171: Overcoming The Challenges of Life, Taking Your Rightful Place As “Queen”, and Helping Others

On this week’s episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we’re joined by Nancy Becher, founder of Invisible Warriors - an organization dedicated to supporting those living with chronic illness, autoimmune issues, and invisible disabilities.  Nancy's own journey with invisible illness began in 2014, when her life took a drastic turn after she was hit by a car. While picking up her parents from a senior center potluck, she was struck by another attendee's car, which caused her to be thrown into a drainage ditch, resulting in twisted tendons, ligaments, and broken bones. The path to diagnosis was a long and arduous one for Nancy, involving visits to multiple doctors and enduring months of physical pain. Eventually, she was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a debilitating condition that causes severe nerve damage. Nancy underwent numerous surgeries, received two spinal stimulators, and encountered countless medical professionals in her quest for relief from the relentless pain. Drawing on her background with a Master's in Counseling and a Ph.D. in sociology, Nancy decided to utilize her knowledge and personal experiences to create Invisible Warriors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people living with chronic illness, autoimmune issues, and invisible disabilities. The mission of Invisible Warriors is not only to provide assistance and resources to these individuals but also to initiate dialogue with medical professionals and advocate for changes in the insurance, pharmaceutical, and travel industries. Through Invisible Warriors, Nancy aims to create a community where those living with hidden chronic and autoimmune disorders can find solace, support, and a sense of belonging. By sharing her own journey and advocating for systemic changes, Nancy is determined to make a positive impact on the lives of others who are going through similar mental and physical anguish. Nancy is an advocate, who is working towards greater awareness, understanding, and resources for individuals with invisible illnesses. Nancy Becher's resilience and determination to create a supportive community for individuals with chronic illness, autoimmune issues, and invisible disabilities are truly commendable. Through her personal experiences, academic background, and unwavering passion, she has taken on the mission of empowering others and working towards a more inclusive and compassionate society. In this episode, you’ll hear: Nancy’s inspiring life story; The story of the accident that led to her health issues and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS); How she decided to start Invisible Warriors and why their work is so important; About the people that Nancy and Invisible Warriors are helping; How you can get involved in their work if you’re living with an invisible disability or illness;  About the Silent No More Benefit Concert and how you can attend and support the event; And so much more. The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.  For more information on Nancy Becher and Invisible Warriors, please visit: www.1girlrevolution.com/InvisibleWarriors

25 Touko 202353min

Kimberly Corban, a survivor of sexual assault and one of the leading advocates for survivors, joins The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast to share her incredible life story and the inspiring work she is doing to advocate for other survivors.  Kimberly is a remarkable woman who has transformed her personal trauma into a powerful force for change. Her survivor’s story began in 2006, when she survived a horrific sexual assault in her college apartment. Instead of succumbing to fear and silence, Corban decided to share her story, speak up and share her name in the media, in an effort to advocate for and empower other survivors. Since then, Corban has become a renowned public speaker, using her platform to raise awareness about sexual assault and promote prevention strategies. She has delivered compelling speeches at universities, conferences, TedX, and community events, shedding light on the lasting impact of sexual violence and the importance of speaking up, bringing an end to the violence of sexual assault in our world, and supporting and advocating for survivors. Her courage in sharing her own experience has empowered so many other women to speak up, share their stories, and seek justice - women who so often feel ignored, forgotten and unheard.  In this episode, you’ll hear: Kimberly’s inspiring life story; The story of her assault and how she decided to speak up, share her story, and advocate for others; How she is advocating for and empowering others to speak up; About her podcast with Kara Robinson Chamberlain, “Survivor’s Guide to True Crime”; Her message to other survivors and what we can do to support survivors in our lives and communities;  And so much more. The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.  For more information on Kimberly Corban and her work, please visit: www.1girlrevolution.com/kimberlycorban

