the WONDER podcast

It's been awhile since our last episode, but we're back! Sydney and her mom, Deirdre, talk about the shift in direction, upcoming episode guests, and exciting news regarding the switch in HOST of this podcast. 2024 is going to be an exciting year.

This week’s guest is someone Sydney is inspired by and admires. Laurie A. Watkins is a Catalyst for Change, Policy Expert, Media Commentator, and political strategist. She’s Founder & President of her own consulting organization, an incredible speaker, executive coach, best-selling author, as well as a human rights and women’s rights advocate. (And she’s also President Obama’s former Policy Advisor!) Sydney's loved following Laurie on social media because she’s using her platform to not only educate others on important topics, but also encourage them to create change in their own ways, whether that’s by cultivating community, sharing their stories, voting, the list goes on. Her work is incredibly impressive, so get ready to learn so much more! 

This week's guest on the WONDER podcast is Rebecca Burd. Rebecca and her husband, Dan, are producers of Speak Life End Bullying The Musical. They are also the directors of Speak Life Performing Arts Company. In 2000, deeply impacted by a story of bullying, they began writing a script that would eventually lead to the creation of a nation wide stage show and now a film. (Rebecca is also one of the authors contributing to The Musical Imprint book project, so there’s so much to talk about.) Her heart for the work and the youth involved is something that inspires and encourages so many! 

This week's guest on the WONDER podcast is Amanda Haidet, a licensed clinical social worker based in New Jersey. She opened A Brighter Tomorrow Wellness Center in 2019. Its focus is on customer service, client support, and providing a relaxing and aesthetically appealing environment. Amanda and her team hope people feel like a part of their family from the time they arrive until the completion of their treatment. Amanda is incredibly passionate about her work, but also the people around her. Can't wait for you all to get to know her more. 

This week's guest is another Instagram connection. One of Rachel Limerick's Instagram posts popped up on the Be The Change Youth Initiative (BTCYI) feed a month or so ago. She was selling her pottery as a fundraiser to give back to the Chattanooga community. Sydney immediately reached out because it is the purest example of what BTCYI is all about…. using your gifts to help create and support change in your community. But, she has also come to find out that Rachel is an educator as well as a mental health advocate, so there are so many topics covered in this conversation.  

Today’s conversation is an important one, especially if you’re a young woman and have ever been uncomfortable whether that’s in your gym, working out, your place of employment, or even walking down the street. But, it’s equally important for men to listen to this conversation and hear the perspectives of women. This week’s guest is Melo Russell! She has founded an organization called Unfazed and its focus is to empower women to use their voices! Her work is extremely important and we can't wait for you to learn more! 

This week's guest has actually been on before. Avery Kelley was a guest on Episode 049 with Miarri Phillips, talking about the importance of engaging in difficult conversations when we feel ill-equipped to navigate certain topics. Today, Sydney's having her on to talk about ALL THE INCREDIBLE things she is doing. At 14, Avery has her own Facebook talk show, is the co-director of a documentary, the founder of Love Carries On… and the list goes on. She is a change maker and epitomizes EVERYTHING Be The Change Youth Initiative is about.

This episode's guest is Gillian Johnson, the founder of Recovery Meet-Ups. Recovery Meet-Ups is a virtual, monthly meet-up initiative that connects high schoolers in recovery from disordered eating. First, Sydney has always wanted the WONDER podcast to be about elevating the voices of youth working to create change in their communities, and Gillian is doing just that. Second, Gillian and her friends are raising awareness about something that isn’t openly talked about, yet affects so many, and Recovery Meet-Ups also focuses on the importance of community, which you all know is near and dear to the BTCYI team. When people share their own life experiences, and stories, this helps others see they're not alone, but it’s also an important part of the healing process for themselves.

There’s been several shootings over the past week that have gained national attention. And with everything that’s happened, Sydney had a desire for this week's conversation to be about the topic of gun violence. 

