The Disruption Podcast: Recent Episodes
Tracey Breeden and Michelle Pelton
The Disruption podcast is focused on creating big, bold change - through the disruption of systems that cause harm to others and the institutions that support those systems and through disruption in your own personal life leading you to find pathways to your own purpose, freedom, and power to be fully you. We believe that disruption in these spaces activates transformational impact across society.
We are Tracey Breeden and Michelle Pelton, the host and co-host of the Disruption podcast. We are queer activists, passionate about driving change, who will share our personal stories of disruption with you and lead you through discussions with fellow disruptors, including other activists and advocates, leaders on the inside and outside of organizations, and notable friends and influencers - all with the hope to inspire and activate you towards the big, bold change that you want to see in yourself and in the world. We will dig deep into those personal stories and into pressing topics like creating safe spaces and belonging, advocating for social change through activism in the most difficult places, personal elevation and radical leadership through living authentically, and sex positivity. We’ll even talk about closing the orgasm gap! It can get pretty serious, but we’ll also love, laugh and weave lightness into our time together.
The truth is disruption of self and the systems that surround us is not easy, and often requires us to lay down our safety. It all begins with giving ourselves permission to take that first step into personal truth and power. Look around and know you are not alone. We are people from all walks of life on that journey with you. Get ready to disrupt!
To find out more about Tracey and the passion and purpose behind the disruption message, check out traceybreeden.com. In the Contacts section, you can send us a note telling us about your own disruption story. Who knows … you may be our next influential guest!
In this episode of The Disruption Podcast, Tracey Breeden and Michelle Pelton delve into a conversation with Calen Ann Otto about the impact of laying down your safety in the name of justice. Calen expands on disruptive activism, sharing personal stories of protests and the camaraderie found within the movement. They also draw parallels between veganism and other social justice movements, such as feminism and LGBTQ+ rights, shedding light on speciesism and the urgent need to rethink our treatment of animals. Calen is a queer, anti-speciesist travel blogger who explores the big wide world on a very small budget. After completing a solo trip across the USA at the age of 19 with only $300 and a bike, Calen discovered that there are so many alternative ways to travel that cost less. Inspired by their love of meeting strangers and sharing their incredible stories, Calen created the Unruly Travel blog. There they share photos, videos, articles, and podcast episodes from their unique travels in hopes to inspire others to get out and grow. Calen has been to 5 continents, 35 states, 20 National Parks, and more than 20 countries as a vegan and is passionate about doing the least amount of harm wherever they go. They wrote and published 'The Art Of Unruly Travel On A Budget' travel guide book to make travel more accessible to all.
In this episode Tracey, Michelle, and Calen talk about:
- Veganism as a social justice movement.
- Drawing similarities between speciesism with other discrimination forms.
- The importance of having courage to stand up for your beliefs.
- Calen's experiences with disruptive animal rights activism.
- The need for accessible, plant-based foods for all communities.
- How to manage and address risks in activism: physical harm, emotional challenges, legal consequences.
Tracey's book is now available for purchase! Whether you want to ignite your inner superhero or harness collective power, Tracey's new book is your ultimate guide. "Match-Striking for Beginners" offers essential practices and bold strategies to help you overcome obstacles and unleash your personal power to create lasting impact. Order your copy today and join the movement for positive change!
Connect with Tracey, Calen and Michelle:
Unruly Travel Blog
Calen Otto Instagram
The Unruly Podcast
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
Welcome back to The Disruption Podcast! In today’s episode we discuss the powerful concept of laying down your safety as a way to spark change in the world. Michelle and Tracey talk about the intricate balance between physical, psychological, and emotional safety and discuss how laying down your safety in these spaces can ignite individuals and communities to rise up and make a difference. Whether you’re speaking up in your workplace, your community, or your home, this episode will inspire you to find and unleash your personal power for positive change!
In this episode, Tracey and Michelle talk about:
- The concept of laying down safety for social change.
- The importance of using one's voice in unsafe spaces.
- Historical and personal examples of impactful change.
- Tracey's advocacy against human trafficking at Uber.
- Tracey's hope that her book serves as a catalyst for change.
Tracey's book is now available for purchase! Whether you want to ignite your inner superhero or harness collective power, Tracey's new book is your ultimate guide. "Match-Striking for Beginners" offers essential practices and bold strategies to help you overcome obstacles and unleash your personal power to create lasting impact. Order your copy today and join the movement for positive change!
Connect with Tracey and Michelle:
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
In this episode of The Disruption Podcast, we highlight some of the recent book launch events for Tracey’s book, "Match-Striking for Beginners." Tracey and Michelle celebrated the Pride Month launch of the book in Bisbee, Arizona, where Tracey delivered several inspiring talks, emphasizing the importance of honoring past disruptors and investing in community.
Tracey shares personal stories of overcoming societal rejection and the journey to self-acceptance, awakening the superhero within each of us. Her narrative moves from internal struggles to personal empowerment, spurring her to leadership roles in tech and law enforcement despite the discrimination and rejection she faced as a queer female in those spaces. Join Tracey and Michelle as they encourage listeners to embrace their personal power, live fully authentically, and activate to drive social change.
In this episode Tracey and Michelle talk about: - The launch of Tracey's Book "Match-Striking for Beginners" - The significance of the book's message regarding personal power and social change. - All the official launch events they participated in and hosted during the Pride celebrations in Bisbee, Arizona. - Tracey's talk at Bisbee Pride Women’s Event and from the 2nd floor balcony of the historic and national award-winning Copper Queen Library. - Tracey's powerful and emotional reading of the first chapter of "Match Striking for Beginners." - Their invitation to listeners to embrace their personal power and join in the movement to disrupt current systems that are no longer serving us and create change.
Tracey's book is now available for purchase! Whether you want to ignite your inner superhero or harness collective power, Tracey's new book is your ultimate guide. "Match-Striking for Beginners" offers essential practices and bold strategies to help you overcome obstacles and unleash your personal power to create lasting impact. Order your copy today and join the movement for positive change!
Connect with Tracey and Michelle:
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
In this episode of The Disruption Podcast, hosts Michelle and Tracey delve into the inspiring journey of Carolyn Ray, CEO of JourneyWoman, and discuss her proactive stance on joy, travel, and social change. Carolyn shares her experience of learning about human trafficking through her daughter's work and her subsequent efforts to raise awareness and educate others via JourneyWoman. Their dialogue then transitions to one of Carolyn's other passions - the critical role of women in transforming the travel industry and advocating for greater accessibility and fair treatment for solo female travelers over 50!
As the CEO and Editor of JourneyWoman, Carolyn is a passionate advocate for women’s travel and living the life of your dreams. She leads JourneyWoman’s team of writers and chairs the JourneyWoman Women’s Advisory Council and Women’s Speaker’s Bureau. In March 2023, she was named one of the most influential women in travel by TravelPulse and was the recipient of the SATW travel writing award in September 2023.
She has been featured in the New York Times, The Toronto Star and Zoomer as a solo travel expert, and speaks at women’s travel conferences around the world. She is the chair of the Canadian chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), a member of Women’s Travel Leaders and a Herald for the Transformational Travel Council (TTC). In 2012 she was ranked among the top 100 Female Entrepreneurs in Canada. And if that weren't enough, she’s also a Co-Active Life Coach and mom of Alyxandra, a captivating young woman and our next generation of impactful disruptors.
In this episode, Tracey, Michelle, and Carolyn talk about:
- The important role of women in making a difference in the travel industry.
- Carolyn's awareness of human trafficking through her daughter's work and education.
- JourneyWoman’s efforts to raise awareness and educate others.
- Collective female consumer influence leading to industry changes.
- Exploring societal expectations versus personal callings.
Whether you want to ignite your inner superhero or harness collective power, Tracey's new book is your ultimate guide. "Match-Striking for Beginners" offers essential practices and bold strategies to help you overcome obstacles and unleash your personal power to create lasting impact. Preorder your copy today and join the movement for positive change!
