Stay ConnectedHas something simple ever changed your life? A lunch box note changed mine. A few years ago, my husband wrote a timely message to our son that said: BE STRONG, PROTECT THE WEAK, LOVE EVERYONE. Those six words ignited our family’s mission to love others well.
Each week on Be Love. Do Good. podcast, we’ll share ideas, encouraging words, and stories that inspire you to love outside your comfort zone.
Today I am talking with Dave Hollis, CEO of Hollis Co. He is just as down to earth as you may think he is. We had such fun talking about what it was like this year as his wife Rachel’s bookGirl, Wash Your Face, was a topseller and what that felt like.
We talk about what it looks like to have patient trust, their journey of adoption and fostering, and how that experience set them up for what they are doing now. We share our hearts for helping our kids get out of their comfort zone so they can be exposed to other people’s stories, and show love and empathy for those who have had different experiences.
We also discuss something he has never talked about which is the Hollis Co. Foundation and how they are giving back with their success.
3 ways they are showing up for different communities:
Veterans
Women
Children in Care (foster care)
You won’t want to miss this one.
We look to the future and see what is coming down the pipe for Hollis Co. and Rachel Hollis this year.
Full show notes here with links to ALL THE THINGS.
Today I am talking with my dear friend Becky Conzelman, Pro-cyclist and Crossfit Games athlete, mama to two of my favorite kiddos, and Co-Founder and Executive Director of FAITH RXD
Since the airing of this episode It is with very heavy hearts we share that our beloved Becky passed away on April 6th. This interview was Beckys last.
We interviewed Becky a month ago, but when this was ready to go on air, Becky suffered a brain aneurysm and brain bleed. Thankfully she was rushed to the hospital and her life was then spared.
I wanted you to hear this podcast of her story, because I wanted you to know who Becky is, her heart, her passion for others. Everyone should know Becky and her story of hope through crushed dreams of not making the Olympics, to finding her identity in something other than competing. Her faith has never faltered. I think you will love the incredible story of my dear friend Becky.
If you would like to encourage or show appreciation to the Conzelman family I encourage you to donate to FAITH RXD:
Instagram:
Facebook:FaithRxd
Becky Conzelman
Instagram:@beckyconzelman
Today I talk with Noonday Founder and CEO Jessica Honegger.
She is so fun and funny to talk with. We talk about how she is courageously accepting herself and in turn that helps her celebrate others well. Celebrating our own flaws and loving our whole selves helps us have freedom to love others well.
We laugh a lot, but there are so many nuggets of truth about loving ourselves with authenticity so we love others well.
We talk about rest and hustle, and she tells a great story of loving others intentionally when we may feel insecure ourselves. We talk about staying in the uncomfortable and being vulnerable.
She gives us some practical steps to accept ourselves and others.
Jessica has written a book all about this calledImperfect Couragewhich is one of my favorite books of the year.
Click here or full links and show notes
Today I interview Lauren Carpenter who is a breath of sweetness and compassion to others. Lauren is Co-founder of Branded Collective, a jewelry company that partners with those who are survivors of sex trafficking. Listen in as we dive into how each of us can use our talents, maybe the ones we didn’t even know we had, to help others.
We talk about the power of encouraging one another and recognizing the gifts of others and telling them about these gifts.
Some other things she talks about:
We talk about the signs of sex trafficking and how this happens right in our own neighborhoods. It’s not just a far away thing. She tells of staying aware and keeping our eyes open to others, so we can notice when things may seem “off”. We dive into why it’s so important to research and come alongside those who are doing work in the trenches.There are many forms of sex trafficking and we talk about the signs and what to do when something feels “off”.
If you see a woman or child who doesn’t seem like they belong with who they are with:
Call Human Trafficking hotline:
1 (888) 373-7888
Click here for some of the organizations we discuss, books, and more information on Branded Collective. https://www.bestrongstory.com/be-love-podcast
Emma Hicks is a 27 year old powerhouse who wears many hats: wife, mother of 3, entrepreneur, chef and baker (solely for her family ;), aunt, Rising Tide Society QC Tuesday's Together co-leader, antique picker, and 1st generation hobby farmer.
She is the host and founder of Camp Climb (a retreat for females with a creative business or looking to pursue a creative passion) and Iowa Gathering (highly curated, intimate vintage market; brought to life because of HGTV). Craving a disconnection from the online world, building ‘in real life’ relationships, creating experiences, and being a part of positive community, she bet on the fact others were hungry for it too. She acknowledged her gifts, talents, and expertise: planning/coordinating, bringing together communities, running a small business, and igniting powerful connections. After countless brain dumps and a few sketchpads later, she is climbing her mountain to make an impact.
