Please, Let Me Finish.: Recent Episodes

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If you can believe it, the season finale of the PLMF Podcast has arrived! My guest today is Charles Newsome, my dear husband! He is an incredibly thoughtful, deeply caring individual who instinctively meets the needs he recognizes around him, even those unspoken. Charles has his bachelor’s degree in psychology and works as a special education teacher, or as his students would likely say, a super hero. It has been such a blessing to witness so many of them grow exponentially during their time with him. He’s a friend to all animals and loves too many to count; he’s a talented artist, an accomplished home chef, and my overall favorite person. Charles agreed to come on the podcast to discuss his experience as a teacher and what his students have taught him about grace, his perspective on how we can better support men’s overall mental health, and how compassionate communication can make a big difference when it comes to having those conversations. 

Instagram: @pleaseletmefinishpod Facebook: @pleaseletmefinishpod  Tik Tok: @pleaseletmefinishpod Twitter: @plmfpodcast Special Thanks to: Charles Newsome PLMF Theme Song: Shelby Cate Newsome

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Episode 9 of the PLMF Podcast is here, and in the spirit of vulnerability and open-hearted conversations, I wanted to chat with ya’ll a little bit about mental health. 

Last fall, I was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD at the age of 25. It’s been interesting to navigate the joy I have to finally get some answers/solutions, but also the grief to recognize how little grace I gave myself and how much suffering I inflicted upon my own heart over the years. It is a grueling, but worthwhile journey to prioritize your well-being. It’s not selfish; on the contrary, we can experience greater harmony with ourselves and with those around us. I want to share the unfinished story of how I found my fresh start in college, rediscovered my relationship with God and learned to care for my body through yoga, and how my husband has championed me in my growth from the very beginning!

Follow us to stay updated on future episodes! Instagram: @pleaseletmefinishpod Facebook: @pleaseletmefinishpod  Tik Tok: @pleaseletmefinishpod Twitter: @plmfpodcast PLMF Theme Song: Shelby Cate Newsome

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I can't believe we are already on episode 8 of the PLMF Podcast! It was such a joy and honor to sit down with my favorite Portuguese tutor and friend, Taylah Martin! She is not only majorly accomplished, she is also majorly wise and so articulate in sharing her story. I had the pleasure of meeting Taylah a few years back when I was hoping to satisfy my foreign language credit in college by testing out of Portuguese. So those who don't know, since 2010 my parents and family have been serving as missionaries in Brazil, so since about 13 years old I started learning Portuguese. I wanted to make sure that I was in tip top shape for the test, so my mom recommended Taylah as a virtual tutor and I am endlessly grateful that she did because Taylah is one of the most phenomenal, inspiring, breath of fresh air friends that I have encountered! Taylah is a brilliantly creative marketing professional who has the most inspiring story about integrating her passions into what has become a flourishing career! We discussed how she landed her fabulous job and the journey from being a young dreamer to living her dream, the importance of pursuing the desires of your heart, and how the divinity of wisdom can empower us to realize God’s dream for our lives.

Follow us to stay updated on future episodes! Instagram: @pleaseletmefinishpod Facebook: @pleaseletmefinishpod Tik Tok: @pleaseletmefinishpod Twitter: @plmfpodcast Special Thanks to: Taylah Martin PLMF Theme Song: Shelby Cate Newsome

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Hey ya'll! It's episode 7 of the PLMF podcast and I can hardly believe it! Since we are a little over halfway through Season 1, I wanted to dedicate an episode to sharing about my journey of active listening, the pursuit of personal education, and some of the resources and tools that have helped me along the way! We have heard so many unique perspectives, and we have covered some topics that aren’t so simple to consider. I want to acknowledge the space and intention required to embark on the adventure that is compassionate understanding and mutual respect for our neighbors and their stories. I’ll be reflecting on community and what it means to love our neighbors with grace and respect, and also sharing some of the most helpful resources and voices that have inspired and enlightened me in countless ways on this lifelong journey!