Connect with Tracey, Michelle, and Carolyn:
JourneyWoman Human Trafficking Webinar
JourneyWoman Website
JourneyWoman Instagram
JourneyWoman LinkedIn
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
In this empowering episode, we delve into the profound topic of finding purpose in one's life. Through the lens of Tracey's new book, "Match-Striking for Beginners," we navigate the intricate journey of self-discovery and personal empowerment. Our conversation explores the essence of purpose, highlighting the internal quest for authenticity and the subtle signs that guide us toward making a meaningful impact. As we embark on this soul-stirring discussion, we encourage listeners to embrace their personal power, stand up against injustice, and discover purpose in what truly moves their hearts. Join us for this transformative episode as we unlock the superhero within and inspire each of us to create meaningful change in our own unique ways.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Tracey's perspective on finding purpose
- Encouragement to find purpose in what breaks one's heart
- Identification of repetitive signs pointing toward purpose
- Creating a positive impact through purposeful actions
Whether you want to ignite your inner superhero or harness collective power, Tracey's new book is your ultimate guide. "Match-Striking for Beginners" offers essential practices and bold strategies to help you overcome obstacles and unleash your personal power to create lasting impact. Preorder your copy today and join the movement for positive change!
Connect with Tracey, Michelle, Jane and Robbie:
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
In this episode of The Disruption Podcast, we are joined by Robbie Karp and Jane Randel to discuss their experiences as change-makers in corporate America. They share their insights on driving change within corporate systems, including the importance of being strategic and the critical impact of building alliances. Robbie talks in detail about their work in addressing sweatshop conditions at Liz Claiborne and the creation of the Fair Labor Association. Jane also digs deep into her work to raise awareness about domestic violence and the development of NO MORE, an international initiative dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault. Both Robbie and Jane emphasize the need for collaboration and human understanding in creating lasting change.
Robbie and Jane, both close friends and long-time colleagues of Tracey's, are Social Impact advisors and co-founders of Karp Randel, a consultancy designed to help corporations, foundations, and individuals achieve their business and personal goals while making a positive impact on society.
Robbie is currently serving on the executive committee and is the immediate past chair of the board of Educational Alliance. She is also a director and sits on the executive board of Human Rights First, an independent advocacy organization that works to ensure that the U.S. is a global leader in human rights. Throughout her career, Robbie has served on a number of other nonprofit legal and human rights boards and task forces, including Co-Chairing President Clinton’s Apparel Industry Partnership (AIP), a coalition of consumer companies, human rights and labor rights organizations, and consumer groups formed by the former U.S. President to help improve global working conditions.
Jane is also a co-founder of NO MORE and, in February 2020, gave a TEDx talk about engaging youth to end violence. Jane is currently serving as a consultant to the NFL and NASCAR to help those organizations address issues of domestic violence and sexual assault within their organizations as well as in service to the public at large. Jane has also co-founded the recently launched The Comms Collective, a strategic communications practice with a focus on defining new pathways to growth for challenger brands and next-generation businesses.
In this episode, Tracey and Michelle talk with Robbie and Jane about:
- The definition of disruption in corporate America.
- Challenges and hurdles Robbie and Jane faced in implementing changes in their roles in corporate environments.
- The role of community and collective activation in effecting change.
- Strategies Robbie and Jane used to navigate complex dynamics with corporate and legal teams.
- The impact of Robbie and Jane’s initiatives on social change and corporate responsibility.
Whether you're seeking to ignite your inner superhero or activate collective power, Tracey's book is a roadmap that offers essential practices and bold moves to break through the blockers we as marginalized voices and groups experience and create lasting impact. Preorder your copy of Match-Striking for Beginners today and join the movement for positive change!
Connect with Tracey, Michelle, Jane and Robbie:
Karprandel LinkedIn
Jane Randel LinkedIn
Robbie Karp LinkedIn
Karprandel Website
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
On this week's episode of The Disruption Podcast, we discuss the critical need for collective activism and change within our systems and organizations. As we tease this concept from Tracey's book, "Match-Striking for Beginners," which is set to launch this Pride month, we also tackle the vital need for collective activism and meaningful action towards social change, pivotal themes in Tracey's book. We explore why activism must permeate every organization, why throwing money at problems isn't enough, and how we can use our influence right where we're at to support organizations in stepping up authentically and impactfully.
Tracey also shares her experiences working with the wonderful team at Practical Inspiration Publishing and that team's profound impact on Tracey's book! Tracey discusses the importance of choosing the right allies in publishing and why Practice Inspiration Publishing was the right partner for her, being a woman-owned publishing company that really gets behind its authors.
In this episode Michelle and Tracey talk about:
- Tracey's exceptional experiences with the Practical Inspiration Publishing team and the importance of finding the right partners to support your vision and message.
- The necessity of activism within every organization and system, with an emphasis on what we can each do individually right where we're at.
- The importance of organizations taking real action and providing real support for marginalized communities.
- Their partners and friends, Robbie Karp and Jane Randal, who are specialists in corporate activism and social impact and who join Michelle and Tracey on the next episode of The Disruption Podcast.
Whether you're seeking to ignite your inner superhero or activate collective power, Tracey's book is a roadmap that offers essential practices and bold moves to break through the blockers we as marginalized voices and groups experience and create lasting impact. Preorder your copy of Match-Striking for Beginners today and join the movement for positive change!
Mentioned in the episode: - Match-Striking for Beginners - Disrupting Charitable Alturism: Why Giving One Percent Matters with Mindy Gibbins-Klein
Connect with Tracey and Michelle:
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
In part two of this two-part series, we delve into the dynamic world of leadership and personal growth with our guest, Nan Watts of Watts Collaborative. Nan moves our conversation towards the Rising Leaders, the next generation of changemakers, who are creating a global community by bridging various entities and shaking up current systems. Michelle and Tracey probe into the evolution of leadership, highlighting the integration of intuition and the pursuit of wholeness. With profound insight, Nan advocates for becoming the embodiment of the qualities we seek and engages us in the necessity of self-awareness and introspection. Join us in this thought-provoking two-part conversation, resonating with the need for individual and collective strides towards a renewed paradigm of leadership.
In this episode Tracey, Michelle, and Nan talk about:
- Discussion on the role of wholeness in guiding leadership practices.
- Exploration of self-awareness and its role in personal and professional growth.
- Tracey and Nan talk about the difficulty of fitting self-care into busy work schedules.
- Nan's initiative to bring rising leaders together for mutual development.
- Identifying and employing personal power through the power of the pause.
In our conversation with Nan, as in other conversations in our series highlighting Tracey's book, we explore concepts from Match-Striking for Beginners: Activating Individual and Collective Power from the Margin, which will be released on June 25, 2024. Whether you're seeking to ignite your inner superhero or activate collective power from the margin, Tracey's book is a roadmap that offers essential practices and bold moves to break through the blockers we, as marginalized voices and groups, experience so that you can create lasting impact. Preorder your copy of Match-Striking for Beginners today and join the movement for positive change!
Connect with Tracey, Michelle and Nan:
Nan Watts Watts Website
Nan Instagram
Nan LinkedIn
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
In Part One of a two-part series with our special guest, Nan Watts of Watts Collaborative, we delve deep into the complex feelings many confront regarding self-worth and societal expectations. With a poignant blend of vulnerability and wisdom, Nan opens up about her struggles with feeling "enough" and her journey towards quieting the persistent inner voice of self-doubt. Nan explores different facets of her life with us—from her affinity for nature's calming influence to her emergence as a passionate photographer and later, a transformative leadership coach. Together, we engage in a candid discussion about the disruption of ingrained behaviors and the uncomfortable yet essential growth that comes with change.
As a mother of two young boys (now men), Nan was deeply moved by the impact of the tragedies in our world at the turn of the century — the devastating Columbine shooting in 1999 and subsequently the horrific attacks on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. These events inspired Nan to want to do whatever she could to help provide a positive impact on the world, and especially for her family. Prior to starting Nan Watts Coaching in 2005, now Watts Collaborative, she started two successful photography businesses, both of which continue to inform how she wanted to establish her coaching practice. Her training, tools, and guiding principles are what she uses to capture, frame, and reflect back to her clients so they can see and hear themselves in their instructive moment. As a coach, Nan specializes in working with senior leaders and executives who are challenging themselves to grow, adapt, and thrive in a world of constant change.