You will love hearing her story of how she went from professional “picker” to HGTV pilot, to 8 years an entrepreneur. Her first love is “unburying old treasures and bringing them back to life.” She’s doing this with vintage finds, but also with her Camp Climb that she founded to bring entrepreneurs, creatives, and those who want to dive into their dreams together into community. She wants to give others a taste of a thriving community, by teaching others to network, collaborate.
We talked about the things she learned along the way, as a young mother, entrepreneur, how to bring her dreams to life in tangible ways. The value of hard work, how to acknowledge what her gifts are and how to live out of those. We talk about how to be comfortable in the uncomfortable.
We talk about the value of keeping an open arms approach to all things.
We talk about what fires us up, but also what is sustainable, and the baby steps of confidence and baby steps of getting out of your comfort zones.
Today Emma is teaching us how to build on behalf of others. How to leverage our gifts and talents to build beautiful things that can help others too.
Emma is a breath of fresh air, someone who understands what it’s like to run a business, but also knows how to unplug an enjoy the simpler things in life. She balances both really well, which is so hard to do in the age of constant technology and social media.
Listen and be inspired to do what you are gifted at, stay present, and unplug so you can stay recharged to build your life on behalf of others.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SHOW NOTES AND HOW TO CONNECT WITH EMMA. https://www.bestrongstory.com/be-love-podcast
Branden Harvey is a storyteller focused on the good in the world. If Branden’s learned one thing from his work, it’s this: There's no shortage of good news in the world. You just have to know where to look. He's the host of the podcast Sounds Good, the creator of the Goodnewspaper, a printed newspaper full of good news, and has built an online community over more than 250,000 world changers. He's helped brands like Disney, Square, Southwest Airlines, and (RED) tell meaningful stories with heart all over the world. He's been written about and featured by media including The Washington Post, Seventeen Magazine, Fortune Magazine, and Mashable.
Branden looks for the helpers, he celebrates the helpers, and his company gives us all tangible steps to get involved. In this episode Branden helps us look for the helpers and be the helpers.
Branden was a humanitarian photographer where he traveled the world hearing others stories and seeing others perspectives. He gives us tangible steps of how to get involved in our community and find the things that break our hearts so we can do something about it.
SOME THINGS WE TALK ABOUT:
“When we take action towards the injustices of the world that’s the ultimate antidote to cynicism and apathy. “
I see a lot of pain, what can I do?
It takes all of us to move the needle.
We talk about how it’s important to know what is going on in the world. Reading the news and being impacted by stories that might not affect us personally, but should affect us.
How can we be affected by others stories and also be a solution to their injustices.
It’s complicated but also simple.
It’s ok, to let these stories break your heart.
“You cannot selectively numb emotion.”
Brene Brown
He talks about how he used to reject pain, but now lets it penetrate his heart.
We talk about our brains internal negativity bias and how we can change this bias. So many times we forget to savor the good news.
Allow your heart to break
Look for the helpers
Be a helper
Don’t go it alone.
You will be inspired by this conversation to be a helper. To find those who need help and be the one who does good for those who need it.
For how to connect with Branden click here for more show notes:
https://www.bestrongstory.com/be-love-podcast
Our guest today is Heather Boersman, a speaker, author and life coach who loves to adventure with her husband Alex and their three kids Cohen, Claire and Byron. She has been speaking to teen girls and women for the past 12 years in Canada and the USA. She has recently published her second book, Letters from a Big Sister, where she collaborated with other authors like Jamie Ivey, Jessica Honegger who was on our show and Jenna Kutcher to share letters of advice they would write to their younger self.
Today we talk about what we would say to our younger self now. All the struggles we went through as teens and how sometimes those insecurities and struggles follow us into adulthood. We discuss the cycles that all of us deal with when it comes to how we find our worth and significance. How can we remind ourselves daily that we are worthy and significant.
We talk about the difference between rest and striving. She gives us her red flags for when she needs rest and needs to stop striving. She teaches us ways to see our own red flags.
We talk about identity and what we are all searching for, how we search for worth in all the wrong places.
Who am I?
Am I accepted?
Am I worthy?
She talks about her struggles with bullying and how those struggles inspired her to write a book for young girls, as well as living her life on behalf of others to know they are valuable and worthy. She talks about her struggles with perfectionism and now leading with vulnerability.
Some quotes I loved:
“Leading with Vulnerability creates connection.”
“I am not moving forward unless it’s with TEAM.”
