Good Life Stories Tracy Crowley

Jamila Johnson returns to Good Life Stories to share her personal perspective on the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. As an attorney focused on reproductive rights and criminal justice reform, Jamila shifted her career to help preserve the right to travel for abortion care.

She discusses organizing a train trip for Black advocates from the South to Chicago for abortion services, highlighting the challenges faced by those without means. Jamila reflects on her own teenage pregnancy and the importance of choice.

The episode provides a first-hand account of the Dobbs decision's impact, emphasizing the practical and emotional toll on affected individuals. Jamila also shares her unique skill of speed-listening to audiobooks and the influence of Allen Ginsburg's "America" on her work.

She concludes by stressing the importance of helpers during stressful times, underlining our interconnectedness and the impact of support.

For more inspiring stories, visit https://www.goodlifestories.com/.

Tracy Crowley interviews Jamila Johnson, an attorney and advocate dedicated to racial equity and criminal justice reform. After the 2016 election, Jamila moved from Seattle to Louisiana to tackle the state's use of non-unanimous jury verdicts, a tool rooted in Jim Crow-era laws.

Jamila discusses Louisiana's 1898 constitutional convention, which aimed to maintain "the supremacy of the white race" through laws like the non-unanimous jury system. Despite a 2018 ballot measure requiring unanimous juries for future cases, over 1,500 individuals remained imprisoned under the unconstitutional law.

This episode highlights the ongoing fight for racial justice in America's criminal legal system. Jamila's experiences provide insight into entrenched inequities and her efforts to address historical wrongs.

To learn more about Jamila Johnson's work, visit promiseofjustice.org for information on their efforts to address Louisiana's non-unanimous jury law legacy and support those affected.

Jon Acton, an educator and speaker, discusses the power of belief and laughter in overcoming adversity.
Jon, a school superintendent in Indiana, inspires others with his positive outlook despite facing health challenges. He emphasizes the importance of making the most of our time and spreading positivity.

"If we couldn't laugh, we'd all go insane." - Jimmy Buffett

Jon reflects on how illness has taught him to be less judgmental and more forgiving. He's passing this mindset to his children.

"You can slow us down, but you can't stop us." - Acton family motto

This episode reminds us that belief and laughter can carry us through dark times, highlighting the importance of resilience and surrounding ourselves with supportive people.

Learn more about Jon at http://www.brokenshells.net/

For more inspiring stories: https://www.goodlifestories.com/

Jon Acton, a husband, father, author, and motivational speaker who has been on an extraordinary journey. Jon shares his personal story of being diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer, along with two of his closest teacher friends, all within a 10-month period.

I believe Jon Acton is a true inspiration. After a successful career as an educator and school superintendent, he found himself medically retired in July 2022 due to his cancer diagnosis. However, this setback has not deterred Jon from making the most of his time and having a lasting impact. He is the creator of "Broken Shells," a platform that invites people to reflect on their life stories, their "whys, why nots, and what ifs."

"If we tried to pitch this movie to Hollywood, they would laugh us out of any presentation, say, you're making this up. There are times I wish we were, but we're not."

"Be in the room. Even if you don't think you're qualified, you have an opinion. If you feel strong enough to get involved, that gives you an in."

In this final episode of my conversation with Krista Kemper, we chat about how to be an effective agent of change by showing up and getting involved, even if you don't feel qualified.

Krista Kemper is a mechanical designer and self-proclaimed "bullsh*t meter" who has carved out a unique role for herself on high-stakes engineering committees and industry groups. Despite not having a formal engineering degree, Krista's hands-on experience and willingness to speak up have made her an invaluable voice, helping to improve critical safety standards and policies.

During our conversation, Krista shares how she got involved in these spaces and the impact she's been able to have. She explains that her lack of traditional qualifications was actually an asset, allowing her to ask questions and identify issues that the degreed experts had overlooked. Krista encourages listeners to not be deterred by a perceived lack of expertise - if you care about an issue, show up and make your voice heard, even if you think you don't belong in the room.

I believe this episode is a great episode for anyone who wants to create positive change in their community or industry but isn't sure how to get started. Krista's stories and insights illustrate that simply being present and persistent can be the key to sparking meaningful transformation. Whether it's getting involved in local government, advocating for policy changes, or volunteering for a cause you believe in, Krista reminds us that the most important qualification is a willingness to show up and speak up.

"Dreaming lets you try things in your mind. And it's okay. It's okay to have ridiculous dreams and ridiculous ideas. A dream costs nothing to have."

I think listeners will also appreciate Krista's perspective on the value of "dreaming" - allowing yourself to explore creative ideas without immediately trying to turn them into concrete plans. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining flexibility and not getting too attached to a specific vision, as dreams often evolve in unexpected ways. Krista's engineering background has also influenced her approach to life, as she applies concepts like "tolerance stacks" to build in wiggle room and resilience.

To learn more about Krista Kemper, visit her website at https://kempereng.com/. Thanks again, and I love that you are here to listen to Good Life Stories.

More info: https://www.goodlifestories.com/

"The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without the work" - Emil Zola

I am back with Krista Kemper, an engineer who is challenging the misconception that creativity and technical disciplines like math and engineering are mutually exclusive. Krista shares her unique perspective on how art, design, and engineering intersect, and why the skills developed in creative pursuits are invaluable assets in STEM fields.

"There's beauty in engineering. And when this finally clicked, I was looking at...the Mona Lisa, and I started seeing lines and angles and the geometry and the math inside the Mona Lisa."

Krista Kemper is a professional engineer with a diverse background. She currently works as the Lead Mechanical Engineer at a prominent engineering firm, where she applies her technical expertise and creative problem-solving abilities to design innovative solutions. Krista's passion for blending creativity and analytics is evident in both her work and personal life, from the intricate nail art she sports at industry conferences to the finite element analysis she's conducted on acrylics.

"I love that when I don't have anything else going on, doing my nails is my creative outlet. I've got 10 little canvases."

Throughout our conversation, Krista and I explore the misconceptions around math and engineering, debunking the notion that these disciplines are purely analytical and devoid of creativity. We discuss how skills like problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and pattern recognition developed through creative hobbies can be directly applied to technical fields. Krista also shares her strategy for identifying and hiring engineers who possess a diverse skillset, highlighting the value she places on candidates with creative interests and pursuits.

"When we're interviewing engineers, when we're hiring people, if I've got two resumes that are equally qualified, the thing that'll be the deciding factor will be if they have a creative pursuit, if they're into something else."

I believe this episode is perfect for anyone who has been told that they have to choose between the "creative" and "analytical" sides of their personality. Krista's insights will inspire listeners to embrace the beautiful overlap between art and science, and to recognize the power of combining technical expertise with creative expression.

Whether you're an artist, an engineer, or simply someone seeking to cultivate a multifaceted approach to problem-solving, this conversation will leave you with a renewed appreciation for the transformative potential of blending left-brain and right-brain thinking.

To learn more about Krista Kemper, visit her website at https://kempereng.com/. Thanks again, and I love that you are here to listen to Good Life Stories.

More info: https://www.goodlifestories.com/