Issues like these are never easy to talk about it, but what the Guerrette/Catlett family found from their travels around the country and from their work in Chattanooga, a lot of people want to have these conversations. But, because researching and talking about things we don’t understand can be scary for a lot of us, we just don’t know where to start. So, this is where Sydney wanted to begin. There are so many different avenues and opinions all under the same umbrella of gun violence. The first question for today is, when starting to have conversations around topics we’re not as familiar with, “where do we start?”

Well, Sydney firmly believes that we are better together. Community is important and if you’ve been listening to this podcast for sometime now, you know this is something talked about a lot. Sydney's invited other people into this conversation, youth who are just as passionate about making a difference in our world, Miarri Phillips and Avery Kelley. Sydney met both of them through Riley’s Way Foundation in Brooklyn, NY. (This organization focuses on empowering young leaders to use kindness and empathy to create meaningful connections and positive change. They also have a national initiative named Call for Kindness where they fund youth-led projects that inspire kindness, strengthen communities, and bring people together. Winners receive up to $3000 to fund their projects and join a cohort of fellows from across the country to participate in their Kind Leadership Series, learning from experts and each other. Sydney, Miarri, and Avery were all chosen for this year’s Call for Kindness!) 

Change begins when people start doing things differently and we NEED to do things differently. It starts with conversation and must end with action. You aren't alone. It's okay to take the first step in reaching out and educating yourself.  

Sydney met today’s guest through Instagram. These are quickly becoming the favorite connections… people just reaching out saying, “Hey, I love what you’re doing and would really like to get involved.” And then they say what gift or talent they can bring to the table, so to speak. This is Sydney's heart and the motivation for the work being done at Be The Change Youth Initiative (BTCYI). The BTCYI team wants people to see what they're doing in the community and want to be a part of it… especially if they’re bringing their own gifts to our community. Chelsea Weiss sent Sydney that message a few weeks ago and offered her expertise in weaving, expressing a desire to teach youth, not only the skill of weaving itself, but the value of using it to help with our mental health struggles.

This week's guest is someone many people have told Sydney that she should know because they would be immediate friends. Arnold Alexis knows Chattanooga, especially the culture of Chatt, better than anyone and has a heart for giving back to the community. He’s also passionate about normalizing the conversation around mental health and uses his social media platform to do it. Arnold and Sydney talk anxiety, genuine community, and both the negative and positive affects of social media. 

This week’s guest is singer-songwriter, Jonathan Peyton. Sydney and her brother, Brayden, had the opportunity to open for Jonathan and his wife, Abby, at a house show several months ago and one of the things that stuck out to them while watching Jonathan and Abby perform was the honesty they pursued in their art. A lot of their songs deal with the topic of mental health in one way or another and whenever Sydney meets other artists whose passion is to use their gifts (and their story) to help others… she's a fan.

Sydney loves meeting people whose desire to create leads to HUGE shifts in their lives. Today’s guest, Zach Riddle, is a local Chattanooga artist whose life and art is a reflection of that shift. As a young creative herself, Sydney's come to appreciate a community that encourages and uplifts those who want to use their art to create positive change in the culture. This week’s episode is for those who have an appreciation for art and might be looking for a little inspiration to pursue their dreams. 

The guest on this week's episode is Sarah Miranda, the Southeast Region Coordinator for the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee (MHAET). In this conversation, she shares the story of finding her vocation, some of her thoughts about the current state of mental health within the younger generation, and more about the Mental Health PSA MHAET and BTCYI are collaborating on!

This week's guest is Kyshona Armstrong. Kyshona is an artist and activist. Throughout her career, she's done some incredible things, like performing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, traveling all around the world, and creating a music program in Nashville (@your_song_org) focused on connecting communities to promote healing through songwriting. On this episode, you'll hear more of Kyshona's story and find out why she's incredibly passionate about encouraging people to use their voices! Her heart for others is undeniable and you can understand that when listening to this conversation! 

