126 Days: Stories on Life & Work

TRIGGER WARNING:  THIS EPISODE INCLUDES CONVERSATION ABOUT RAPE, SEXUAL ASSAULT & THE OVERTURN OF ROE V. WADE.With this platform, 126 Days wants to provide perspective on how women may be affected by the overturn of Roe vs. Wade. Support the show

In this episode, we venture into Part 2 with Elana Guerra, a college admissions navigator.  We talk about what she does to assist families in maneuvering the college applications and admissions process.  Elana, as you learned in episode 17, has fought her way to get where she is today demonstrating a never give up spirit, which is clear in her desires to help young people find their way in today's competitive college admissions world.Support the show

Who helps the helpers?  In this episode, Shannon talks to Simon Rinne, leader of Mindful Men.  With 20+ years living with mental illness, Simon is now a Social Work trying to help others see that burnout is real and it's real even in places we don't expect to find it--in the helping community.Simon tells his brave story of experiencing multiple bouts of active depression, often not being able to work and live daily life.  With the support of his wife and seeking treatment for his challenges, Simon is now on his way to a new career helping others, but not without an understanding that his mental health challenges still lie underneath the surface.Support the show

TRIGGER WARNING:  This episode contains conversation on death, death of young children and war and its effects. Please listen with care.This is one of my favorite episodes to date.  Nurses, often the forgotten first responders, are at the core and crux of life saving moments.  In this episode, we hear how Amy Rogers decided to become a nurse and then, the trek she took to become operating room nurse at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where she witnessed the repair of our Nation's brave military women and men.  We talk about a few of her most challenging cases and how nurses come to survive in the job of saving others.Support the show

After experiencing 126 Days of unemployment after an unexpected lay off, Shannon Weatherly began to document what she learned and lived as a result of losing her job.  Many said, "You should turn this into a book", but instead....it's a podcast.  In this episode, Shannon details her experience of unemployment, lessons learned, and sets the stage for what's to come with the launch of 126 Days:  Stories on Life & Work.  In this episode, you'll hear Shannon talk about how 126 days of unemployment solidified her understanding of how privilege plays into what people experience during hard times.  She details specific events where she was challenged and her eyes opened to seeing what unemployment could teach her about herself, but mostly about those who are less resourced.  Realizing so many have a story about unemployment, underemployment, workplace trauma and challenges faced in workplaces, Shannon launched her podcast, 126 Days:  Stories on Life & Work. Follow along as we dance our way through life & work:FacebookInstagramTwitterSupport the show

In this episode, Shannon talks with her current boss, Zaidoon Al-Zubaidy, about her reemergence from the "pink dungeon" and where she is today in terms of life & work.  Zaidoon also details his own story of life & work from being born in Iraq, growing up in England and eventually starting his own company in the pharmaceutical industry.  Zaidoon is quite the storyteller even detailing the time his own mother faced Saddam Hussein.Follow along as we dance our way through life & work:FacebookInstagramTwitterSupport the show

In this episode, Shannon talks to a former co-worker, Alli,  who worked in the same place that laid her off.  The conversation leads to discussion of workplace trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and how both were affected and remain affected by the experience of Shannon's 126 days of unemploymentFollow along as we dance our way through life & work:FacebookInstagramTwitterSupport the show

The day Shannon started her 126 days of unemployment, her second phone call was to her best friend, Mary.  In this episode, Shannon and Mary discuss the day it all started, how Shannon copes with stress and her recovery from the experience of job loss.Additionally, we discuss Mary's long career with the same company, highlights of how she has experienced life & work and how "abnormal" it is for people to remain at the same place of employment long-term....unless you're Mary.Follow along as we dance our way through life & work:FacebookInstagramTwitterSupport the show

Episode 5 features THE Molly Barker, Founder of Girls on the Run International, The Red Boot Way, and a thousand other things.  Molly talks about childhood trauma, her search for safe places, her own recovery and where she is today.  A recap is provided of the founding of Girls on the Run International and our own project with the Twin Oaks Rehousing Project.  Molly is amazing and wild and has THE best stories of how life & work intermingly, mix and mash up.Support the show

