254: Healed and Restored - Elza Spaedy

This week on The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Nechami Tenenbaum, founder of Defiance Beauty. Formerly Karmela Cosmetics, Defiance Beauty is a natural, high-performance makeup company with a mission to represent and empower ALL women - and to help others and make a difference in the world. From a young age, Nechami loved makeup and anything beauty related, so after graduating with an MBA in Marketing, she decided to pursue her true passion for makeup and beauty - and she launched Karmela Cosmetics, now Defiance Beauty. Nechami wanted to make a difference with her brand, not just by empowering all women through beauty, but she also decided to give back and help others through the brand. Defiance Beauty has grown and evolved through the years and has made a difference and helped others - every step of the way.  Nechami is the founder and CEO of Defiance Beauty, She’s also a makeup artist, a brand strategist and brand launch advisor, and an image consultant - working with brands to improve their brand perception and awareness. Nechami is also the host of “We Are Women” - a podcast that features influential women who share their unique stories of self-love, self-acceptance, and self-discovery in a society that has long exemplified a specific (non-unique) beauty standard. You do not want to miss this inspiring episode! You will love Nechami and you will be so inspired by her story and what she’s created through Defiance Beauty! In this episode you’ll hear: Nechami’s inspiring life journey;  About her upbringing and what it was like growing up in a strong Jewish family;  How Nechami was interested in beauty and makeup from a young age; Why Nechami decided to start her own beauty brand, Karmela Cosmetics, and how it has transformed into Defiance Beauty;  How Defiance Beauty is helping others and changing the world;  And so much more. The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.  For more information on Nechami and Defiance Beauty, please visit: www.1GirlRevolution.com/nechamitenenbaum For more on 1 Girl Revolution and to listen to more podcast episodes and to watch our Emmy-nominated documentary series, please visit: www.1GirlRevolution.com

13 Sep 202356min

On this week’s episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Angel Flewellyn, founder of Sunday Best Crew - a nonprofit organization that distributes home-cooked meals to those experiencing homelessness in the city of Detroit.  As you’ll hear in this episode, Angel is a woman of many talents, who has lived through many different chapters of life - but one thing is constant, she has always been dedicated to helping those in need. Angel was a mother to children in foster care for many years and she cared for her ailing mother for over 20 years. Last year, Angel embarked on a new journey of love, through food - with her daughter and her sisters - and Sunday Best Crew was born. Angel started making meals on Sunday’s for those in need and distributing them at a local transit center because she believes that everyone deserves a good home-cooked meal “especially on Sunday”, but Sunday Best Crew has quickly evolved and has become a six days a week, hundreds of meals per day endeavor - because the need is so great. Angel shares in this episode that she is “not a cook” and rarely even cooks for herself or her own family, but she cooks hundreds of meals daily in her own kitchen for those experiencing homelessness and others in need.  You do not want to miss this inspiring episode! We laugh, we cry, and we love throughout this whole episode! You will love it! In this episode you’ll hear: Angel’s inspiring life story; About her life, her experience as a mother to children in foster care and caring for her own ailing mother for 20 years; How she decided to start cooking for those in need and how Sunday Best Crew began; About the mission of Sunday Best Crew and how they’ve evolved to feeding hundreds of people six days a week;  Stories about who Sunday Best Crew is serving;  And so much more. The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.  For more information on Sunday Best Crew, to donate, or to get involved, please visit: www.1GirlRevolution.com/sundaybestcrew For more information on 1 Girl Revolution, to listen to our podcast, watch our Emmy-nominated documentary series, and more - please visit: www.1GirlRevolution.com

6 Sep 202351min

This week’s episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast features the amazing Tina Swithin, founder of One Mom’s Battle. In this episode, Tina shares her inspiring life story and talks about growing up in the family court system; how as an adult she suffered trauma and abuse from her narcissistic ex-husband and how she ended up back in the family court system with her own family; how One Mom’s Battle came to be and how it’s evolved to become a hub for parents and children who are caught up in the family court system worldwide.  One Mom’s Battle started out as a blog that Tina started to share her own experiences as she navigated through her own divorce and the family court system. Tina acted as her own attorney in the high-conflict custody battle that turned her family’s life upside down (which lasted for over a decade) and she quickly learned that divorcing a narcissist or another high-conflict individual escalates family law cases to levels that few can comprehend - and she realized by sharing her own experiences and resources, that she could help others.  Tina’s plight grew from just one mom (herself) to a village of tens of thousands who all share the same story - through One Mom’s Battle. There were different variations and nuances, but the common denominator is toxic, high conflict individuals and post-separation abuse. Tina has chosen to assume the title of survivor versus victim and has become an advocate for change in the Family Court System after seeing the flaws first-hand. Tina believes that the courts have lost sight of their primary focus, which should be the best interest of the child and instead, are too focused on parental rights. Tina believes that children are suffering unnecessarily due to the lack of education on the front lines—and behind the judicial bench.   One Mom’s Battle is the intersection of narcissistic abuse and child custody issues; with a mission to raise awareness and educate family court professionals on post separation abuse as it relates to co-parenting and the family court system (divorce, paternity and child custody battles). Education on high-conflict individuals and post separation abuse allows family court professionals (Judges, Commissioners, Magistrates, CPS workers, Guardian ad Litems (GAL), Parenting Coordinators (PC), Custody Evaluators, therapists and attorneys) to recognize the abusive dynamics that play out in the family court system so they can make decisions that are in the best interest of children. In 2020, Tina Swithin founded, “Family Court Awareness Month.” Tina is the author of Divorcing a Narcissist (series) and founder of the High Conflict Divorce Coach Certification Program. Tina Swithin has been awarded honors such as the “Top 20 Professionals Under 40” and the “Top 40 Professionals Under 40” in several regional California newspapers. Tina resides in San Luis Obispo, California with her husband and her two daughters. You do not want to miss this powerful and inspiring episode!  In this episode you’ll hear: Tina’s inspiring life story; Her experience growing up in the family court system and then going through it again as an adult with her own family; How she met her now ex-husband, the red flags (narcissism) she ignored, and how she overcame the trauma and abuse; How One Mom’s Battle started and how it’s grown and evolved to become a network of 10’s of thousands, and a resource and support community; And so much more. For more information on Tina and One Mom’s Battle, please visit: www.1girlrevolution.com/tinaswithin The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts. For more information on 1 Girl Revolution, please visit: www.1GirlRevolution.com