Sydney met today’s guest, Ryan Rose, through her friends @twloha. This past September at BTCYI's first Concert For A Cause, Sydney and her family raised over $2000 for National Suicide Prevention Month, which they split between their friends at Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network & TWLOHA. Sydney reached out to her friend, Amber, who she's ALSO had on the podcast (check out Episode 10) to see where BTCYI should send the money and on their fundraising page they found Ryan’s INSANE campaign to raise $10K for them by ROLLERBLADING ACROSS THE COUNTRY! Sydney and her family knew instantly that they wanted to support her efforts because it underscores everything they're about at BTCYI: the simplicity of using your gifts and talents to help others. (Though NOTHING she did was simple!) 

This week’s episode is a conversation between Sydney Guerrette, and her mom, Deirdre Catlett, BTCYI’s Director of Operations. They talk reflections from this past year and plans moving forward in 2022. Sydney shares that as each year passes, they always seem to have more clarity about the direction of their nonprofit. And the title of this week’s episode reflects where that clarity and direction came from.

On today’s episode of the WONDER podcast, Sydney and Deirdre talk about some of their family’s Christmas traditions, including the Community Advent Calendar, something they grew up doing as a family. Sydney also talks about the time her mom told her and her siblings, out of frustration, the truth about Santa… TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS! They didn’t realize it at the time, but that moment definitely was a pivotal one for them because it changed HOW they celebrate the holiday.

Sydney and Deirdre also talk about their #GiveBackChatt activity for Dec 3rd: Create a Giving List (And, if you listen to today’s episode of the podcast, you’ll understand why they picked that activity for today.) It’s SUPER simple: Grab a piece of paper and write down 3-5 names of people you want to GIVE gifts to this year. (Instead of compiling a list of things you want to receive!) And then spend some time thinking about personal gifts that you can put together.

On this week's episode, Sydney and Deirdre talk about BTCYI's Community Advent Calendar, #GiveBackChatt. For the month of December, they've created a Community Calendar that includes acts of kindness for your own family and friends AND for the community as a whole. (If you follow BTCYI on instagram, @bethechangeyi, the link will be in the bio.)

Sydney talks about how growing up in a home that always encouraged her and her siblings to think of others, especially around the holidays, had a HUGE impact on the people they're becoming. 

You might think your kids are too young, but they aren’t. Youth pay attention, and when the people in their lives set examples such as serving others around them, it can really influence the way they choose to impact the world. You’re CREATING traditions now that they will talk about for decades. 

So, listen to this episode to learn more about simple ways you can get involved this month, and hopefully within the next year to come. 

Today’s guests are Chris Wood, co-owner of a local coffee-shop in Chattanooga called becaffeinated, and Tyler Kraha, manager of their Northshore location. Sydney and her family have been so EXCITED to partner with becaffeinated this month! They have graciously offered to have Be The Change Youth Initiative be their community giveback, which Sydney, Chris, and Tyler talk more about later during this episode. 

If you spend any time with Chris and Tyler, it becomes very apparent, very fast, that they care about community and they invest their time and their resources in people and that’s what BTCYI is all about. So, please listen to this conversation and hear more about the heart behind this business. You won't regret it. 

On this week’s episode of the Wonder Podcast, Sydney's talking to Viridiana Marín, founder of Chattanooga Community Fridge. Last month, with your help, BTCYI provided over $750 worth of groceries to the fridge in an effort to raise awareness about food insecurity as well as simple ways we can give back to our neighbors in every day tasks. (i.e. like picking up a few extra items when we go to the grocery store)

One of the things that stands out in today’s conversation is the honesty and passion that exudes from the guest. But, if you spent any time with Viri outside of hearing her on this episode, you’d see that same fire and desire to cultivate change. Her heart for people and advocacy for mutual aid is beautiful and inspiring. There’s so much wisdom to glean from Viri’s story and experiences. So, please listen attentively; can’t wait for you to learn more about the Chattanooga Community Fridge.