In this episode Tracey, Michelle, and Nan talk about:
- Societal pressures and the internal voice that perpetuates self-doubt.
- Strategies for acknowledging and battling that voice of self-doubt.
- Nan's insights on revisiting grief from unexpressed experiences.
- Acknowledging self-worth and the value of experience that comes with age.
- Nan's background as a third-generation Chicagoan, living on a property rich with history and a special connection to nature.
Whether you're seeking to ignite your inner superhero or activate collective power, Tracey's book is a roadmap that offers essential practices and bold moves to break through the blockers we as marginalized voices and groups experience and create lasting impact. Preorder your copy of Match-Striking for Beginners today and join the movement for positive change!
Connect with Tracey and Michelle:
Nan Watts Watts Website
Nan Instagram
Nan LinkedIn
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
In this episode, we continue our discussion of Tracey's new book 'Match Striking for Beginners,' which explores Tracey's roadmap for unleashing your personal power in order to ignite collective action for a better self and a better world. In this conversation, we offer a glimpse into the critical importance of the power and value that individuals, especially women and historically marginalized groups, have inherently and the difficulties people in these groups face in embracing and harnessing that power due to the unique challenges they experience. In sharing a few thoughts and experiences related to Tracey's deep-dive into personal power in her book, listeners will be enlightened, heard and seen, and inspired to embrace their personal power and unleash their inner superhero!
In this episode, Tracey and Michelle talk about: - Feedback from test readers of Tracey's book - How test readers contribute to the book's development - Emphasis on women and marginalized groups embracing their value - Addressing the impact of rejection and the challenge it presents - Tracey's vision for readers to feel heard, seen, and inspired
Whether you're seeking to ignite your inner superhero or activate collective power, Tracey's book is a roadmap that offers essential practices and bold moves to break through the blockers we as marginalized voices and groups experience and create lasting impact. Preorder your copy of Match-Striking for Beginners today and join the movement for positive change!
Mentioned in the episode: - Match-Striking for Beginners - Episode 26: Exploring Match-Striking for Beginners: Where Sustainable Fashion Meets Community Building with Carley Lake - Episode 25: Exploring Match-Striking for Beginners: The Importance of Community and Collective Action - Episode 7: Disrupting the Gender Binary with Calen Otto
Connect with Tracey and Michelle:
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
On this episode of The Disruption Podcast, we delve into topics of community, trust, sustainable fashion, and personal transformation. Carley discusses her app, Lucky Sweater, focusing on clothing swaps and its role in building trust, community, and friendship through a shared focus on sustainability. We cover the delicate balance of scaling a business while safeguarding its core values, and Carley's personal journey leaving Uber to launch her venture during the pandemic. Our conversation is sprinkled with personal anecdotes of past experiences, including our time at Uber, with the hope of reminding listeners of the importance of support in personal and professional endeavors.
Carley is the co-founder/CEO of Lucky Sweater, the community clothing swap app that’s putting community and curation at the center of secondhand. They've started with curated communities for slow fashion, vintage, and handmade items, and are on track to be the "Discord for things,"—expanding into any style and interest-based community!
Prior to Lucky Sweater, Carley was one of the first 500 employees at Uber, launched Uber Eats, and led Uber’s global safety marketing and initiatives. She started her career as a digital content strategist at Ogilvy & Mather for Fortune 500 clients including SC Johnson, Ford, and Kimberly Clark. Her professional journey has made me an expert in sustainability, trust & safety, go-to-market strategies, product marketing, and community building.
In this episode Tracey, Michelle, and Carley talk about:
- Carley's departure from corporate life to start her own business, following her passion for sustainable fashion
- The inception of the community clothing swap app, Lucky Sweater
- The importance of sustainable fashion and community building
- The significance of physical exchanges and storytelling in community trust
This episode is party of a series, highlighting themes from Tracey’s book, Match-Striking for Beginners. Carley is a great example of the importance of finding and building community. Whether you're seeking to ignite your inner superhero or activate collective power, Match-Striking for Beginners is your roadmap offering essential practices and bold moves to break through blockers and create lasting impact. Preorder your copy of Match-Striking for Beginners today and join the movement for positive change!
Mentioned in the episode:
- Match-Striking for Beginners
Connect with Tracey, Michelle, and Carley:
Carley Lake Instagram Lucky Sweater Instagram Lucky Sweater Tiktok Carley Lake LinkedIn
Carley Website
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
In today's episode, we explore the empowering world of Tracey Breeden's new book, "Match-Striking for Beginners: Activating Individual and Collective Power for a More Just World."
Match-Striking for Beginners is your playbook to ignite power from the margin, inviting you to discover the pathway to a more just world by recognizing your personal power and unleashing the superhero within you. We are going to dive into a series where in each episode we will highlight a theme or concept of the book, allowing Tracey to give us a sneak peek into some of the most transformational aspects of her new book!
This week we explore the idea of finding or building community and taking collective action so we can all have a positive impact on the world!
In this episode, Tracey and Michelle talk about:
- Aspects of Tracey's book that make it unique
- How this book is designed for women and historically marginalized groups
- How showing up authentically is an important step towards community and collective action
- The importance and power of finding your community ... or building it, if it doesn't already exist
- Creating collective action by having a vision, sharing it, and trusting that other superheroes will rise up
Whether you're seeking to ignite your inner superhero or activate collective power, Tracey's roadmap offers essential practices and bold moves to break through blockers and create lasting impact. Preorder your copy of Match-Striking for Beginners today and join the movement for positive change!
Mentioned in the episode:
- Match-Striking for Beginners
- Episode 6 with Ginger Scott
Connect with Tracey and Michelle:
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
In this captivating podcast episode, we delve into a myriad of compelling topics that revolve around the intricate landscape of parenting and family dynamics. The episode kicks off with a riveting discussion on a recent court decision, unraveling the loopholes that provide avenues for legalizing parental rights. Wrapping up with insights on teaching kids about sustainability, this episode is a rich tapestry of thought-provoking discussions that will resonate with parents and families whether queer or not!
In this episode, Michelle, Tracey, Claudine, and Kelly discuss:
- Claudine and Kelly's crushing court decision and the loophole to legalizing parental rights
- The importance of educating your children and making them a part of the conversation
- Claudine and Kelly's journey of telling their kids about their donor and navigating donor relationships
- What activism looks like with children; and teaching the kids about sustainability and activism.
Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend.
Connect with Tracey, Michelle, Claudine, and Kelly:
Kelly LinkedIn
Claudine LinkedIn
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
Additional Resources:
The Pea that was Me
Zak's Safari: A Story about Donor-Conceived Kids of Two-Mom Families
What Makes a Baby
The Pea That Was Me & Me & Me: How All Kinds of Babies Are Made
It's So Amazing!: A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families (The Family Library)
It's Not the Stork!: A Book About Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families and Friends (The Family Library)
Join us for a heartfelt podcast episode that delves into the profound importance of visibility, community, and the extraordinary journey of two couples – our hosts, Michelle and Tracey, and their friends and powerhouse couple, Claudine and Kelly – as they navigate the intricate landscape of LGBTQ+ advocacy and family building.
In this episode, Michelle and Tracey talk with Claudine and Kelly about: -The importance of visibility and community - The story of how Michelle and Tracey met Claudine and Kelly - How Kelly and Claudine met 15 years ago - Claudines experiences with advocacy and how Kelly supported her - Claudine and Kelly’s experience with reciprocal IVF - The legal battle to attain equal parental rights of their children
Come back next week for Part 2 of this conversation with Claudine and Kelly where we will dive even deeper into their experience building a family!
Connect with Michelle and Tracey:
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
The transition into a blended family is never seamless, and our hosts Tracey and Michelle share their firsthand experiences of what this journey has been like for them. In this insightful podcast episode, we delve into the dynamics of blended families with a focus on the unique journey of Tracey and Michelle as two moms amidst the concept of disruption. Join us as we explore what disruption means in the context of a blended family and how it shapes the unique journey of each member involved. In this episode, Michelle and Tracey talk about:
- What disruption means in the context of a blended family
- How some of Tracey's personal family experiences shaped and prepared her for a blended family
- What the transition has been like for them
- How Tracey and Michelle have both remained in their authenticity through this process
- How Tracey is figuring out what her role as a step parent is
Tune in for a compelling dialogue that goes beyond the surface, offering a deep dive into the disruption, authenticity, and growth within the tapestry of blended families.
