Pete has appeared regularly on CNN Headline News, Fox News, Fox Business as well as numerous nationally syndicated radio programs. In addition to his work educating the public, Pete is also the CEO and Founder of Your Money Line and Hey Money. Pete lives in Carmel, Indiana with his wife and two young children.

This episode is hosted by Lindsey Hein.

Show Notes: 

Pete the Planner Website

Hey Money

Pete the Planner Podcast

Shoe Dog – Phil Knight

Follow Pete:

Pete on Twitter

Pete on Instagram 

Follow Illuminate:

Illuminate on Instagram

Illuminate on Twitter

Illuminate on Facebook

The post Episode 31: Peter Dunn – Financial Expert appeared first on SandyBoy Productions.

Episode 30: Fred & Milton Ochieng – Humanity, Community and a Father’s Dream

Today’s episode will take you to a community in rural Kenya and tells a story of struggle and despair turned to hope. You will hear the amazing journey of Fred and Milton Ochieng. Who came from a community in Kenya called, Lwala, and both found their way to Dartmouth College and then to medical school in the United States.

It was Fred and Milton’s father’s dream to open the region’s first health clinic, and he was instrumental in organizing village elders and convincing them to donate land, resources, and labor to make that dream a reality. Tragically, both of Fred and Milton’s parents died of AIDS while Fred and Milton were studying in the United States and before the clinic was built. Fred and Milton resolved to fulfill their father’s dream of bringing health to their community — finishing the clinic and founding Lwala Community Alliance.

The themes of today’s episode include humanity, community and connectedness of the globe and I promise you’ll leave inspired.

And in the scary time we’re in right now with COVID-19, it’s a good reminder about the importance of health care and the heroes who are our health care providers and workers.

This episode is hosted by Kristin Srour.

Show Notes:

Lwala

Lwala on instagram

Lwala on Twitter

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Illuminate on Instagram

www.theilluminatepodcast.com

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Chrissy Vasquez is the kind of person who will be ready and willing to help even when it may be inconvenient and uncomfortable. She is an advocate who those who most vulnerable and in this episode we talk about loosing the stigma around illiteracy, depression and other mental health issues.

Chrissy is the Chief Development Officer for Indy Reads – an organization who’s mission is to build the literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and families to reach their full potential.

Prior to working for Indy Reads, Chrissy  served as executive director and vice president of operations for Back on My Feet. She also served as director of membership and corporate sponsorship at the Indiana State Museum.

I met Chrissy when I worked for Back on My Feet and she was a volunteer for the organization. I was immediately drawn to her positive and welcoming personality. I admired her tenacity to do hard things and do things her way. She once set out to complete a full ironman and even though she didn’t make the time cut off, she continued the race and finished in just over 18 hours.

There is a lot of inspiration to gather up in this conversation – soak it in friends!

This episode is hosted by Lindsey Hein.

Show Notes: 

Sausage in a Wetsuit

Indy Reads

Back on My Feet

Allison Moore – Yoga Instagram

Frangipani Body Products

Down the Rabbit Hole – Holly Madison

Brave not Perfect – Reshma Saujani

Follow Illuminate: 

Illuminate on Instagram

Illuminate on Facebook

The post Episode 29: Chrissy Vasquez – Breaking Down Barriers appeared first on SandyBoy Productions.

This week we are talking with Ashley Mitchell. She is the owner of Big Tough Girl,  Founder + Executive Director of Lifetime Healing Foundation and co-host of the podcast Twisted Sisterhood. She has set out to seek increased care, understanding, and resources for birth mothers.  Ashley is a birth mother herself, placing her now 13 year old son at birth and proceeding with an open adoption. But her journey started long before her adoption story and now has continued long after. She shares so much about her life and the path that has led her to where she is today. Ashley and I talk about her story, supporting birth mothers after adoption, the current state of some adoption programs, and what she hopes for in the adoption community.

Ashley is brave and vulnerable when talking about her journey, touching on pain points and healing points with so much transparency.

Listen this week to hear a voice from a population that has historically been silenced. I promise you will learn and you will be challenged.

Hosted by Emily Reddington

Show Notes

On Your Feet Foundation

Twisted Sisterhood Podcast

The post Episode 28: Ashley Mitchell- Advocating for Birth Mothers appeared first on SandyBoy Productions.