The holidays can be difficult for many people. As it relates to mental health, it can be one of the most difficult times of the year.

So, as Sydney and Deirdre move forward on the podcast, they're going to be sharing a little more of their personal story, and experiences, as they relate to the topic for each month. During the first episode of each month, both Sydney and Deirdre explain WHY they’ve picked the topic, how it ties into the mental health conversation, and (most likely) take the path less traveled when diving in. Both of them are HUGE advocates for focusing on the good, but they're also FIERCE advocates for not ignoring the bad, or the uncomfortable.

This month, the focus is gratitude. It seems fitting because November is typically a month where people focus on being thankful. But, sometimes gratitude is hard and that’s where they're going to press in today. Both Sydney and Deirdre will be sharing some of their own experiences and where they currently find themselves with the topic of gratitude. If you, or someone you know, needs a little encouragement in this area, they hope this conversation might help.

In September, for National Suicide Prevention Month, Be The Change Youth Initiative partnered with Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network to raise awareness about suicide prevention. And during the Concert For A Cause that month, they raised over $2K for both TSPN and To Write Love On Her Arms. Sydney and Deirdre recently reached out to TSPN to see if they could connect them with someone they trust to talk about bullying and how it adversely affects youth, and they were connected with Kayla Withrow. Kayla is a licensed social worker and works as a therapist in a high school in Tennessee. She counsels several students who struggle with suicidal ideation and have experienced bullying, which is one of the reasons why Sydney and Deirdre wanted to have her on today. This episode is filled with excellent advice and wise counsel. Sydney also shares some of her thoughts around the dilemma people sometimes face when choosing to unfollow people online. It's easy to become fearful that someone might think you hate them, when really, you just needed to step away from past years and focus on where life has you in the moment, focusing on the cultivation of new friendships. This is difficult conversation to have, but a much needed one.

Today’s guest on the WONDER podcast is Lorenzo Ward, Assistant Coach and Defensive Coordinator at University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Deirdre Catlett first met Coach Ward last year at her family's apartment complex, where they became friends. He understands the importance (and power) of encouragement and is a great example of how the small things in life can help so many people. Creating change doesn’t have to be a Herculean act. Some of the most profound change comes from people's commitment to CONSISTENTLY show up in the simple acts of kindness.

This conversation between Sydney and Coach Ward is short and sweet. Just like the message. Coach Ward’s example is one to follow as people collectively work to create a culture of change in various communities.

This week, Sydney’s talking to Jordon McKinney. Sydney and her family met Jordon last year at one of their events in Georgia. He’s been one of their most faithful, financial supporters and a constant source of encouragement.

Jordon is also an INCREDIBLE youth advocate that generously gives of his time when it comes to pouring into the generation following him. On this week’s episode, Sydney and Jordon talk about the effects of bullying on youth, the importance of leadership in their generation, and the role of community when it comes to creating change.

If you know a young adult who feels alone when it comes to wanting to create change, PLEASE share this podcast episode with them. It can feel lonely sometimes, but there are PLENTY of youth and young adults choosing to elevate others in an effort to impact their community. We just need to find one another and band together.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and we believe it’s incredibly important to shine a bright light on this subject, especially when it comes to our purpose of advocating for suicide prevention. On today’s episode of the WONDER podcast, Sydney and Deirdre will be talking about WHY they're spending the entire month on this important topic… no matter your age.

Sydney will also be sharing some of her own experiences of being bullied, by both peers and adults. 20% (1 out of every 5) middle and high school students report being bullied each year (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2019) And students who experience bullying, including cyberbullying, are nearly 2 times more likely to attempt suicide (Hinduja & Patchin, 2018)

This is an IMPORTANT topic for everyone to explore, especially when it comes to younger generations. Change can happen. We can create it.