TRIGGER WARNING:  THIS EPISODE INCLUDES DISCUSSION OF SUICIDE, UNEXPECTED DEATH, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES & OTHER SENSITIVE ISSUES.  PLEASE LISTEN WITH CAUTION.  If you need assistance, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.  Shannon's middle school friend, Jonathan Ewart is still living his dream.  Despite experiencing some of the most traumatic life events a person can face, Jonathan has never given up on living into his highest potential.  His life has certainly been difficult, but Jonathan continues to work toward his own level of greatness.  In this episode, Shannon & Jonathan talk about the highs and serious lows of Jonathan's life.  They also discuss his career and life choices after losing multiple family members to suicide & unexpected death.  Jonathan starred as Kenny's hairdresser in HBO's Eastbound & Down.  Prior to that, he was featured in "The Foot Fist Way", Jodi Hill's first movie filmed in our hometown, Concord, North Carolina.  He can be seen in Budweiser's Bud Seltzer commercials, as well as NC Lottery and a recent one for Harrah's Cherokee Casino.  It will be easy to find inspiration in this episode to keep on keeping on even in the hardest dances of life because Jonathan is proof you can get through anything.Support the show

In episode 7, Shannon talks to James (Jim) Copple, Founder of many things with the most recent being SAI, LLC.   Strategic Applications International is home to numerous projects (find them at sai-dc.com) ranging from community policing to water projects across the US and in Africa.  In this episode, Shannon and Jim talk about Jim's career path which was basically spent creating jobs for Shannon to do 25 years later.  Shannon and Jim talked about their crossing of paths over many years spent in Washington, DC.  Jim hosts a podcast, The Legacy Project, found on all major podcast platforms, where he focuses on legacy, the one we inherit and the one we can create.Support the show

In episode 8, Shannon interviews Carrie Blum about her winding road of life and work where she has experienced tough employment, the twists and turns of interviewing, but never being chosen, but she still persists today trying to find her right spot in the work world.If  you're looking for your next coaching, marketing, social media and sales team member, hit Carrie up on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriemblum/.Support the show

Charlotte divorce attorney, Mitchell Kelling, talks about how she decided to become a lawyer and ended up specializing in family law.  Mitchell, a Harvard graduate, headed to Wake Forest University School of Law to get back to warm weather.  Today, she is a partner in her law firm and was recently contacted for divorce help for the well known Netflix series, Married at First Sight, participants.This episode includes everything from Mitchell's upbringing, how to choose a lawyer, how being lawyer affects her, and everything in between.  Also, listen for the story about the husband who tried to sue his wife for having an affair with the family dog.Support the show

Corri Smith, Owner + Executive Lead of Black Wednesday, a Charlotte based PR firm walks us through her story of life & work.  Taking us on her backpacking tour, earning business through contacts, reaching out for help to start her now well-known company, Black Wednesday (which she ended up doing all on her own) to building a place where creatives can thrive through their edgy marketing and PR campaigns, Corri teaches us we can do things we often don't think we can.  Corri is incredibly authentic, real and approachable--despite an all black wardrobe and her love of the brighter side of darkness.  IG:  @blackwedcoTwitter:  @blackwedcoFacebook:  Black WednesdaySupport the show

From homeless to hero, Chef Sam Diminich has THE MOST interesting life & work story.  Just a handful of years ago, Chef Sam was struggling with addiction and not living the life he'd hoped for as a master in the kitchen.  Finding sobriety changed all that, and today Chef Sam not only has survived the devastation of COVID on the restaurant industry, but he build Your Farms Your Table serving delicious home delivered meals, became Christian McCaffrey's (and Olivia Culpo's) personal chef, while also launching his first restaurant, Restaurant Constance (named after his daughter, which will open in late 2022.  Get ready for an episode that will warm your heart and your tummy.  Also, when's the fried chicken challenge, Chef?IG:  yourfarmsyourtableWebsite: yourfarmsyourtable.comSupport the show