We also talk about online time for teens and adults. We talk about safeguards you can create as parents for your child as they start to engage on social media.
“You don’t have to work for love and significance, you can LIVE from love and value, just because God dreamt you up. Just because YOU are!”
It’s the difference between walking into a room and saying, “Here I am”, and instead staying,” There you are.”
“Who can I find today that I can bless and hear their story?”
“I focus on finding others who need someone to listen.”
“Live from LOVE and not FOR love.”
“You actually have to love yourself in order to love others.”
Connect with Heather.
https://www.heatherboersma.com
Instagram:Heatherboersma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.boersma.3
Get Heather’s book:
Today we are talking about one of the best, when it comes to caring for those in the margins. She defines the marginalized as those who are not in the main narrative. Some people can be obvious and some not as much.
Danielle talks about no matter where we live or what we do it is our responsibility to find and learn from those who have been pushed out of the main story.
This has to be one of the most important interviews I have ever done. She gives us practical ways to listen and learn from those we may have never known. Whether it be refugee, homeless, those in foster care, etc... Danielle’s goal is to live a life of love and she gives us very practical ways in how to take the first steps in becoming love in our communities.
As a 20 year veteran of the Salvation Army, Danielle has fought for those who are marginalized or have felt less than. Danielle Strickland is currently based in Toronto, Canada. Her aggressive compassion has served people firsthand in countries all over the world. From establishing Justice Departments for The Salvation Army, to launching Global anti-trafficking initiatives, to creating new movements to mobilize people towards transformational living. Danielle trains, advocates, and inspires people to live differently.
Danielle is the author of 5 books with her most recent being The Ultimate Exodus: Finding Freedom From What Enslaves You and The Zombie Gospel: The Walking Dead and What it means to be Human. She is host of DJStrickland Podcast, Co-founder of Infinitum, Amplify Peace, Brave Global and Women Speakers Collective. Danielle is a mom of 3, wife to Stephen Court and has been affectionately called the "ambassador of fun".
Click here for more show notes: https://www.bestrongstory.com/be-love-podcast
How to connect with Danielle Strickland:
https://www.daniellestrickland.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/daniellejstrickland/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/DanielleJStrickland
Today I am interviewing Rian Smoak. Rian is a Triathlete and has competed in multiple marathons and triathlons, including the Ironman Championships in Hawaii, which is the Mecca of all Ironmans. After Rian crossed the finish line in Kona he knew he needed to provide an opportunity for someone else to have that feeling, who maybe couldn’t finish on their own. This started the partnership with his teammate Bryce. Bryce has Cerebral Palsey and is in a wheelchair. CP makes him unable to walk or use his legs. Through an incredible friendship they are taking the triathlon world by storm. Rian is giving Bryce the opportunity to cross finish lines. Rian and Bryce have competed in multiple races together. This consists of Rian pulling Bryce in a boat on the swim portion, pulling Bryce behind his bike, and pushing him in a race stroller on the run.
This Saturday they will be tackling a FULL Ironman at IM BOULDER.
You will be so inspired to hear Rian talk about why he knew he had to use his passion for racing to help someone else, how he changed his attitude when it comes to competition. How a friendship formed between two very different but similar men, and how Bryce is teaching us all to be grateful, inspired, and being present is what life is all about it.
We also talk about how we can treat others with special needs, and how Bryce can teach us to treat everyone with kindness and respect even if they may seem different.
See full show notes here! https://www.bestrongstory.com/be-love-podcast
Michelle McKinney is our guest today and she brings the FIRE and inspiration to know what our purpose is and live in it. She helps women design, define and bring their God-given dreams to life. She believes that every woman can fulfill her God-given purpose, and she is on a mission to help them get there. That’s why she started her company, Dreams Unleashed, to help others pursue their dreams.
My favorite piece of advice is when she says, “Our dreams are never about ME, they’re always about others”.
When we live into our gifts and purpose we are making others better and serving others.
She talks about advocating for ourselves which in turn helps us advocate for others.
If you are squelched in your dreams or don’t know what your purpose is, this is the podcast for you. And if you know your purpose this podcast will inspire you to stick with it.
Michelle gives us some tangible ways to know our gifts and steps to live into them.
She is literally coaching us through this podcast and you can use many of the tips she talks about RIGHT NOW.
Click here for the full show notes and how to get in touch with Michelle.
Coaching with Michelle McKinney
Dreams Unleashed- get your coaching now
http://www.dreams-unleashed.com
Instagram:
Michelle.mckinney
https://www.instagram.com/michelle.mckinney/
Books we reference:
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
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