Your History Your Story

In this episode, our guest is designer, illustrator and author, Mike Brennan. 

As a boy growing up in New York, Mike created heartwarming greeting cards that lit up the faces of his family and friends. 

He always had an innate sense that his art was a way to serve others. 

Mike went on to study at The Fashion Institute of Technology and The School of Visual Arts in New York City.

After completing his schooling, Mike begin his career as a graphic designer. However, after a time, he began to suffer from some depression and found that he needed to rediscover his artistic abilities and use them to encourage and inspire others. 

Mike now helps fellow creatives and content creators through public speaking, an online community and a course called Your Artist Journey.

This is Mike’s story.

Photo(s): Courtesy of Mike Brennan

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

In this episode, we will be speaking with author, speaker and Latina entrepreneur, Lisa Caprelli.

Lisa grew up with humble beginnings in El Paso, Texas. Shy as a child, Lisa had a vivid imagination and a gift for writing and went on to be the first in her generation to graduate from college, where she studied Social Psychology. 

As an entrepreneur, Lisa spent twenty-five years in marketing, during which time she helped many CEO’s turn their businesses into meaningful brands. 

Today, Lisa is focusing her attention on her passion for helping and inspiring children through a book series called “Unicorn Jazz” and an Amazon TV show called “Unicorn Jazz Presents: The Thing I Do”. 

Through her books and TV show, which include puppets, music, art and other entertainment, Lisa hopes to inspire kids to learn, discover their uniqueness and encourage them to show kindness to others.

Photo(s): Courtesy of Lisa Caprelli

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

Delilah Bardlette, who is a successful manager at United Airlines, is also the founder of “The Leader Appears”, which provides executive coaching for life, career or ministry. 

Additionally, Delilah has created and produces a vlog and daily devotional called “Delilah’s Downloads” that offers encouragement and inspiration.

As a child growing up in Chicago in the 1970’s and 80’s, Delilah thrived academically in a community where she felt safe under the watchful eyes of friends and neighbors. However, as a teenager, Delilah dropped out of high school and  became a single mom at the age of nineteen, requiring her to go on welfare.  

In this episode, Delilah will share how her determination and faith and support from others, helped her to excel in her career and experience healing in her relationships.

She will also tell how she now uses the lessons she’s learned to help others to avoid pitfalls, realize their potential and “chase their possible”.

Photo(s): Courtesy of Delilah Bardlette

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

September 11, 2001:

If you are above thirty years of age, the terrible events of that day are most likely etched in your memory and will be for years to come. 

Many people today are able to remember exactly where they were, what they were doing  and how they found out that the United States of America had been attacked by terrorists.

In this 20th anniversary tribute to the victims and survivors of the 9/11 attacks, we will be speaking with three individuals, Neil, Amy and Marty who will share how their lives were directly impacted by the events of that day.

Neil’s story - Neil was working at his office on the 35th floor of the North Tower of the WTC when the first plane struck his building. 

Amy’s story - Amy was a student at Bloomfield College in northern New Jersey when she received a misdirected call from a WTC survivor who was desperately trying to reach loved ones.

Marty’s story - Marty was a retired Wanaque, NJ police officer when he answered the call to assist NYPD (as a volunteer) in recovery efforts at and around the WTC.

Photo(s): Courtesy of Neil L., Amy P. & Marty S.

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

It was a beautiful, sunny Tuesday morning in New York City on September 11, 2001.

Michael Hingson, blind since birth, and his guide dog, Roselle had arrived early at his office on the 78th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center to set up for a meeting. 

Little did Michael know that their building and the South Tower, were about to be struck by airplanes commandeered by terrorists. What ensued, would test both Michael and his dog in ways he could never have imagined.

In this episode, marking the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, our guest Michael Hingson, will tell us how a lifetime of learning, determination and reliance on his other senses along with Roselle’s training helped prepare them to navigate over 1400 stairs, which led them out of the building and eventually to safety.

Photo(s): Courtesy of Michael Hingson

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

Our guest today is Monica Navarro-Leonard, who is a professional photographer and independent contractor from Baltimore, Maryland.

As a teenager growing up in New Jersey, Monica was actively engaged in various activities at her church and was very outgoing. However, she also struggled with anxiety & depression and felt the need to please others. 

Monica didn’t want to be just another kid wrapped up in typical teenage concerns. Instead, she felt the need to channel her anxious energy into something productive and become part of something bigger than herself and make a difference for good in this world.    

In this episode, Monica will explain how, by immersing herself in a faith-based organization, she learned  how to be responsible, self sufficient and a leader. However, she will also explain how some experiences in that same organization touched-off some unsettledness in her heart that would eventually lead her to a more complete understanding of herself, her relationship with others and most importantly, God’s grace. 

Photo(s): Courtesy of Monica Navarro-Leonard

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved people, with the aid of abolitionists to escape to free states and Canada prior to the passing of the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States in 1865. 

In this episode, our guest is architect and historian, Frank Gerard Godlewski. Frank, whose career as an architect brought him to Italy, where he lived and worked for more than twenty years, always maintained a deep interest in the history of his hometown of Montclair, New Jersey and more specifically, black history and the story of the Underground Railroad in that area.

This interest was sparked in him early in life through a dear friend of the family, Dr. Evelyn Darrell, who was a clinical psychologist, scholar and black historian who mentored Frank and inspired his passion for black history.

Frank, who now lives back in northern New Jersey, will tell us about his quest to discover, share and document the complicated and little known stories about New Jersey’s history with slavery and its’ Underground Railroad.

Photo: Courtesy of Bud Endress

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

On April 10, 1912, The RMS Titanic, which was declared to be unsinkable, set sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton England to New York City. 

Four days into its’ journey on April 14th @ 11:40pm, the ship struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean, causing the ship to sink within three hours. 

Tragically, approximately 1,500 of the ships’ 2,200 passengers and crew members perished in the icy cold water.

Hours later, the survivors were rescued by The RMS Carpathia and were brought to safety in New York City. Two of those survivors were a young mother, Leah Aks & her 10 month old son, Phillip. 

Leah & Phillip, who lived in England, were on their way to join Leah’s husband, Sam to start a new life together in the United States.

In this episode, our guest is Leah’s great granddaughter, Shelley Binder.

Shelley, an accomplished flutist and retired professor from the University of Tennessee, will share the story of her great grandmother’s terrifying experiences on that fateful night aboard the Titanic and its’ later impact on her life and the lives of her family. 

Photo(s): Courtesy of Shelley Binder

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man