Connect with Michelle and Tracey:
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
In this reflective episode, Tracey and Michelle lead us through a whirlwind of disruptions that defined 2023. With a touch of nostalgia, they revisit their favorite episodes from the past year, each narrative a testament to diverse perspectives and impactful conversations. But it wasn't just them—listeners chose disruption too, challenging norms and reshaping the discourse. As they reflect, Tracey and Michelle distill lessons from resilience to embracing change, setting the stage for a hopeful and powerful 2024!
In this episode Tracey and Michelle talk about:
- Their favorite episodes from 2023
- How listeners disrupted in 2023
- How Michelle disrupted in 2023 by stepping into her identity as an artist
- How Tracey disrupted in 2023 by writing a book and coaching fourth grade basketball
- How they’ve disrupted together over the last year
- And what lessons they learned in 2023
- What they hope 2024 will look like
Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend.
Connect with Tracey and Michelle:
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
In this powerful podcast episode, we unravel Ally's complex journey, whose experiences traverse the turbulent landscape of workplace sexual harassment and systemic challenges like forced arbitration. From her former law firm's involvement in Harvey's defense during the #MeToo movement to her internship on the Hill, where she faced sexual assault, Ally's story is one of resilience and advocacy because she turned those challenges into a way to advocate for other victims as well!
Ally is the founder and CEO of the Purple Method, an organization she launched to address workplace harassment in the wake of the #MeToo movement. She is also a law professor at the City University of New York School of Law, teaching administrative law and federal courts.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How Ally bravely shared her story with The Washington Post and sparked legislative changes in Congress
- The transformative impact of Ally's journey as it led her to work with the Purple Method
- What is the core mission of the Purple Method and the tangible effects of their advocacy
- What is forced arbitration and how we are all impacted
- The detrimental implications of forced arbitration and particularly its disproportionate impact on women and marginalized groups
- Solutions around forced arbitration and actionable steps individuals can take to combat this pervasive issue
Both Tracey and Michelle personally care deeply about advocacy around forced arbitration and have included additional resources for you to join the fight and take action: - Lift Our Voices - The National Women’s Law Center - Use the hashtags #forcedarbitration #workplacefairness Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend.
Connect with Michelle and Tracey:
The Purple Method Website
Ally Coll LinkedIn
Ally Coll Instagram
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
In this compelling podcast episode, we unravel the profound impact of empathy in Mindy's work, exploring how this essential quality has shaped her decisions and initiatives.
Mindy Gibbins-Klein is an international speaker and coach who teaches people to be thought leaders and, more importantly, thoughtful leaders. The former head of a notable UK publishing company, Mindy has authored and co-authored 14 books, and her clients have written and published over 1000 books. A native New Yorker, Mindy splits her time between New York and the UK, running The Book Midwife® book coaching brand and The Thoughtful Leader consultancy business.
Over the past 25 years, she has presented to and coached over 50,000 business executives and entrepreneurs in 18 countries. Her content has been licensed and syndicated across the globe and her TEDx talk “Sometimes You Need to Change Yourself to Be Yourself” has nearly one million views!
In this episode, Tracey, Michelle, and Mindy talk about: - The role empathy plays in Mindy's work - Why working with authors of historically marginalized groups was and is important to Mindy - The steps Mindy took to take action on amplifying marginalized group's voices - The story behind her new initiative, "Giving 1%" - What Giving 1% is and how it works - How to start examining your finances to give 1% - Why giving your 1% is important - Why charities need our money to help create change
Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend.
Connect with Tracey, Michelle, and Mindy:
Mindy Website
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Welcome back to the second part of Suzanne's captivating journey on The Disruption Podcast. In this episode, we further explore the profound experiences that have shaped Suzanne's path in witchcraft and self-discovery.
In this illuminating continuation, Suzanne's story unfolds, offering listeners a profound glimpse into the transformative power of self-discovery, nature's wisdom, and the boundless potential found in embracing the unknown. Tune in as we embark on the next chapter of Suzanne's extraordinary journey, filled with wisdom, inspiration, and the magic of personal growth.
In this episode, Tracey, Michelle, and Suzanne talk about:
- The car accident that changed everything for Suzanne
- How Suzanne has incorporated different teachings and learnings into crafting her form of witchcraft
- What Suzanne has learned from leaning into what makes her uncomfortable
- Suzanne’s favorite things about being a witch
- Suzanne's journey when leaving Arizona and how being in nature in Washington reignited her creativity
- Suzanne's experience navigating family relationships with those who aren't supportive of her life choices and what we can all learn from her experience
Check out part two of our conversation with Suzanne to further understand her journey into witchcraft.
Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, we'd be so appreciative if you'd leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend.
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In this illuminating podcast episode, we delve into the mystical realms of Elemental Witchcraft with Suzanne Elise Stewart, unraveling the essence of the practice and exploring the profound connection witches share with the earth and its cycles.
Suzanne is an artist, tarot reader, healer, and psychic medium. She has called Arizona home for 53 years, minus the 6 years she resided in Portland, Oregon. Suzanne had an out-of-body experience during a car accident when she was 14 years old that led her to explore the paranormal, her psychic abilities, astral projection and travel, and different healing modalities such as reiki, hypnosis, and meditation.
Through her travels and exploring the West Coast, she realized her deep connection to nature and its importance to her wellness. When she made her way back to Arizona in 2016, she was introduced to a community of healers, witches, psychics, and artists through her new and old friendships. This is when she realized she had been a witch as long as she could remember, but she never knew it had a name. She is a student of many local spiritual teachers in Phoenix, AZ, and enjoyed connecting with communities with different belief systems and spiritual practices. She studied tarot and has been reading cards professionally for over 20 years.
Suzanne is still in Phoenix, living with family and she reads tarot cards for clients when she isn't at her day job. She is hoping to find more time to create another body of artwork shortly. Meteor showers, live concerts, art shows, and connecting with people are some of her favorite things. In this episode, Michelle, Tracey, and Suzanne talk about: - The practice of Elemental Witchcraft - Solitary witchcraft versus coven work and hierarchy - How witches are connected to the earth and its cycles - Debunking many misconceptions about witchcraft and witches - The history of witches … some of which seems to repeat itself even today
Check out this week's episode to get to know what it truly means to be a witch!
Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, we'd appreciate if you'd leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend.
Connect with Michelle, Tracey, and Suzanne on Socials:
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Welcome back to another enlightening episode of The Disruption Podcast! Today, we're diving deep into the world of manifestation. We take this episode as an opportunity to discuss everything from what manifestation is to our personal experiences and tips for manifesting your dreams!
In this episode, we talk about:
- How we define manifestation
- Our personal approach to manifestation
- The 4 steps we use to manifest our dreams and how they work
- The benefits of practicing gratitude daily
- The power of trusting the universe
- Tips and tricks for manifesting your dreams
- Listening to your intuition
Thank you for joining us on this insightful journey into the world of manifestation. We hope you gain valuable insights and practical tips to apply in your own life. Don't forget to subscribe and share this podcast with your friends on their own mindful journey. Stay tuned for our next episode, where we'll continue exploring ways to live a more intentional and fulfilling life.
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On this week's episode, we are replaying our episode with Tracy DeTomasi, CEO of Callisto, in honor of Callisto being released on ALL college campuses in the USA as of October 16th, 2023!
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Tracy has extensive experience in gender-based violence, giving her a deep understanding of the ecosystem of survivors, offenders, and allies. She has consulted with organizations to develop tech-based tools, such as an app that educates users about violence against women, a smartphone device for sexual violence prevention safety, and virtual reality trainings to address Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Sexual Harassment. To say that Tracy has been instrumental in changing domestic violence laws, education, and understanding in the US and globally is an understatement.
