Empowering Women - Got a Minute?
By Empowering Women - Got a Minute?
Empowering Women - Got a Minute?May 27, 2023
Courageous Conversations with Lori Decker and Barbara Estes
Lori is a retired school nurse, and Barbara is a retired private practice Prescott psychologist. Both volunteer for Braver Angels, a non-profit, grassroots, non-partisan national organization promoting civil discourse.
Learn more about Braver Angels at braverangels.org
Take a Braver Angels workshop at OLLI at the Yavapai College Campus https://www.yc.edu/v6/lifelong-learning/olli.html
For more info reach out to Barbara at bswainestes@braverangels.org
Being Fearless with Leslie Zann
Today, Leslie Zann and I are talking about being fearless through courage.
Leslie Zann is a sought-after keynote speaker with a unique talent for helping people overcome their “limiting beliefs” to create positive change in all areas of their lives.
She has presented live to over a hundred thousand people worldwide and helped thousands more through her online courses.
The National Speaker’s Association awarded her the highest honor of CSP (Certified Speaking Professional).
Leslie was a spokesperson for KPBS Public Television on air for a decade.
Her latest book is the Amazon #1 Bestseller Outrageous Achievement. She is s currently working on her next book, Inspired Retired. How To Live Your Best Life at Any Age.
Leslie moved to Prescott in 2022 to be closer to her mom. She loves living in Prescott and, when not working, enjoys skeet shooting, hiking, and the local music scene.
Learn more about Leslie at lesliezann.com
Making Connections with Carissa Maxwell
Carissa Maxwell is the owner/Designated Broker of Glow Realty, a boutique real estate brokerage focused on giving high-touch service and connecting/supporting our local communities.
The Glow brand reflects what draws people to Northern Arizona-
"They want to be outside and are seeking a lifestyle around that."
"This is the future of real estate. Building business relationships around the lifestyle that people move here to experience...that is what our community wants to get behind."
Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/GlowREAZ/
Talking Postpartum Health & Wellness with Dr. Emilie Wilson
Dr. Emilie is a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist in Prescott. Her healing journey has inspired her profession, where she’s focused on mental health, women's hormones, cardiometabolic health, and weight loss. Emilie is also a new mom, and in her postpartum year, she realized how underserved postpartum parents are, and how postpartum is the best time for us to get our best health and body, ever. She is also a published author and is about to release her first book called POST: The Essential Guide to Creating Your Postpartum Self-Care Plan in Pregnancy. Emilie’s goal is to get it into the hands of every pregnant and postpartum woman in the world, so they can be empowered to take control of their postpartum experience and focus on what matters: their health, and their relationship with their new little one.
Visit: https://www.sanoswellness.com/
The Six Essential Steps to Postpartum Self-Care: https://sanoswellness.lpages.co/postpartum-support/
Feminine Redefined with Halle Ann Fernandez
Halle Ann Fernandez is a 22-year-old Prescott resident, born in Brooklyn, N.Y., who is a self-proclaimed "Arizona Transplant". Halle is an accelerated Master’s student at Prescott College studying Critical Psychology in the undergraduate program and Outdoor Education Leadership in the Graduate program. When she moved across the country to pursue higher education at Prescott College, she quickly fell in love with the community. She began to immerse herself in service work with local non-profits such as the Prescott Community Cupboard Food Bank and the Western Heritage Center.
Halle is an Education Specialist for GEM Environmental and a Challenge Course Facilitator at Camp Way. She has held the titles of Miss Prescott 2022, Miss Granite Mountain 2023, and Miss Peoria 2024 in the Miss America Organization. As Miss Peoria, Halle uses her platform to share her community service initiative, ‘LNT For You & Me,’ where she teaches young children through high schoolers socioemotional skills like empathy, compassion, and boundary setting through Leave No Trace practices. She also uses her platform in the Miss AZ Org. to encourage adolescents and young women to shine in their individuality and authenticity regardless of what others think.
Being Colorful with Tiffany Isenberger
Local mother of three young girls who went from management to opening a face painting business. Nuggy Bug Parties takes on the county fair, rodeo, and many other large events in Prescott including training and staffing other moms and women within the community.
Learn more at https://www.nuggybugfacepainting.com/
Talking the Art of Wearing Multiple Hats with Leslie Jacobs
Leslie Jacobs was a single mom at rock bottom with no money when she started in real estate. At the lowest point in her life with no Christmas presents to give her kids, she determined through tears to go from victim to victor. With sheer determination and grit, and with the help of a steadfast mentor in her life, she climbed her way up to a multimillion-dollar realtor here in Prescott.
Leslie has four children and is now happily married. She is smart, authentic, and compassionate. She has an incredible story to tell that encourages and empowers the women in her life.
Learn more at http://www.lesliejacobsteam.com/
Talking about Prescott Area Shelter Services with Katee Norris
Katee Norris has been working at Prescott Area Shelter Services since 2012. She stepped into this role through the AmeriCorps Program as a VISTA, and after two years of service, she became the Director of Programs. Katee makes sure the shelter runs smoothly, and that the guests have a clean and safe environment, feel cared for, and are treated with kindness. She ensures we have volunteers to support the guests through meals, advocacy, and empowerment as the volunteer coordinator, and she dedicates endless amounts of time to writing grants, planning fundraisers, and creating new programs and expansions to better support the guests. Katee also became a Registered Nurse and works at a hospital in Flagstaff as an RN, BSN. Katee takes her experience at both the shelter and the hospital and learns from them to better serve and help people in need, no matter what situation they are in.
Learn more at https://prescottshelters.org/
Talking Sisterhood & Entrepreneurship with Lola & Gina
The owners of Rockin Smiles are sisters, mothers, and entrepreneurs. Today they talked to us about finding balance and the art of finding your smile.
Rockin Smiles is proud to serve the beautiful communities of Prescott and Prescott Valley, AZ, specializing in professional teeth whitening services. Their team of experienced professionals is committed to enhancing your smile and boosting your self-confidence.
