PDX Story Project
By Stephen Carter
PDX Story Project Jul 26, 2021
Harper's Playground - Episode 23 w/ Cody Goldberg
My guest on this episode is Cody Goldberg.
Cody is a Father of two, and proudly serves as the executive director of Harper’s Playground. Harper’s Playground inspires vital communities by creating inviting playgrounds for people of all abilities.
You can register for their summer fundraiser on their website.
Investing in the Future of the Community - Episode 22 w/ Domonique Debnam
She grew up in the city and has made it her life's mission to use her influence and resources at one of the largest footwear brands in the world to change the lives of kids all over the city.
You can find Domonique on Instagram at instagram.com/debradom or at her website, DebnamSchoates.com
Confronting the Storm - Episode 21 w/ Denise Williams
Denise Williams is a licensed CADC III Licensed addictions counselor, offering free mental health counseling for ANYONE in need, regardless of their situations or ability to pay.
You may have seen Denise at Deadstock Coffee selling her Portland-famous butterscotch cake, or Trap Cake as it's been nicknamed by those that love it. She's also popped up at PDX Bakers Against Racism and a number of other bake sales, raising money to fund her counseling services.
You can donate to Denise's Gofund me HERE, or find her on Instagram at instagram.com/confrontingthestorm. You can also find her at Deadstock on the first Saturday of every month selling Trap Cake and being awesome.
A Scrappy Flock of Sheep - Episode 20 w/ David Libby
Achieving Elite Athlete Status - Episode 19 w/ Christina Malone
My guest on this episode is Christina Malone. Christina is a national level powerlifter who is working to break down the stereotypes of bigger bodied athletes, sharing her life story about the barriers and struggles she's experienced. She's also helping others work through body image struggles through peer to peer coaching, media articles, podcasts and more. As she says, "start living for your body, not against it"!
You can find Christina on Instagram at @c.sharp85 or at her website, christinalifts.com.
Christina has also been featured in numerous publications, like Willamette Week & Scary Mommy
Art of Resilience - Episode 18 w/ Hussein Al-Baiaty
On this episode, I sit down with Hussein Al-Baiaty. Hussein is an entrepreneur, a refugee, an author, a podcast host, and an all around incredible human being. Born in the south of Iraq, he and his family fled the country in the wake of war and unrest, and ended up spending four years in a refugee camp in Saudi Arabia.
After his family landed in the United States in 1994, he eventually attended Portland State University, studying architecture, graphic design, and business, before founding The Printory, and later his current business, Refutees.
You can find and support Refutees by buying merch from Refutees.com
MealsonusPDX - Episode 17 w/ Mark "Goose" Guzman
My guest on this episode is Mark “Goose” Guzman. Mark is the founder and operator of MealsonusPDX, a non profit dedicated to providing healthy meals for those who need them most, and no charge. Their motto is “one love, no hate, no discrimination.”
They’re also raising money for the kitchen they’re currently cooking out of, Haleakala. If you want to put a few dollars towards an amazing cause, this is a worthwhile one. You can find the gofundme link HERE.
Refugee Care Collective - Episode 16 w/ Seth King
Seth is a lover of people, do-gooder, and the Programs Manager at Refugee Care Collective. Refugee Care Collective mobilizes the city of Portland to serve diverse populations of refugees being resettled in the Portland Metro area, in order to empower refugees to rebuild their lives and step more fully into self-sustainability.
You can find Seth's GoFundMe here:
Project48 - Episode 15 w/ Brandy Memory & Tonya Daniels
My guests on this episode are Brandy Memory & Tonya Daniels. Brandy & Tonya are identical twin sisters, and co-founders of Project48.
Project48 exists to ensure that foster children who are in their most fragile and vulnerable moments have access to high quality items to help allow for an easier transition. In 2019, nearly 2,000 kids came through the foster care system in Multnomah, Washington, & Clackamas counties. That’s an average of 160 kids a month. And the first 48 hours are an incredibly vulnerable time for foster children. Project48 provides high quality BRAND NEW goods and necessities for kids aged 7-21 who are coming into the foster care system.
