Introducing Me

At the point of nearly three years of podcast hosting, Sarah is back with just the microphone to share what has been happening in the past year. From adopting their second cat, Sox, and lots of travel it surely has been a busy year. I’m looking forward to changing up the podcast release schedule for Year 4. Connect with Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/slportal7/ https://www.tiktok.com/@introducingsarah Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Kent Weishaus had a twenty-five year career in television production, working on talk shows, game shows, tabloids, sitcoms, and other programming, before making a switch in 2006, going back to graduate school and eventually becoming a licensed clinical social worker. Since then he has worked in mental hospitals, community clinics, schools, and is now semi-retired, continuing a part-time private practice. Kent recently published his book Stop Breaking Down: How to avoid Overwhelm and Crack-Up - you can find it through his website, https://kentw.net. Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Clare Pritchard started traveling after university at the persistence of a close friend. She ended up falling in love with traveling, having spent many months abroad in dozens of countries. Originally from Manchester, England, Clare enjoys learning about new cultures and connecting with people around the world. Clare started her own business with program Back Yourself to coach others to increase their confidence skills. Connect with Clare: https://www.instagram.com/cpritch.coaching/ https://m.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100089999626561 https://www.tiktok.com/@cpritch.coaching Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Tracy Whitmore embarked on a transformative journey from being a young mother to forging a career in social work. Her path led her to supporting LGBTQIA+ youth, where her impact extended beyond the young individuals themselves. An influx of parents seeking guidance and solace found their way to her as well. Relocating from Australia to Canada marked a pivotal moment, as she seized the opportunity to establish her own business, created around this very mission. Being a member of the queer community herself, she also extends her expertise to coaching and counseling LGBTQIA+ adults. Tracy has recently published her first book, titled "It’s About You Too: Reducing the Overwhelm for Parents of LGBTQ+ Kids." Connect with Tracy: https://indigojourney.co/book/ https://www.facebook.com/Tracy.IndigoJourney/ https://www.instagram.com/tracy.indigojourney/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-whitmore-69462845/ Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Ben Brown grew up on a Mormon polygamist compound and left for the “wicked world” in his early to mid-twenties. After six generations of his family being Mormons, he was not going to stand for the white supremacy and racism. After attending Burning Man, he was able to reconnect with his father, about 15 years after leaving. Ben is a part-time dad and has gotten into stand up comedy where he is known as The Fresh King Benjamin. Ben’s Website: https://www.thefreshkingbenjamin.com Comedy Special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBx5g6FOEaM Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Shellie Wilson was born and raised Christian, living her life for Jesus for roughly 60 years. When struggling with renal failure a few years ago, she had a come to Jesus moment which strengthened her connection to Jesus further. Shellie has been teaching the Bible for the past 40 years and in this episode she dives into her four spiritual disciplines: Bible study, prayer, memorization, and rest. Connect with Shellie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelliewilson/ https://www.facebook.com/shellie.huffmanwilson Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Christina Carlson (she/they) was raised in a high control religious group and didn’t know that bisexuality was an option. She’s now happily able to identify as queer after having left the church and was recently diagnosed with ADHD. They are a self relationship coach to help others find their true selves and hosts the podcast Bitches, Witches and Queers. Connect with Christina: https://www.christinamcarlson.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@christinaclifecoaching https://www.instagram.com/christinacarlsonlifecoach/ Bitches, Witches and Queers: https://www.christinamcarlson.com/podcast It’s Raining Tacos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npjF032TDDQ Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Daniel John Carey grew up in a difficult household, but he lives life knowing that his troubled life doesn’t define him. At sixteen he decided to hitchhike to California which ended up giving him hope for the future. He joined the Mormon Church to try and fix his life, but ultimately left religion altogether. John has written multiple books including Dream Another Dream and Dream Your World to motivate others to change their lives. Connect with John: www.twitter.com/JohnDijonCarey https://www.meetup.com/screenwriting-tribe/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/224849677934122/ Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Valena Beety is a former prosecutor who prosecuted cases with domestic and sexual violence. As a queer woman she noticed that convictions of people like her sometimes included no crime at all. She shares some of these stories in her book Manifesting Justice: Wrongly Convicted Women Reclaim Their Rights. She founded the West Virginia Innocence Project and is currently working to create the Innocence Project of Indiana in her home state where she is now a law professor. The Innocence Project Network: https://innocencenetwork.org/ Connect with Valena: www.valenabeety.com Buy her book: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/9780806541518/manifesting-justice/ Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Jyoti was born and raised in California and started to learn more about her Punjabi culture in college. When her therapist suggested she write as a way of healing trauma, Jyoti ended up turning to fiction novels where she brings in taboo topics in South Asian Communities. From her first book The Chaos Within Us to her upcoming book Finding Home, Jyoti loves sharing her stories. Connect with Jyoti: https://geetwrites.carrd.co/#about https://sincerelygeetmh.carrd.co/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22904762.Jyoti_Dhanota https://www.instagram.com/geetisbooked/ Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Lori Ann Wood was in good health when all of a sudden she had end-stage heart failure. Her heart was enlarged and functioning at 6% such that her doctors didn’t think she would survive. Heart failure is a progressive disease and continues to be something that Lori Ann has monitored. She started writing and recently published her book Divine Detour where she asks some tough faith-based questions. Connect with Lori Ann: https://loriannwood.com https://www.instagram.com/loriannwood/ https://www.facebook.com/DivinelyDetoured Buy her book: https://a.co/d/6sKILDN Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Michelle Shekhinah was living life as a mom married to a man that she thought was the one when things turned for the worse. After being together for 17 years, her ex showed her his secret world of drugs, alcohol, and sexual deviancy. With two special needs kids, she always made sure they were safe, and was eventually able to get out from her husband and divorced. Never able to say no to him, Michelle is now able to work through her traumas in therapy and advocate for other women to get out of similar situations. Connect with Michelle: https://fromthefloortothedoor.com Resources: https://www.womenindistress.org https://ncadv.org https://www.nsvrc.org Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