Utilizing advanced whitening techniques and top-of-the-line products, Rockin Smiles ensures that your smile shines brighter. Their in-office procedures are complemented by our specially designed take-home products, providing you with the tools to maintain that gleaming smile and achieve lasting results.
Learn more at: https://rockinsmilesprescott.com/
Talking Self-Clarity with Brittany Tatum-Flores
Today we chat with columnist, self-care guru, and podcaster Brittany Tatum-Flores about self-clarity.
Brittany Tatum-Flores (or Britt) is the owner of The Practice of Self-care and has been a contributing columnist for The Daily Courier for the last five years, her contributions primarily discuss self-care, the importance of self-care and generally, how to manifest more love and positivity into your life, to create a life you don't want to escape from with poor habits!
Talking S.T.E.A.M. with Shana Lujan
Shana Lujan, the mother of 5 children, has lived and been a teacher in Yavapai County for over 20 years. She has taught everything from 3rd grade to high school and subjects varying from theatre to English. She loves education and working with local youth. Currently, she works at PACE Preparatory Academy High School and is a founding board member/director for One Stage Family Theatre.
Read more about Shana in the Aug/Sept edition of Prescott Woman Magazine.
Making Connections with Dr. Kimberly Albarran
Dr. Kimberly Albarran, PT, DPT, CFNP is a physical therapist since 2013 and a certified functional nutrition practitioner since 2021. She officially started her business Hope Health Healing in 2018, in the Prescott area, with the vision of serving her community as the premier provider for individuals with chronic pain, resulting in the highest quality of life for her clients.
Dr. Kimberly's mission is to provide solution-oriented, holistic, and compassionate care through physical therapy, both online and in-person nutrition coaching, and wellness classes, which now include Radical Rebounding!!
Her goal is to empower individuals with chronic pain to take control of their health using her four pillars of health: mindfulness, nutrition, sleep, and movement to restore health and healing. Dr. Kimberly loves to motivate, encourage and lift up her clients along their journey.
Learn more at https://hope-health-healing.org/
Talking BeYOUtiful with Maddie Layne
Maddie was born and raised in Prescott, AZ, and has worked as a stylist for three years now. She has been extremely blessed by the ladies at Strada Salon who have mentored her and taught her so much about hair and life. Maddie's passion is curly hair, and she loves doing bridal hair as well. Maddie herself has curly hair and she enjoys being able to come alongside people who hate their hair. Her goal is that they will always fall in love with it! Maddie loves Prescott and the community we have in this great city. I'm thankful to be a small part of the small business community and for all the amazing women in this community!
Maddie was the 2023 Prescott Woman Awards BeYOUtiful Recipient
Talking Multiple Hats with Alexes Niecamp
Dancer, Business Owner, Teacher, and Miss Saguaro 2023
Alexes (Lexe) Niekamp was born in Northern California and moved to Arizona at a young age, she takes pride in starting to dance at the ripe age of four years old and being actively involved in theatre and her community as well. She is the owner of two local businesses Lessons by Lexe: Dance Studio for 7 years and Quest Character Parties for 4 years.
She is also going on her third year as the NAZ WRANGLERS IFL pro team dance team coach. She is also the current Miss Saguaro 2023 with the Miss America Organization. Her Social Impact is and always will be ARTTS IN ACTION: Applying Remarkable Talents to Succeed. She wants to ensure that as our youth development, they have access to the world of arts because growing up the arts has always been her outlet.
She started a dance studio at the age of 19 years old, working full time, and going to college full time as well. Her dance studio provides scholarships which is something she holds very close to her heart. Growing up in a single-parent household; without scholarships, she wouldn’t be the person she is today.
With the courage of a lion, she gives so much of herself to her community and encourages all to apply themselves in the art world to keep confidence instilled in all generations to come.
Learn more about Lessons by Lexe at https://lessonsbylexe.com/
Being an Adventurer with Lauren Sherwood
After visiting her first Overland Expo in 2014, Lauren said, "This will be my life." Later that same year, Lauren turned wrenches and drilled holes at AT Overland Equipment here in Prescott, the only woman in a shop of men. Three years of gearing people up for their adventures encouraged Lauren to embark on her own.
In 2017, Lauren set off on 6 magical months of solo travel through Mexico, immersing herself in the culture and becoming fluent in Spanish.
Commonly referred to as "Lolo'', some of her travel/adventure accomplishments include having open water and advanced diving certifications, as well as being a 52 Hike Challenge Finisher (47 hikes of which she did in Arizona). Lolo has been to the top of Humphrey's Peak and to the bottom of the Grand Canyon backpacking from Rim to Rim, Coyote and Buckskin Gulch, Havasupai, and more.
Lolo also did advocate work with the Coconino Forest Service while a Comprehensive River Management Plan was being developed for Fossil Creek. Some of Lolo's craziest adventure moments include surviving a 7.1 earthquake in Mexico City, a Tropical Storm in the Mexican Costa Maya, and a little accident with her foot in a smoldering campfire!
Lauren firmly believes that prices cannot be put on experiences and that just about anything is worth trying once. Lolo has an insatiable thirst to know the world, the people in it and the stories that go along with the people in those places because she sure has her own!
Talking Social Impact with Katie Machado
Katie Machado, a Prescott native, has been involved in the community since she first organized a can drive fundraiser at Washington Elementary School in 1998. She is actively involved in Prescott-Caborca Sister City and the Prescott Frontier Rotary Club. She loves that the people of Prescott work hard to better our community by helping our world. She loves being a part of these efforts. She and her husband, Danny Machado, made a decision upon leaving the Army to build a business and home in her hometown so they could raise their two children, Daisy 3, and William 1, around the same people, environment, and culture she experienced as a child. She enjoys traveling, tennis, golf, and running with the silliest dog in the world–Bossy. She loves art and especially acrylic painting but can frequently be found enjoying good friends, family, and the great foods of Prescott.
Katie is also the 2023 Prescott Woman Award recipient for Social Impact.