On this week’s episode of the WONDER podcast Sydney will be talking to Ryan Oyer, a local musician in Chattanooga and a HUGE mental health advocate. Both Sydney, and her brother, Brayden, met Ryan a few months ago at a Tremont Tavern Open Mic. (He’s one of the handful of local musicians in Chattanooga that everyone kept saying they needed to connect with because of the similar passion for mental health advocacy.)

Today, Sydney and Ryan talk about his personal music project centered around mental health, how their community, especially the music community has been impacted by suicide, and their hope for the future when it comes to mental health advocacy. If you’ve ever wanted to use your art (or any gift) to help others, this conversation with Ryan is a great source of inspiration and encouragement.

If you only listen to one podcast this month, please let today’s episode of the WONDER podcast be it. This month is National Suicide Prevention month, but TODAY is actually National Suicide Prevention Day, which makes this interview all the more powerful. Josh is a suicide survivor and one of the bravest people Sydney and Deirdre have personally met when it comes to the mental health conversation.

Today’s episode is honest and raw, but also inspiring. Please listen to Josh’s story to hear a side of the mental health conversation many of us haven’t listened to. And, as with all podcast episodes dealing with mental health, specifically suicidal ideation, these episodes are meant to be resources to help others. Please, listen at your own discretion.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, so on this week’s episode of the WONDER podcast, Sydney and Deirdre are taking some time to talk about why this month is so important to them and what they’ve planned to help elevate the conversation around suicide prevention. This month, each episode will focus on suicide prevention, including a very powerful episode from a suicide survivor.

Both Sydney and Deirdre will be sharing their Give Back for this month! In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, they want to raise $1000 for TWLOHA’s Between the Bells program and $1,000 for Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network @tnsuicideprevention. If you know their family’s story, you know how much they LOVE @twloha. They have been one of BTCYI’s partners in advocating for youth and they believe so much in their work. And now that the whole family made Chattanooga their home base, partnering with a local suicide prevention organization is INCREDIBLY important to them.

They’re so excited to spend September focused on something so important to their mission and their generations!

This episode of the WONDER podcast centers around three things very near and dear to Sydney and her family: BIG dreams, HUGE leaps of faith, and unparalleled commitment to community.

Emily Lilley and Sarah Jackson are two of the three founders of The Book and Cover, the new independent bookstore here in Chattanooga. Everything about The Book and Cover is so unique and it’s located in a house right in the middle of Northshore, a residential section of Chattanooga. The founders also used crowd-sourcing to help fund The Book and Cover because community ownership is important to them. Sydney loves this conversation so much and if you need any inspiration (or motivation) to take a crazy leap of faith… this conversation just might inspire you. 

This month on the WONDER podcast, Sydney's talking with people who are using their gifts and talents to create positive change in their communities. Today’s episode takes a somewhat different approach because Sydney's talking with members of her book club. It might seem odd to think about how a book club could create change in a community, but we hope today’s conversation might encourage you to see the potential, especially as it relates to our Three Pillars (Sharing Stories, Extending Compassion, and Taking Action).

On a personal note: When Sydney's family traveled the country, they spent a lot of time talking to people who experienced church trauma. The more time they spent with them, the more they came to see the importance of listening more… and talking less. A huge catalyst for the family's new direction was seeing the divisiveness (and dismissiveness) confronting them within the church culture. To be clear, they don’t think this type of destructive culture is limited to one group, but this is where they experienced it. This particular brook group is faith based, which you’ll pick up on in the podcast. So, for them, they wanted to choose books that would help them on their journey, in the circumstances they find themselves, becoming better listeners as they try to cultivate and extend compassion. (But, obviously, you can create a book club around anything.) The encouragement is simple: Find something that will help you see different perspectives in life. Find people you trust to take part in a conversation (a journey) that might challenge you. Find a place to gather that supports local business in your community. Old friendships can be strengthened, new friendships can be formed, and profound purpose can be discovered.