Trigger Warning: This episode does contain references to sexual violence. If that is triggering for you, we suggest skipping this episode, listening to some of the previous episodes, or joining us in the coming weeks for future episodes!
In this episode, Tracey and Michelle talk with Tracy about:
- Why real disruption work starts internally
- Statistics around sexual assault on college campuses
- Binge drinking and drinking culture's effect on college sexual assault
- Approaching sexual assault education from a different perspective
- What consent means and looks like - and what it doesn't look like
- Why reporting rates of sexual assault matter
- Callisto, its mission and its future
- Why Callisto is absolutely vital on all college campuses and how you can support its important work
This is truly a game-changer when it comes to addressing serial sexual assault on college campuses. And we are excited to announce that TODAY everyone with a .edu email has FREE access! Learn more: https://www.projectcallisto.org/
Connect with Tracy, Michelle, and Tracey:
Callisto Website
Callisto Twitter
Callisto LinkedIn
Callisto Instagram
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
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Hey there Disruptors! In this week's episode, we are talking about just how powerful and transformational music can be with special guest, Sarah June!
An independent singer-songwriter based in Phoenix, AZ, Sarah June writes songs with vivid and nostalgic details that are easy to take on as your own. Listeners have used her lofi sound filled with layered delicate vocals and guitar, as a way to feel at home in the world. The calculated rise and fall of her arrangements takes you through emotional landscapes of longing, peacefulness, and grief. Sarah’s vocals are gentle, precise, and sincere, and her melodies befriend you easily. Although her delivery is typically comforting, Sarah’s lyrics are often mysterious and challenging. In her latest release, “Ghost,” whose crisp production pushes beyond that of a typical bedroom recording.
Sarah can be found playing around Phoenix in arrangements ranging from a solo acoustic performance to a full band sound. Whether on record or in person, her music invites you on a journey that’s both familiar and thought-provoking. Sarah is currently recording her upcoming releases, playing shows around the Phoenix Valley, and hosting Femmes of Phoenix, which is a house show series that elevates & celebrates female and non-binary-fronted bands and artists.
In this episode, we chat with Sarah about:
- The vulnerability that music creates
- Sarah’s experience and history of creating music from childhood until now
- Struggling with imposter syndrome as an artist and creative
- How Sarah defines her music style and how she found her genre
- What “getting into the flow” means and looks like as an artist
- Sarah’s experience with Teach for America and as a teacher in Phoenix
- How she finds a balance between teaching and creating music
- The importance of community on your creative journey
- What is Femmes in Phoenix and how you can support
Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend.
Connect with Michelle, Tracey, and Sarah:
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Welcome back to The Disruption Podcast! We have a very special episode for you today as we explore the origin story of our two remarkable podcast hosts, Michelle and Tracey! In this episode, we get a behind-the-scenes look at how this dynamic duo's chance encounter has changed both of their lives and the world, forever. In this episode, we talk about: - How Michelle and Tracey first met - Their first impressions of each other - How they initially got to know each other and became friends - Their first in-person meeting and the energy they felt - How Tracey and Michelle are currently navigating blending their family Check out this week's episode to fully get to know Tracey and Michelle for the beautiful life partners they are! Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, we'd be so appreciative if you'd leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend. Connect with Tracey and Michelle:
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Welcome to another episode of The Disruption Podcast, where we explore the world of innovation and change-making in your own way! In this episode, we're delving into the concept of disrupting the way that works for our guest personally. We're joined by a special guest, RaShawn, who will share her lived experience as a queer person in the workplace and how she initiated incremental change. RaShawn "Shawnie" Hawkins, SHRM-CP (she/her), is the Senior Director of the Workplace Equality Program at HRC Foundation. She has been an advocate and educator on LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion for over 15 years. In this role with HRC, she is responsible for managing key corporate and constituent engagement programs, namely educational resource development, training, ongoing communication platforms, and multimedia projects addressing current and emerging LGBTQ+ subjects for advancing workplace inclusion efforts. Before joining the HRC Foundation, she worked in the corporate space as a Human Resources Business Partner and as a Leadership Development professional, designing and implementing training curriculums for organizations across multiple industries like retail and telecommunications. Shawnie holds a BS from the University of Iowa and has a Leading in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion certification from Northwestern University. In this episode, we chat about:
- Defining what it means to "disrupt quietly" in today's world
- Exploring the idea that not all disruptors make loud waves, but their impact is profound nonetheless
- Discuss how each type of disruption plays a crucial role in driving change in different ways
- The importance of grassroots change within organizations
- What is the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and its role in advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace
- Discussing the significance of HRC taking the lead in advocating for change
- Shawnie’s personal journey as a queer person in the workplace
- The challenges she faced and the pivotal moments that inspired her to create change
- Emphasizing the importance of time, talent, and treasure in this process
- Practical tips and strategies for individuals to initiate change in their own workplaces
- The concept of "anti-wokeness" in corporate environments
Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, we'd be so appreciative if you'd leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend.
Connect with Tracey and Michelle:
RaShawn LinkedIn
Human Rights Campaign Website
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Welcome to Part 2 of Episode Thirteen of The Disruption Podcast! In today's episode, we're diving into the heartwarming journey of Carolyn and Kathay's friendship that has spanned over 50 years. Join us as we explore the valuable insights they've gained from their enduring bond and the profound impact of community-building inside the classroom, in your local community, and in your friend groups!
In this episode, we chat about:
- Creating life-long friendships
- The secret to maintaining a strong sense of companionship
- The value of in-person community vs online community
- How these avenues for connection have evolved over the decades
- The power of collective action
- Importance of building community in the classroom
- What it takes to start creating change
- Bringing awareness to the communities you're in
As we wrap up this mini-series, it's clear that Carolyn and Kathay's friendship is not only a testament to lasting companionship but also a source of wisdom about community-building. Their stories shed light on the power of unity, collective action, and the impact that every individual can have within their communities, both offline and online.
Thank you for joining us on this heartening journey of friendship and community. If you liked what you heard, we'd be so appreciative if you'd leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend.
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In this episode of "The Disruption Podcast," hosts Michelle and Tracey sit down with two remarkable guests, Carolyn and Kathay, to delve into what it was like to be part of their generation of pioneering change. Join us as we discuss their disruptive journeys, the evolution of human rights, women's rights then and now, and the power of community.
Carolyn Blair Brandis is 77 years young, born in 1945. She graduated from college in 1968 when the world was transforming as anyone knew it. She taught school for 42 years, with a focus on kindergarten-age kids for a large part of her career. She started her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in Ono, California. Carolyn now lives in Napa, California, and has been a fixture of the Napa community for over 50 years. While raising two wonderful kids, she embarked on a second career in the hospitality and restaurant industry. Currently, Carolyn owns and runs Boogaloos in the Mission District and Prada 22 in the Haight, both in San Francisco, California.
Kathay Smith is 71 years young, born in 1952. She was raised as a self-described air force brat and lived in Europe during her teen years. She will tell you that she lived in 23 different countries, states, and cities over the course of 18 years. She graduated from college in 1973 and began her first career in retail as a buyer for sporting goods stores. She and her husband moved to Napa in 1977 and raised their family of 3 girls. Kathay has also been in Napa for a significant part of her life - over 46 years. Kathay describes her and her husband as the first house flippers, having purchased, lived in, and updated 9 houses in Napa over the time she’s lived there. Kathay also had a career as a schoolteacher starting in the early 90s, teaching middle school PE and third and fourth grade over her more than 20-year career. A significant impact on her life has been her experience with health concerns regarding her family - her youngest daughter was diagnosed at 2 ½ with leukemia and is now the longest-living survivor of one of the first mismatched bone marrow transplants ever done. Kathay also spent several difficult years caring for her late husband through his experience with Parkinson’s. She now spends her time traveling the world and enjoying live music.
Carolyn and Kathay share their perspectives on disruption, emphasizing how they challenged societal norms and pushed boundaries. They recount their personal experiences as disruptors throughout their lives, from activism to nurturing creativity as educators.
In this episode, we chat about:
- What Gen Z and younger generations can learn from the older generation's experiences.