Launching Forward featuring The Launch Pad
The Launch Pad is INCITING TEEN CONFIDENCE AND EMPOWERMENT THROUGH INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT. They are an all-inclusive, youth-driven, and focused space, providing programming that is culturally relevant to teens in Yavapai County. On this episode, we speak to two teens - Sophia and Giada, and the director of The Launch Pad, Courtney Osterfelt about their WEB conference, Better Together, and much more!
For more information visit:
https://thelaunchpadteencenter.org/
A Fearless Family - Featuring the FidgetPockets Crew
Introducing the FidgetPockets crew, who not only make clothes for wiggly people, they also have introduced AAC Communication Boards throughout the area, have initiated Making a Difference, and are working to make the community Better Together.
The goal of FidgetPockets is to spread world autism awareness, reduce autism anxiety, and make the world a better place.
Learn more at:
https://fidgetpockets.com/
Work/Life Balance with Christina McKelvy
Christina is a licensed professional counselor who specializes in working with children, parents, and caregivers. She provides consultation to professional caregivers focusing on self care and grief support. Christina also writes, which is largely informed by her clinical work, and does photography on the side.
The Art of Wearing Multiple Hats with McKenzie Lain
McKenzie Lain literally has gardening experience in her blood as the 3rd generation of her family to carry on the Watters legacy. She is thrilled to be following in the footsteps of her parents and grandparents and taking the garden center to the next level under her ownership. Like her mother before her, McKenzie began her love with gardening as a cashier and by watering plants after school. Education became her major focus after high school, and she received a degree from Fresno Pacific University in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Fuller Theological Seminary. Now, she’s passionate about making sure Watters Garden Center continues to be a major part of the Prescott community by providing jobs and educating the public on the best gardening practices for success. She also supports local organizations like Prescott Area Young Professionals and the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, McKenzie loves running through the garden center with her Mini-Schnauzers, playing pick-up basketball, and hiking our local trails.
Learn more at https://wattersgardencenter.com/
Talking Transformation with Heather Burgoyne
Heather was in the fashion industry for over a decade working with photographers and producing shoots. While it may seem glamorous (yes, sometimes it was exciting and fun!), it was demanding and took all of her energy. Heather found Pilates and it was truly her saving grace. Because of the impact Pilates had on Heather's life, she was determined to one day leave fashion behind and become a Pilates instructor to really give to others something she finds so transforming.
Flash forward to 2020 when Soar Pilates was born - out of a deep desire to create something that was attainable for the everyday person and would change their lives for the better. Heather adores every client that walks in their door (truly, the community is amazing) and she couldn’t be happier to be a part of such an amazing team of women that she is proud to call her instructors - she learns from each of them every day.
For more information visit https://www.soarpilates.com/
Being Fearless with Anne Marie Szabo
Midwesterner, Anne-Marie made Prescott home 20 years ago and made a name for herself as a licensed insurance representative/office manager. Anne-Marie then founded and became the Owner/Editor of Maitre’D Magazine, a dining and culinary guide well-known across Northern Arizona. Her savvy sales and marketing skills led her to B2B sales in telecommunications with Sparklight Business. Now celebrating seven years with Sparklight, Anne-Marie uses her expertise in creating and maintaining long-term business relationships on a local level. Anne-Marie shows community support as an avid volunteer of many nonprofits including, Arizona Community Foundation Yavapai County, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona.
Her passions are clean eating, dance, hiking, peopling, and her favorite, cooking. She believes “there are things you do because they feel right. It may be the real reason we are here: To love each other, to enjoy others’ cooking and say it was good”.
Facing Fears with Aileen Casillas
Aileen is a mom, an entrepreneur, a former Firefighter/EMT, and always keeping life guessing; not the other way around. She has a mind that can handle both the left and right sides with a natural ability to let the proper one rule at just the right moment.
Aileen brings a uniquely blended background of technical and artistic skills. These skills were obtained, practiced, and honed in the fields of design-clay/floral/graphic, administration/finance, management, and fire & emergency services. She brings experience in floral design from working her way up as a Floral Design Assistant to Floral Designer in a variety of regions from California (San Diego, Del Mar), Illinois (Naperville, West Dundee), and Arizona.
During her time in the fire and emergency services, she demonstrated a keen sense of observation, providing a compassionate listener to her crew and her patient. It is this skill that provides the ability to listen to her customers' desires and needs in order to execute the vision sought after. It is her drive and determination that bring the vision to fruition.
Some facts about Aileen:
-Studied design, art, graphic design, color theory
-Floral Design Institute Graduate 2007
-Certified Firefighter I/II, EMT 2013
-Yavapai College AAS Fire Science 2015
-Yavapai College Certificate Fire Service Officer/Manager 2015
Aileen has garnered recognition in Prescott Woman Magazine, was awarded by Yavapai College as the 2019 Alumni of the Year, and most recently the honor and privilege of working on parade floats as a Rose Parade Florist since 2019.
Being a Mom & Entrepreneur with Hilary Dartt
Hilary Dartt loves great adventures, whether she’s writing, reading, or living them. The author of nine women’s fiction novels, Hilary lives in Arizona’s high desert with her husband, their three children, her Weimaraner, and running partner, Leia, a failed barn cat, and a flock of chickens. She loves camping, exploring in the Jeep, and dance parties with her kids.
Learn more at https://hilarydartt.com/
Work/Life Balance with Heather DeSousa
Throughout Heather's career, she has had the great pleasure of traveling all over the country, working in many industries and with creatives of all kinds. From restaurants and breweries to the outdoors and sustainable living to music and local bands, to travel and farms. Now here in Prescott, Arizona, she has expanded into her own business, DeSousa Creative, and works with local businesses and musicians including Prescott Center for the Arts and Prescott Downtown Partnership.
What draws Heather to marketing and photography is sharing the story and passion behind the project and then connecting it to a community that is inspired in the same way.
