The Illuminate Podcast

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Episode 79: Gina Mulligan; Girls Love Mail Mar 03, 2021

Show notes

Gina Mulligan is the founder of a nonprofit called Girls Love Mail, an author, and a breast cancer survivor.

Gina was working on writing a book of letters when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. After her diagnosis, she began receiving letters from others (including strangers) and realized the impact that handwritten letters can have on someone. This lead her to start the nonprofit organization Girls Love Mail. Girls Love Mail collects handwritten letters of encouragement for women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer. They are a fully volunteer-run organization that collects letters from anyone and then distribute them to cancer centers.

Gina is such a positive light in the world and doing so much for women that have been diagnosed with breast cancer. I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Gina!

This episode is hosted by Emma Benner.

What we talked about:

3:40- What Girls Love Mail is

4:20- How her own breast cancer diagnosis led to starting Girls Love Mail

7:05- Discussing her own cancer diagnosis and treatment

9:35- How Girls Love Mail gained attention and started to grow

15:05- Being a fully volunteer run organization

17:50- Some of the guidelines for letter writing

22:20- How they work with cancer centers to distribute these letters

28:45- Gina’s goals for Girls Love Mail in the future

36:05- The message/letter that she would send to someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer

38:10- Her profession as an author

44:15- End of podcast questions

Show notes:

Girls Love Mail Website

Girls Love Mail on Instagram

Girls Love Mail on Facebook

Book recommendation: Human Kindness by Brad Aronson

Book recommendation: The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields

Reconciliation Singers Voices of Peace

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Episode 78: Tara Shupe; Let Her Dream Feb 25, 2021

Show notes

Tara Shupe is a humanitarian and outdoor photographer. She captures raw human stories, meaningful travel experiences, and focuses on women empowerment.

She works with various organizations, brands, and people around the world to share their personal stories, the positive impact they are making, and more! She hopes to use her work to cultivate awareness and be a positive person in the creative world.

Tara recently released a photo book, Let Her Dream, which shares some of the powerful stories, quotes, and photography that she has captured around the world on her projects.

In this episode, Tara talks about both of the photo books that she has published (Let Her Dream and The Alaska Photo Book), spending 96 days in a Dutch NICU after her water broke at 22 weeks, how she captures stories ethically across all cultures, using her photography and creative skills for good, and pursuing her passions of humanitarian and outdoor photography.

This episode is hosted by Emma Benner.

What we talked about:

2:25- Introductions to Tara Shupe and her photography business

9:40- The nonprofits that she works with and how she connects with the clients

12:45- Her recent birth story

18:05- Best advice for other parents in the NICU

20:40- The motherhood stories that she told on her blog from a project in Tanzania

23:35- How she ethically captures stories in various cultures

27:25- Various outdoor adventures that she has been on around the world

30:40- The recent photo book that she published, Let Her Dream

36:50- A place that she dreams to travel and do a project in

38:15- What work looks like now as a business owner in the middle of the pandemic and with a new baby

42:25- Details on The Alaska Photo Book that she published

44:35- End of podcast questions

Show notes:

Tara Shupe Website

Tara Shupe Instagram

Let Her Dream

Book Recommendation: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Book Recommendation: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Grumeti Fund

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Episode 77: Chris Norton; Defeating the Odds Feb 17, 2021

Show notes

Chris Norton was a collegiate football player when he mistimed a tackle and collided with the opponent’s legs and immediately lost all feeling and movement from the neck down. He was given the diagnosis that he would never be able to move again.

After incredible amounts of perseverance and dedication, alongside the support of his family and friends, Chris was able to walk across the graduation stage and down the aisle at his wedding with his wife Emily by his side. Chris’ story is one of perseverance, facing his challenges head on, and using his story and his experiences to make a positive impact on others.

Chris now has the Chris Norton Foundation which is a nonprofit organization that helps to fund the equipment, accommodations, and opportunities for others with spinal cord and neuromuscular disabilities to help them live their best lives. He also puts on the Chris Norton Foundation Wheelchair Camp where they provide a cost-free camp for youth and families with physical challenges to help them overcome their obstacles and discover all of their abilities.

Chris wrote his book, The Seven Longest Yards, with Mark Tabb who was on the podcast on Episode 55.

On top of all of that, Chris and his wife, Emily, are foster and adoptive parents.