- Carolyn and Kathay highlight the resilience and the power of collective action
- Why Boomers were the original disruptors, being deeply involved in civil rights, anti-war protests, and environmental activism during the '60s and '70s
- The differences in human rights from the '70s to the present day
- Kathay opens up about her personal journey protesting the Vietnam War
- The challenges around uncovering the truth amidst misinformation
- The parallels between the women's rights movements of the '60s and '70s and the current state of women's rights
Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, we'd be so appreciative if you'd leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend.
Connect with Tracey and Michelle:
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Disruptors, we have come to the last episode in our three-part series with Stacy and Charlie. In the first two episodes of this series, we covered both Stacy's and Charlie's personal disruption stories, and in this last part, we have both lovely humans together! In this episode, both founders of TNET give us a crash course in the trans experience.
TNET (Transgender/Nonbinary Education & Trainings) is an education-focused agency owned, founded, and staffed by trans educators Stacy Fatemi (they/them) and Charlie Alexander (they/them). TNET offers trainings, workshops, and print materials designed to help all people understand and interact with trans and nonbinary people more compassionately and effectively.
In this episode, we talk about:
- TNET + TNET’s origin story
- A history of transness
- Defining the Big 4: Sex, Gender, Gender Expression, and Sexual Orientation
- Breaking down gender stereotypes and norms
- Teaching children about gender
- Defining transgender, cisgender, and nonbinary
- Pronouns and how to use them
- 3 things to do when you mess up someone's pronouns
- Techniques to practice using proper pronouns
- What transitioning means
- And so much more!
Check out this week's episode to learn the ins and outs of what it means to be trans. Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, we'd be so appreciative if you'd leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend.
Connect with Tracey, Michelle, Stacy and Charlie:
TNET Website
TNET Instagram
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Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
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Sexual Education Resources
We're back with part two of our three-part series! In this second part of the series, we had the pleasure of chatting with Charlie Alexander about everything from how gender-affirming care is suicide prevention to some realities of parenting as a non-binary person!
Charlie Alexander (they/them) is a trans and nonbinary parent to two kids. After winding up pregnant at age 17 without access to any support, resources, or assistance, Charlie became ferociously passionate about educating folks on important topics such as sexual health, boundaries, consent, radical love, all things sex-, sexuality-, and gender-related. They believe whole-heartedly that education is the foundation to liberation which led them to join Stacy in building TNET in January of 2023.
In 2022, Charlie earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Sociology and a Certificate in Race and Social Justice from the University of New Mexico. They plan to continue their educational journey in graduate school.
Charlie is passionate about intersectional feminism, disability justice, and transgender issues. They co-founded a disability justice group in 2021 called Crip Liberation. Charlie enjoys reading, making art, roller skating, volunteering, and spending time with their sweet children in their free time.
In this episode, we talk with Charlie about:Their childhood experience growing up Southern Baptist
- Getting pregnant at age 17 after being denied birth control
- How Charlie transformed their trauma into purpose through TNET
- The process of uncovering their gender identity
- The fluidity of gender and sexuality
- The struggles of being pregnant and why Charlie got sterilized
- The process of sterilization and top surgery
- Why gender-affirming care is suicide prevention
- Why children and youth should have access to gender-affirming care
- What is informed consent
- Their pregnancy experience as a non-binary person
- Their experience with postpartum depression
- Charlie's parenting style and approach
Check out this week's episode to understand Charlie's experience as a non-binary person! Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, we'd be so appreciative if you'd leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend.
Connect with Tracey, Michelle, and Charlie:
TNET Website
TNET Instagram
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
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Sexual Education Resources
Happy Pride Month, Disruptors!
As we close out a month meant to celebrate queerness worldwide, we are so excited to bring you a special 3-part series highlighting the T in LBGTQIA+! In this series, you will hear the individual stories of two trans, nonbinary individuals, and then hear them come together to educate us all with a Trans 101 crash course. In our first episode of this series, we host a conversation with the delightful and fabulously talented Stacy Fatemi!
Stacy (they/them) is a trans, nonbinary educator from Albuquerque, New Mexico. After coming out as trans at age 17, Stacy began casually educating others to address a gap in knowledge about the gender spectrum and experiences that affected their everyday life. Now, at age 26, they do transgender trainings and workshops for organizations all around the country, with an added focus on nonbinary people and the issues they face, as co-founder of TNET.
Before TNET came to be, Stacy did trainings as the first Education & Outreach Program Manager for the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico and made educational works for the Health Equity Alliance for LGBTQ+ New Mexicans. They're also the author of Pronouns: What's the Big Deal?, which details the ins and outs of basic linguistic respect towards trans and nonbinary folks. When not pursuing their educational passions through their work with TNET, Stacy can be found making metal, punk, and ambient music with their longtime friend, the 6-string bass guitar.
In this episode, Tracey and Michelle talk with Stacy about:
- Statistics and the current state of affairs regarding transgender folks and specifically transgender youth
- How a bored night of watching YouTube led Stacy to understand they were trans
- What coming out means and what that looked like for Stacy
- The importance of open and loving acceptance and how it has a direct effect on mental health
- The ins and outs of gender expression
- Stacy's experience moving into university with a female gender expression
- Their gender-affirming care journey, including beginning hormone therapy, their physical and emotional changes from introducing estrogen, and what a vaginoplasty is
- Defining the gender triangle
- How to better support loved ones who are transitioning by the reactions we have, the words we use, and the safe spaces we create
Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, we'd be so appreciative if you'd leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend.
Connect with Tracey, Michelle, and Stacy:
TNET Website
TNET Instagram
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
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On this week's episode of The Disruption Podcast, we talk with our guest about the value of community, how to feel confident in yourself when you aren't supported by the people around you, and why the five people you keep closest to you should be the most influential in your life!
This week's guest is Debbie Phillips! Debbie is the inspiring founder of Women on Fire®, and also an author, coach, and podcaster. A pioneer in the field of executive and life coaching, Debbie founded Women on Fire in 2003 as a membership community to extend inspiration, strategies, and support for women’s successes. She’s conducted more than 125 interviews with inspiring women ranging from Gloria Steinem and Vanessa Williams to Carly Simon and Judy Blume.
As an author and podcaster, Debbie’s credits include the two-book series Women on Fire: 20 Inspiring Women Share Their Life Secrets (and Save You Years of Struggle!). Most recently, she is jumping into the podcasting world to co-host the podcast “Secrets of the Better Halves”, with Dan Mulhern and Markos Kounalakis, where the focus is on how powerful couples manage life together in an intimate partnership. Debbie also created and co-developed Vision Day®, a strategic planning day and program that has helped thousands of people live the lives they’ve dreamed of.
Prior to becoming a coach, she was a reporter for the Columbus (Ohio) Citizen-Journal; deputy press secretary to former U.S. Senator John Glenn during his quest for the Democratic presidential nomination; press secretary to former Ohio Governor Richard F. Celeste; and executive-in-charge of U.S. Health Productions Company, which featured the internationally syndicated television health and lifestyle show “Life Choices.” Debbie has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in public administration from The Kennedy School at Harvard University.
She considers, however, her greatest education and experience to be the pain, joy, and growth from the ups and downs of life, love, and loss.
In this episode, we talk about:
- What it means to follow your intuition
- What disrupting feels like in your body
- The pivotal moment that made Debbie start her massive career switch
- The importance of the people you surround yourself with
- The negative feedback Debbie got when she first started coaching
- What Debbies coaching business looked like in the beginning and how it evolved
- Finding and living in your purpose
- Learning how to take a compliment as a women
- The importance of creating a community
Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend.
