It's Why We're Here: Finding the Path to Purpose

There is nothing quite like a Mother's love. In this episode, we are honored to get to hear from Marsha Aizumi. Marsha is an educator, author, activist, and mom of two sons. After years of infertility, Marsha shares what it felt like becoming a mother through adoption and holding her first son Aiden, for the first time. At birth, Aiden had been assigned female and at the age of 20, after a journey of self-discovery, Aiden transitioned from female to male. Marsha shares what that experience was like witnessing and supporting Aiden on his journey, as well as sharing what the experience has been like having her own kind of transition as the mother of a transgender son.    03:00 Being a 3rd generation Japanese-American, moving to California, and taking over the family insurance business. 04:40 What is the secret to being married 49 years and counting? 07:00 What was the moment like holding your first child through adoption? 10:00 When did you start to notice that Aiden felt different? 13:00 What was it like hearing Aiden say he felt like he was born in the wrong body? 15:30 How did you find harmony in honoring your culture and your son through the transition? 18:15 What did you know about the trans community or transitioning before Aiden came out? 20:30 The whole family goes through their own transition alongside their trans loved one. 23:40 What were the first few years like after Aiden's transition? 25:30 What was it like embracing your role as an activist? 27:50 The power of hearing the President specifically addressing Transgender Americans! 30:30 Ways Aiden experienced changes in privilege transitioning from female to male. 32:00 Why did you and Aiden decide to write this book? 35:40 Marsha's Pathfinder: a quote that has guided her along her journey. Check out Marsha and Aiden's book: Two Spirits, One Heart ………………………. Follow us on Instagram | @itswhywerehere

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and today's guest is unfortunately very aware of what sexual assault victims go through both during and after the assault. Our host Steve is honored to welcome friend, and pioneer for women playing in football, Katie Hnida. Katie is an author, advocate, and history-making athlete. In this episode, we get to hear her journey of discovering her love of football, following her dreams of becoming a college and semi-pro kicker in her favorite sport, and how she has turned the trauma of being sexually assaulted by a teammate into being a voice and advocate for sexual assault victims.   02:00 Katie and I go way back! 03:15 What did your journey look like growing up and becoming a collegiate athlete? 05:15 How did you discover that you had the talent for punting a football? 06:00 What was it like trying out for your high school football team? 09:40 What did the guys in High School think when you became a Varsity Kicker? 11:20 Did colleges quickly become interested? 13:15 What did it feel like playing for your dream college football team? 15:00 What was the transition like from playing in high school to college football? 16:30 Why did you end up leaving your dream college of CU? 18:30 Did anyone defend you as you were being harassed? 19:00 The ultimate betrayal of being sexually assaulted by someone she knew. 20:40 Did you initially tell anybody about being raped? 21:40 How did you navigate depression and trauma after the assault? 24:50 Making history at the University of New Mexico! 28:50 The contrast of the team at CU and University of New Mexico. 30:40 What was it like doing a public interview about the sexual assault? 34:30 What was your Dad's reaction to hearing about the assault? 38:15 Tell us about becoming a semi-pro football player? 41:00 Why has it become so important to you to be an advocate for sexual assault victims? 43:30 What are the biggest misconceptions about sexual assault cases? 45:40 Are there still times you relive the experience as you see stories of sexual assault? 48:30 What advice would you give to someone who finds themselves victim of sexual assault and doesn't know what to do? 49:30 What is your pathfinder, a quote or saying that inspires you?   ……………………….   Follow us on Instagram | @itswhywerehere  

