Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community

Danise Sugita

Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community is where justice meets action and community voices rise. In each episode, we spotlight changemakers, disruptors, and everyday heroes working at the frontlines of equity and liberation. Through powerful storytelling and candid conversations, we explore what it means to build a more just world—together. This isn’t just a podcast; it’s a call to listen deeply, learn boldly, and move in solidarity. The music for this podcast was provided by Steven Cong and the artwork was provided by Kimberly Li.

  1. Tracy DeTomasi: How Callisto Is Changing the Future of Survivor Support

    3d ago

    Tracy DeTomasi: How Callisto Is Changing the Future of Survivor Support

    Tracy DeTomasi is the CEO of Callisto, a nonprofit dedicated to combatting sexual violence through innovative technology and survivor-centered solutions. With 25 years of leadership in the nonprofit sector, Tracy has held numerous high-profile roles, including previously serving as Executive Director of global nonprofit focused on ending domestic and sexual violence. Tracy's unique expertise as a licensed clinical social worker comes from her extensive experience working directly with survivors and offenders. Her early career as a therapist working with offenders provided her with a rare and critical perspective on the dynamics of gender-based violence, positioning her as a leading expert in prevention and intervention strategies. Tracy has been instrumental in advancing trauma-informed programming, shaping domestic violence laws in the U.S., and driving global initiatives to address gender-based violence. She has consulted on developing cutting-edge tech solutions, including mobile applications for violence prevention, smartphone-based safety tools, and virtual reality training programs designed to dismantle racial and gender oppression. Her leadership continues to shape the future of violence prevention, advocacy, and systemic change. Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

    54 min
  2. Nancy Jasin Ensley: Listening for the Whispers That Lead to Healing and Advocacy

    Jun 25

    Nancy Jasin Ensley: Listening for the Whispers That Lead to Healing and Advocacy

    Nancy Jasin Ensley is a Local Author, Legal Nurse, Hospice Specialist, and Teacher whose work reflects a lifetime of service and experience writing to listen, to remember, and to continue creating with purpose. Over the years, she’s written across multiple genres including memoirs, literature and fiction, science fiction, mystery, thriller, action and adventure, and children’s literature. Each story she creates is rooted in family, faith, service, and lived experience, and her goal is to explore what it means to grow, persevere, and reflect on life through words. Her life and career has been shaped by a commitment to service and a desire to make a difference in the lives of others. What she brings to a podcast is perspective shaped by a lifetime of listening, observing, and creating. She’s spent decades in professions that demand empathy and discernment helping people navigate life’s most critical moments and she’s learned that every story, no matter the genre, carries lessons worth sharing. Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

    55 min
  3. Jessica McKinney: Turning Trauma into Healing and Helping Others Feel Understood

    Jun 18

    Jessica McKinney: Turning Trauma into Healing and Helping Others Feel Understood

    Jessica McKinney is a married mom, storyteller, and podcast creator rooted in resilience and real-life growth. Her work centers around honest conversations on mental strength, healing, and what it truly means to live, learn, and let go. After navigating some intense, life-changing experiences, she’s turned her story into a platform that gives others permission to share theirs—raw, unfiltered, and powerful. She’s passionate about connection, truth, and helping people feel seen through the stories we tell. Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

    50 min
  4. Michelle Vo on Mental Health, Cultural Identity, and Collective Healing

    Jun 11

    Michelle Vo on Mental Health, Cultural Identity, and Collective Healing

    Michelle Vo is a San Francisco Bay Area-based Licensed Clinical Social Worker and psychotherapist who brings a rich, social-justice-oriented lens to her clinical practice and projects. With nearly a decade of experience spanning hospital systems and Silicon Valley tech environments, Michelle specializes in supporting first-generation adults navigating cultural identity, high-achieving professionals battling burnout, and women moving through the complexities of maternal mental health. As the founder of the "Model Mindfulness" project, she is particularly dedicated to enhancing discussions on cultural awareness, clinical social work practice, workplace wellness, and more. Her advocacy extends to impactful media collaborations, including an NPR's Bay Area KQED feature discussing the Fall of Saigon and prioritizing generational trauma and healing. She further explores her passion for social work and its intersections on podcasts like Heard Business School, where she discusses building culturally responsive practices and the importance of authenticity in therapy.  Her therapeutic approach is defined by a balance of warm humanity and clinical direction, using evidence-based tools such as CBT, DBT, and Psychodynamic and Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to build lasting resilience. By blending professional expertise with "tactful transparency" and humor, Michelle creates a space where clients can move away from perfectionism and toward a life of radical self-acceptance and intentionality. Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