For more info visit: https://www.desousacreative.com/
Women's Sexual Health with Hedda Fay
Hedda Fay is the Community Outreach and Program Manager for Northland Cares. Northland Cares is a 501c3 QCO Non-Profit. They are a specialty healthcare provider for people living with HIV and Hepatitis C. We provide HIV prevention and education and offer free harm reduction as well. Hedda joins us to discuss women's sexual health, safe dating tips, and more.
Safe Dating Tips:
- Tell your friends and family the name of the person you are meeting, where you are going & when you plan on being done with the date.
- Meet in a public space and select a time when people will be around. Daytime dates can be both fun and safe!
- Drive yourself to the date or take an Uber! This way if you need to leave you can and you are in control of your situation.
- No alcohol. I know it is tempting for social anxiety, but no alcohol on the first date. You can still have an enjoyable time, we promise. 80% of attacks on women involve alcohol.
- Do not leave your food or beverages alone with the date. People drug food and beverages with things that have no smell, or taste, and act quickly. It happens here where we live, more than you can imagine.
- Bring pepper spray with you. In Arizona, you can. Get a small one for your purse, it is a great deterrent and provides protection and a means to create distance if you need to. The effects last a while.
- Have a group date. It is 2022 and it is okay to invite them to something with friends so that another person can give you feedback. We cannot always be objective with someone we “like” and it is a safer date.
- Research the person. Do a google search, and check their social media. Check the local sex offender registry. People who prey on children will form a relationship with a single parent to have access to the person’s children.
Things to Remember:
- Your time is valuable, sharing time with a person is something we do not get back.
- You can pay for yourself. There is nothing wrong with bringing ca$h and offering to pay your part if you feel pressured.
- Handholding is intimacy. Think about whose hands you hold, the people you love or care for. Remember the first intimate thing you can do is hold the person’s hand.
- You are NOT obligated to kiss or be intimate with anyone PERIOD!
- NO is okay to say to people. It is one of two options.
FREE Condoms, PEP or PrEP, contact Northland Cares at:
Prescott: 928-776-4612 or 928-771-0023
Cottonwood: 203 S Candy Lane #3B, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 Phone: 928-649-0833
Professional Branding with Sarah Haynes
Sarah Haynes is the founder of Pixel Parfait, which provides graphic design, web design & online marketing services to small-medium size businesses around the country. Sarah has been in the design & marketing field for over a decade and specializes in helping businesses and individuals develop their brands. Sarah has a passion for designing full branding identities and helping companies refresh their branding through fresh, clean, and cohesive design pieces.
Outside of her office, Sarah can be found spending time with her two young daughters and husband, traveling, hiking, swimming, and loving the amazing scenery that Arizona offers. Sarah is also known to enjoy true crime, reading, and personal arts and crafts projects in her free time.
To contact Sarah, please email designer@pixelparfait.graphics or visit https://www.pixelparfait.graphics/
Instagram Accounts for Graphic Designers:
https://www.instagram.com/brand.brief/
https://www.instagram.com/theglowandgrowclub/
https://www.instagram.com/lets.brief/
Importance of Mentorship with Lesa West
Lesa West, is the owner of New Life CPR, in Prescott, AZ but is originally from Tennessee. She says the best thing about what she does is having someone come up to her and say "I heard your voice in my head" when they had to either perform CPR or a First Aid situation. She says about mentorship: Our job here on earth is to be there for each other - teach and not give but really TEACH, Listen, Hug, help people breathe, and give others strength in themselves - when we do all these things, we grow!
Learn more about New Life CPR at https://newlifecpr.com/
Building Your Brand with Ariana Bennett
After graduating from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor's degree in Advertising and Photography, Ariana Bennett continued to pursue her advertising career here in Arizona. Her experience includes working in Tucson, AZ at a full-service creative marketing agency and as a Marketing Director. Now based in Prescott, Arizona, Ariana works with Arizona businesses and brands as a consultant combining her storytelling experience with marketing strategies using video, social media, graphic design, and digital marketing. With a passion for small businesses, you’ve got a marketing partner who will work with you on a marketing strategy to meet your goals and drive results.
Ariana is a passionate, self-motivated, and career-driven individual with years of experience working in the marketing and advertising industry. Ariana finds that her success is accomplished in environments where she is surrounded by a team of creative minds that are excited to exceed their goals through hard work, unique approaches, and a love of laughter.
Ariana works with businesses and brands of all sizes and is widely recognized as a hardworking, forward-thinking, and leader in her industry and in her community.
Wearing Multiple Hats with Liberty Casarez
Liberty Casarez worked as a financial aid manager before entering the automotive industry. Liberty joined the Findlay Automotive Group in Bullhead City in 2014 and she started her career as a salesperson before being promoted to Internet and Marketing Manager positions. Before transferring to Prescott, Liberty was influential in helping to propel Findlay's Bullhead City dealership to a level of community prominence it had yet to realize. Liberty volunteered her time and services when needed. She was involved with the local Chamber of Commerce, as well as Rotary, Kiwanis, and the Boys and Girls Club of the Colorado River leading to joining the board of directors in many of the organizations.
You will find Liberty throughout the Quad-Cities wearing one of her multiple "hats" - either as a leader, a volunteer, or maybe sometimes just enjoying some downtime.
Episode notes:
https://www.findlayauto.com
Finding Balance Between Mom/Entrepreneur with Sarah Vincent
Sarah Vincent is the Education Director at the Highlands Center for Natural History. As a member of the Education team, Sarah brings a passion for science and a love for education. Sarah brings experience in environmental and educational leadership – constantly learning from and celebrating the communities that make up the Central Highlands, human and non-human. She works hard to facilitate meaningful experiences for people in nature, about nature, and most importantly, with nature. She is the *brand new* mother of Sylvia and the wife of Andrew.