Resources:

Podcasts:

• The Upside Down Podcast : http://www.upsidedownpodcast.com/

• Freedom Road Podcast : https://freedomroad.us/

• Be the Bridge Podcast : https://bethebridge.com/podcast/

Books:

• Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle - https://www.amazon.com/Tattoos-Heart-Power-Boundless-Compassion/dp/1439153159/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VWFXFGMBEJTO&keywords=tattoos+on+the+heart&qid=1652177084&s=books&sprefix=tattoos+on+the+heart%2Cstripbooks%2C1204&sr=1-1i

• Rethinking Incarceration by Dominique Dubois Gilliard - https://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Incarceration-Advocating-Justice-Restores/dp/0830845291/ref=sr_1_1?crid=X9PA8221FK0Q&keywords=rethinking+incarceration&qid=1652177057&s=books&sprefix=rethinking+incar%2Cstripbooks%2C145&sr=1-1

• Parenting for Peace and Justice by Kathleen and James McGinnis - https://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Peace-Justice-Kathleen-McGinnis/dp/0883443767/ref=sr_1_1?crid=11IZ2FMTVGI32&keywords=parenting+for+peace+and+justice&qid=1652179155&s=books&sprefix=parenting+for+peace+and+justice%2Cstripbooks%2C145&sr=1-1

• Becoming Human by Jean Vanier - https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Human-10th-Anniversary-Vanier/dp/0809145871

• Non-Violent Communication by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg - https://www.amazon.com/Nonviolent-Communication-Language-Life-Changing-Relationships/dp/189200528X

People:

• Lisa Sharon Harper : https://lisasharonharper.com/uu

• Salem Afangideh : https://twitter.com/obonganwansalem

• Heather Thompson Day : https://www.heatherthompsonday.com/

• Austin Channing Brown : http://austinchanning.com/

• Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis : https://jacquijlewis.com/

• Morgan Harper Nichols : https://morganharpernichols.com/

• Tamika Mallory : https://www.instagram.com/mrs.tamika_.mallory/

• Angela Rye : https://angelarye.com/

• Dr. Brene Brown : https://brenebrown.com/

• Aundi Kolber : https://aundikolber.com/

Follow us to stay updated on future episodes! Instagram: @pleaseletmefinishpod Facebook: @pleaseletmefinishpod Tik Tok: @pleaseletmefinishpod Twitter: @plmfpodcast PLMF Theme Song: Shelby Cate Newsome

This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Thanks for tuning in for episode 6 of the PLMF Podcast! I made ya’ll a promise and I am SO ready to deliver on it! I had another incredible conversation with a DEAR friend of the podcast, Bolanle Ojo, and this is one you're going to want to share with your people. Bolanle is literally in her final days of her graduate program and was absolutely so gracious in taking the time to join us for a Part II! On this episode, we are tackling some topics that might feel a little touchy, but I have faith that the PLMF family will be ready and willing to actively listen and lead with compassion in response to the perspectives shared.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains topics and content that may be distressing. Topics include racism, police brutality, and homicide.

Bolanle and I had an open, honest discussion about the 2020 murder of George Floyd, the origins of and misinformation surrounding the BLM organization and the Black Lives Matter movement, and why it is vital to the health and well-being of our brothers and sisters of color that we talk about these things openly— even when we have reservations. I hope you feel encouraged, enlightened, and empowered to run into your neighborhoods, your small groups, your families and friends -- and invite them into the conversation. We should all already agree that Black lives matter, but in order to more forward toward true unity and justice, we must collective acknowledge that the Black experience, the Black perspective, and the Black voice matter -- even if you don't agree with what is being said. As we expect our experiences and feelings to be validated, so too must we bear witness to the painful stories that our brothers and sisters of color have to share about their experiences. The discomfort we feel hearing it pales in comparison to the sorrow that has been lived by generations of families and communities all around us. It's time to listen, to turn from the thought patterns or behaviors that contribute to the discrimination and harm of minority groups, and love IN ACTION by having the courage to discuss these topics with our own people.