Welcome back to It's Why We're Here with your host Steve Holzer! In this episode, Steve is diving into the gifts and purpose of internationally known psychic medium, Thomas John. He is the star of the series The Thomas John experience on CBS All Access, the author of Never Argue with A Dead Person, and has done readings on everyone from celebrities to the person next to him in line at Starbucks. Tune into this episode to hear about Thomas's messages from the other side from a young age, to finding his purpose of helping others through mediumship. There might even be a live reading as well! 02:20 When did you first realize you had an ability that others did not have? 04:30 Were you scared as you first started having experiences receiving messages from the other side? 05:30 Did you share your experiences with friends and others around you growing up? 08:00 Was there a moment or turning point when you realized you could help others or make this your career? 12:30 When did you start to get noticed and gain popularity as a medium? 15:20 Has there ever been a time you have refused to tell someone what you're reading? 17:50 What is the difference between a psychic and a medium? 21:10 How has your series The Thomas John Experience evolved over time? 25:00 How has the show changed your life? 27:20 Have you found people are becoming more open to mediumship over your career? 29:00 Do you have to be face to face with someone to do a reading? 32:10 Times Thomas has worked with Law Enforcement as he's gotten messages. 33:25 What are the Virtual Spiritual Circles you do? 35:00 What do you think your purpose is now? 37:30 How quickly do messages come to you when you do a reading?   To learn more about Thomas John, check out his series The Thomas John Experience streaming on CBS All Access! https://www.cbs.com/shows/thomas-john-experience/ To get a reading yourself or join the next Virtual Spiritual Circle, head over to his website: https://mediumthomas.com/ Check out Thomas John's book: Never Argue With a Dead Person: True and Unbelievable Stories from the Other Side https://www.amazon.com/Never-Argue-Dead-Person-Unbelievable/dp/1571747249 ………………………. Follow us on Instagram for more of It's Why We're Here: @itswhywerehere https://www.instagram.com/itswhywerehere/

In today's episode, our Host Steve is joined by someone who has made a global impact and an impact on Steve's life personally, J. Blanton Belk. Mr. Belk is the founder of the international educational organization Up with People. At almost 96 years old Mr. Belk shares a few of many life experiences included in his book It's an Unfinished World and It's Still in the Making. Living by the motto of thinking big you and the mission to create unity in a time of segregation led to meeting Martin Luther King, traveling around the world in his youth, and as he built Up with People. You won't want to miss the stories of hope, tragedy, impact, and heart shared in this special episode!  03:45 How Mr. Belk's organization changed my life! 04:20 Why did you decide to write your book? 06:40 What was your relationship with your father like growing up? 09:45 The epiphany that led to civil rights work and the creation of Up with People! 13:00 What was the start of Up with People in the 40's? 15:40 What was your experience performing the show The Good Road to war-torn Germany? 19:50 At what point in your time in Germany did you see the power of what shows can do? 21:20 Who is Charles Preston Howard and what has he meant in your life? 25:00 Meeting Martin Luther King. 33:20 How did you reconcile the dichotomy of the relationships of Martin Luther King and President Dwight D. Eisenhower? 39:10 What were some important milestones as you expanded to Up with People to other countries? 41:00 What orientation was like when I traveled with Up with People! 43:00 How started by thinking big, has led to making a big impact! 46:00 Is there a particular performance or moment with Up with People that you realized you were making a global impact? 47:30 How does Up with People stay and be relevant in today's political climate? 49:40 What comes next? Check out J. Blanton Belk's book It's an Unfinished World and It's Still in the Making: https://jblantonbelk.com/ ………………………. Follow us on Instagram for more of It's Why We're Here: @itswhywerehere https://www.instagram.com/itswhywerehere/

In this episode, our host Steve Holzer is joined by friend and fellow cancer survivor Amanda Salas. Amanda is the Entertainment Reporter for Good Day LA, and as you'll hear in this episode she has no shortage of energy or puns! Amanda walks us through her journey of being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, what (and who) helped her through the hard days and the epic way she decided to shave her head amidst rounds of chemotherapy. Tune in to hear about Amanda's journey from discovering her diagnosis to discovering her purpose, and how we ALL should remove the phrase that someone has "lost their battle to cancer" from our vocabulary. 01:40 How did you get to be involved in celebrities and Hollywood? 03:20 What is it like working in such a competitive industry? 05:20 How did you develop this passion for helping women who are looking to buy a car? 10:50 When did you start to feel like something felt off? 14:00 What symptoms did you have before finally discovering your diagnosis? 17:10 What was it like hearing you have a tumor the size of an "organic grapefruit"? 21:50 How did you celebrate when you started losing your hair from chemotherapy? 29:00 Tell us about your journey from discovering your diagnosis to discovering your purpose. 33:10 Who are the two women that have helped you through your cancer journey? 35:30 What is your latest health update? 38:30 What's the most memorable celebrity interview you've done? 42:10 What is your pathfinder, something that's gotten you through cancer?  Connect with Amanda on Instagram @amandasalas ………………………. Follow us on Instagram for more of It's Why We're Here: @itswhywerehere https://www.instagram.com/itswhywerehere/