Episode notes:
https://highlandscenter.org/
Being Fearless with Colleen Biggs
Take a minute with us today to chat with Colleen Biggs about Being Fearless. Colleen Biggs is an Award-Winning Business Coach who empowers women entrepreneurs who are ready to lean into their peak performance and take action so they can expand their influence, attract the right clients and generate more money. With over 22 years of experience, she has launched over 340 businesses, is an International Speaker, Author to five #1 International Best-Seller with the latest being Step Into the Spotlight to Expand your Influence, the CEO and founder of L.E.A.P. and was awarded the Local Businessperson of the Year award and Top 10 Women Business Leaders of 2021. Colleen is dedicated to supporting, promoting, and fueling purpose-filled, powerful female voices — like yours — and giving you the tools to make it happen!
Episode notes:
For more information visit https://colleenbiggs.net/
Creative Collaborations Lift Up Local Talent
The Prescott area is bursting with creative talent. We don’t have to tell you that. Painters, sculptors, jewelers, musicians, and even theater abound. We enjoy a wealth of traditional arts and culture, and today, we get to talk with a creative crew that is taking it to the next level with two different projects.
One branch of their endeavors is the 5enses Magazine and Webcast. The Magazine is published by John Duncan and is available for free at locations all over town. It showcases our wealth of local talent in the arts, literature, politics, and science while advocating for a connected community. The webcast - hosted by Robert Zinni - features intimate, unconventional interviews with local and regional luminaries, thinkers, and change-makers.
John and Zinni also collaborate - collude? - Conspire! across media and the community in an inventive new kind of performance. The TBD Show is part sketch comedy ala Saturday Night Live, part experimental film company, and part community instigator. Based at Thumb Butte Distillery, the TBD crew brews its own unique recipe of entertainment that you can enjoy live, in person or online from the comfort of your home.
Get ready to meet the minds behind 5enses and the TBD Show.
SHOW NOTES:
https://www.5ensesmag.com/
https://www.5ensesmag.com/webcasts
https://www.thetbdshow.com/
Traveling the World with Purpose
If you don’t travel, why not? What’s stopping you? Fear of the unknown or fear of all sorts of knowns? Does it seem like too much trouble or maybe you can’t get your spouse interested?
Today we are talking with a couple of local Prescott Women who don’t let any of those things stop them from seeing the world and having rich, adventurous, and fulfilling lives. After you hear their stories, you’ll be ready to join them.
Our guests today include Jennifer Burns, a self-diagnosed travel addict and owner of Dream Travel Management, a travel company devoted to empowering women to travel the world in ways that work for them. Dream Travel trips provide safety, engagement, and purpose that create more than memorable experiences - they are life-changers.
Plus, fellow travel junkie, Alexis Miller, a Prescott area resident for the last six years, Alexis serves as the Community Outreach Coordinator for Stepping Stones Agencies. She loves to read, cook, and travel, and as you will hear, she’s always ready for the next adventure.
If you're interested in learning more about the all-women Dream Travel Management trips visit https://prescottwomanmagazine.com/recover-your-spark-with-thailand-trip-for-women/
And the Winner is... (Prescott ATHENA Awards)
Do you love the Grammy Awards? Or the Nobel Prize? Well right here in the Quad Cities, we have an award that is kind of a combination of the two. The Prescott ATHENA Award honors our very own hometown rockstar genius women who embody the powerful, responsive, collaborative Leadership and Service we need today.
Today we talk with Prescott Woman Magazine owner/publisher Breeanya Hinkel, who was instrumental in bringing this International award to the Quad Cities. She tells about where the Athena Award comes from and what it signifies.
Then we hear from Bonnie Stevens, one of the major sponsors of the award and event - she also happens to be a 2012 Flagstaff Athena Award recipient, so she knows what she’s talking about!
Last but not least we hear from Robyn Allen, 2022 Prescott ATHENA Award Recipient, and director of SUZE'S Prescott Center for the Arts. Robyn helped pave the way for volunteerism through the theater during the ongoing COVID pandemic.
For more information about the Prescott ATHENA Awards visit www.prescottathena.com.
The Power of the Perfect Pair of Jeans - How the Teens Closet Supports Teens
What’s it like when you wear clothes you absolutely love? Do you feel like you can walk into any room and belong? Do you feel empowered to say yes to opportunity?
In this episode, we’re talking with some Prescott women who know all about looking great and feeling confident. They are the founders, supporters, and users of the Teens Closet. The Teens Closet provides popular clothing as a way to connect with and support local teens who are facing the big challenges of poverty, housing insecurity, and family disruption.
Guests
- Krystal Koons & her daughter Kaileigh Nall who are cofounders of the Teens Closet
- Past user Cheyenne Swearingen who shopped at Teens Closet from ages 13-20 and who now attends NAU
- Current user, Jennesey Schuh
- Student Volunteer Sara Gallardo
How to Remain Safe and Healthy - Meet Our Local HIV/STI Prevention & Care Organization
Are you ready for a really frank discussion about your undercarriage? Are you ready for some real talk about keeping ourselves, our kids and our communities safe from sexually transmitted infections? Our featured nonprofit story this month is about Northland Cares, the local HIV/AIDS and STI education, care, and prevention service.
Living with HIV/AIDS is vastly different today than it was 20 or 30 years ago. It’s no longer a death sentence for people who have access to care. But people of all walks of life and all ages in our community are still becoming infected with HIV and all the other sexually communicable infections. Northland Cares is showing up every day to provide judgment-free treatment, support, education, and prevention for all of us.
Guest Bio:
Our guest today is Hedda Fay, Community Outreach and Program Manager for Northland Cares. She is an LCNA, she’s worked as a case manager in the field since 2018, and she is an excellent educator, as you’ll find out. She proves that it’s possible to make difficult subjects easy to talk about and she models how to bring warmth and honesty to a very personal side of healthcare.
This is the Prescott Woman Podcast, an audio supplement of Prescott Woman Magazine.
Surviving, Thriving, & Serving - Three sisters pushing back against the big "C"
“You have cancer,” is one of the scariest things a doctor can say. Even with recovery and survival rates improving drastically for most cancers, a diagnosis can be one of the darkest times for an individual and a family to go through.
In this episode, we talk with three very close sisters who are all too familiar with what cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery are like. Jodi, Jamie, and Janine have gone through it not once, but twice.