Today’s guest is an incredible young woman from Portland, Maine: Katherine Slevin. Katherine is a baker, entrepreneur, founder of @c.love_cookie_project and all-around AMAZING human being whose story is inspiring. And, if we're being honest, it’s also humbling, convicting, and challenging… in the best possible way.

Katherine’s story, like so many of ours, has a turning point, a pivot, if you will. And so many of those stories have this element of blind faith to try something new, or go somewhere completely different. And in Katherine’s case, it was both. Today’s episode will take you to the patisseries of Paris and the shores of Greece during the Syrian refugee crisis. It will also take you the kitchen of a community center where Katherine is using her gifts and talents to change the lives of immigrants in her community.

Please, take time to listen to this episode. It will give you hope in humanity and a beautiful example of what it can look like to use your gifts and talents to help others in your community. 

This week’s episode of the WONDER podcast features Sofia Jarvis and Stephanie Mullins, founders of Luminary Clays. By now you guys know, Sydney and her family are drawn to people with a heart for helping others and these two amazingly talented women have some of the biggest hearts they know. And, honestly, when you think of the ultimate goal of encouraging and equipping a generation to use their gifts and talents to create change in their communities… Sofia and Steph are doing it.

Their passion for mental health advocacy is a story that needs to be told… and that’s what this podcast is all about. Their willingness to share their stories as we, collectively, work together to create change in how mental health is discussed and how we help others is inspiring. If you want to learn more about their business, head over to @luminary.clays They are a great example of a business that gives back!

Today is another FAIR TRADE FRIDAY! For those of you who are new, this NEW quarterly segment was introduced back in April. (Whenever there’s five Fridays in a month, that LAST Friday will be the designated Fair Trade Friday.) At BTCYI, 1) exploring more ways to help bring about change in communities and 2) supporting fair trade is so important!

So, for this week’s conversation, Sydney invited Stacey Hooley-Gall to share about the impact of Fair Trade as well as Noonday Collection, a fair trade business. Noonday Collection was created to make a difference in some of the world's most vulnerable communities by partnering with Artisan Businesses that share the same passion for building a flourishing world. Noonday develops these businesses through fair trade, empowering them to grow sustainably and to create dignified jobs for people who need them.

Creating change in this area takes one small step at a time. The smallest actions can lead to a lasting impact for so many individuals and families.  Let's learn how we can be a part of that change.  

Brooke Fowler is one of Sydney's dearest friends in Chattanooga. Her family met Brooke over a year ago and she’s become a part of their family, an honorary older sister. Brooke is one of the most fierce, spunky, and honest people Sydney knows. On this episode, she shares her story of struggling with arthritis, the tie between her physical and mental health, and having honest conversations with friends about boundaries and body image. One of the things Sydney appreciates the most is Brooke's transparency and heart for young women. It’s clear to see how much she wants people to see their true value and worth. This episode is full of honesty and displays a beautiful friendship.  

Before recording this podcast, Sydney had only met Nadine Bent-Russell once…. and it was over Zoom. One of the many things she took away from their first conversation was Nadine's encouragement. Sydney gave a brief summary of BTCYI, shared some of her personal struggles and doubts moving forward in the new direction, and with an open heart, Nadine received it all. Nadine acknowledged Sydney's frustrations and worries, validated her in that, but also encouraged Sydney to step into the difficult places she felt called to. Nadine is the fierce advocate everyone needs in their life. For this conversation, Sydney wanted Nadine to share about her work around the anti-racism conversation as well as advice she’d give to those who are wanting to navigate conflict and build bridges well. 

The guest on this week's episode is one of Sydney's dear friends, Kiani Yiu. Kiani's gentle spirit and calming nature welcomes every soul. She’s someone who will attentively listen to your story. In this conversation, Kiani talks about her preparation for working in the mental health field, the importance of social wellness and setting boundaries. When it comes to setting boundaries, some of us don't know where to start. For others, it can be incredibly challenging, but why? What's keeping us from setting them in our own lives? These are some of the questions both Sydney and Kiani ponder on in today's conversation. 

