Patti Is Still Learning Patti & John Brownsord

We talked to Debo Ofsowitz, a local legend in the LGBTQA+ volunteering space and our dear friend, about volunteering, being an ally, building trust, increasing self-awareness, and steps to increase your own empathy for others. We took a little deep dive into The Four Agreements and purposefully practicing checking your implicit bias.

When asked what were her motivating factors for volunteering: "The more plugged in you are, the better your experience is. The more you connect with people, the more you feel accomplished... Participating makes the experience better." You can also meet people who have a similar interest and have a passion for something.

If anyone wants to be a better ally, reach out to the people that you know and ask them how you can be a better friend to them and a better ally to their community. More often than not, they'll tell you something. The more people you know in a community, and the more you connect with them at a personal level, it is easier to be an ally because you care more about what happens to them. It helps you check your implicit bias, and it helps you hear others' biases and stand up for your friends.

If you liked what you heard and want to hear more about these topics, check out our other podcast episodes: S2E11 - Being an Ally, S2E03 - Knowing Your Values, and Season 1 Getting Involved

Seeing a vast disparity in diversity in the tech world, Josh helped form Black Orlando Tech, a successful nonprofit in teaching adults about technical fields to help them either change or advance their careers. He used his hunger to learn and passion for teaching to become an expert in cloud computing. His book, Venti Fried Chicken, explores his humble beginnings and how he evolved into a leader in the tech community, with all of the detours and speedbumps along the way. We talked to him about cloud computing, how he's helped BOT grow, his history of learning about different fields, and what he's learning about next. 

If you want to hear more of our thoughts about topics we discussed, you can always listen to previous podcasts that were centered around these themes: S2E11 - Being an Ally, Season 1, Number 9 - How to Juggle, Season 1, Number 5 - Marketing, Everybody’s Doing I, Season 1 - Getting Involved

Lea Tran, author, speaker, and overall wonder woman, joined us to talk about her story of being a member of the "Boat People" and escaping from Vietnam. We talk about how courage is something you find or create, but it doesn't come naturally. Sometimes it's because you have to have it to survive, and other times you decide to make it so you can thrive. You also have to make your own opportunities and "not miss the boat." 

The nonprofit that Lea is working with is called the Refuge Film School, which gives refuge teens a chance to make a living with digital media work.

And since we recorded our interview right after the shooting in Atlanta that rocked the AAPI community, we talked about how we could all be better allies to other races.

If you want to hear more of our thoughts about topics we discussed, you can always listen to previous podcasts that were centered around these themes: S2E09 - What makes your atoms sing?, S2E02 - Embracing Curiosity, and Season 1 Episode: All The Intentions

We interviewed Janel Chambers, co-owner of the Minuteman Press in College Park, Orlando. Running a small business has a lot of different pressures, and when you run one with a friend, there are different dynamics you need to consider. We talked about maintaining trust, knowing your strengths and lanes, and keeping it light. You have to understand where a person came from and their environment to know who they are and what they believe. We also bring up time management, self-care, and allyship. If you like the content of this episode and would like to hear others like it, check out the following episodes from past seasons: S1E09 - How to Juggle; S1E10 - Building Trust; S2E01 - Giving and Receiving Feedback.

We are back with the first episode of our third season! We have changed the format and now have full format interviews with our friends. First up is our conversation with Marjorie Phoenix, founder of the Giving Voices Project. She's a leader for advocating for those recovering from violent acts, she's a student getting her masters so she can become a consultant in Diversity & Inclusion in the corporate world, she is an activist for having uncomfortable conversations through her Storytime & Wine program, and she's a Mom! The biggest lesson we learned from Marjorie is the importance of holding the space for listening to others. It's not always about needing to solve the problem, but it is important to listen to understand where the person is coming from. GivingVoicesProject.org All the social: Giving Voices Project Look up Storytime & Wine on Eventbrite If you like the content of this episode and would like to hear others like it, check out the following episodes from past seasons: S1E07 - Asking Good Questions; S2E03 Knowing Your Values; S2E08 - Self Care; and S2E11 - Being An Ally

John and Patti took a little hiatus mid-season to learn more about being anti-racists and how to be better allies to People of Color. In this episode, they talk about their learning journey the past two and a half months and encourage all people to learn more about White Fragility and White Privilege. Now is the time to lift up the voices of Black Americans, other People of Color, and other people who have been discriminated against.