Jodi Padgett, a hard-working Financial Planner got breast cancer when she was 45 and seven years later, baby sister Janine Sass was diagnosed - also at age 45. Janine and middle sister Jamie Rygiel are both Registered nurses and provided huge support when Jodi was going through treatment and navigating the medical system.
By the time Janine was in treatment, many aspects of cancer care had improved, but all three sisters are motivated by their individual and shared experiences to continue bringing light, information, and hope to our friends and neighbors here in Prescott if and when they hear the scary C-word.
We have a candid talk with the sisters about their journey together and what they have learned about being sick, staying well, and caring for the people we love. Jodi, Jamie, and Janine are some of the most positive, energetic women we’ve met and we know you’ll be as inspired by them as we are.
Let's Get Serious About Child Advocacy - The Yavapai CASA Foundation
Who steps in to support and advocate for kids when families fall apart?
Who stands next to them in the courtroom and makes sure they have more than the clothes on their back?
And who supports those advocates so they can keep doing important work for local children?
Today we have the privilege to talk with CASA for Kids Foundation Executive Director, Charlie Tardibuono, as well as the Director of Programming & Development, Barbara Moss. We find out what they are doing to help Court Appointed Special Advocates help the most vulnerable kids in our community.
The mission of Yavapai CASA for Kids Foundation is to serve the unmet needs of abused, neglected, and abandoned children who are in the care of the Yavapai County Juvenile Court – Prescott, and qualified youth who have aged out of that court’s jurisdiction. In addition, Yavapai CASA for Kids Foundation supports the work of the CASA program and CASA volunteers.
What You'll Get from the Guests
Charlie is the first Director of the Foundation and comes from a long career in for-profit and nonprofit companies. He worked in aerospace and semiconductor industries as well as international relief and development.
Barbara started at the Foundation as an AmeriCorps VISTA in the spring of 2020. She studied the effects of institutionalized poverty and inequality as an undergrad and had her own experience as a child “in the system.” Barb brings this combined knowledge and compassion to the work, as you will hear.
For more information visit: https://ycfk.org/
Inspiring Stories from the Front Lines of Family Medicine with Innovative Pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Tidroski.
What would it mean to you or your family to have a doctor who really listens, who cares deeply, and who meets you where you are? In this time of managed care, when medical visits are pared down like airplane seats, we got to talk with a pediatrician who insists on serving the whole family with a range of options that range from mainstream medicine to alternative treatments and good old-fashioned emotional support.
Dr. Jennifer Tidrosky has been a pediatrician for 10 years, and has lived in Prescott for 5 years with her husband and daughter. Dr. T works at Ponderosa Pediatrics, which is part of the Dignity Health-Yavapai Regional Medical Group. She’s a D.O., or Osteopath, and she’s training in Reiki, as well. When she’s not working, Dr. T enjoys Prescott's beautiful hiking trails and taking in the art either by visiting galleries, shows on the square, or dabbling in her own paint.
Dr. T is also a member and advocate for the Vaccinate with Confidence campaign. The endeavor addresses parental attitudes and perceptions associated with vaccines to counter the spread of vaccine misinformation that adversely affects children and families in Yavapai County.
The messaging and imagery is designed to show families what these infectious diseases can look like, remind them that these are serious diseases that can include a number of serious immediate and long-term complications, and to express that the best way to protect the people they care about is to keep their family’s immunization status up to date
Stay tuned to hear a lively, laughter-filled, information-rich conversation about what family medicine can be like.
Resources:
A Place to Belong - The PUSD Indian Education Program
What does it mean to know where you come from? To connect with the traditions of your people? To understand yourself as part of something bigger? How does diversity and art enrich the whole community?
Prescott Unified School District created the Indian Education Program to sponsor culturally relevant programs and provide academic support for Indigenous K-12 Students throughout the school year. The program is unique in that it includes oversight and guidance from local parents/guardians of the students AND input from around the country in the form of presentations and lessons.
We are fortunate to talk with Jessica Kota and her daughter Leona, who are core participants in the program and Kelly Mattox who works for PUSD.
Who's with Us On This Episode?
Jessica Kota is a Licensed Master Social Worker and a member of the Aamjiwnaang First Nations community. Jessica grew up in Indian Ed classes run by her mother. When she moved to the Prescott area about 8 years ago, she discovered PUSD’s Indian Ed program and got involved as a parent volunteer. Jessica is currently the Chair of the Parent committee.
Leona Mireles Kota is a 14 year old Ojibwe-Xicana who just finished the 8th grade at Mile High Middle School. Leona is a student leader in the Indian Ed. Program who never misses culture classes, field trips, or parent committee meetings if she can help it. Leona volunteers with the younger children and serves as a role model for learning and being respectful to guests and Elders.
Kelly Mattox’s interest in the spiritual aspects of Indigenous cultures began at a young age. Kelly is the PUSD Indigenous Programs Coordinator, as well as the Homeless Liaison and Family Resource Center Coordinator.
Stick around for an inspiring, informative, multi-cultural, multi-generational conversation about solutions, connection, and the power of people.
Follow the PUSD Indian Ed program here: https://www.facebook.com/PUSDIndianEducationProgram
Creeks Connect Community
What makes the Prescott area so special? The great music and art? Yes, we hear you! The perfect climate? Without a doubt. The wonderful, walkable downtown? Hundred percent. But what about the ribbons of green that wind through town, the creeks that support big shade trees, provide wildlife habitat and create cool recreation areas, right in town?
Prescott Creeks is also one of the organizations that has made life in Prescott better for over 30 years now… a group that is quietly and diligently protecting and restoring those natural waterways, educating us on the vital interrelationships between us and the creeks, and advocating to preserve the natural areas that make Prescott the cool, green haven it is for birds, wildlife, and humans alike.
Today we are excited to talk with Prescott Creeks Executive Director Michael Byrd, former board president Karen O’Neill, and current board member Bruce McKeeman.
