The Illuminate Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 30: Fred & Milton Ochieng – Humanity, Community and a Father’s Dream Mar 18, 2020

Show notes

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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Episode 29: Chrissy Vasquez – Breaking Down Barriers Mar 11, 2020

Show notes

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

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Episode 28: Ashley Mitchell- Advocating for Birth Mothers Mar 04, 2020

Show notes

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

Episode 27: Maria Baer- Organize Your Everyday Feb 26, 2020

Show notes

We are almost through February which means spring is around the corner! For many of us, spring means warmer weather! No matter where you live, though, spring also often means a fresh start. If spring cleaning is on your to-do list, today’s episode is for you! And even if spring cleaning is the furthest thing from your mind, this episode may change your perspective. Today we are talking to Indianapolis-based organizer, The Baer Minimalist. Maria Baer helps clients reorganize their spaces, declutter their lives and find a better way to be organized and styled. The topic of organization and minimalism is a hot one in today’s society. We’ve seen this ring true with popular shows like, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Our guest today sheds some light on the trend of organizing and she also encourages us to think about not only what we’re getting rid of, but what we’re buying in first place. Do you need it? Do you really need it? What would life look like if we bucked consumer-driven society? Episode Hosted By: Sarah Holsapple Show Notes: National Society of Productivity and Organizing Nuuly, Clothing Rental The More of Less by Joshua Becker Savory Bread Pudding Recipe

Episode 26: Kim Holden – Taking Birth Back Feb 19, 2020

Show notes

What do architecture and birth have in common? For one, in both cases you can design an experience. But in this case, it’s this week’s guest, Kim Holden!

Kim was a founding principal of the world-renowned architecture firm SHoP. After more than 25 years of design and of cultivating and fostering the culture of the firm, she embarked on a new path as a doula, starting her business Doula X Design. She brings her design expertise and business acumen to the birthing space.

In today’s episode, Kim talks about her decision to leave her 25 year career in architecture to follow her passion of supporting mothers in birth. She talks about the process to making this big change and reminding herself “This is my one life, what do I want it to look like?” Her new calling is to give mothers, their partners and families the emotional and physical support and the safe space that is critical to having an empowered, loving birth and postpartum period. She discusses how we can take back birth, the Frida Mom ad and postpartum. There’s so much to learn from Kim in today’s episode, not only about birth, but about career changes and when to know it is time for a change.

Hosted by Kristin Srour

Show Notes:

Kids of Kathmandu

Frida Mom Ad

Your Birth Plan by Megan Davidson

Nurture by Erica Cohen

Babies are Not Pizzas: They’re Born, Not Delivered by Rebecca Dekker

Follow Kim Holder and Doula X Design on Instagram

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Episode 25: Emmalee Hinton- Finding Hope in Tragedy Feb 12, 2020

Show notes

This week we have the privilege of talking to my friend Emmalee Hinton. Emmalee is a stay at home mom of 3 young kids and a wife to Chad. She tells us about her and her family’s journey recovering from the devastating injury of her 4 month old daughter. Sweet Elena had a non-accidental brain injury while at daycare that left her clinging to life and forever changed.

Emmalee walked through this time with such bravery and grace and she shares with us how she has found good in such a horrible and tragic circumstance— she has truly found hope in darkness.

Ronald McDonald Video about Elena’s Story

Our Shining Light Blog

Episode 24: Judge Sarah Evans Barker- US District Court Judge Feb 06, 2020

Show notes

Imagine being the first woman or man in your profession, ever! And then imagine you were appointed to that position by the President of the United States! No pressure, right? That’s the story of Judge Sarah Evans Barker.

Judge Barker was the first female to be appointment U.S. District Court Judge. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan more than 30 years ago and serves the Southern District of Indiana. Being a female judge was so rare when Judge Barker was appointed, she often had attorneys in her courtroom slip up and call her “sir!” One time, she even had a male defendant read a passage to her from the Old Testament where it mentions how women should not be in a position to judge men!

