Taking the Middle Seat

On Episode 38, I’m talking to Lady Ace Boogie (Facebook, Instagram). She is a hip hop artist, community leader, collaborator, storyteller, and all around inspirational, incredible human. Can you tell I adore her? She is a deep well of experience and wisdom and love that is all rooted in her history and path. If you haven’t checked out her music, you are absolutely going to want to follow her. The video you need to watch IMMEDIATELY is You’re Magic. It is impactful for absolutely every age and stage and person.

UICA event Off the Wall is coming up on March 23! Lady Ace Boogie will be performing along with other area artists at this fundraising event for UICA programming. There will be food and drinks and eclectic arts. You should go!

Check out another event on July 20 at The Pyramid Scheme, Lady Ace Boogie Presents: A Dope Ass Lineup.

Lady Ace Boogie has another cool event coming up in August, 2019, The Michigan Framily Reunion.

Lady Ace Boogie talks about her wife and…. oh my goodness. The way she speaks of the love she has for her wife will have you all up in your feels. I could not stop smiling hearing about her relationship and connectedness and safety within her marriage. She mentions the Blue Bridge and Love Wins.

This episode taught me yet again… you’ll never be disappointed by taking the middle seat. There is connection and wisdom and magic right there.

On Episode 38, I’m talking to Lady Ace Boogie (Facebook, Instagram). She is a hip hop artist, community leader, collaborator, storyteller, and all around inspirational, incredible human. Can you tell I adore her? She is a deep well of experience and wisdom and love that is all rooted in her history and path. If you haven’t checked out her music, you are absolutely going to want to follow her. The video you need to watch IMMEDIATELY is You’re Magic. It is impactful for absolutely every age and stage and person.

UICA event Off the Wall is coming up on March 23! Lady Ace Boogie will be performing along with other area artists at this fundraising event for UICA programming. There will be food and drinks and eclectic arts. You should go!

Check out another event on July 20 at The Pyramid Scheme, Lady Ace Boogie Presents: A Dope Ass Lineup.

Lady Ace Boogie has another cool event coming up in August, 2019, The Michigan Framily Reunion.

Lady Ace Boogie talks about her wife and…. oh my goodness. The way she speaks of the love she has for her wife will have you all up in your feels. I could not stop smiling hearing about her relationship and connectedness and safety within her marriage. She mentions the Blue Bridge and Love Wins.

This episode taught me yet again… you’ll never be disappointed by taking the middle seat. There is connection and wisdom and magic right there.

On Episode 37, I’m talking to Maggie McGuinness with Maggie Ann Soap Co. (Facebook, Instagram). Our conversation is like the very best memoir you’ve ever read complete with a gorgeous storytelling, perseverance and resilience. Maggie talks about her history of substance use disorder and mental health issues. She also talks lovingly about her family and their struggles and triumphs with the same diseases. Maggie has an incredible family of her own and a very cool soap business. Everything she does is an expression of love for herself, her family, her community and the world.

Maggie is on the board at Cherry Health. I’d love for you to follow the link and learn more about Cherry Health’s comprehensive services. She also mentions ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), a study of how childhood trauma can affect a person throughout their lifetime.

I mention one of my favorite podcasts called Terrible, Thanks for Asking. Check. It. Out. If you have ever gone through a hard time, if you’re going through a hard time, if you have a friend/family member/neighbor/adjacent human going through a hard time, you’re going to want to listen.

Now first, go buy some soap!!! Maggie Ann Soap is the absolute best thing to have in your bathroom to impress the socks off your grubby guests or the very best thing to send to a friend or the very cutest thing to give to a new neighbor or the coolest party favor. She makes every product with care and intention. And it’s not just bar soap. She has lotions and hair care and beard care and bath bombs. Its the best. And second, go take the middle seat! Ask people questions and listen and ask again. I promise you’ll feel the magic in the middle seat.

On Episode 37, I’m talking to Maggie McGuinness with Maggie Ann Soap Co. (Facebook, Instagram). Our conversation is like the very best memoir you’ve ever read complete with a gorgeous storytelling, perseverance and resilience. Maggie talks about her history of substance use disorder and mental health issues. She also talks lovingly about her family and their struggles and triumphs with the same diseases. Maggie has an incredible family of her own and a very cool soap business. Everything she does is an expression of love for herself, her family, her community and the world.