    45 min
  5. Marienne Cuison on Honoring the Life and Legacy of Lyle Prijoles

    Jun 9

    Marienne Cuison on Honoring the Life and Legacy of Lyle Prijoles

    In this episode we're joined by Marienne Cuison, the wife of Lyle Prijoles. While recent headlines have focused on the tragic circumstances surrounding Lyle's death, today's conversation is about something deeper. It's about a life devoted to community, justice, family, and service. It's about the people he loved, the values he carried, and the legacy that continues through those whose lives he touched. Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

    45 min
  6. Austin Holmes on Storytelling, Authenticity, and the Responsibility to Share Your Story

    Jun 4

    Austin Holmes on Storytelling, Authenticity, and the Responsibility to Share Your Story

    Signal Raptor is a tech-enabled "done-with-you" PR platform built to empower small businesses, solopreneurs, and startups with affordable, tactical media exposure. Through subscription-based services, the company provides weekly media pitching, article creation, press release distribution, influencer outreach, training calls, and a self-service dashboard—all without the high retainers of traditional PR firms. At the helm is Austin Holmes, a Navy Special Operations veteran turned entrepreneur and public relations strategist.  Austin’s military background instilled in him the values of precision, discipline, and mission-driven teamwork—qualities he now applies to the world of communications. With years of experience in brand strategy and media outreach, Austin founded Signal Raptor to democratize PR, making it accessible to the underdogs who need it most. As the face of the company, he not only leads its innovation but also serves as its chief advocate, showing how storytelling, authenticity, and smart media strategy can transform businesses. You may view more here: https://canva.link/ud1z8gaf9898k3k Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

    49 min
  7. Christian Komor on Climate Justice, Courage, and Collective Action

    Jun 2

    Christian Komor on Climate Justice, Courage, and Collective Action

    Raised in the back-to-nature movement of the 1970s, Dr. Christian Komor has spent his life exploring the intersection of human behavior and planetary health. A longtime climate advocate, author, psychologist, and 2026 candidate for Governor of Colorado, his work centers on confronting the climate crisis through bold systems change and large-scale carbon removal. Dr. Komor brings an unconventional leadership background shaped by operational and clinical leadership, institutional reform, crisis response, and public education. He managed a multidisciplinary practice, worked for five years in one of the nation’s oldest maximum-security prisons, served as an officer in Search and Rescue and Civil Air Patrol, and has taught professionals in more than 100 cities. A nationally recognized voice on climate intervention, Dr. Komor has advised White House Executive Office staff on carbon removal policy, developed the Interstate SkyCarbon Blueprint to coordinate Direct Atmospheric Carbon Removal across U.S. states, and leads the U.S. Climate Deadline Alliance focused on accelerating climate solutions at scale. He has also pursued constitutional litigation related to the climate emergency. Dr. Komor is the author of 26 books, including Climate Deadline 2035, Direct Atmospheric Carbon Removal, Carbon Negative Shot, and The Emperor’s New Clothes and the Climate Clock. Across his work, he argues that effective leadership is measured not by political longevity, but by courage, vision, and a commitment to serving people. In this episode of Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community, we explore climate urgency, accountability, people-powered governance, and what bold action looks like in this moment. Christian shares how his experiences—from prison reform to climate policy to his gubernatorial run—have shaped his understanding of justice, stewardship, and collective responsibility. This conversation invites us to consider what it means to respond to crisis not with resignation, but with imagination and action. Connect with Dr. Komor: www.k4gov.com Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

    45 min
  8. Steven Cong & Rising Sun: How Green House Calls Support Communities and Youth

    May 29

    Steven Cong & Rising Sun: How Green House Calls Support Communities and Youth

    Steven Cong is a nonprofit professional with 10+ years of experience in youth-, leadership-, and workforce-development. He currently serves as the Senior Program Manager for Rising Sun Center for Opportunity's Climate Careers Bay Area, which creates impact at the nexus of climate resilience and economic equity. Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

    34 min
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3 Ratings

About

Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community is where justice meets action and community voices rise. In each episode, we spotlight changemakers, disruptors, and everyday heroes working at the frontlines of equity and liberation. Through powerful storytelling and candid conversations, we explore what it means to build a more just world—together. This isn’t just a podcast; it’s a call to listen deeply, learn boldly, and move in solidarity. The music for this podcast was provided by Steven Cong and the artwork was provided by Kimberly Li.

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