17 Touko 20231h 2min

Sierra Kim is a Board-Certified nutrition specialist, Naturopathic medical student and founder of Thrive with Sierra. Sierra joins The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast to share her inspiring life story, the story of how her husband lost all mobility at 25 years old and how over 15+ doctors offered no real answers or solutions, and how Sierra decided to take matters into her own hands and went back to school to get her MS in nutrition to find solutions for her husband’s health.  Sierra thought outside of the box, asked questions, was innovative and creative, found answers and solutions, and ended up figuring out what worked for her husband and he has regained much of his health and mobility. It’s an incredible story! And Sierra is an inspiring example to ask questions and find differing perspectives and options.  Sierra recently made a video about her journey that went viral, with over one million views - which resonated with so many people who experienced similar situations in modern medicine. Sierra found solutions that worked for her husband and is now on a mission to help other people with chronic illnesses regain their life. She is currently in medical school and has big hopes for the future.  Sierra is an incredible woman with an inspiring story! You don’t want to miss this episode! In this episode, you’ll hear: Sierra’s life story; How she and her husband met and how on their honeymoon he began to experience health issues; The story of how Sierra’s husband lost all mobility and his health kept deteriorating, and how 15+ doctors offered little reprieve or solutions; How Sierra decided to take matters into her own hands and go back to school to get her MS in nutrition;  How Sierra’s husband has regained most of his mobility and health, and you’ll hear about the things that helped; About how Sierra is using her own experiences to help others with chronic illnesses regain their life; And so much more. For more information about Sierra and Thrive With Sierra, please visit: www.1GirlRevolution.com/sierrakim

11 Touko 202346min

Laura Stark is an athlete, a survivor, an advocate, and a board member of Women’s World on Wheels. Laura is a true inspiration to women everywhere and she joins The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast to share her incredible story of resilience, how she got involved in Women’s World on Wheels, and how their work is transforming the lives of women in wheelchairs.  In the summer of 2016, Laura was a part of a cross-country bike mission trip called “Bike & Build.” Bike & Build engages young adults in service-oriented cycling trips to raise awareness for the affordable housing cause. During her summer ride, Laura and another rider, Anne,  were hit by a distracted driver. Anne died in the accident and Laura fought for her life. Laura’s life was forever changed that day as she suffered a spinal cord injury that would leave her paralyzed and in a wheelchair. But instead of letting her injury define her, she is using her life and experience as an opportunity to build community with others and to advocate for women in wheelchairs.  With only 20% of the wheelchair community being women, there is a clear need for more resources, community,  and support for women in similar situations. Through her advocacy work, Laura has become a voice for change and she continues to raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by women in wheelchairs through Women’s World on Wheels. Women’s World on Wheels provides programming, resources, and events as a catalyst for female wheelchair users’ physical, professional, and personal success.  Laura is truly an inspiration to women everywhere. You don’t want to miss this incredible episode! In this episode, you’ll hear: Laura’s inspiring life story; About the summer that changed Laura’s life - for so many reasons - and how she got involved in Bike & Build;  The story of how Laura was hit by a distracted driver and was left with a spinal cord injury and in a wheelchair; How Laura’s life changed after the accident, how she found courage and resilience, and how she found community and support; The struggles that face those in wheelchairs, specifically women; How Laura got involved in Women’s World on Wheels and about their incredible world-changing work; And so much more.  The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.  For more information about Laura and Women’s World on Wheels, please visit: www.1GirlRevolution.com/laurastark

4 Touko 202358min

Brittany Bentley, co-founder of Parker Clay, joins The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast to share her inspiring life story, how adoption led her and her husband to move to Ethiopia, and how they decided to start a luxury brand dedicated to helping women escape human trafficking and empowering them to live their lives - in freedom. Brittany and her husband had two children, Parker and Clay, and they decided to pursue adoption - which was what first led them to Ethiopia to adopt their first daughter. Their time in Ethiopia was transformative and opened their eyes to the crisis facing women in Ethiopia. In the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, 150,000 women are currently trapped in prostitution and 26% of women are unemployed; and in Ethiopia as a whole, over 4,6 million children are orphaned. Women and children in Ethiopia often feel like they have no other choice except to sell themselves and their bodies for money, but Parker Clay is changing that by offering women and girls freedom, a great salary and benefits, and the opportunity to pursue their hopes and dreams.  Parker Clay is a B-corp that makes premium leather and handwoven goods in Ethiopia and hires survivors of human trafficking, empowering them through commerce and art to freely live their lives. A B-corporation is a for-profit business that uses the power of commerce to solve social and environmental problems. Parker Clay partners with Ellilta International, a non-profit organization that provides holistic alternatives for exploited individuals through recovery that leads to freedom and restoration in all areas of life, to offer the women Ellilta works with - freedom and employment.  Brittany is an incredible woman with an inspiring story to share. You don’t want to miss this incredible episode! In this episode, you’ll hear: Brittany’s life story; How Brittany and her husband, Ian, decided to adopt and how that led them to Ethiopia for the first time;  How Brittany and Ian and their family ended up living in Ethiopia for a while, embedded themselves in the community, and how their experiences and conversations led them to starting Parker Clay; The story of how Parker Clay came to be and all about the incredible work they do; About the crisis facing women and children in Ethiopia and how Parker Clay is playing a role in leading them to freedom; And so much more.  The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.  For more information about Brittany and Parker Clay, please visit: www.1GirlRevolution.com/parkerclay