In her memoir, Girl Hidden, Jesse René Gibbs, shares many heart wrenching details of her childhood. From a young age Jesse has experienced trauma and was able to escape her narcissistic mother and live with her grandparents until five-years-old. Moving back in with her mother and step-father, who treated Jesse like his girlfriend, her grandmother legally kidnapped her 18-months later. Unfortunately Jesse’s mother then illegally kidnapped her and Jesse wasn’t able to get out until leaving at 18 to Chicago and the Jesus People (JPUSA) which wasn’t the solution either. Jesse finally got out to Seattle with help from her best friend Jane and has since been able to safely reconnect with her younger siblings and find love with her husband and her step-kids. Connect with Jesse: https://www.girlhidden.com Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Shayne Halls was born in the US Virgin Islands, moved to South Carolina, and attended an HBCU. After graduating from Saint Augustine’s University, he got into the world of recruiting, a field he had known nothing about. Overtime he realized he needed to speak up about diversity, equity, and inclusion. He’s since started his own consulting firm, Manifested Dreams, which helps professionals be empowered with AI and inclusivity. Connect with Shayne: https://manifesteddreams.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdshalls/ https://twitter.com/mnifstddreams Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Shana Francesca is a speaker, writer, Founder and CEO of Concinnate. Her work centers around intentional leadership and life design. Shana believes our present and future are transformed when we infuse our lives with intention, design our lives, and realize the power in accepting ourselves as the author of our story. She recently authored a romance book, Under My Skin, under the pen name Maeve Marin. Concinnate: https://www.concinnate.world Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Carrie Gobble has been living past her original life expectancy with cystic fibrosis after receiving a bi-lateral lung transplant at age 27. She learned the importance of in-person mentorship for people with cystic fibrosis “CFers” from her now husband, Gary. In addition to mentoring, she is also passionate about organ donation and is grateful for the family she has found in her donor Andrew’s family. National Donor Registry: https://donatelife.net/ Andy Lipman, author of Alive at 25: https://www.cfwarriorproject.org/meet-andy/ Five Feet Apart on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80236271 Connect with Carrie: https://www.instagram.com/eyeceebeauty https://www.facebook.com/carrie.seratigobble/ Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Kathy Izard never saw herself as an author, speaker, or fundraiser, but she has excelled at all three. Her first book, The Hundred Story Home speaks to her help with getting the homeless into homes in Charlotte, NC, a process which included raising ten million dollars. Her latest book The Last Ordinary Hour was written about her husband’s struggle with rare disease and the possibility of being widowed. Connect with Kathy: https://www.kathyizard.com https://www.instagram.com/kathyizardclt/ https://www.womenfaithstory.com Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Colleen Faul is a mother to two rambunctious toddlers with a strong commitment to her Catholic faith. Not long after giving birth to her son, Sammy, she found herself pregnant with her daughter Grace. At nearly six months old they rushed Grace to the hospital and eventually learned that she had infantile spasms and tuberous sclerosis complex. Nearly two, Grace is doing well and inspired Colleen’s book, God’s Precious Gift: A Special Needs Child. Connect with Colleen: www.GodsPreciousGift.com https://www.instagram.com/colleenkeefefaul/ Buy the Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1736504142/ Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

Tiffany is a wife, mother of two, and became a doula after giving birth to her first child. She suffered with perinatal mental health after her second child and now specializes in this support and works with mothers and their grief. Growing up she had little support for her ADHD and has found neurodivergence in herself and her children. She homeschools or unschools her children and volunteers for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and Postpartum Support International. Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep: https://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net Connect with Tiffany: https://tiffanyengendoula.com https://www.instagram.com/tiffanye_fullspectrumdoula/ Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett

As Director of Fit4Defense Ltd, Suzanne conceived and now operates PowerED, a unique anti-bullying program. The life-changing transformations she witnessed while teaching PowerED inspired her to write her powerful book, “Bullying Stops Here,” in which she shares the true stories of persons who converted fear into confidence, self-reliance, and positive action through the skills acquired in the program. Her extensive experience in social services and martial arts has given her the expertise to speak and train on violence prevention, conflict resolution and workplace harassment/bullying. Fit4Defense: https://www.fit4defense.ca/suzanne-jean/ Bullying Stops Here book: https://a.co/d/c8Lb0xd Donate to the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/introducingmepodcast Want to share your story and be a guest? Email: introducingmepodcast@gmail.com Find all the podcast social media and more on the website: https://www.introducingmepodcast.com Artwork: instagram.com/vashaundesigns Music/Editing: youtube.com/colemanrowlett