It was such a joy to talk with Chris and hear all that he is doing in the world to change the lives of so many.

This episode is hosted by Emma Benner.

What we talked about:

4:15- Introduction to Chris Norton

12:00- The support that he received after his injury

16:05- Where he is at now in his recovery

18:15- Being a foster and adoptive parent

28:05-Some pivotal moments in his journey to walking again

30:55- What the Chris Norton Foundation and the Chris Norton Foundation Wheelchair Camp are

37:15- A transformational piece of advice that he received from a doctor while in the hospital

42:20- The film, 7 Yards, that he has coming out soon

47:00- End of podcast questions

Show notes:

Chris Norton Website

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How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi

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Episode 76 – Kristen Howerton: Making Space for Empathy Feb 11, 2021

Show notes

Today’s guest is a hilarious, social justice minded mom of four, writer and psychotherapist — Kristen Howerton. Her journey to motherhood was not easy and she became a mom of four in four years through both adoption and natural birth. You may know her for her book or social media “Rage Against the Minivan.” (BTW, yes, she does drive a minivan now.) In this episode, Kristen shares about her family and adoption, her activism around racial justice, talking to her kids about race and how she’s managing pandemic life. Kristen’s perspective on life is refreshing, funny and real.

This episode is hosted by Kristin Srour

Show Notes:

Luvvie Ajayi

DeRay Mckesson

Brene Brown

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

Episode 75: Erika Welsh; Wild Friends Feb 03, 2021

Show notes

Erika Welsh is one of the co-founders of Wild Friends. Wild Friends is a female-founded natural foods company that specializes in nut butters. They are a B-Corp (Certified Benefit Corporation) and through their company have a giveback program called Fuel Her Future where they donate 1% of their sales to programs that help to empower women and girls to chase their dreams. Additionally, they partner with Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest as their non-profit partner.

In this episode, Erika shares the story about how she started Wild Friends in college with her best friend, going on Shark Tank, using Wild Friends as a platform to give back to women and girls, making products that bring joy to people’s day, and so much more!

I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Erika!

This episode is hosted by Emma Benner.

What we talked about:

3:25- Introduction to Erika and how she founded Wild Friends

12:45- How Erika and her co-founder, Keeley, created and grew the business without prior business experience

16:05- The turning point in the business when it started to grow

19:35- Going on Shark Tank and how that transformed the company

25:45- Being in business with her best friend and how they’ve kept a positive relationship throughout

32:45- The strengths that Keeley and Erika each bring to the business

36:35- Their giveback program; Fuel Her Future and the nonprofit that they partner with

41:10- Finding joy in their products bringing other people joy

43:45- End of podcast questions

Show notes:

Get 20% off of your order at getfinleys.com by using the code “ILLUMINATE20”

Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest

Fuel Her Future

Book recommendation: The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes

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Episode 74: Angie and Kyle Gallus- Creating Inclusion in the Pet Industry Jan 27, 2021

Show notes

Kyle and Angie are two former special education teachers that founded the company, Finley’s, in 2016 when they saw an opportunity to make a big impact in the community. Finley’s is a pet treat company that creates paid employment opportunities for people with disabilities. They give 50% of their profits to initiatives that provide employment training, accessibility, health & wellness, and advocacy platforms for people with disabilities.

Kyle and Angie are so passionate about making a big impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities and creating awareness throughout the community.

This episode is hosted by Emma Benner.

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We have a listener survey for The Illuminate Podcast that we would love if you filled it out. We want to hear from you to help better the show in the coming years and we would love if you took a few minutes to fill that out. Fill out the survey HERE.

What we talked about:

2:35- Introduction to Angie and Kyle and what Finley’s is

6:10- The business model of Finley’s and how the ambassadors play a role in the business

8:00- The hiring process of their employees with disabilities (their ambassadors) and the jobs that they do within the company

13:00- Their giving initiatives of giving 50% of their profits back to provide employment training, accessibility, health and wellness and advocacy platforms for people with disabilities

15:35- What they wish that every company knew about hiring individuals with disabilities

20:10- Their goals to be a stepping stone for the ambassadors to grow into roles in other companies and areas of the community

22:50- Challenges that they faced at the beginnings of their company

26:50- When they realized the business was going to take off and be successful

28:35- Learning curves that they have had as they’ve stepped into business and management roles

33:00- Each of their unique strengths that they bring to Finley’s while being in business as a married couple

36:50- Things coming up that they are excited about

38:30- End of podcast questions

Show notes:

How I Built This with Guy Raz

Finley’s Website

Finley’s on Facebook

Finley’s on Instagram

Joshin

Best Buddies Minnesota

Angie’s book recommendation: Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Kyle’s book recommendation: So You Wanna Start a Brewery? by Tony Magee

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Choose2Include Disability Education Podcast

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Episode 73: Tina Beauvais- Be Kind, Live Kind Jan 20, 2021

Show notes

Tina Beauvais joins the podcast today!