TRIGGER WARNING:  THIS EPISODE INCLUDES CONVERSATION ON SEXUAL ASSAULT.  PLEASE TAKE CARE  & DETERMINE IF THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU.The beautiful Maria Thrasher walks us through her trials and tribulations where she finds herself homeless, jobless, and asking "Why Me?" This amazing woman--who is ON FIRE--will inspire you to pick yourself up and learn from the hardships.  After the loss of her first child and then, the birth of her twins she speaks about how life was "just happening" and she was having to work HARD to find her way in life.  Every mother listening will identify with her and her desire to make the best life for her children.  Her children told her, "Mommy, you can't fall apart. We need you."   She got into counseling and found the survivor within herself.    Today, she runs MThrasher Media (www.mthrashermedia.com) and she is bright, beautiful and can boldly wear any color she wants.  This episode promises to life your spirit and give you the gift that is Maria Thrasher.IG:  themariabrandWebsite:  www.mthrashermedia.comSupport the show

Are you ready for a great Minnesota accent?  Well, this episode with Heidi Meyer has it.  Growing up on a farm meant she HAD to find a way out of her small town in order to find her way in life.  Post-secondary education wasn't expected, but she aimed for it anyway.Heidi heads off to college, finds a job, and sits there for a loooonnnnnggggg time becoming the Executive Director of Admissions for the University of Minnesota.  BUT, she wasn't happy.  She didn't feel fulfilled, but she stayed in the role until 2020 struck, brought a pandemic, and gave her the quiet needed to go inward and hear what she really desired.  There isn't a person who won't identify with some part of Heidi's story on life & work.  She grapples with the reality that we allow our work to become our identity and how a pandemic changed her world.  She asks the question about whether work was bringing her to her best place in life and begs the questions, "What have I been doing with my life?"  When's the last you asked yourself that question?During the taping of this episode, Heidi was still experiencing the empowerment of asking herself what she really wanted out of life....and wasn't sure if a job was the answer.Support the show

Makeda Pennycooke is beautiful, peaceful, and authentic in ways that astound me.  I rarely feel safe in the presence of others like I do with Makeda.  In this episode, you will hear the first song ever sung on the podcast, but you'll also get a glimpse into Makeda's life where she starts in Brooklyn, NY, and manages to peel apart her life and put it all back together as she landed in Charlotte, NC.With roots in Jamaica, Makeda walks us through her foundations as a physical therapist and how growing up in religion and church which led her to later becoming a pastor and church planter.  Makeda begins to question her beliefs and even wondered if God/god existed.  Being a good rule follower, Makeda walks through whether or not what she had been taught was ever even real.  She eventually embarks on a rebuild of her internal systems to where she is today as a coach helping others find their own way.If you're someone deconstructing your religious journey, this is the episode for you.  If Makeda's story speaks to you, you can learn how she believes fear is temporary, but regret is permanent (www.makedapennycooke.com).IG:  @makedapennycookeSupport the show

What a journey this woman has been on!  An interview where you feel like you're talking to yourself is like no other.   From working in insurance in Bermuda and Georgia to deciding she wasn't going to continue building someone else's dream in the UK, Leticia felt she must make a change in order to not live a life robbing her of her own dreams.Her own podcast, Choosing Her Hustle, features episodes where the conversations are with black women and focus on issues black women face in the corporate world and while working to start their own businesses.  Leticia has created a platform where stories come alive from those who have created a space where their own dreams are coming true.Leticia is a Business Mindset Coach and Owner of BlaqueRose Coaching (www.blaquerosecoaching.com).  IG:  @blaquerosecoachingSupport the show

 Suswati Basu is a writer, journalist and feminist activist from London. In 2007, she won the Emma Humphries Memorial Prize for her feminist campaigning and was also shortlisted for the Guardian Mary Stott Prize. She has worked both in China and in the UK as a journalist targeting international development issues and has been translating documentaries on human rights concerns. With an international background, she writes frequently about sexual and reproductive rights affecting home and abroad as well as social politics in Britain.Suswati tells the greatest story of being an investigative reporter for The Guardian in China only to be sent home due to her computer being hacked by....well, someone in China. Today, she is in the intelligence community so deeply she can't even talk about it while living in the UK.Another great accent telling us her story growing up in a Southeast Asian family where education was emphasized and hard work was the norm.  And, honestly I wish her grandfather could be a guest.  It's always amazing where people come from and how life is instilled in them through generations.Follow & Subscribe to Suswati's podcast, How to Be, on all major podcast platforms.IG:  @howtobe247Support the show