Karen, a retired nursing instructor, is an avid birder, as you will hear. She got involved with Prescott Creeks in 2004, and served on the board for 10 years, 2 of those as president. She’s been actively involved with the Prescott Audubon Society as well, working on numerous bird surveys. Karen continues to support Prescott Creeks as a donor and volunteer.
Bruce spent his career working in a number of roles in the National Park Service. His education in biology, forestry & recreation management prepared him to work with natural and cultural resources throughout the U.S. and even in other countries like Georgia and Jordan. After retiring to Prescott, Bruce joined the Board to help protect & restore the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve and educate people on the necessity and value of our wild areas.
And Michael, the sole paid employee of Prescott Creeks, is their jack of all trades, working directly with donors, developing education programs, pulling on his waders to assess creek health, and getting dirty planting trees. He’s been director of Prescott Creeks for 22 years, parlaying his senior project at Prescott College into his dream career.
I met Michael when I brought groups of volunteers to the big restoration project that turned a section of Granite Creek that had been degraded by gravel mining and neglect into a thriving creekside forest that actually helps purify the water running into Watson Lake. The Watson Woods Riparian Preserve is a perfect, close-by location for a cool hike and a quick getaway from our busy, growing city.
Stay tuned for a lively discussion of how Prescott Creeks is keeping us green, making it easier to get outside and enjoy our natural treasures, right in the heart of downtown, and working toward a sustainable future. Find out why Prescott is here and not someplace else, how many creeks Prescott has [you’ll be surprised], and how you can get in on the joy of taking care of them.
This is the Prescott Woman Podcast, an audio supplement of Prescott Woman Magazine and we’re your hosts Kelly Roberge and Charles Matheus.
Alright - let’s get local!
Falling in Love with the Great Outdoors - An adventurous conversation with Amanda Foster
Do you spend every minute you can outdoors? Do you love adventure? Does time among the trees and dirt and sky recharge your batteries?
OR, are you feeling a little sluggish and penned up and do you sort _wish_ you spent more time outside?
Our guest, Amanda Foster, is a 2nd generation Prescottonian who has worked in the outdoor industry for over 25 years. She’s an outdoor educator and mentor and advocate who loves seeing others fall in love with wilderness, knowing they will also want to protect our natural treasures.
As owner of the Hike Shack, Amanda is a pillar of the local business community and in her free time, she continues to enjoy a wide range of outdoors activities. Hiking and trail running, bow hunting, fly fishing, river rafting, dirt biking are just a few. She tells us how spending time outdoors helps her stay sane and how matching the right people to the activity makes it more fun and sustainable.
Amanda shares the smart way to get started outdoors, for those of us who are indoor cats, like me, and some really important dos and don’ts for everyone.
If you are interested in how human well-being, the natural world, and community intersect, you’ll love this talk with Amanda Foster.
Welcome to the Prescott Woman Podcast. This is an audio supplement of Prescott Woman Magazine.
Home-makers with Grit: Prescott Area Habitat for Humanity
How does a hand UP help a family and our community? How does stable, affordable housing impact life? Find out how our featured Quad Cities nonprofit, Habitat for Humanity works to give families a fighting chance, not only to survive but to become valuable contributors to our community.
Alice Ayers and Gail Martin have both worked at Prescott Area Habitat for years because they continue to be moved by the mission that provides struggling families with real hope. Alyce is the Director of Community Relations and Events, responsible for getting the message OUT and drawing more support IN. Gail is Director of Volunteers Services and gets to place community members in purposeful, meaningful roles like building houses, supporting the Habitat ReStore, and so on. Both Alyce and Gail are joyful evangelists for the work Habitat does to make decent housing available to as many people as possible, here in our community. They have both witnessed the miraculous transformations that can happen when families move into a home that they actually own.
In this episode of the Prescott Woman Podcast, we talk about the joys this work provides them, the current challenges that Habitat is facing, and how we can all lend a hand.
Grab your hammers and let’s go!
For more information visit https://prescotthabitat.org/
Power Couple with a Passion for Service
What would you think about newcomers who moved to the Quad Cities, rolled up their sleeves and got all the way into the hard work of advocating for and educating us, devoting themselves to our economic development and the care of our most vulnerable?
How about, "Welcome!" and "Thank you!!"
Guest Bios:
Our guests this episode grace the April/May cover of Prescott Woman Magazine and have called Prescott Valley home for the last 4 years. Lesley Jenkins is the regional director for the Alzheimer’s Association Southwest Chapter, which is based here in Prescott. Her husband, Rodney Jenkins is the Vice President of Community Relations and Student Development at Yavapai College. In their long careers of service, Lesley has worked in media relations and a host of nonprofits and Rodney has been a successful political organizer and municipal official. The thread throughout their career seems to be about weaving people together with the resources they need to live their best lives.
Stay tuned for a lot of laughter, a bit of courtship timeline debate, community compassion, and inspiration as we talk with these two accomplished, passionate leaders about their work to make things better for all of us here in the Prescott area.
This is the Prescott Woman Podcast, an audio supplement of Prescott Woman Magazine and we’re your hosts Kelly Roberge and Charles Matheus.
Alright - let’s get local!
SHOW NOTES:
Teens Who are Making Prescott Better Together
After the protests and turmoil that unfolded in downtown Prescott last summer, what action did you take?
Most of us talked about it with our friends and associates, maybe took it to social media. But how many of us actually DID something?
But the teens on the Launch Pad’s Teen Advisory Council got moving to address the rift that showed itself so dramatically on Courthouse Plaza. It’s a rift that had been seeping through the cracks of our culture all along and many of our local teens were seeing it in their schools long before it erupted downtown. A few teens from the Launch Pad Center worked together to create a series of facilitated discussions about race and racism in several local high schools.
Our guests on this episode share their personal experiences with racism, as well as their contributions to facilitating the tough conversations with their peers that will help us all heal as a community and live up to our claim as Everybody’s Hometown.