23 Aug 20231h 1min

On this week’s episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Mary Katherine Rand, Executive Director of The Mary Parrish Center to share her inspiring story and to talk about the incredible work that The Mary Parrish Center does.  The Mary Parrish Center was founded in 2002 to provide a full array of no-cost, comprehensive services to over 10,000 survivors of interpersonal violence which includes domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and/or human trafficking. Born out of a need identified by advocates in the community, The Mary Parrish Center spent their first seven years assisting victims with the order of protection process and providing support and guidance for their next steps.  In 2009, after years of frustration, struggling to help survivors find safe, affordable housing, The Mary Parrish Center decided to take matters into their own hands and developed a program dedicated to providing transitional housing for survivors. In addition to safe, individual apartments, their Transitional Housing Program provides a wide range of flexible and optional support services including case management, clinical therapy, crisis intervention, economic empowerment, enrichment activities, financial assistance, housing advocacy, and workforce development. In 2019, they developed two new programs: their Rapid Re-housing Program and their Coordinated Entry Process - specific to survivors of interpersonal violence. Their survivor-focused programs enhance their residents’ autonomy by nurturing their capacity to live independently from their abusers, establish self-sufficiency, and secure permanent housing - and a new, freer life. Mary Katherine started at The Mary Parrish Center as a therapist and now serves as Executive Director - so she has so many incredible stories and experiences from both positions/perspectives. You do not want to miss this great episode! In this episode you’ll hear: Mary Katherine’s inspiring life story; How Mary Katherine decided to become a therapist and how she ended up at The Mary Parrish Center; The inspiring story of Mary Parrish and how The Mary Parrish Center came to be; About the incredible work of The Mary Parrish Center; The powerful stories of women who have been served through The Mary Mary Parrish Center; And so much more. For more information on Mary Katherine and The Mary Parrish Center, please visit:www.1girlrevolution.com/maryparrishcenter The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.  For more information on 1 Girl Revolution, please visit: www.1GirlRevolution.com

17 Aug 202344min

This week’s episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast features Jerelyn Roriquez, CEO and co-founder of The Knowledge House. The Knowledge House (TKH) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2014 that works to close the gaps in the education­-to-­employment pipeline by leading digital skills training in coding and design for underserved young people. TKH started in the Bronx, but in 2021 they expanded their programming to serve young people in Newark, Atlanta, and Los Angeles - and they continue to expand and grow.  TKH combines technology training, career support, and a comprehensive network of partners to help disconnected job seekers secure rewarding careers in the tech economy and become financially independent. TKH aims to lift entire communities out of poverty by creating a pipeline of talented and capable workers equipped with the technology and skills that provide economic opportunity, living wages, and career mobility. Nationwide, there are 531,200 new technology jobs, with a projected growth of 11% over the next decade. Nearly half of these positions do not require college degrees. With tech sector jobs increasing exponentially yearly, there is now an unprecedented opportunity for traditionally underrepresented populations to enter these career pathways. There is a critical need for job training and workforce development programming to ensure underserved young people are not left behind. Jerelyn has an inspiring life story and an incredible story of how The Knowledge House came to be. You don’t want to miss this episode!  In this episode, you’ll hear:  Jerelyn’s life story; The story of how the idea for The Knowledge House came to be; About the incredible work that The Knowledge House does to lift individuals and communities out of poverty, provide opportunities for them, and help them find new skills and careers and become financially independent; Stories of individuals and families that have been helped through The Knowledge House; And so much more! For more information on Jerelyn and The Knowledge House, please visit: www.1girlrevolution.com/theknowledgehouse  The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