Maggie is on the board at Cherry Health. I’d love for you to follow the link and learn more about Cherry Health’s comprehensive services. She also mentions ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), a study of how childhood trauma can affect a person throughout their lifetime.

I mention one of my favorite podcasts called Terrible, Thanks for Asking. Check. It. Out. If you have ever gone through a hard time, if you’re going through a hard time, if you have a friend/family member/neighbor/adjacent human going through a hard time, you’re going to want to listen.

Now first, go buy some soap!!! Maggie Ann Soap is the absolute best thing to have in your bathroom to impress the socks off your grubby guests or the very best thing to send to a friend or the very cutest thing to give to a new neighbor or the coolest party favor. She makes every product with care and intention. And it’s not just bar soap. She has lotions and hair care and beard care and bath bombs. Its the best. And second, go take the middle seat! Ask people questions and listen and ask again. I promise you’ll feel the magic in the middle seat.

On Episode 36 I’m talking to Theresa Adkison, the founder of Derek’s Place (Facebook). Theresa talks about her son Derek from his rambunctious boyhood, through the ups and downs of his adolescence, to his adulthood as a father and hard worker. Through the whole story, she talks about how substance use disorder was also part of his story. Derek lost his battle with addiction in January 2018.

I cannot tell you how honored I feel that Theresa trusted me with her story. She is an incredible person who walks with grief and loss everyday. She has chosen to use her story to help others and has big dreams for Derek’s Place, a Recovery Cafe. I know you’ll want to support her in this work. Derek’s Place is modeled on a Recovery Cafe in Seattle. Theresa wants to create a space for people who struggle with homelessness and substance use disorder where they feel seen and loved.

Theresa talks about a book she loves called Read It Till You Believe It. She carries this powerful little book around with her. It would be the perfect gift for someone you know experiencing loss and grief. She also likes the boo You Are Enough. If you resonate with Theresa’s story, you might want to connect with Families Against Narcotics.

Theresa talked about her favorite things including getting a pedicure, spending time with family and friends, traveling, her grandchildren and being near the ocean. She also talked about how helpful art therapy has been through I Light Art Therapy Studio.

Theresa’s story is so powerful. I hope you’ll listen to each and every word of her story because there is someone you know that is also living the stress and grief and loneliness of substance use disorder. Take the middle seat! They need you to see them and listen to them.

On Episode 36 I’m talking to Theresa Adkison, the founder of Derek’s Place (Facebook). Theresa talks about her son Derek from his rambunctious boyhood, through the ups and downs of his adolescence, to his adulthood as a father and hard worker. Through the whole story, she talks about how substance use disorder was also part of his story. Derek lost his battle with addiction in January 2018.

I cannot tell you how honored I feel that Theresa trusted me with her story. She is an incredible person who walks with grief and loss everyday. She has chosen to use her story to help others and has big dreams for Derek’s Place, a Recovery Cafe. I know you’ll want to support her in this work. Derek’s Place is modeled on a Recovery Cafe in Seattle. Theresa wants to create a space for people who struggle with homelessness and substance use disorder where they feel seen and loved.

Theresa talks about a book she loves called Read It Till You Believe It. She carries this powerful little book around with her. It would be the perfect gift for someone you know experiencing loss and grief. She also likes the boo You Are Enough. If you resonate with Theresa’s story, you might want to connect with Families Against Narcotics.

Theresa talked about her favorite things including getting a pedicure, spending time with family and friends, traveling, her grandchildren and being near the ocean. She also talked about how helpful art therapy has been through I Light Art Therapy Studio.

Theresa’s story is so powerful. I hope you’ll listen to each and every word of her story because there is someone you know that is also living the stress and grief and loneliness of substance use disorder. Take the middle seat! They need you to see them and listen to them.

On Episode 35, I’m talking to DaNay Tossey, owner of Cornerstone Coffee (Facebook, Instagram) in McBain, MI. In a town of less than 1,000 residents, DaNay saw a need for a space to connect. She has seen the magic that happens when you create a welcoming place of acceptance, openness, and…. COFFEE!

DaNay is not only a mama to 6 kids, a business owner, a physical therapy assistant, and a connector… she’s also a living kidney donor. I LOVED hearing about her experience as a living donor. If you’re interested in living donation you can reach out to me. Living donation is one of my favorite things to talk about. You can also check out the local program at Mercy Health or information at the National Kidney Foundation.

