Together, We Shall Ainsley's Angels

Joining us from on location from the Boston Marathon starting line, Shamus Evans, with a quick appearance by Shaun, returns to the podcast (previously in episode 8) to showcase the energy and feelings and of “toeing the line” at the 128th running of the Boston Marathon.  Joined by 20 other duo teams, amongst nearly 100 Athletes With Disabilities (AWD), Shamus takes us back to his first Boston Marathon at just six months old watching his dad cross the finish line. Eighteen years later, the duo runs Boston together for their first time, embracing their ‘better together’ mantra in a spectacular showing for them both; finishing 26.2 miles under 3 hours! Shamus explains his plans for the fall as he heads off to college, but first tells us about his plans for supporting mental health in his community by hosting a run at his high school. This shorter episode packs a punch of emotion, so we also invite you to also consider watching this 50th episode, to see the joy of Shamus and Shaun as they started the race.  https://youtu.be/GSPLVnvyryA 
Email us at Podcast@AinsleysAngels.org if you would like to ask a question, nominate a guest or recommend a future topic. Audio version of the Together, We Shall Podcast can be found on Buzzsprout (link below), on the Apple Podcast app, as well as on Spotify, Amazon, and the Ainsley’s Angels YouTube channel for those seeking closed captioning or just like to watch vice listen to podcasts. https://twspodcast.buzzsprout.com   
Together, We Shall Podcast is hosted by Kim ‘Rooster’ Rossiter, President and Co-Founder of Ainsley’s Angels of America, and Joe Orth, Executive Vice President of Ainsley’s Angels. This inclusive podcast takes you into a world of tangents and thoroughfares, focusing on a conversation to be determined. Highlighting current events, insightful antidotes and life lessons with banter, sit back and listen to a little bit of humor and a few emotional deep dives during each episode. Let’s roll! If you would like to join us on the podcast, place to share/tell stories and connect, or nominate someone to join us on the podcast, email us at Podcast@AinsleysAngels.org 

Joining us from France, Briley Rossiter (Ainsley’s sister) returns to the show to provide an update on her happenings since Rooster and Joe last visited with her in Episode 2. From a daytime train to Barcelona and a Paris-bound Amsterdam bus at midnight to the Colosseum in Rome for New Year’s Eve and the French Alps to start the calendar year - Briley reports on her European travels and accessible observations from the Champagne Capital of the world.  An aspiring Mental Health professional, Briley shares her plans after France, as well as insight into how she leveraged curiosity to fully immerse herself into this opportunity to teach American culture and English to French students, while also working as a nanny for a local French family.  Embrace your curiosity and enjoy this insightful conversation.

Email us at Podcast@AinsleysAngels.org if you would like to ask a question, nominate a guest or recommend a future topic. 

Audio version of the Together, We Shall Podcast can be found on Buzzsprout (link below), on the Apple Podcast app, as well as on Spotify, Amazon, and the Ainsley’s Angels YouTube channel for those seeking closed captioning or just like to watch vice listen to podcasts. https://twspodcast.buzzsprout.com  

The Together, We Shall Podcast is hosted by Kim ‘Rooster’ Rossiter, President and Co-Founder of Ainsley’s Angels of America, and Joe Orth, Executive Vice President of Ainsley’s Angels. This inclusive podcast takes you into a world of tangents and thoroughfares, focusing on a conversation to be determined. Highlighting current events, insightful antidotes and life lessons with banter, sit back and listen to a little bit of humor and a few emotional deep dives during each episode. Let’s roll! If you would like to join us on the podcast, place to share/tell stories and connect, or nominate someone to join us on the podcast, email us at Podcast@AinsleysAngels.org

Kelly Piacenti, ChSNC®, Head of SpecialCare at MassMutual, educates Joe and Rooster on a range of very important topics for those caring for, or living with, people with special needs. Kelly’s late son, Nick, inspired her to do what she does today — to make everyone’s life a little easier. Kelly doesn’t believe in “disinheriting” and shares invaluable insight into how we can leave money to our loved ones with special needs when we die, without disqualifying them from government benefits. Topics range from financial planning and drafting a letter of intent, to navigating guardianship/conservatorship and exploring special needs trusts, as Kelly opens our minds to the resources of SpecialCare. Kelly reinforces, “It is great to have a plan in your head, but if it is not on paper, no one can help execute your plan when you are gone!”  
Email us at Podcast@AinsleysAngels.org if you would like a copy of Kelly’s “Letter of Intent” template. 
Email ADP@AinsleysAngels.org if you might want to apply for the next Ally Development Program, powered by MassMutual.  
 Here is a short description of the workshops mentioned by Kelly:  
10 Basic Financial Steps for Special Needs Caregivers: This workshop will discuss 10 basic steps to help caregivers get started in preparing for the financial future of their dependent with special needs. As a caregiver of a dependent with special needs, the single most important issue on your mind, regardless of the age of the dependent, is what will happen to my dependent after I’m gone. There are some needs that will always be present and they must be carefully considered and planned for appropriately. This workshop addresses such critical issues as applying for government benefits for Social Security and Medicaid, creating a Special Needs Trust, the importance of a Will and considering a Letter of Intent. Taking these 10 basic steps now can help ensure the type of care and quality of life for a loved one’s well-being today and tomorrow.  
 ABLE Accounts: President Barack Obama signed the Achieving a Better Life Experience, or ABLE Act on December 19, 2014 as part of the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014. This law allows qualified individuals with disabilities to have a tax-advantaged savings account. This workshop provides information of ABLE accounts, as well as overview on special needs trusts as possible planning tools to enhance the quality of live for a loved one with special needs.  
Letter of Intent: A letter of intent is a way of communicating your desires and concerns, as well as caregiving instructions to future caregivers, guardians, trustees and advocates of dependents with special needs. This workshop will discuss how a letter of intent can be used as part of the special needs planning process. Although not a legally binding document, it will allow future caregivers to more quickly learn how to deliver the very best care possible. 
 https://www.massmutual.com/specialcare  

Dr. Camille Minor, EdD. joins Joe and Rooster for a special, insightful, raw, real conversation about belonging, acceptance, perspective and, how our formative life events shape who we become and what we value.  Dedicated to community and service, Camille is not only an Angel Ally, but also an Ainsley’s Angels of America board member. The daughter of a Marine, Camille maintains a deep connection to America’s Veteran and Gold Star Family communities through her work with the Travis Manion Foundation, a premier Veteran Service Organization.

Episode 46 takes a deep dive with Alexa Burrows (Community Management at ASICS America Corporation) into how being a childhood cancer survivor, while not allowing the diagnosis to become her identity, built a foundation of resiliency that she did not know existed until an early morning phone call nearly 25 years later. Join us on multiple running and baseball tangents that intersect the thoroughfare of understanding and appreciating that everyone has a different and never-ending grieving process.

Episode 45 features a one-of-a-kind, real-life unicorn, as Angel Jill Burwell is the only person in the world who has fulfilled all roles within the Ainsley’s Angels family. From Angel Ally to Angel Ambassador turned Angel Runner, Jill serves now as a Guardian Angel and Angel Athlete Rider.  Hear details of her journey as Jill, Joe, and Rooster, who are not Medical Doctors, discuss how we can all pick up a few tidbits from a little conversation on how to make intentional efforts to find “healthy and happy” through our choices.