The two women joining Steve on this episode of the podcast KNOW their purpose and have built a non-profit around it! Tammy Tibbetts and Christen Brandt are authors and Co-Founders of the Non-profit organization She's the First. What started over Greek food and a social media campaign has turned into a global movement to give girls access to education. In this episode, our guests Christen and Tammy talk about their backgrounds working for magazines, pivotal moments as they worked on building their non-profit full-time, and what brought them to write a book. A book that would give a plan to even more people who can contribute to making a better world for girls in their own homes and communities.  01:05 Meet the minds behind the non-profit organization She's the First! 04:00 Do you feel growing up that you were afforded the same opportunities as boys? 05:50 Christen, tell us about what it was like growing up in a home of women. 07:40 How did you both meet? 11:30 The Co-foundership that started over greek food and a social media campaign. 13:40 Tammy, did people think you were crazy leaving Seventeen Magazine to work on your non-profit full-time? 17:50 What have been some pivotal moments as She's the First has grown? 20:40 How did your organization go international? 23:30 Why are so many girls worldwide out of school? 26:00 What made you decide to write a book? 30:20 Which is more daunting, writing a book or running a non-profit? 32:20 What do you hope others are able to take away from your book?   Follow She's the First on Instagram @shesthefirst https://www.instagram.com/shesthefirst/?hl=en Check out She's the First at shesthefirst.org Buy the book: Impact: A Step by Step Plan to Create the World You want to live in. https://www.amazon.com/Impact-Step-Step-Create-World/dp/1541756789 ………………………. Follow us on Instagram for more of It's Why We're Here: @itswhywerehere https://www.instagram.com/itswhywerehere/  

In this episode, our host Steve is joined by Marc Cota-Robles! Marc is an eyewitness news reporter and author of the children's book The Brave Little Fighter. Marc never aspired to become an author, but when his nephew passed away at two and a half months old due to heart defects Marc was inspired by his nephew's short and impactful life to share a message of hope and comfort.  02:00 Working as an eyewitness news reporter for abc 7 in Los Angeles. 04:00 What was the journey behind writing The Brave Little Fighter after your nephew? 07:30 When did you find out your nephew Bryce had a heart defect? 12:15 How did you come up with the idea to write a book? 14:30 Why did you decide to write the story in the form of a children's book? 16:00 Hearing about the passing of his nephew Bryce. 18:40 Who is The Brave Little Fighter for? ………………………………………. Connect with Marc on Instagram: @abc7marccr https://www.instagram.com/abc7marccr/ Check out the book The Brave Little Fighter: https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Little-Fighter-Marc-Cota-Robles/dp/1949439070 Follow us on Instagram for more of It's Why We're Here: @itswhywerehere https://www.instagram.com/itswhywerehere/

