A Note on Becoming

Sharing some personal thoughts as we wrap up Season 1. Enjoy!

Dozie is a phenomenal human being. She is the founder/CEO of Choose to DO, Inc., an organization dedicated to teaching young adults the power of positive thinking.  I'm convinced this topic isn't just for kids, as I fall prey to my mind and its dirty tricks daily. Dozie was such a breath of fresh air, and I consider myself lucky to share this city with her. Enjoy!

Christina is founder of Being Positioned, a nonprofit organization with a mission to create adventure and hope for adults living with rare genetic disorders. Christina shares her personal story of creating adventure and fun in the wake of adversity, and how she then used her own experience to connect and unite individuals across the globe going through the same thing.  You can connect with Christina on instagram- @beingpositioned or at www.beingpositioned.org.

In the last episode of the summer mini-series, we are talking about food-- how our food choices impact our communities. I can't think of a better person to lead us through this conversation that Jodi Mitchell, Director of Customer Service and Community Relations at Perfectly Imperfect Produce.  Based in Ohio, Perfectly Imperfect Produce is driven by a mission to reduce food waste and to promote healthy food access for all. By bringing in the entire supply chain- the farmers, consumers, retails, local businesses and non-profits, this team truly epitomizes this concept of building a better community.  Enjoy!

Episode two of the conscious consumerism summer mini-series continues the conversation on why our spending habits matter. Christina Mychas, "shopaholic turned minimalist" has built her brand on this idea of mindful spending, and helps others see how less truly is more. Her YouTube, Instagram and other social platforms have reached thousands of viewers in search for a more intentional lifestyle.  This fresh take on minimalism challenges consumers to think about their more-is-more mentality in hopes of not becoming further victim to our stuff. 

We as humans consume daily. We consume everything from the food on our table, to the stuff we fill our homes with. The things we need are stuffed into our Amazon carts right alongside all the things we don't need. Being a conscious consumer means taking a step back and assessing the impact that our consumption habits have on one another and our planet. That's community.  Today's launch of the three-part mini series on conscious consumerism features journalist Rachel Monroe. Rachel lives in Marfa, TX and has had pieces featured multiple publications including the Atlantic and the NY Times. She is the author of a book called Savage Appetites: True Stories of Women, Crime, and Obsession. Her recent investigative journalism work on consumer choices and the micro and macro impacts that's having in our world is thought-provoking and alluring. On this episode, she shares some of those insights, and what we as consumers should do with that information.  Enjoy episode one of the mini-series! 

Anyone who knows me well knows that I LOVE Renegade Craft. Renegade serves as a platform for local artisans to showcase their work, and strives to create an environment where community-creating is at the forefront. Founder, Principle, and Creative Director Susie Daly joins me on the podcast to share the story of Renegade- from its humble beginnings, to enjoying seasons of expansion and growth, to navigating unforeseen challenges amidst the pandemic.  Enjoy my conversation with Susie! 

On this episode of Reside Podcast, I sat down with Lead Roaster at Cleo Roasting in Houston, Vivian Nguyen. Vivian is passionate not only about getting that perfect flavor profile for each batch of coffee roasted, but also cares about the impact that their roasting has on the lives of everyone involved in producing that cup of coffee, all the way down to the farmer. This episode is best listened to with your favorite coffee drink in-hand! 

My good friend Blake joins me on the podcast to dig deep into his role in building a more equitable community when it comes to race that starts in his classroom. Blake is a teacher at Yes Prep in Houston, TX and his journey is something we can all glean insight from.

Cindy Wu is the Programs Manager for Houston Welcomes Refugees, author of A Better Country" Embracing the Refugees in Our Midst, and co-author of Our Global Facilities: Christians Embracing Common Identity in a Changing World.  On this episode, Cindy shares her heart for the refugee community. Through her work with refugees in Houston, she is able to live out her desire to be among the nations and to seek justice for the vulnerable- an interesting and often times overlooked intersection. She expresses how important it is for everyone to take notice of the refugee community in their area, and shares practical ways to help create a better community for refugees in their resettlement country.