Together, We Shall

On episode 33 of the Together, We Shall podcast, Joe and Rooster chat with Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Josh and Mrs. Mercedes Alvis who are raising  five military children under 10 years old.  We discuss a few of the unique aspects of raising military kids amid deployments, as well as intimate and emotional details associated with the the birth of their second born child, Gabe, who has Downs Syndrome.  Thank you, Alvis Family, for your service to our Nation. 

On episode 32 of the Together, We Shall podcast, Joe and Rooster chat with the co-founder of Detroit-based run club, We Run 313, Lance Woods.  A native of Detroit, MI, Lance has always dreamed of a better life for his family and friends. It wasn't until he left home for college in Tennessee that he realized he could help create the change he wanted to see for those in his hometown. Lance unselfishly employs our "Together, We Shall" ethos everyday in his efforts to create a happier and healthier community and we sincerely appreciate the perspective he shares with us all in this episode.  

March is Women’s History Month and this year’s theme is an inspiring tribute: Women Providing Healing and Promoting Hope. On episode 31 of the Together, We Shall podcast, Joe and Rooster chat with the President of the Travis Manion Foundation, Ryan Manion.  Ryan’s immeasurable service to our Nation’s Youth, Veterans, and Families of the Fallen has, provided healing and promoted hope. Ryan’s brother Travis was killed in action while serving as a Marine Officer in Iraq. She shares how her family channeled their grief through serving others and how she felt tremendous healing along the way.

On Episode 30 of the Together, We Shall podcast, Joe and Rooster salsa with Southeast North Carolina Ambassador Susan Mikitka. Susan went from lawyer to produce broker to a Mom of twins. At only 27 weeks into her pregnancy, Susan's twins were ready to meet the world, but their start in this world was anything but smooth. Both girls dealt with severe health conditions from the start, but while one progressed to typical development, a respiratory infection followed by infantile spasms would have lifelong effects on the other, but according to Susan, "You do what the got to do to get it done," and that's what Susan did.  As a non-runner, Susan met a man pushing his son in a 5k she directed, and that started her down her road to becoming an Ainsley's Angels Ambassador along with accomplishing multiple Marine Corps Marathon finishes with her twins!

On Episode 29 of the Together, We Shall podcast, Joe and Rooster welcome Andrew Reid.  Migrating from Jamaica as an undocumented citizen, Andrew shares insight about becoming an American citizen, but also into his spinal injury recovery journey. As an extremely athletic senior at the University of Florida, Andrew woke up one day unable to move and paralyzed from the chest down. Through determination and perseverance, Andrew went from a T3 complete paraplegic to using a wheelchair, to a walker to crutches to one crutch to now using a cane. While paralyzed, Andrew leaned into his creative passion and found his purpose. He has risen to become one of Hollywood’s few Directors with a disability and directed “Ainsley’s Angels: A Right to Run”  presented by On Running. Andrew is also the newest member of Ainsley’s Angels of America Board of Directors.

On Episode 28 of the Together, We Shall podcast, Joe and Rooster chat with Amanda Piccirilli-Hall about the ebbs and flows of life. Growing up in Southeast Pennsylvania as a gifted soccer goalkeeper, Amanda rose to play Division I soccer at Loyola on a full-ride athletic scholarship. Of course, life has seasons and phases, and sometimes what we think will be the dream of a lifetime is changed with one biased, perception-based decision.  Amanda’s journey of overcoming societal judgment and faulty conclusion-induced depression is a story told to benefit us all.

 Joe and Rooster step onto the dance floor with Virginia Angel runner and Tidewater Striders President Thomas Hicks who takes us through his “Never Give Up” daily attitude as multiple sclerosis is slowly eating away at his body. Despite his everyday battles, Thomas talks about his passion for running, his future in the sport, and the work he does giving back to the running community. 

Joe and Rooster are in the hot seat, as Tim Davis guest hosts with probing questions. Quite the dance ensues, as we find out some lesser-known facts about our co-hosts. During Episode 26, we also debut a new segment —“Tales from the Course” — which takes all three of these combat Marines by surprise.

In 2021, there were over 107,000 drug overdoses in the United States. Over 70,000 of them were due to synthetic opioids, fentanyl. The national substance abuse and mental health services administration is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year: 800-662-HELP.

On Episode 25 of the Together, We Shall podcast, Lori joins Joe and Rooster to take a fun and educational look back on Episodes 14-24.  Similar to Episode 13's look back on episodes 1-12, Lori shares how she was impacted by each episode, while also reading aloud a quote from each of the guests in each episode.  If you have missed an episode, 25 gives you a recap and idea of what you have missed and helps you find an episode of interest to you!  Thank you for your listenership in 2022, we look forward to sharing some new segments and perspectives next year!  Email us at [email protected] with ideas for topics, segments, stories and guests.

On Episode 24 of the Together, We Shall podcast, Joe and Rooster chat with Tanya McGee about her adoption journey, not as the “adopter” or as an “adoptee”, but as the teenager that chose to place her firstborn for adoption. November is Adoption Awareness month and in this episode, we hear an emotional story that offers awareness for an adoption perspective seldom discussed or shared publicly.

We offer this resource for additional information and assistance: 

https://www.americanadoptions.com/pregnant/adoption_hotline