Connect with Tracey, Michelle, and Debbie:
Women on Fire Website
Women on Fire Instagram
Secrets of The Better Halves Podcast
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
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We are back with another episode of The Disruption Podcast! On this week's episode, we are honored to have an insightful conversation with Tracy DeTomasi, CEO of Callisto, a nonprofit organization with the goal of ending serial sexual assault one match at a time. Tracy has held leadership positions across the nonprofit sector over the past 20 years, where she has developed and implemented trauma-informed programming and curricula. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Tracy has extensive experience in gender-based violence, giving her a deep understanding of the ecosystem of survivors, offenders, and allies. She has consulted with organizations to develop tech-based tools, such as an app that educates users about violence against women, a smartphone device for sexual violence prevention safety, and virtual reality trainings to address Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Sexual Harassment. To say that Tracy has been instrumental in changing domestic violence laws, education, and understanding in the US and globally is an understatement. Trigger Warning: This episode does contain references to sexual violence. If that is triggering for you, we suggest skipping this episode, listening to some of the previous episodes, or joining us in the coming weeks for future episodes! In this episode, Tracey and Michelle talk with Tracy about: - Why real disruption work starts internally - Statistics around sexual assault on college campuses - Binge drinking and drinking culture's effect on college sexual assault - Approaching sexual assault education from a different perspective - What consent means and looks like - and what it doesn't look like - Why reporting rates of sexual assault matter - Callisto, its mission, and its future - Why Callisto is absolutely vital on all college campuses and how you can support its important work Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend. Connect with Tracey, Michelle, and Tracy: Callisto Website Callisto Instagram
Callisto Facebook
Callisto LinkedIn
Callisto Twitter
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube
Hey, Disruptors! Our special guest this week is Dr. Topeka K. Sam, who shares her story of transformation and disruption and how her experience in federal prison inspired passion and purpose in her to advocate for women's rights in and adjacent to the U.S. criminal justice system. Dr. Sam is the CEO of @TheLOHM and founder and President of EPIC Financial, TKS Ventures LLC, and Faces & Voices Inc. She serves on the board of directors for The Marshall Project, Operation Restoration, Pure Legacee, and United Justice Coalition. She is a strategic advisor for RBIJ, FRSH, and HARP. Since her release from federal prison on May 5, 2015, Dr. Sam has served as a 2015 Beyond the Bars Fellow and a 2016 Justice-In-Education Scholar both from Columbia University, 2017 Soros Justice Advocacy Fellow, 2018 Unlocked Futures Inaugural Cohort Member, 2018 Opportunity Agenda Communications Institute Fellow, Director of #Dignity for Incarcerated Women Campaign and Senior Advisor for NYUJ. She hosted “The Topeka K. Sam Show” on SiriusXM UrbanView Channel 126 for 3 years and is now developing scripted and unscripted series as an Executive Producer for TV & Film, inspired by her fight to change the many problems that plague female incarceration. In 2020, the United Nations appointed Dr. Sam as the Goodwill Ambassador for Social Justice (Incarceration Reform) of the Global Festival of Creative Economy. In December 2020, Dr. Sam received a full presidential pardon for her dedication to helping women turn from a path of despair towards a path of redemption. On May 5th, 2022, Google.org presented her with the first Social Impact Award at the Variety Magazine/Lifetime TV Power of the Women Summit and later that month she also received her Honorary Doctorate in Divinity from New York Theological Seminary. Dr. Sam continues to work selflessly and relentlessly every day in her fight for the dignity, decriminalization, and decarceration of women and girls. In this episode, we chat with Dr. Sam about: - How she ended up in federal prison - How hearing other women's stories in prison inspired purpose in her and changed her life - The importance of dignity, decriminalization, and decarceration for women - The creation of The LOHM - What The LOHM does and how we can all support the ending of incarceration for women and girls Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend. Connect with Michelle, Tracey, and Dr. Topeka K. Sam: The LOHM website Topeka Instagram Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
Welcome back to The Disruption Podcast. In this week's episode, we are talking all things solo traveling as a woman with Dianni Hall! Dianni is a solo budget backpacker, podcaster, and freelancer who has been nomadic for almost four years! She started her journey with a solo trip to India and hasn't stopped since. Dianni hosts the podcast, While She's Away, where she interviews women on their travel experience and expertise to help them live their best lives exploring the world. Dianni is currently a freelancer working in content creation and podcast management. She has done it all to see as much of the world as possible and is here to share what she's learned with you! In this episode, we chat with Dianni about: - Radical honesty on social media - Challenging societal norms through travel - Dianni's first solo trip to India and why she found herself shaving her head - How traveling has shaped how she sees the world - Benefits of traveling solo - The way she views safety as a solo female and budget traveler, framed by her scary encounter while using Couchsurfing - Learning to listen to your intuition - Resources for solo female and queer travelers Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend. Connect with Michelle, Tracey, and Dianni: While She's Away Podcast While She's Away Instagram While She's Away TikTok Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
In 2022, the Human Rights Campaign tells us more than 149 bills were introduced across 36 states targeting the transgender and gender non-conforming community. The numbers continue to climb in 2023. The most recent is an anti-drag bill passed in Tennessee that restricts drag performances in public or in the presence of children and bans them from occurring within 1,000 feet of schools, public parks, and places of worship. This legislation is just one way that the man-made concept of the gender binary is forced on people, causing harm. In this week's episode of the Disruption Podcast, we had the pleasure of chatting with Calen Ann Otto. Calen is a queer, gender-nonconforming, anti-speciesist, travel blogger who explores the big wide world on a very small budget. After completing a solo trip across the USA at the age of 19 with only $300 and a bike, Calen discovered that there are so many alternative ways to travel that cost less. Inspired by their love of meeting strangers and sharing their incredible stories, Calen created the Unruly Travel blog. There they share photos, videos, articles, and podcast episodes from their unique travels in hopes to inspire others to get out and grow. Calen has been to 5 continents, 35 states, 20 National Parks, and more than 20 countries as a vegan and is passionate about doing the least amount of harm wherever they go. They wrote and published 'The Art Of Unruly Travel On A Budget' travel guidebook to make travel more accessible to all. In this episode, Tracey and Michelle talk with Calen about: - What disruption means to Calen - Disruption coming from a place of love - How Calen began to explore their gender as a child - The importance of using correct language and pronouns that honor people - How to open up the conversation around gender - Being gentle with yourself - How violently-enforced gender norms have been harmful to the LGBTQ+ community - How to find peace in nature Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend. Connect with Calen, Tracey, and Michelle on Socials: Calen's Website Calen Instagram Calen Youtube Unruly Podcast Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn Disruption Podcast TikTok Disruption Podcast Youtube
On this week's episode of The Disruption Podcast, we are excited to kick off Autism Acceptance Month with our amazing guest, best-selling author, and friend Ginger Scott. Ginger shares the ways in which she has chosen to disrupt the young adult and new adult genre by writing stories that focus on mental health, diversity and representation, and autism awareness! Ginger Scott is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon bestselling author from Peoria, Arizona. She has been nominated for both the Goodreads Choice and Rita Awards. She is the author of a plethora of young adult and new adult romance novels, including recent bestsellers The Fuel Series, The Varsity Series, The Hard Count, A Boy Like You, A Girl Like Me, Cry Baby, This Is Falling, and Wild Reckless. And her latest novel, Southpaw, just released at the end of March! While a sucker for a good romance, Ginger's other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. She has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines, and blogs for a hella long time. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals, and even entire towns. In this episode, Tracey and Michelle talk with Ginger about: - How Ginger followed her disruption dream of becoming an author - The often difficult themes that Ginger addresses in her writing and why Ginger has chosen to include themes that usually go unaddressed in the young adult and new adult genres in her novels - How Ginger handles criticism that comes with being disruptive - More about Ginger's focus on autism, the impact of autism on families, and why we lack more significant autism representation - Autism Acceptance Month - LIFT: The autism charitable initiative Ginger launched with her friend and fellow author, Kennedy Ryan - How to support LIFT and get involved with Autism Acceptance Month You can learn more about LIFT and lending your voice and your support to the important topic of autism during Autism Acceptance Month: http://lift4autism.com/; https://www.instagram.com/lift4autism/; and https://www.facebook.com/LIFT4Autism. You can also hear the real voices of autism through the impactful work of authors who are bring real stories of the real experience of autism through their work. Check out these Six Actually Autistic Voices in Fiction: - Talia Hibbert - Helen Hoang - Yoon Ha Lee - Ada Hoffmann - Jen Wilde - Corrine Duyvis Connect with Ginger, Tracey, and Michelle on Socials: https://www.instagram.com/authorgingerscott/?hl=es https://www.littlemisswrite.com/ Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn Disruption Podcast TikTok Disruption Podcast Youtube