I feel like meeting DaNay was such a wonderful surprise. She is a bright light in her community and she will be a bright light in your world. Follow her on all the socials and go pick up a copy of The Turquoise Table to read at a table when you’re sipping coffee at Cornerstone Coffee or at your favorite coffee shop.

On Episode 35, I’m talking to DaNay Tossey, owner of Cornerstone Coffee (Facebook, Instagram) in McBain, MI. In a town of less than 1,000 residents, DaNay saw a need for a space to connect. She has seen the magic that happens when you create a welcoming place of acceptance, openness, and…. COFFEE!

DaNay is not only a mama to 6 kids, a business owner, a physical therapy assistant, and a connector… she’s also a living kidney donor. I LOVED hearing about her experience as a living donor. If you’re interested in living donation you can reach out to me. Living donation is one of my favorite things to talk about. You can also check out the local program at Mercy Health or information at the National Kidney Foundation.

I feel like meeting DaNay was such a wonderful surprise. She is a bright light in her community and she will be a bright light in your world. Follow her on all the socials and go pick up a copy of The Turquoise Table to read at a table when you’re sipping coffee at Cornerstone Coffee or at your favorite coffee shop.

On episode 34, I’m talking to Kendra McNeil, owner of the online bookstore We Are Lit (Facebook, Instagram). Kendra is an avid reader and an incredible resource for all things books. We Are Lit is a stunning and carefully curated collection of multicultural books. Kendra highlights books from young adult, to sci-fi, to historical fiction, to nonfiction and everywhere in between. Her love of books is apparent in every aspect of her business.

Kendra talked about how she jump started her business after a conversation with Linda Otterbridge with HASU (Hook a Sister Up). Since then she has gotten out of her introvert ways to do many events and pop up shops. You can find her regularly at the Downtown Market.

Another way to connect to We Are Lit is through Libro.fm. This is an audiobook service that you can subscribe to AND support a local bookstore. I love this so much. Be sure to choose We Are Lit as your local book shop! If you’re local to GR and looking for a book club, check out Women Who Read. Kendra and Toresa Blakely from In Life Now Talk Media started the group and it is going strong.

Kendra talked about one of her favorite book shops, Source Booksellers in Detroit. On her last visit, she picked up My Ideal Bookshelf (If you order, make sure you order from We Are Lit!).

Kendra is doing a story time at the Dream Big Fair that is put on by the Dream Big Sister Circle. This event is May 4.

Kendra loves purchasing special things from women business owners. She loves Rock Candy Earrings & Things by Della Marie Levi. Della made her a personalized wine tumbler that says “bookish” on it. So cute! Kendra also loves wine, and live music especially if said wine and music are on vacation, travelling with her friends or family.

On episode 34, I’m talking to Kendra McNeil, owner of the online bookstore We Are Lit (Facebook, Instagram). Kendra is an avid reader and an incredible resource for all things books. We Are Lit is a stunning and carefully curated collection of multicultural books. Kendra highlights books from young adult, to sci-fi, to historical fiction, to nonfiction and everywhere in between. Her love of books is apparent in every aspect of her business.

Kendra talked about how she jump started her business after a conversation with Linda Otterbridge with HASU (Hook a Sister Up). Since then she has gotten out of her introvert ways to do many events and pop up shops. You can find her regularly at the Downtown Market.

Another way to connect to We Are Lit is through Libro.fm. This is an audiobook service that you can subscribe to AND support a local bookstore. I love this so much. Be sure to choose We Are Lit as your local book shop! If you’re local to GR and looking for a book club, check out Women Who Read. Kendra and Toresa Blakely from In Life Now Talk Media started the group and it is going strong.

Kendra talked about one of her favorite book shops, Source Booksellers in Detroit. On her last visit, she picked up My Ideal Bookshelf (If you order, make sure you order from We Are Lit!).

Kendra is doing a story time at the Dream Big Fair that is put on by the Dream Big Sister Circle. This event is May 4.

Kendra loves purchasing special things from women business owners. She loves Rock Candy Earrings & Things by Della Marie Levi. Della made her a personalized wine tumbler that says “bookish” on it. So cute! Kendra also loves wine, and live music especially if said wine and music are on vacation, travelling with her friends or family.