27 Huhti 202346min

Melissa Coulier and Melanie Samuels, founders of Living Well with Mel and Mel, join The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast this week to share their inspiring health journeys, the fun story about how they met and became friends on the set of “Fuller House”, how they connected over their passion for health and wellness, and how they’re helping others reclaim their lives and their health through Living Well with Mel and Mel.  Melissa is a fitness instructor, Lupus warrior, and photographer living in Detroit, Michigan. And Melanie is a holistic nutritionist and wellness expert living in Los Angeles, California. Although they’re based on opposite sides of the country, these women are working together to transform lives, empower women to take ownership of their health and wellness journeys, and they’re using social media for good. Living Well with Mel and Mel is dedicated to helping individuals on their own personal wellness journeys and their mission is to provide an inclusive community that celebrates bio-individuality and uses all aspects of every individual person’s life to manage inflammation and promote health and wellness.  You don’t want to miss this fun, informative, and inspiring episode! In this episode, you’ll hear: About Melissa’s life and her journey with Lupus, how she got into photography and became a successful photographer, and what led her to movement and fitness; About Melanie’s life and her journey with disordered eating, working in the entertainment industry, and how she got into nutrition and wellness  The story of how Mel and Mel met and how they bonded over their own stories, life experiences, and their passion for health and wellness; How Living Well with Mel and Mel came to be and all about the community they’re building and the incredible work they’re doing to empower others; Health and wellness tips and tricks from Mel and Mel; And so much more! The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.  For more information about Melissa, Melanie, and Living Well with Mel and Mel, please visit: www.1girlrevolution.com/livingwellwithmelandmel

19 Huhti 20231h 5min

Leeann Moore and Sherry Gibbons are the two incredible co-founders of Sister Corps and they join The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast this week to share their inspiring stories and to talk about the world-changing, life-giving work of Sister Corps. Sister Corps is a nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilizing volunteers to provide recovery efforts in areas affected by natural disasters, for environmental relief, or for other community and individual needs in our world. As you’ll hear in this episode, the majority of women involved in Sister Corps are retired - but these women aren’t held back by age (or anything else) and you’ll often find them carpooling in pickup trucks with their power tools in tow, ready and willing to help anyone in need in these areas affected by natural disasters.  In this episode, you’ll hear: A little about Leeann and Sherry’s individual life stories;; How they met through Sisters on the Fly; About how they connected and wanted to make a difference in the world; How Sister Corps came to be and all about the inspiring work they’re doing; Stories from “the field” and how they’re helping others through Sister Corps; And so much more! The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts. For more information on Sister Corps, please visit: www.1GirlRevolution.com/SisterCorps

13 Huhti 202348min

Kristen Friscia Benitez, co-founder of Lity’s Angels, joins The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast this week to share her inspiring life journey, the story of how she ended up in Puerto Rico, and how her sweet daughter Lily, who has Down Syndrome, led to the founding of Lily’s Angels.  Kristen talks about her own journey as the mother of a child with Down Syndrome and how her advocacy for her own child - led to her deciding to start something bigger to help and support other families in the Down Syndrome community.  Lily’s Angels is a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading awareness about Down Syndrome, as well as increasing access to therapy, resources, community, and support to individuals with Down Syndrome and their families. . You don’t want to miss this inspiring episode! In this episode, you’ll hear: Kristen’s own life story; The story of how Kristen met her husband and how her life changed the day Lily (and each of her children too!) was born; About Kristen’s struggle to find resources and support, but how she continued to fight for her daughter, Lily; How Kristen’s own journey through her life and with Lily, led her to founding Lily’s Angels and Down Syndrome Foundations; About the inspiring and innovative work of Lily’s Angels and Down Syndrome Awareness Foundations; And so much more! The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts. For more information about Lily’s Angels, please visit: www.1girlrevolution.com/lilysangels

6 Huhti 20231h 2min