On this week’s episode, Sydney is introducing you to two of her closest friends, Emma Lombardo and Lorien Fish. Sydney met Lorien back in middle school and Emma, a couple years after. They are genuinely some of the most encouraging, humble, and sweetest humans you will ever meet. 

During this conversation, both Emma and Lorien share some of their experiences when it comes to the objectification of women. Women, as a whole, have experienced a lot, some of which include: combatting societal pressures, anxiety, sexual harassment and abuse, etc. In our world, there’s no escaping any of this. For the majority of us, we’re constantly inundated or having to deal with all of these things, and much more. It’s important to talk about them and Sydney wanted to start the conversation with two people she loves and respects dearly. Their stories are so important and when we’re honest about where we’ve been, what we’ve experienced, it will hopefully encourage others to replicate that same honesty.

Out of all the guests Sydney's had on the podcast, she's known Gregory Winningham the longest. He is not only one of the sweetest souls, but also an extremely talented artist, one Sydney admires and respects. On this episode, Gregory shares his story and how his mental health was affected by it, as well as how he advocates for love & compassion through his music. (Here’s his artist handle: @oritheartist. Please, SUPPORT him!) At BTCYI, we hope you will be just as encouraged and inspired by him and his heart for others as we are. Extending compassion is one of the most important things we can do as humans; let’s learn how to walk in that together.

Part Two of last week’s podcast is up. At BTCYI, there has always been an emphasis on creating a table open to all voices, no matter your background or perspective. But, is EVERY voice welcomed, or wanted? This is an extremely candid conversation about how to fight against creating echo chambers and epistemic bubbles, but also how to recognize when lines need to be drawn, especially when conversations (and relationships) become unhealthy.

Sydney and Deirdre share some defining moments over the past few years that have shown them what TRUE community is… and what (or who) it isn’t. 

This week’s episode of the WONDER podcast is an important one! Sydney and Deirdre explain the WHY and HOW behind the new focus of BTCYI. But they also share how the “old” focus of encouraging youth to use their gifts and talents to help others is still very much an important part of their mission.

After spending a year on the road talking to people from all walks of life, Sydney and her family began to see how important community was in the mental well-being of youth. But, they also quickly recognized a few obstacles that are inhibiting the ability to create healthy community, which is where the three pillars come into play: Share Stories. Extend Compassion. Take Action.

THIS is how people show up for one another. Sydney and Deirdre wanted to dive deeper into why these three phrases are key to forming community and changing mindsets for the better. Spearheading change can sometimes be intimidating, but hopefully this conversation is encouraging! 

On today’s episode, you get to hear from Jerelyn Lee and Trey Sommerfeld. Jerelyn was one of the first people Sydney's family connected with in Chattanooga and her family has grown to be a part of their own! Trey joined their newfound family several months after; he also sometimes plays the cajón when Brayden & Sydney perform in the city. Both Jerelyn and Trey work in the mental health profession, so Sydney asked them to share a little bit about their stories, as well as talk about the stigmatization of mental health/counseling and the importance of community. If you’re new to this conversation, the hope is this episode's not only informative and eye-opening, but also encouraging!

This week’s podcast is with one of Sydney's dear friends, Jeff Roeters. Jeff is a man of many talents, including guitarist and clock maker! He’s also one of the founders of Guitars for Glory, a non-profit organization that puts instruments in the hands of some truly amazing humans all around the world. (The BTCYI team partners with @guitarsforglory and, thanks to many of you, has helped them purchase two guitars in 2021 so far!)

Jeff is also living with MS (multiple sclerosis) and is a mental health advocate. He also happens to be one of Brayden’s favorite people for so many reasons, and it's all mentioned on today’s episode. If you believe in the gift of music, find yourself in the middle of a tough battle looking for encouragement, or want inspiration on how to turn your passions into something that encourages others, you definitely need to listen to this episode.