If you're enjoying the podcast, there are 3 spectacular ways to support: 1) SHARE the podcast on social media and via text with your people! 2) RATE the podcast 5 STARS if you would be so kind! 3) REVIEW the podcast on Apple Podcasts with just a few words on what you love about PLMF, a guest or story that resonated with you, or how it's helped you communicate or understand something better! These 3 things really help us to get these open-hearted conversations in front of more people, and we thank you for supporting just by tuning in!

Resources from Bolanle:

• So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

- The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church's Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby

- Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women White Feminists Forgot by Mikki Kendall

Scriptures:

• John 11:33-35

• Galatians 6:2

• Romans 12:15

• Jeremiah 22:3

--- All scriptures are read from the New English Translation.

Follow us to stay updated on future episodes! Instagram: @pleaseletmefinishpod Facebook: @pleaseletmefinishpod Tik Tok: @pleaseletmefinishpod Twitter: @plmfpodcast Special Thanks to: Anna Mann PLMF Theme Song: Shelby Cate Newsome

This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Get ready for the first-ever BONUS episode of the PLMF Podcast! As we rest in observance of Holy Week, I wanted to take the opportunity to talk a little bit about what I've been learning in this season of life, why reaching out to our people is so important, and what hope looks like in community. I also thought it could be nice to include a little guided meditation at the end, so listen all the way through to hear it! I want to thank each and every person who has listened, shared, and been part of our little PLMF family. I cherish you all and this space where we get to gather together every other week. I'm so happy I get to keep bringing you conversations for the open heart, uninterrupted. 

Follow us to stay updated on future episodes! Instagram: @pleaseletmefinishpod Facebook: @pleaseletmefinishpod  Tik Tok: @pleaseletmefinishpod Twitter: @plmfpodcast PLMF Theme Song: Shelby Cate Newsome

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Episode 5 of the PLMF Podcast has arrived, and man do I have a treat for ya'll with this conversation! My dear friend and pastor, Anna Mann, is a vibrant soul with intention and compassion at the forefront of everything she does. Partnered by her husband Malcolm, she helps to cultivate a loving community at our local church by pastoring the Young and Married small group, she is a dearly loved 9th grade English teacher as well as a soon to be mama! In this episode we discuss Sabbath and how the weekly practice of resting intentionally has changed her life, how her experience being an Asian American woman adopted by a white family helped shape her perspective as an adult and soon-to-be parent, and the inspiring story of how she met Jesus and found the firm foundation her heart had always yearned for. This episode is PACKED with so much goodness, and I know you're going to love Anna just as much as I do!

Follow us to stay updated on future episodes! Instagram: @pleaseletmefinishpod Facebook: @pleaseletmefinishpod  Tik Tok: @pleaseletmefinishpod Twitter: @plmfpodcast Special Thanks to: Anna Mann PLMF Theme Song: Shelby Cate Newsome

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Episode 4 of the PLMF Podcast is a very extra special one, ya'll! I got to interview my very own sister-in-law, Cierra Newsome! Over the past 5 years, Cierra has become one of my closest friends and has been so gracious to discuss a lot of tough topics with me. She always brings a really unique perspective to the table, so I knew I had to have her as a guest on the podcast! One of my favorite things about Cierra is how she isn’t afraid to speak her mind and share her truth, even if it’s hard to hear. We got to discuss the differences between being raised in a Black household and a white household, her experience attending an HBCU and how it empowered her to love and embrace her identity, and how conversations about race and other hard topics are the next right step in learning to love our neighbors better. There is so much to learn from her about what it means to be Black in white spaces and what we can do be me more consciously compassionate allies to all our brothers and sisters.

Follow us to stay updated on future episodes! Instagram: @pleaseletmefinishpod Facebook: @pleaseletmefinishpod Tik Tok: @pleaseletmefinishpod Twitter: @plmfpodcast Special Thanks to: Cierra Newsome PLMF Theme Song: Shelby Cate Newsome