In this interview, Judge Barker shares more stories like that one in addition to talking about the call she received from President Reagan and the unique partnership she and her husband, Ken, found while raising their three children. She even shares details of some of her most difficult cases and describes how those sentencing decisions still weigh heavy on her mind.

We also discuss Judge Barker’s time moderating the Stanley K. Lacy (SKL) Executive Leadership Series®. If you have interest in learning more about SKL, click here. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Judge Sarah Evans Barker.

The episode is hosted by Sarah Holsapple.

Episode 23: Kari Moore – Welcoming Refugees Jan 29, 2020

Show notes

Kari Moore is the Director of Self Sufficiency at Exodus Refugee Immigration in Indianapolis. She oversees education, employment, and youth programs. In this episode Kari talks about what it looks like for individuals to resettle here in America and how we can help welcome them here. We also talk about how we can teach our kids to be includers and Kari gives a great book recommendation for anyone looking to learn a little bit more about what it’s like to be a refugee. (Refugee by Alan Gratz)

About Exodus Refugee Immigration: Exodus has a long history of welcoming refugees and asylees from many countries, cultures, languages, faiths, and political opinions. They began in 1981 with the mission to serve the legal needs of immigrants and Cuban refugees, who had arrived as part of the Mariel boatlift in 1980. Since that time, Exodus has helped thousands of refugees establish their lives in Indiana.

Show Notes:

Exodus Refugee Immigration

Refugee – Alan Gratz

Books to help kids understand what it’s like to be a refugee

Diverse Books

Follow Exodus Refugee on Instagram

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Sponsor:

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Episode 22: Molly Cantrell-Kraig – Building Resilience Jan 22, 2020

Show notes

Molly Cantrell-Kraig has an extraordinary story going from a single young mother of three living on welfare to not only surviving, but thriving and showing resilience. In this episode, Molly brings wisdom around resilience, emotional intelligence and mindfulness. You will leave this episode with new ideas, words to live by and a few habits to consider for your daily life!

An author, media consultant, life coach and speaker, Molly has been recognized as one of CNN’s Visionary Women and profiled by the Christian Science Monitor, and the Shriver Report.

Molly has published a book call “Circuit Train Your Brain” where she shares her own personal experiences and writes about daily habits to develop resilience.

I hope you love my conversation with Molly and maybe you’ll pick up one of her life mantras or habits!

Hosted by Kristin Srour

Show Notes:

Book recommendation: The Mother of Black Hollywood: A Memoir by Jenifer Lewis

Tofu Lasagna Recipe:

-Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a medium sized bowl, use a pastry tool to crumble tofu, salt, garlic and pesto into fine crumbs. Set mixture aside.

-In a glass 9×9 baking dish, arrange three of the noodles. Cover with red sauce. Layer cheeses, tofu mixture, pine nuts and spinach leaves. Repeat layering process three times, topping with shredded cheese. Pour about one finger’s worth of water into glass jar from the red sauce; swirl to clear remaining sauce, pour into glass pan.

-Bake for 45 minutes; remove from oven. Let stand five minutes before cutting and serving. This recipe has fooled omnivores, freezes and reheats well.

Follow Molly

https://www.mollycantrellkraig.co/

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

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Episode 21: Dominique Smith – Restorative Practices in Education Jan 15, 2020

Show notes

Dominique Smith is the director of student services at Health Sciences High & Middle College, where he also serves as a culture builder and student advocate. He is also social worker, school administrator, mentor, national trainer for the International Institute on Restorative Practices, and member of ASCD’s FIT Teaching^® (Framework for Intentional and Targeted Teaching^®) Cadre.

He is passionate about creating school cultures that honor students and build their confidence and competence. He is the winner of the National School Safety Award from the School Safety Advocacy Council.

Smith is the coauthor of Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management and Building Equity: Policies and Practices to Empower All Learners. He holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California.

Show Notes:

Dominique’s Ted Talk – Relationships: The Tool that was Never Taught

Dominique’s Ted Talk – Building Student Identity and Agency

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