You can find Project48 on Instagram at instagram.com/project48inc
Extra note #1: You can find Brandy & Tonya's interview on the Kelly Clarkson show on the Project48 website, or on YouTube HERE
Extra note#2: You can register for the "Cocktails & Mocktails for a Cause" Event in partnership with Dregs Vodka HERE
Extra note#3: You can donate to Project48's Amazon & Target registries on the DONATE page on their website
Coffee, Community Spaces, & Cultural Appropriation - Episode 14 w/ Angel Medina
My guest on this episode is Angel Medina. Angel is a Mexican-American entrepreneur, coffee importer, roaster, cafe operator, and as of recently restauranteur.
He is the owner of Reforma Roasters, La Perlita, and the highly acclaimed República, all based in Portland.
Angel is a champion of Mexican history & culture and a leader in his Latinx Community. His vision to bring together BIPOC folks into one place comes to life every weekend at his La Perlita and Republica, both located in Portland's Pearl district. These spaces have become a hub for the Latinx community, bringing folks together from all over the Portland area.
You can find Angel on Instagram at instagram.com/smalltimegenius
A Journey to Self-Love - Episode 13 / Candace Molatore
My guest on this episode is Candace Molatore. Candace is a Self-Love Advocate, Branding Consultant and Photographer based in Portland, OR. With a passion for building community, Candace uses her photography and writing skills to broadcast the message of self-confidence, body positivity and inclusivity online. She shares her interests, inspiration, tips and everyday life with her audience regularly through social media. With a modest but strong following behind her, Candace continues to spread the message of inclusivity and self-love with high-quality visuals, a strong work ethic and a mission to make everyone feel empowered in their own skin.
You can find Candace on Instagram at Instagram.com/hey.candace, or at her website candacemolatore.com
Recovery is the New Black - Episode 12 w/ Michelle Smith
My guest on this episode is Michelle Smith. Michelle is an author, speaker, certified mental health and addictions counselor, and founder of Recovery is the New Black, an online community for women to come as they are, test-drive a sober life, and experience the freedom of mindful living.
Michelle is passionate about supporting women with tools and resources around substance abuse, mental health, bereavement, eating disorders, trauma, and codependency. She lives in Vancouver with her husband and two children.
You can find Michelle on Instagram at instagram.com/recoveryisthenewblack_
Good Good Good - Episode 11 w/ Branden Harvey
My guest on this episode is Branden Harvey. Branden is an entrepreneur, photographer, storyteller, and the founder of GoodGoodGood, a company focused on helping people have more hope and do more good. He's helped brands like Disney, Square, Southwest Airlines, and (RED) tell meaningful stories with heart all over the world. He's been written about and featured by media including The Washington Post, Seventeen Magazine, Fortune Magazine, and Mashable.
You can learn more about GoodGoodGood, and get a free issue of the Good Newspaper by visiting goodgoodgood.co
Branden can be found on Instagram at instagram.com/brandenharvey
Pandemic Pizza - Episode 10 w/ Jerry Benedetto
On this episode, I talk with Jerry Benedetto. If you’ve been active on Instagram in the last year or so, you may know Jerry as the man behind the Instagram account, Jerry’s Pizza. What started as a quest to make pizza that tasted like what he had growing up in Chicago, turned into thousands of pizza fans, and a waitlist a year and a half long.
Jerry and I talk all about growing up in Chicago, why he started making pizzas in the first place, and what’s next for some of Portland’s best pizza.
You can find Jerry on Instagram at @Jerryspizzapdx
Safe to Be, Safe to Grow - Episode 9 w/ Kurt Kroon & Sarah Swartzendruber
On this episode, I talk with Kurt Kroon & Sarah Swartzendruber. Kurt and Sarah are co-pastors at Cascade Church in SE Portland. Cascade is a faith community who's vision as a church is rooted in a belief that all people should be given safe space to be.
This episode obviously is heavy on religious content, so if that's not your thing, or you're not interested in that, no judgment. This may not be the episode for you. But I hope you'll stick around as we talk about our faith journeys, planting an affirming church in Portland, and the things that COVID has exposed for the American church as a whole.