In this we get to talk with 4 members of the Teen Advisory Council about what motivated them to get involved in the conversation about racial justice and what TAC is doing to address the issue in area high schools.
A few tips to help the listener:
Keep in mind that the teens were together in the same room sharing a microphone, so they were masked up to keep themselves and each other safe. Some of their voices are hard to hear what they have to say is worth the effort.
Also, this episode starts with a “check in” the traditional way TAC starts all their meetings. A check in is a chance for everyone to introduce themselves and speak a little bit about what’s on their minds.
Lastly, you’ll notice that, in the check in, the teens mention what pronouns they prefer. This pronoun announcement might seem foriegn to some listeners but it is becoming a standard way for people to introduce themselves and to make a conversation safer and more welcoming for anyone who might not fit the usual gender definitions.
Get ready to be impressed and inspired by these smart, mature young women who are doing the real work of making Prescott better… together.
Wedding Extravaganza!
Spring is in the air despite the occasional snowstorm. Love is in the air, despite the social distancing. It must be time to talk weddings! Weddings are the most universal and meaningful ritual in our culture and Prescott is the perfect place for two people to get hitched. Charles and I got married here, surrounded by our friends and in sight of Granite Mountain. It’s a weekend we’ll never forget.
On this episode of Prescott Woman Podcast, we talk to some wedding professionals who are in the business of making a couple’s most special day as beautiful, memorable, and stress-free as possible These women are passionate, smart, and dedicated to their craft and it was a pleasure for us to get a glimpse into their wonderful world of weddings!
The Power of Crazy Ideas - An Interview with Jessi Hans
What’s it like combating an entrenched problem like homelessness during a pandemic? What skills and mindset make the difference in good times and bad? How does one get selected Prescott Woman of the Year?
Find out from Coalition for Compassion and Justice Executive Director, Jessi Hans. In 2018, Jessi and her team set the bold (Crazy?) intention to end homelessness in Prescott. Since Covid, they have redoubled their efforts to house every member of the Prescott community and connect their clients to the services that will help get them back on their feet and back to their lives. We talk with Jessi about the Housing First philosophy, leading her team with authenticity and transparency, the value of partnerships, and how to stay human when things get tough.
After 16 years in the human services field, Jessi Hans has an understanding of how addiction, trauma, mental illness, and systemic barriers can put people out on the street.
Jessi takes a collaborative approach to problem-solving, bringing together people and organizations with the gifts and skillsets to make meaningful progress on difficult problems. She also works consciously to shift the narrative around people experiencing homelessness to help everyone see what she sees: human beings, citizens, neighbors, members of the community.
Born and raised in Iowa, Jessi earned her B.F.A. at Northwest Missouri State University and she’s lived in Arizona since 2005. She has a wife and three young children. Jessi enjoys quality time with her family, traveling, reading, creating art, and singing.
Jessi was recently named Women of the Year by Prescott Area Leadership.
When we asked her the uncomfortable question of why she was chosen for this honor, she told us she thought the award honored her role more than her actions. We think she might be being too humble, but we’ll let you decide why you think Jessi deserves the win.
Women of Service - Turning Passion into Change
When was the last time you walked into a room of your peers wearing the perfect pair of shoes for you - Just the right clothes to make you feel comfortable in your own skin and confident in the world?
For many local teens living in low-income households or families affected by addiction or homelessness this feeling was a distant dream until they met the team at Teen Closet. Staff and volunteers work with teens not only to find the perfect look and fit, but to build relationships that let young people who are living with big challenges know that they are not alone, not forgotten.
Welcome to the Prescott Woman Podcast
In this episode we get to talk with Krystal Koons and Diane DeLong about the magic of the right pair of shoes in a teen’s life and the opportunity that their personal shopping service gives them to get to know some extraordinary teens, help them find their gifts, and make our community brighter.
You’ll hear these two passionate, intelligent women explain the difference between charity and empowerment, and you’ll hear inspiring success stories about the young people they serve. You’ll also hear their concerns about the new challenges facing teens and the one thing parents should NOT do in response.
Show notes:
- North Star Youth Programs
- Teen Closet
- Prescott Athena Awards
- Prescott Woman Magazine Distribution Locations
A Doctor with Heart
On this month’s episode, you'll learn a lot about the heart and how a local “rock star” Cardiac Electrophysiologist is using the latest hi-tech methods, collaborative leadership, and deep compassion to heal hearts and people.
Welcome to the Prescott Woman Podcast, the monthly audio companion to Prescott Woman Magazine. Hosts Kelly Roberge and Charles Matheus are a curious couple who explore the rich array of talent, personality, and engagement they find throughout the Quad Cities. Each episode engages in a relaxed and inquisitive conversation with the people featured in the pages of Prescott Woman Magazine, discovering more about how they are working to make our community better.
This month we get to spend an hour with a woman who is a smart and accomplished cardiac physician, but what we came away with was the unshakable sense of her incredibly powerful love and compassion as a healer, family member, and leader in our community.
Dr. Nisha Tung is a Cardiac Electrophysiologist - a self-described electrician of the heart - at Yavapai Regional Medical Center here in Prescott. She went to med school in India and did residencies in North Dakota and Indiana before landing fellowships at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale and at UCLA. She was recruited by YRMC to develop the state-of-the-art cardiology program and facility that opened in August of 2015.
A long way from her native India, Dr. Tung tells us about the grit it took for her to get here, the joy her work and patients bring her, and what community means. We find out what a cardiac electrophysiologist IS, and take a bit of a dive into the technical side of modern heart medicine. We also find out what kind of little girl Dr. Tung was and how both family tragedy and traditions have influenced the path of her career. Stay tuned until the end for a slightly emotional moment AND for a critical heart-health tip for women.
Show Notes:
- YRMC Article featuring Dr. Tung
- YRMC's Cardiac Cath Lab
- Go Red for Women - the American Heart Association's women's initiative
- Click for an animated explanation of artrial fibrillation
Prescott Woman Resources:
- https://prescottwomanmagazine.com/
- Magazine Pickup Locations