Tina Beauvais is one of the co-founders of Be Kind Live Kind and the Disability Inclusion Educator. She is on a mission to teach parents and children the best ways to include individuals with disabilities and special needs. Tina’s daughter, Noel, who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at 5 months old, is the motivation and inspiration behind all of the work that she does.

Be Kind Live Kind is an online shop as well as a boutique in Greeley, Colorado. They sell various types of apparel, accessories, stickers, and jewelry with the intention of spreading the message of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Through their shop, they dedicate the sales of specific designs each month to raise funds for a family that is caring for a child with a disability. At the time of this interview, they were still running the shop out of Tina’s home as solely an online shop but since the business got such a great response from the community, they have opened a brick and mortar location.

Tina’s work as the Disability Inclusion Educator is designed to help parents to raise disability inclusive kids as well as educate the general community on how to connect with individuals with disabilities and special needs. She does advocacy work through her online platforms and speaks to students, parents and educators on the message of inclusion.

This episode is hosted by Emma Benner.

What we talked about:

5:20- What she does through her Disability Inclusion Educator work

8:45- Her family and having a blended family with her husband, Dustin

12:35- What her children have learned from having a sibling with a disability

16:45- The advice that she would give a family that has received a recent diagnosis that their child has a disability

18:30- How you can help a family that just received the diagnosis that their child has a disability

19:40- Misconceptions that people have about people with disabilities

21:00- Her reaction when she received the diagnosis that her daughter had muscular dystrophy

23:45- How they had a community of people running for Noel through their initiative “Steps for Noel”

28:10- The joys that Noel brings to her life

34:25- Noel’s involvement in the Be Kind Live Kind Shop and their monthly program to help other families that are caring for an individual with a disability

39:30- What Be Kind Live Kind is and the mission behind it

42:05- The vision that Tina has to hire individuals with disabilities for her company

46:55- The community response when the business was launched and how they have grown since

50:25- The message that she hopes to get across with her Disability Inclusion Educator work

53:50- Her 5-10 year plan and goals for her work as the Disability Inclusion Educator

1:03:20- End of podcast questions

Show notes:

Be Kind Live Kind Website

Tina Beauvais on Instagram

Tina Beauvais on Facebook

Tina Beauvais on YouTube

Get 20% off of your order at getfinleys.com by using the code “ILLUMINATE20”

Book recommendation: The Ideal Team Player

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Episode 72: Amy Carver and RJ Heckelman- Trips For Kids Jan 13, 2021

Show notes

Amy Carver is the Program and Development Manager and RJ Heckelman is the National ReCyclery and Resource Manager at Trips for Kids.

Trips for Kids is a national nonprofit organization with chapters in various parts of the country that provides transformative cycling experiences to promote healthy, recreational lifestyles, environmental awareness, and personal empowerment for young people of all communities, especially those in need. They are working to create a world where every kid has the opportunity to ride a bike.

In this episode, RJ and Amy talk about what Trips for Kids is, the work that they do for the organization, the transformational power that the bike can have on kids, some of the programs that they offer, and so much more!

This episode is hosted by Emma Benner.

What we talked about:

3:30- Introduction to RJ and Amy and their roles in the organization

6:50- What Trips For Kids is

14:00- Programs that Trips For Kids offers and how the chapters work

21:15- How they had to shift in 2020 and create new programs

27:55- How they provide bikes for each of their chapters

32:45- How they run the national organization so smoothly while being the only two employees

39:15- The holiday match that they received

42:25- End of podcast questions

Show notes:

Trips for Kids on Instagram

Trips for Kids Website

Trips for Kids on Facebook

Trips for Kids Pedal Podcast

Documentary Recommendation: The Social Dilemma

Book Recommendation: The Secret Life of Houdini

Free Bikes 4 Kidz

People For Bikes

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