As consumers in a capitalist society we decide on a daily basis who and, importantly what, we support by the way we spend our money. On this week's episode of The Disruption Podcast, Tracey and Michelle share a conversation, starting with some startling statistics around the lack of funding that goes to Women- and LGBTQ+-owned businesses and then dig into some of their favorite businesses to support in elevating the voices of Women and LGBTQ+ business owners and entrepreneurs. Get ready to learn how YOU can disrupt business by better supporting Women and LGBTQ+ businesses! What you'll hear in this episode:
- The funding gap between LGBTQ entrepreneurs vs CIS male entrepreneurs
- Upsetting statistics around Women-owned & LGBTQ owned businesses
- Disrupt The Landing NGLCC certification
- Tracey & Michelles list of favorite Women & LGBTQ+-owned businesses
- Ways YOU can support Women & LGBTQ+ owned businesses
- How to be a more discerning consumer
- The importance of representation in our consumer options and choices
Businesses highlighted in this episode:
- City Girl Coffee
- Wet For Her
- The McBride Sisters Wine Company
- Both&
- Mess in a Bottle
- Woxers
Platforms to shop from: - Esty - Shopify Nonprofits that support Women & LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs: - Start Out - Ladies Who Launch - Black Girl Ventures Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, feel free to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend. Connect with Michelle & Tracey: Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
We are back with another episode of The Disruption Podcast! This week we are honored to have Pamela Zaballa as our first guest interview on the podcast. Pamela has worked to support victims of domestic and sexual violence for the past 20 years, by creating and setting up direct support services, as well as preventing abuse and assault from occurring in the first place. Pamela is the CEO of NO MORE, a leading global nonprofit organization. NO MORE works tirelessly across sectors, industries, and organizations to end domestic and sexual violence by increasing awareness, inspiring action, and fueling culture change. With more than 1,700 allied organizations worldwide, NO MORE creates public awareness campaigns, educational resources, and community organizing tools available to everyone free of charge, and advises leaders in all sectors on responses and prevention. Trigger Warning: This episode does contain references to domestic and sexual violence. If that is triggering for you, we suggest skipping this episode and listening to some of the previous episodes or joining us in the coming weeks for future episodes! In this episode, Tracey & Michelle talk with Pamela about:
- Pamela's experience working in a women's prison in Honduras and how that impacted her and drove her career focus
- The misconception surrounding the fact that gender-based violence is a global epidemic
- How lack of funding affects the expansion and impact of nonprofit organizations fighting to stop gender-based violence
- Generational differences and the ways domestic and sexual violence are perceived
- Why technology-facilitated abuse should be taken more seriously
- The purpose behind NO MORE Week
- How you can get involved with the fight against gender-based violence on an individual level Get Involved with NO MORE Week from March 5th to the 12th: - Sign up for the 5k: https://runsignup.com/NOMOREWeek5K - Join a webinar: https://nomore.org/campaigns/no-more-week/know-more/ NO MORE Resources: https://nomore.org/ https://nomoredirectory.org/ Connect with NO MORE, Tracey & Michelle on Social: https://www.facebook.com/NOMORE.org https://twitter.com/NOMORE.org https://www.instagram.com/nomoreorg/ Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn Disruption Podcast TikTok Disruption Podcast Youtube
Hey Again, Disruptors! Welcome back to another episode of The Disruption Podcast! This episode is the second part of our two-part Episode 3 series. In this Part 2, we continue the conversation where Tracey dives into two personal stories that have shaped her journey and why she believes that utilizing your voice is so important. In this episode you will hear us discuss ... - Tracey’s coming out story - The pain and rejection that came with coming out - How not to be silent in order to "protect" others - Tracey's policing story - Giving people a place of hope to stand in - Embracing your personal power and sharing that power with others Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend. Connect with Michelle & Tracey: Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
Welcome back for episode three of The Disruption Podcast! In this episode, Tracey Breeden and Michelle Pelton talk about human rights and the importance of using your voice along with many other important topics! In this episode, you will hear… - Address current critical social issues - The importance of collective action - Tracey's history in advocacy and how it influences her approach to change-making - Why supporting marginalized groups is vital - Learning how to feel empowered to use your voice for change - What it looks like to lay down your safety in the name of advocacy Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, feel free to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend.
Connect with Michelle & Tracey: Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn
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Hey there Disruptors! Welcome back to the second episode of The Disruption Podcast. In this episode, Tracey Breeden chats with your co-host, Michelle Pelton all about her Disruption journey. Michelle Pelton is General Counsel and Partner of Disrupt the Landing, LLC. Michelle works with the DTL team to consult and partner with corporations, NGOs, government agencies, and individuals to create safe spaces through the implementation of policies and programs on digital platforms and in real life for users of these platforms and the employees of the organizations DTL works with. Michelle also supports legal and business operations for DTL. Michelle has been a practicing attorney for the past 18 years, serving as both outside and in-house counsel for a national law firm and several high-profile and global brand organizations. In this episode, you will hear...
- Who Michelle is and how she became a disruptor
- Why Michelle is determined to create change
- Michelle's experience as a mother, lawyer, and queer activist
Thank you for listening and supporting the Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, feel free to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend. Connect with Michelle & Tracey: Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
Calling all activists, change makers, and disruptors! Welcome to the first episode of The Disruption Podcast. In this episode, your host, Tracey Breeden, explains her story of Disruption and why she is so passionate about creating big-bold change in this world! Tracey Breeden is the CEO and founder of Disrupt the Landing. Tracey and her team consult and partner with tech companies, NGOs, government agencies, and individuals to create safe and inclusive spaces through the creation of programs and products on digital platforms and in real life for users of these platforms and the employees of the organizations DTL works with. Tracey has over two decades of experience in technology and government/public safety sectors. A former police officer and investigator with subject matter expertise in sexual assault and domestic violence who was awarded the medal of valor during her law enforcement career. Tracey was Uber's first Head of Women's Safety and created Uber's Global Women's Safety & Gender-Based Violence Programs Team—the first global team dedicated to the safety of women and other vulnerable populations at Uber. Tracey Breeden was the Vice President, Head of Safety and Social Advocacy at Match Group. Tracey stood up Match Group’s first-ever dedicated Trust & Safety central program and a team of nearly 30 experts to work in partnership and guide trust & safety efforts across 15+ brands including Tinder and Hinge. Tracey’s favorite hobbies include playing and cuddling with her pets, listening to music, and practically everything outdoors. She loves biking, off-roading, and exploring the numerous mountain hiking trails and vortexes in her home state of Arizona. In this episode, you will hear...
- What the Disruption Podcast is all about
- What you will learn from listening to the podcast
- Tracey's personal story from deeply depressed to disruptor
- Tracey's experience as a queer person
- Why change is so desperately needed in today's society
Trigger warning: This podcast contains a discussion about suicide. Dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Helpline or visit 988lifeline.org for more information and live chat Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast. If you liked what you heard, please leave a rating and 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcasts and share this episode with a friend! Connect with Tracey: Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
The Disruption podcast is focused on creating big, bold change - through the disruption of systems that cause harm to others and the institutions that support those systems and through disruption in your own personal life leading you to find pathways to your own purpose, freedom, and power to be fully you. We believe that disruption in these spaces activates transformational impact across society.
We are Tracey Breeden and Michelle Pelton, the host and co-host of the Disruption podcast. We are queer activists, passionate about driving change, who will share our personal stories of disruption with you and lead you through discussions with fellow disruptors, including other activists and advocates, leaders on the inside and outside of organizations, and notable friends and influencers - all with the hope to inspire and activate you towards the big, bold change that you want to see in yourself and in the world. We will dig deep into those personal stories and into pressing topics like creating safe spaces and belonging, advocating for social change through activism in the most difficult places, personal elevation and radical leadership through living authentically, and sex positivity. We’ll even talk about closing the orgasm gap! It can get pretty serious, but we’ll also love, laugh and weave lightness into our time together.
The truth is disruption of self and the systems that surround us is not easy, and often requires us to lay down our safety. It all begins with giving ourselves permission to take that first step into personal truth and power. Look around and know you are not alone. We are people from all walks of life on that journey with you. Get ready to disrupt!