Better Together Podcast: Recent Episodes
Joe Balan
Better Together Podcast Series , encompasses all 10 of MDS ARG PODs. This series is focused on the experiences of our colleagues, families and communities in the hopes to provide insight into providing inclusion, diversity, education and action within BD and beyond!
In today's episode, we dive into the extraordinary journey of Chad Jenkins, former Army Ranger and starting quarterback at West Point in 2001. Join us as we explore the unbreakable bound between Chad and his best friend and BD colleague, Jeff Schroeder, whose friendship became a lifeline in guiding Chad through the challenges of the military service and beyond.
In this episode guest interviewer Blake Shaver, Chair of Limitless ARG, interviews Samantha Vitone about her struggles and achievements with a learning disability. With odds stacked against her, Samantha fought through and was accepted and graduated from college eventually coming to work at BD as a Legal Specialist.
We celebrate Autism Awareness Month with a conversation about advocating and raising awareness about Autism. In this episode Fido Willybiro lends a hand as we interview our sisters, Nina Willybiro-Mydo and Jen Balan who discuss their journey of raising a child with Autism. Through their passion and love, Nina has gone on to build a non-profit supporting Autism Awareness www.nione.info . Jen is a special needs school teacher who recently was awarded Teacher of the Year for her work in the class room.
Escaping the shadow of fear as a child in Columbia, Danny Marin's parents make a move to America to find a better life for their family. Danny brings us through his journey to America. Facing racism and prejudice Danny never gave up his vision to be an American Citizen. Danny's story is lesson for all and brings out the true meaning of the American dream .
In this last installment of the two part series, Mark speaks to us about overcoming the challenges he faced after losing the use of his legs from his climbing accident. From the hospital bed, to the top of El Capitan, Mark brings us full circle in his quest for life, adventure and helping others.
This is part one of a two part series. In this episode we talk with adventure athlete, mountaineer, para-Olympian and author, Mark Wellman about his experiences of fighting back from a horrible climbing accident that took away his use of his legs. We will hear about the harrowing experience on the day his life changed forever and how he was able to face death and depression to become the first paraplegic to ever scale the massive granite monolith El Capitan in Yosemite valley.
In this Podcast, I speak with Debbi Sanchez, co-lead of the MDS VETS ARG POD as well as the Social Investing officer for the BDX VETS ARG Leadership Team and Karen Worcester, Executive Director of the non-profit organization Wreaths Across America. BD and WAA have established a partnership and we’re excited to share how BD associates can volunteer to honor and remember our nation’s veterans.
In this podcast, Tescha and Cross discuss the challenges Cross and others face day-to-day being gay. Giving a real-world perspective, this touching discussion between Tescha and her son are bound to open the mind and heart.
In this episode, Sandy and Veronica speak to raising awareness about the LGBTQ+ and shedding light on the challenges of the LGBTQ+ community. Sandy explores with her daughter Veronica her process of coming out as transgender and their experiences.
This episode is sponsored by the Parent and Caregiver Together ARG (PACT) which is one of nine Associate Resource Group Pods at MDS.
In this episode, “Growing Up in Foster Care”., I explore the life and experiences of Isiah Griffin, MDS Vascular Access Territory Manager, as a product of the American foster care system. His vulnerability and engaging storytelling enable Isiah to take us through the good, the bad and the challenges of the foster care system with hopes of opening minds and hearts to helping others get involved in fostering.
For more information on Foster Care including being part of foster care, the following Books, Podcasts, and links will help guide you to additional information.
Books:
· Keep the Doors Open: Lessons Learned from a year of foster parenting
· Welcome to Fostering: A guide to becoming and being a foster care
· Twenty Things Adopted Kids wish their adoptive parents knew: Sherrie Eldridge
· The Connected Child: Dr. Karyn Purvis
· Maybe Days: A book for children in foster care
· It’s OK to Wonder: A book for children whose parents want to become foster parents
Podcasts:
· The Forgotten Podcast
· The Adopting and Fostering Home Podcast
· Fostering Voices Podcast
· Foster Care: An Unparalleled Journey
· What the Foster
Blogs:
· Confessions of an Adoptive Parent
· Advice for new foster parents
o https://fostercare.com/advice-for-new-foster-parents/
· Rage Against the Minivan
· FosterMore
The MDS ARG Pods are hard at work on new content coming this Fall. Be on the lookout for additional episodes launching in September.
Lexi and Joe talk through what an ARG is, how you can join and some of the exiting things the ARG Pods are working on.