10 Aug 202352min

On this week’s episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Jenelle David, president and co-founder of Phoemale - an organization created by and for women, that is dedicated to helping women overcome domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and/or homelessness rebuild their lives. And just like the Phoenix, rise from the ashes.  Phoemale is a nonprofit organization that was founded by a group of female friends that wanted to make a difference throughout their community. Phoemale supports women who have overcome domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and/or homelessness and works with them to rebuild their lives, their homes, and meet any need - big or small - that is holding them back from thriving in life. Phoemale partners with social service agencies to identify women who have the desire to move forward, but lack resources and support.  Jenelle and many of the women involved in Phoemale work full-time and they all lead busy lives, but these women are examples that we can all do something to make a difference. Phoemale is helping transform the lives of women and their children everyday - and changing the trajectory of generations to come. Jenelle joins The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast to share her inspiring story and to talk about the incredible work of Phoemale. In this episode, you’ll hear:  Jenelle’s inspiring life story; The story of how she and a group of gal pals decided to do something to uplift other women and their children and why they decided to start Phoemale; About the incredible work that Phoemale is doing to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and those experiencing homelessness; The stories of women and children who have been helped and supported through Phoemale; And so much more!   For more information on Jenelle and Phoemale, please visit: www.1girlrevolution.com/Phoemale  The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

14 Jul 202357min

This week’s episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast features Rachel Durchslag, founder of the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE) and a healing practitioner at Emerge Asheville. In this episode, Rachel shares the inspiring story of how a documentary about human trafficking changed the trajectory of her life and opened her eyes to the epidemic of trafficking and abuse - and the need for healing in our world.  Rachel founded CAASE in 2006, with a vision to bring an end to all forms of sexual exploitation, including sexual assault and the commercial sex trade. CAASE addresses the culture, institutions, and individuals that perpetrate, profit from, and/or support sexual exploitation. CAASE advocates for survivors of sexual harm, and works to curtail the criminalization of trauma behaviors and hold perpetrators and systems accountable. After years of working for CAASE, Rachel dedicated to “pass the torch” to others and step away from CAASE. Rachel moved to Asheville, North Carolina and started Emerge Asheville - a healing practice that strives to help people connect more deeply with themselves, their lives, and the joy and spaciousness of this life.  Rachel is a beacon of light and she joins The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast to share her inspiring story, how to find healing, how we can all get involved in the fight against human trafficking, and so much more.  In this episode, you’ll hear:  Rachel’s inspiring life story; The story of the documentary that changed Rachel’s life and opened her eyes to the epidemic of sexual exploitation in our world; How and why she decided to start Chicago Alliance Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE); What CAASE has done and continues to do to make an impact against human trafficking; About Emerge Asheville and the incredible work that Rachel is doing now to help others find healing; And so much more! For more information on CAASE and Rachel, please visit: www.1GirlRevolution.com/RachelDurchslag  The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.  For more information on 1 Girl Revolution, please visit: www.1GirlRevolution.com

7 Jul 202347min

This week’s episode of The 1 Girl Revolution features Katherine Snider, CEO of Good+Foundation - a nonprofit that uses a multi-generational approach to address family poverty across the country.  Good+Foundation (formerly Baby Buggy) was founded in 2001 by Jessica Seinfeld shortly after the birth of her first child. Since then, Good+Foundation has become a leading national nonprofit that works to dismantle multi-generational poverty by pairing tangible goods with innovative services for low-income fathers, mothers and caregivers, creating an upward trajectory for the entire family and creating pathways for long-term, self-determined success. Good+Foundation also works to reform the systems that have blocked families from having access to resources and opportunities. Since 2001, Good+Foundation has donated over $95 million in essential goods to a national network of anti-poverty programs and they are partnered with approximately 112 innovative anti-poverty programs across the country. Their goal is to incentivize parental enrollment and participation in programs like counseling, health services, employment assistance, financial literacy, co-parenting classes and more. In 2010, Good+Foundation expanded their programming to intentionally include fathers. Through their research and work, Good+Foundation found that “stronger fathers build stronger, more resilient families and they are the backbone of thriving communities. The more we invest in fathers in their capacity to be engaged co-parents, the greater impact we see on children and families as a whole.” Good+Foundation found that the relationships between fathers and their children greatly improved when they received donations of essential goods and other support and resources (93 percent) and 82 percent of fathers reported improved relationships with their children's mother and/or other relatives as well. Additionally, 97 percent of fathers said that donations made them want to continue the life-changing programs provided by Good+Foundation’s partners. Katherine Snider joins The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast to share her inspiring life story, how she joined Good+Foundation, and to talk about the incredible, world-changing work of Good+Foundation.  In this episode, you’ll hear:  Katherine’s inspiring life story; The story of how Jessica Seinfeld decided to start Baby Buggy and how the organization grew and evolved into Good+Foundation; About Good+Foundation and their work to meet the short-term needs of mothers, fathers, and caregivers living on low-incomes, as well as creating pathways for their long-term, self-determined success; How Good+Foundation is working to reform the systems that have blocked families from having access to resources and opportunities; Stories of individuals and families who have been helped through the work of Good+Foundation; And so much more! For more information on Katherine and Good+Foundation, please visit:  https://1girlrevolution.com/goodplusfoundation The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

28 Jun 202344min