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It's episode 3 of the PLMF Podcast, and today we get to catch up with the ever-radiant, Guisselle Ozyldiz. We met in college, and although it took her some time to come out of her shell, our friendship has become of my favorite parts of this season in life! Guisselle is a ray of sunshine in human form. She is an established young professional with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and an almost completed MBA (okay, girl boss)! She is a dog mom, a brunch gal, a fashion lover, and an art connoisseur with an apartment straight out of a magazine! She gives us the inside scoop on being single and dating in Dallas, how she went from being a socially-awkward introvert to a confidence queen, and the story of how she learned the hardest lessons in her life trying to leave an abusive relationship. Guisselle's story has a lot to teach us about personal growth, self-worth, self-trust, self-advocacy, and how to navigate tactics often used in manipulative relationships. She showed a lot of strength and bravery in sharing her story, and for that, I could not be more grateful. This discussion is meant to prompt more conversations and help those who struggle to imagine perspectives related to abusive relationships. Trigger Warning: This episode contains topics and content that may be distressing. Topics include disordered eating, suicide, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, harassment, and stalking.

Resources: - http://www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/How-Abuse-Might-Affect-Your-Health.pdf - https://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/domestic-violence-and-abuse.htm - http://www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/How-Abuse-Might-Affect-Your-Health.pdf - https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention - https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/resources-for-anorexia-bulimia-and-binge-eating-disorder - https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd

Follow us to stay updated on future episodes! Instagram: @pleaseletmefinishpod Facebook: @pleaseletmefinishpod Tik Tok: @pleaseletmefinishpod Twitter: @plmfpodcast Special Thanks to: Guisselle Ozyildiz PLMF Theme Song: Shelby Cate Newsome

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On this episode of the PLMF Podcast, we’re hearing from one of my dearest friends, Christine Pao. Even though we’ve been friends less than two years, it feels as if our souls have always known each other. Christine is a kindred spirit, an accomplished North Texas educator with a master’s degree in educational leadership, and most importantly, a wife to her brilliant husband David and mama to two beautiful kids. Christine opened up about her whirlwind career, the way she and her husband communicate, and learning how to parent after discovering that both of her kids have autism. Her perspective helps remind us to stop judging that which we do not understand, and instead respond with grace, kindness, and curiosity to learn more so that we might help cultivate a community where everyone feels like they truly belong.

Follow us to stay updated on future episodes! Instagram: @pleaseletmefinishpod Facebook: @pleaseletmefinishpod  Tik Tok: @pleaseletmefinishpod Twitter: @plmfpodcast Special Thanks to: Christine Pao PLMF Theme Song: Shelby Cate Newsome

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Hey everybody! We are kicking off the PLMF Podcast with a powerhouse guest, Miss Bolanle Ojo! Bolanle is a dynamic, creative professional finishing her graduate degree in social work at Baylor University! Native to Houston, Texas, she is a longtime friend and mentor to many, as well as being the oldest of 5 kids, so she knows a thing or two about listening and leading. It was an honor to share this space with her and hear her perspective on embracing her Nigerian heritage, scratching the surface of social work in the Black community, and practical tools for how to be a better active listener. There is lots of good stuff to learn from this episode, so share it with your people and get excited for what is yet to come here at the Please, Let Me Finish Podcast! We thank you for tuning in to our conversations for the open heart, uninterrupted. 

Follow us to stay updated on future episodes!

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Facebook: @pleaseletmefinishpod 

Tik Tok: @pleaseletmefinishpod

Twitter: @plmfpodcast

Special Thanks to: Bolanle Ojo

PLMF Theme Song: Shelby Cate Newsome

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Hey everybody! My name is Shelby Cate Newsome and my love language is meaningful conversations. I am passionate about cultivating spaces in which people can feel safe to share, express, lament, and dive deep into stories previously left unfinished. On the Please, Let Me Finish Podcast, we are encouraged to participate in active listening, perspective-taking, and compassionately thoughtful conversations. When and if anyone is interrupted, they are invited to make the statement, "Please, let me finish." My guests will be encouraged to share things that are deeply personal to them, so the podcast may contain sensitive content from time to time. 

We all have a story to tell. We have all been interrupted in the middle of saying something that was meaningful to us. We are all guilty of interrupting someone before they were finished speaking. 

This podcast is a safe space for all to have open-hearted conversations about the stories we have lived, the experiences we share, and the perspectives that have shaped who we are. 

Welcome to the Please, Let Me Finish Podcast!

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