Sydney had the privilege of meeting Alisha Rose in 2017 on a trip to Rwanda. While living in the RV, Alisha’s home was one of the many stops Sydney and her family made in the Midwest. Her and her husband have four biological children, two siblings adopted from the foster care system, as well as plans to adopt two more siblings from Burundi. On this week’s episode of the WONDER podcast, you’ll hear Alisha’s heart for why she wants to adopt as well as what she hopes her kids will take away from their family’s experiences.

Having youth and young adults come on and talk about what they’re passionate about, how they’re wanting to help and uplift others, is inspiring. Sydney's heart is to have more people within her generation share their stories and hearts for making a positive change. Annie and Lauren are two of those people. On this episode, they talk about the story behind Active Minds, how they 1) connected with them and 2) are encouraging peers on their college campus to have conversations about de-stigmatizing mental health. They’re making a difference by building community and showing up for one another, which is incredibly important. If you, or someone you know will be transitioning from high school to college, this is definitely a conversation to listen to. There are people who understand the struggles of mental health and they want others to know no one's ever alone. 

Today, Sydney's introducing a NEW quarterly segment called FAIR TRADE FRIDAY. (Whenever there’s five Fridays in a month, that LAST Friday will be a designated Fair Trade Friday.) As the BTCYI team continues to layout their new vision for BTCYI over the next few months, they also want to explore more ways Sydney's generation (ANY generation) can help bring about change in their communities and supporting fair trade is a great way everyone can do this!

What is fair trade and why is it important? Sydney and Lisa dive into all of that, providing you with resources to help educate you on the impact of fair trade and introducing you to some amazing businesses doing the important work of elevating people around the world, profoundly changing their lives, and their families’ lives, forever.

Lisa Stoltzfus is a dear friend to Sydney's family. (She’s LITERALLY traveled the world with Sydney's mom, Deirdre Catlett!) She’s also the founder and owner of @themustardseedmarketplace. We hope you enjoy this episode and look forward to more Fair Trade Fridays!

Amber Gardner is the Director of Partnerships and the Intern Program at To Write Love On Her Arms. TWLOHA is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. (It exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also invest directly into treatment and recovery.) In 2019, after a dear friend told Sydney and her mom, Deirdre Catlett, more about TWLOHA, they connected with Amber. Sydney's always been inspired by the work they do, and she wanted to get involved with their mission. The BTCYI team raised money for them over the last couple years, and hope to continue doing so. (All the proceeds from their “People Need Love” shirt goes to support TWLOHA, specifically their high-school program, Between the Bells.) 

During this conversation, you get to hear a little bit about Amber’s mental health journey as well as how she got connected with TWLOHA and her heart for encouraging others to share their stories. She also takes some time mentioning what using the Crisis Text Line entails. You can truly see that Amber's desire is to remind others their story is important and hope is real.

No matter your age, you need to check out this week’s podcast with Markus McFolling. It’s full of encouragement and raw honesty about the struggles the younger generation is facing when it comes to mental health. We all have stories that are important to share and Markus never shies away from reminding people of that truth. During this episode, he talks about his story, and does it so vulnerably in hopes that it encourages others to see there's always hope at the end of the day. 

Drew Brown is someone Sydney's come to respect and love over the last couple of years. She met him in 2018, and both her and her family got to meet his wife, son, and daughter on the road in 2019. He is someone Sydney's looked up to when it comes to the mental health & racial reconciliation conversation. Drew’s not only an incredible singer/song-writer & producer, but also a social justice, anti-racism, and mental health advocate. During this episode, they both talk about his personal mental health journey, the importance of creating diverse tables, and advocating through art. One thing that stayed consistent throughout the conversation was Drew's willingness to be authentic and his encouragement for others to pursue humility, compassion, and love.

*Also, issues regarding faith, purity culture, etc., were brought up but not discussed further in this episode. So, conversations, for these topics, will be held in the months to come.