In this episode, our host Steve is joined by his dear friend Ross Mathews! Ross has been in the public eye nearly half of his life. He was in college when he began an internship at The Tonight Show with Jay Leno that launched his two-decade career in entertainment. But growing up in a small town with a voice he knew was unique wasn't easy. Ross reveals how he turned that unique voice into a unique voice for anyone and everyone who has ever felt different!  From Rosie to RuPaul to the person in his life who gives him purpose, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.  02:00 What has your journey been like to self-love and loving your body? 06:30 Being in the public eye, how do you deal with bullies and haters? 08:30 What was it like growing up in a small agricultural town?  13:00 You mentioned Rosie O'Donnell in your book Name Drop, why is she such an important person to you? 16:50 Did you really tell Barbara Walters "Why are you being so rude to me?" 25:00 What was it like doing Hollywood Today Live? 27:05 What do you think has made RuPaul's Drag Race such a successful show? 30:10 As a judge, what do you look for in the first week of the show? 33:50 Who are your role models? 37:30 What is the legacy your mom left you? 39:30 What is your pathfinder? Your words to live by. ……………………………………………... Follow along with our podcast Instagram: @itswhywerehere https://www.instagram.com/itswhywerehere/?hl=en Connect with Ross on Instagram: @helloross https://www.instagram.com/helloross/?hl=en Check out Ross Mathews' most recent book, Name Drop: https://www.amazon.com/Name-Drop-Ross-Mathews-audiobook/dp/B07VT8DZT9/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwit_8BRCoARIsAIx3Rj7FTYdgOCRd0oiaKBTa4ZsiIez_2NNG8gfSqdQGcYxEHw9zQzifD3saArmmEALw_wcB&hvadid=377870284024&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9029976&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=3005746349128585930&hvtargid=kwd-806489221588&hydadcr=7471_9612046&keywords=name+drop+ross+mathews&qid=1603852603&sr=8-1&tag=googhydr-20    

In our very first guest episode, we are joined by my friend Maria Quiban Whitesell. Maria talks about her new book "You Can't Do It Alone: A Widow's Journey Through Loss, Grief and Life After", which she wrote after the death of her husband, Sean, from Glioblastoma (GBM), the most deadly form of brain cancer.  Maria shares her personal journey from getting the diagnosis that changed their lives forever, becoming Sean's caregiver, navigating life, and raising their son after his death. It's all given Maria a new purpose - raising awareness about GBM. 01:15 Meet Maria Quiban Whitesell. 03:40 Why was it important for you to go back and get your degree as a Meteorologist? 06:10 How did you meet Sean? 08:45 Finding out Sean was diagnosed with Glioblastoma. 09:50 Seeing warning signs on a trip to Paris. 13:45 Leading a public life, how did you decide what to share publicly? 15:20 As a caregiver, why was it important to remember what you can control even though you are not in control of the outcome? 16:10 Tell us about the Samurai you wrote about in your book. 20:00 What was it like seeing the treatment Sean would undergo, and what you had ahead of you? 23:00 What was the collaboration like working with a grief counselor on your book? 24:10 How do you and your son Gus keep Sean with you?  28:00 What is your pathfinder? (Something that has helped you along the way!) ……………………………………………... Follow along with our podcast Instagram: @itswhywerehere https://www.instagram.com/itswhywerehere/?hl=en Connect with Maria Quiban on Instagram: @mariasearth https://www.instagram.com/mariasearth/?hl=en Buy the Book, You Can't Do It Alone: A Widow's Journey Through Loss, Grief and Life After https://www.amazon.com/You-Cant-Do-Alone-Journey-ebook/dp/B07YSN4NB2

Welcome to the very first episode, of the very first podcast, of our host Steve's very first pandemic! (And likely your first pandemic as well.) In this episode, we get to hear some of the challenges Steve has faced and what he's learned through them all. This episode is the perfect sneak peek into the real stories of vulnerability and triumph you will find on this podcast! It's about life. It's about empathy. It's about caring for others, and how to grow on our individual journeys.  It's why we're here. 01:45 What inspired you to create this podcast? 04:12 How reading biographies as a child turned into a lifelong love for hearing and telling peoples stories. 09:05 The gift of learning from Carlos through his battle with cancer.  15:40 Getting sober. 17:50 "You have cancer." What it was like getting the call from my Dr. saying I had cancer. 23:30 Becoming an advocate and spreading the word about HPV related cancer. 25:40 How Chadwick Boseman was a true hero in life, and through his death as well.  …………………………………….. Connect with us on Instagram: @itswhywerehere https://www.instagram.com/itswhywerehere/?hl=en