142 Authenticity, Advocacy, and the Crown: Reining Miss Texas Annette Addo-Yobo on Inspiring Change
Release Date: 02/26/2025
166: The Power of Shared Stories: How Serentripity Builds Belonging with Allison Renfro
What's Your Shine?
Join Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for an uplifting conversation with Allison Renfro, Program Coordinator at House of Shine, as she shares the magic of meaningful connection through one of our most beloved programs — Serentripity. In this heartwarming episode, Claudia Beeney and Allison dive into the heart behind Serentripity — a series designed to bring women together through story, reflection, and the art of intentional gathering. With laughter, honesty, and a few personal stories along the way, Allison offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Serentripity events are...
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165: Alphabet Dating: How One Couple Transformed Their Relationship with 26 Intentional Dates.
What's Your Shine?
Join Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for a wildly fun and surprisingly meaningful conversation with Billy & Tiffany Roussel — the couple who dated their way through the alphabet. Yes, the alphabet. Twenty-six letters. Twenty-six dates. From “A is for Antipasto” all the way to “Z is for Zebras in Denmark.” In this episode, Billy and Tiffany share how a simple idea — choose a letter and plan a surprise date around it — turned into a two-year experiment in presence, creativity, and choosing each other on purpose. What starts as a playful challenge becomes...
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Shine History: Sweet Success- Young Entrepreneur Brayden Meek on Creativity, Resilience, and Giving Back”
What's Your Shine?
Join Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for a delightful conversation with Brayden Meek, the creative force behind the Toasted and Roasted Marshmallow Company. As an elementary schooler and budding entrepreneur, Brayden is already turning simple ingredients into gourmet marshmallows that spark joy and connection. In this special rerun, Brayden shares how a childhood dislike of marshmallows transformed into a passion for crafting some of the most unique flavors you can imagine—from cookies and cream to root beer and churro. He takes us behind the scenes of the House of Shine...
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164: From Vision to Reality: Colleen Monroe on Leadership, Community, and House of Shine’s Story
What's Your Shine?
Join Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for a heartfelt conversation with longtime House of Shine friend and current board chair, Colleen Monroe. In this uplifting episode, Claudia Beeney and Colleen reflect on the remarkable journey of the House of Shine—from an inspired idea to a thriving community hub now celebrating five years with its doors open. Colleen shares candidly about her role in sparking the leap from vision to reality, proving how one confident decision can change everything. Through their lively back-and-forth, Claudia and Colleen explore the values that...
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163: 21 Days of Gratitude: Allison Renfro on the Joy and Science of Thankfulness
What's Your Shine?
Join Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for an uplifting conversation with Allison Renfro, Program Coordinator at House of Shine, as she shares how gratitude can transform the way we live, lead, and connect. In this joyful and inspiring episode, Claudia Beeney and Allison explore the heart behind House of Shine’s annual 21-Day Gratitude Challenge—a movement that encourages people to express appreciation through simple, intentional acts of kindness. Together, they dive into the ripple effects of gratitude and how small, heartfelt gestures can build stronger communities and...
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162: Embracing Identity: Claudia Villasana-Muñoz on Leadership, Resilience, and Belonging
What's Your Shine?
Join Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for an inspiring and deeply authentic conversation with Claudia Villasana-Muñoz, a Latina leader, storyteller, and advocate for belonging. In this powerful episode, Claudia shares her journey of embracing identity, honoring heritage, and navigating the spaces where culture and leadership meet. Through candid discussion, Claudia reflects on growing up as the daughter of immigrants, discovering her voice in professional and community spaces, and learning to lead with both resilience and grace. Her story highlights the challenges of...
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161: From Irritant to Impact: How Yvette Lopez Sparked a Movement for Belonging
What's Your Shine?
Join Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for an inspiring kickoff to the season with Yvette Lopez—community leader, bridge builder, and founder of Latinos in Grapevine. Yvette shares her remarkable journey from growing up between Brooklyn, the Dominican Republic, and Florida, to serving as an advisor to the Dominican Republic’s president, to now leading initiatives that elevate Latino voices in North Texas. Her story highlights resilience, responsibility, and the power of using your strengths to make an impact. The episode explores the founding of Latinos in Grapevine,...
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160: How Reinvention Shapes Personal Growth, Leadership, and Legacy with Stephanie King
What's Your Shine?
Join Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for an inspiring conversation with executive coach Stephanie King as they kick off Season 11 of Rise & Shine, a signature program of House of Shine. This opening episode explores the powerful theme of reinvention—why it matters, how to embrace it, and what it looks like in both big life transitions and small daily changes. Claudia and Stephanie reflect on the energy of Rise & Shine’s season launch, highlighting new elements like Shine Captains, designed to foster meaningful connections and deeper table discussions. They share...
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159: Start Where You Are: Dreams, Detours & Defining Your Shine with Richard Beeny
What's Your Shine?
In this special couples edition of What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast, Dr. Shine is joined by her husband, Richard Beeny, for a heartfelt conversation about dreams, detours, and the defining moments that shape who we are. Together, they explore how embracing change and asking the right questions can help us uncover what we’re truly meant to do. If you’ve ever wondered whether your current path is aligned with your deeper purpose—or found yourself reevaluating your goals after a life pivot—this episode offers both wisdom and encouragement. With honesty and vulnerability, Claudia and...
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158: Planting Big Dreams: How Santiago Bryce Is Transforming a Community Through Soccer
What's Your Shine?
At House of Shine, we believe everyone has a dream worth planting—and in this episode, we hear one of the most inspiring yet. Santi, a high school senior at Jesuit Dallas, returns to the podcast to share how a dream he planted at our museum—a dream to build a permanent soccer league for underserved kids in Grapevine—is steadily coming to life. What began with a Change Bowl grant and a simple idea for a one-day soccer camp has grown into a full-blown youth league known as Soccer with Santi. Through creativity, grit, and collaboration, Santi has brought together community volunteers,...
info_outlineJoin Dr. Shine on What’s Your Shine? The Happy Podcast for an empowering conversation with Annette, the reigning Miss Texas and an advocate for autism awareness.
Discover how Annette’s unique background—being the first immigrant to win Miss Texas—has become a cornerstone of her authentic brand. She candidly discusses how embracing authenticity, staying true to herself, and making bold choices, like cutting her hair short before competition, propelled her to success and encouraged others to see themselves represented in pageantry.
Annette also opens up about her personal connection to autism advocacy, sparked by a terrifying experience involving her younger brother Andrew. Her dedication has led her to partner with national organizations like Autism Speaks and Best Buddies, aiming to create essential training programs for law enforcement and educators to better support individuals on the autism spectrum.
Key Topics:
- Annette’s journey to becoming Miss Texas and placing first runner-up at Miss America
- Authenticity and confidence in pageantry and beyond
- Her platform, the SPARK Project, and its impact on autism awareness and safety
- The importance of friendship, community, and self-care in balancing a demanding public role
- Practical strategies for advocacy, awareness, and creating positive change
Tune in for this heartfelt discussion on resilience, authenticity, and the power of saying yes to new opportunities.
🎧 Listen now and be inspired by Annette’s extraordinary journey.
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