You can contact Kurt & Sarah, and even schedule a virtual coffee with either one of them, at Cascadepdx.org
*Also, at the time this was recorded, my home was undergoing some renovation, so there are points in the episode where you can hear faint sounds of hammers and saws. I did my best to edit them out. Sorry about that!*
Influential Dopeness - Episode 8 w/ Art Williams
My guest on this episode is Art Williams. Art is the Founder and Co-Owner of The Influential Grooming Lounge, a locally owned barbershop committed to influencing the community not just with a haircut, but with the actions of involvement. Art is also a husband, father, and speaker, dedicated to helping young people discover their dopeness, and use it to positively influence others.
You can find Art on:
Instagram: @thedopeinfluencer
Twitter: @dopeinfluencer
Talking Up to Our Kids - Episode 7 w/ Jelani Memory
My guest on this episode is Jelani Memory. Jelani Memory is a husband, father, entrepreneur, and the co-founder of A Kid’s Book About, an independent publishing company that makes kids books that matter, because kids are ready. They have over 25 books in their catalog, and just celebrated their first birthday as a company, so they’re just getting started. Jelani lives in NE Portland with his wife and 6 children.
A Kid's Book About
Web: akidsbookabout.com
Instagram: @akidsbookabout
Twitter: @akidsbookabout
Diversity & Inclusion in America's Whitest Big City - Episode 6 w/ Keyanus Jacobo
Feed the Mass - Episode 5 w/ Jacobsen Valentine
My guest on this episode is Jacobsen Valentine. Jacobsen is a chef, photographer, activist, and lover of people. He is the founder and executive director of Feed the Mass, a non-profit with the goal of bringing people together through food. They started as a non-profit cooking school, and since the onset of COVID, have been feeding over 1,500 people a week, all for free, all with locally sourced, healthy ingredients, all donated by local individuals and restaurants.
He’s also the founder of Empowerment Central, a co-working space specifically for the BIPOC community in Portland.
We talked all about growing up in Hawaii, what prompted a career in cooking, and how that led him to start devoting his life to meeting the needs of the people of Portland.
Feed the Mass
Web: feedthemass.org
Instagram: @feedthemass
Empowerment Central
Web: empowermentcentralpdx.org
Instagram: @empowerment.central.pdx
Lament as Liturgy - Episode 4 w/ Sunia Gibbs
On this episode, I talk with Sunia Gibbs. Sunia is an artist, musician, activist, and co-pastor of The Groves church, a faith community in SE Portland focused on loving God, loving neighbor, and seeking anti-racism. We talked about lament in modern worship music, decolonizing Christianity, divorcing whiteness, and what Jesus really meant when he said "Love your Neighbor."
You can find Sunia's art work on Instagram at instagram.com/suniacibbcreative.
White Homework - Episode 3 w/ Tori Williams Douglass
On this episode, I talk with Tori Williams Douglass. Tori is an anti-racism educator, writer, speaker, and the creator of White Homework, a resource for white people to begin unlearning racism and white supremacy. You can find Tori on Instagram and Twitter at @whitehomework, support her Patreon at whitehomework.com, and subscribe to her podcast, White Homework, wherever you get your podcasts.
#CommunityBaby🙌🏼 - Episode 2 w/ Nate Frazier
On this episode of PDX Story Project, I get the chance to chat with Nate Frazier. Nate is an entrepreneur, ally, advocate, accomplice, and small-business owner in the Portland area. He's the owner and operator of @SwellPDX, a business-services agency, as well as the co-founder of @cobafm, a podcast network dedicated to highlighting the voices of the underrepresented in Portland. You can find Nate on Twitter & Instagram at @nfrazier, follow Coba on Twitter at @cobafm, Instagram at @coba.fm and become a supporter of Coba at Patreon.com/cobafm
Free to Be Who You Are - Episode 1 w/ Lisa Schmidt
On this inaugural episode of PDX Story Project, I sit down and talk to Lisa Schmidt. Lisa is an advocate for mental health, sobriety, & recovery. She's the creator of thesoberhipster.com, and has recently established a non-profit called You Matter, Your Story Matters.
Join me as she talks about her journey out of the conservative south, growing up knowing she was gay, and how she finally found freedom and restoration in a way she never expected.
You can find Lisa on social media at @thesoberhipster, follow her art therapy events at @you_matter_here_pdx, and her non-profit at @ymysm_inc