Petals of Purpose: Transforming Lives of Those in Community Care
Release Date: 11/14/2024
He Sold Art on the Sidewalk...Now He’s the MOST Licensed Artist in the World | with Romero Britto
Celebrate Your Story
Before his art graced the Vatican and the Olympics, he was washing dishes and selling paintings on the street. On this episode of Celebrate Your Story, I sit down with Romero Britto, the world-renowned pop artist whose signature style has become a universal symbol of joy. From humble beginnings in Brazil to collaborating with Disney, Absolut, and FIFA, Romero’s journey is a masterclass in creativity, resilience, and reinvention. He opens up about walking away from a career in diplomacy to pursue his passion, selling art on the sidewalks of Miami, and turning a struggling storefront into his...
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He Nearly Took His Life. Now He’s Saving Others. THE REAL Movement with Shawn Lesser
Celebrate Your Story
The day he begged his wife to kill him was the day everything changed. On this episode of Celebrate Your Story, I sit down with Shawn Lesser, an impact investor turned mental health advocate whose life took a dramatic turn in the fall of 2022. What started as a persistent depression spiraled into a full mental health crisis, one that led to hospitalization, months in treatment centers, and ultimately, a complete reinvention of purpose. Shawn opens up about the emotional toll of losing his identity after stepping away from the investment firm he co-founded, and how a simple text from a friend...
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She’s Been in Agonizing Pain for 30 YEARS and STILL Smiles Every Day
Celebrate Your Story
"I told my husband he could leave—I had just been diagnosed with an incurable pain disease less than a year into our marriage… but he stayed. And that’s when I decided I was going to fight, not just for me, but for everyone like me." On this episode of Celebrate Your Story, I sit down with Beth Stillitano, a former teacher whose life was turned upside down at just 24 years old after a seemingly minor fall led to a diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a rare and excruciating neurological disease often called “the suicide disease.” Beth shares her emotional journey...
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American HERO Was Given a 15% Chance of Survival, but he had a PROMISE to Keep | Israel Del Toro
Celebrate Your Story
"I was going to break my promise to my dad that I would take care of my family… and that’s when I told myself, 'D.T., I’m not going to die here.'" In this powerful episode of Celebrate Your Story, I sit down with Senior Master Sergeant Israel Del Toro, a true American hero. From a childhood marked by hardship and the loss of both parents at a young age to becoming a decorated Air Force special warfare operator, DT’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. He shares the harrowing day in Afghanistan when a roadside bomb left him with burns over 80 percent of his body, a 15 percent...
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She Built a $1.5M Movement From Her Kitchen Table | with Hali Lee
Celebrate Your Story
In this week’s Celebrate Your Story, I’m thrilled to hand the mic to my colleague, MiChaela Barker, for a conversation with Hali Lee, a remarkable philanthropist, author, and the founder of the Asian Women Giving Circle. Through her dynamic storytelling and rich cultural perspective, Hali shares how growing up as a Korean American in Kansas City and learning from generations of strong women shaped her commitment to community, generosity, and justice. Hali Lee is a seasoned nonprofit leader and a pioneer in the giving circle movement. As the founder of the Asian Women Giving Circle,...
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She Lost BOTH Parents in ONE DAY But Still Shows Up on the Sidelines | with Lauren Sisler
Celebrate Your Story
At 18, Lauren Sisler experienced the unimaginable: she lost both of her parents in a single day to prescription drug overdoses. As part of our special April series on faith, meaning, and human connection, I sit down with Lauren Sisler, ESPN and SEC Network reporter, former NCAA gymnast, and author of Shatterproof. Known for her vibrant presence on the sidelines, Lauren opens up about the hidden story behind her strength: the sudden, life-altering loss that changed everything. We explore her journey from silence to advocacy, how she learned to carry grief while rediscovering joy, and why faith,...
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One of the First 100 Women to FLY a BLACK HAWK | with Elizabeth McCormick
Celebrate Your Story
Before she wore a flight suit, she was working in a pizza shop with a degree she couldn’t use. In this episode, retired U.S. Army Black Hawk pilot Elizabeth McCormick shares how she went from unexpected career detours to becoming one of the first 100 women to fly the Black Hawk helicopter in the Army. She opens up about what it took to survive Warrant Officer Candidate School, where women had to meet the same physical standards as men. Running in boots, carrying gear, and enduring grueling training whittled seven women down to just two. But the biggest battle was the mental one. As the only...
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Celebrating Life After Auschwitz: Edith Gross's Story
Celebrate Your Story
At just 15 years old, Edith was forced from her home and sent to Auschwitz, where she faced unimaginable horrors. For decades, she kept her story buried. But now, at 96 years old, she is ready to speak. Edith Gross is a Holocaust survivor who has chosen to celebrate life, building a happy and loving family despite the tragedies she endured. Her resilience has been her guiding force. Now, she educates others about the atrocities she survived and the strength that carried her forward. I had the privilege of sitting down with Edith to hear her harrowing yet inspiring journey, the survival,...
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INVENTING an App for Special Needs Adults to Make Authentic Friendships!
Celebrate Your Story
Michael Fetherman, diagnosed with ADHD and autism, always struggled to make friends—a challenge faced by so many individuals with special needs. Seeing this firsthand, his sister, Juliana Fetherman, set out to change the narrative. She created Making Authentic Friendships, an app designed to connect people with special needs based on their age, interests, and location. The app’s name isn’t just a mission statement, it also carries Michael’s initials, a tribute to her brother who inspired this initiative. Now 24 and having recently completed her MBA at Sacred Heart University, Juliana...
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She Met the Mother of Her HEART Donor 18 Years Later!
Celebrate Your Story
At just 13 years old, she suffered sudden heart failure, and doctors told her parents she wouldn’t survive. But thanks to the selflessness of a grieving mother, she was given a second chance at life. Jen Lentini is a heart transplant recipient who has dedicated her life to raising awareness about the importance of organ donation. Her journey from an unexpected health crisis to receiving a new heart and reconnecting with her donor’s family has shaped her passion for advocacy. Through her work with organizations like the American Heart Association and Long Island TRIO, she shares her story...
info_outlineIn this episode of Celebrations Chatter, Jim sits down with Karen Wooldridge, co-founder of Bluebirds & Blooms, to discuss how she and her childhood friend and co-founder, Laura Hogan, bring joy to memory care and hospice patients by delivering repurposed flowers. What began as an idea over a cup of coffee has now grown into a nonprofit that has delivered over 90,000 bouquets across Minnesota. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about the power of taking action, finding purpose, and building community. Karen and Laura took an act of generosity and created a lasting impact.
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