Second-Hand High: Recent Episodes
Sweeney
Welcome to Second-Hand High, where feel-good stories go to thrive. The podcast started as the wisps of an idea when my husband and I were out walking our dog around our apartment and ran into a pungent cloud of pot smoke. I wondered... is a 'contact high real?' Spoiler alert: yes. It also made me think of the happy feels we get when we see or hear of someone doing good deeds to make the world better and brighter-- a feel-good high of a different kind. And thus wisps became full-on smoke, and well... here we are. Now, I'm ready to hear about the times other people inspired you, whether it changed you profoundly, or simply left you feeling more optimistic about humankind. The goal is for us to leave each other's lives better than we found them. So sit back, relax, and let's ride the high together!
Hey, howdy, and hello. It's been (checks watch) faaaaar too long since last we gathered together in the spirit of getting buzzed, baked, and blazed off the good will and good deeds of our fellow humans.
And are we ever in luck, because there are still plenty of good guys (and gals) still at large who deserve credit for their everyday heroics and community service. Perhaps no one exemplifies that better than my former colleague and ongoing friend, Kaci.
For her highs, she shares how human kindness can touch animals as well as people, as well as how the tender dedication of both her grandmothers' caregivers led to them becoming chosen family .
So, don't cry for me Argentina (especially if you don't get that reference), because this show is gonna have you saying, “Thank you... may I have another?”
This episode's HIGH-lights:
- YOU can be a biologist of sorts through the power of observation and the iNaturalist app. Every entry can contribute to biodiversity science, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed.
- Kaci and I met as work colleagues at SciTech Institute. Learn more about SciTech's mission to make Science, Tech, Engineering, & Math (STEM) accessible to everyone is AZ and beyond here.
- Have you ever thought, "I'd love to own a pet tortoise like Kaci's roommate?" Well, mate, temper your curiosity with caution, and visit this forum to learn about some of the Tortoise Basics for Prospective or Beginning Tortoise Owners before diving off the deep end into reptile ownership.
Kaci's Because It's Your Cause:
Prisma Community Care commits to providing affordable, affirming, and inclusive health and wellness services at their clinic and in the community, especially to those who have faced discrimination in healthcare. They administer quality primary care, mental health care, testing, treatment, and education through a compassionate and holistic approach. Their team is comprised of people from all walks of life who are specially trained to care for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, people of color, those affected by HIV, and the uninsured and underinsured.
To learn more about their services and how you can get involved, check them out here.
Want to share a time when you experienced a second-hand high? Then don't be shy! Sharing is caring.
To have your story featured on the podcast, email secondhandhigh.ohmy@gmail.com. To show your support and keep the podcast moving onward and upward, you can leave a glowing review wherever you stream your podcasts. Also, please like, follow, and rate on social media!
Hey, howdy, and hello... y'all know the drill!
Please welcome to the podcast, the founder of Anchored Project Solutions... India Miles! This Texas-based project manager focuses her high on a split second side-of-the-road act of kindness that touched her profoundly and reminded her of the importance of seeing the humanity in everyone. The organization she champions as part of her 'Because It's Your Cause' is one that gives young black girls the tools they need to unleash their confidence, build community, and enhance their tech skills.
So, go grab a glass, because you're about to get good and high-drated!
This episode's HIGH-lights:
- Just Tacos and more... you owe me for this one! Check out the Mexican food joint in Phoenix with the nonsensical name here. Get a free taco! (I swear, I'm not getting a dime from this).
- India and I met working together on the Changemakers in STEM Virtual Youth Congress project at SciTech Institute. Learn more about SciTech's mission to make STEM accessible to everyone is AZ and beyond here.
- Need someone to help you with your next big project? India has you covered! Find her at her new online home - Anchored Project Solutions
India's Because It's Your Cause:
Black Girls Code supports girls of color in tech through coding education and more. They partner with schools and organizations to offer a range of programs, both in-person and virtual, for ages 7-25.
To learn more about their awesome initiatives and to support Black Girls Code, visit their website here.
Share with Us!
Want to share a time when you experienced a second-hand high? Then don't be shy! Sharing is caring.
To have your story featured on the podcast, email secondhandhigh.ohmy@gmail.com. To show your support and keep the podcast moving onward and upward, you can leave a glowing review wherever you stream your podcasts. Also, please like, follow, and rate on social media!
Want to share a time when you experienced a second-hand high? Then don't be shy! Sharing is caring.
To have your story featured on the podcast, email secondhandhigh.ohmy@gmail.com. To show your support and keep the podcast moving onward and upward, you can leave a glowing review wherever you stream your podcasts. Also, please like, follow, and rate on social media!
Hey, howdy, and hello, and... welcome back.! I hope it's true that distance makes the heart grow fonder, because I've been gone, gone for far too long! What can I say? It's been a whirlwind of a year with a new job, new dog, and the same old life curveballs. Trying to stay afloat in a fast-paced world is a lot, I'm not gonna lie.
I guess you could say I could use a high as much as the next guy. And who better to provide it than my brother, Braden Sweeney? While being my brother is enough of a high on its own, in our conversation, he discusses how a program through his work called the Sunshine Committee brings light to employees and their family members struggling through hard times.
It's high time we get back to the good stuff, so ready, steady, and... on with the show!
This episode's HIGH-lights:
- If you have a loved one who needs skilled nursing facility-level care, it's important for you to know your rights.
- Ombudsman. It's a funny word! But it's an important one if you have a loved one in a care facility and need advocacy and support. The National Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center explains more about Ombudsmans and how to locate one nearest you.
- Was your appetite whetted for more info about how the ancient Pyramids of Gaza came to be! It's still a hotly debated topic that you can learn more about at Britannica Online.
Braden's Because It's Your Cause:
Fair Haven Homes, located in Indianapolis, IN, provide patients and their families traveling from across the country for critical medical care with a home away from home while they battle life-threatening illnesses .
To volunteer, donate, or support Fair Haven's mission, you can visit their website here.
Want to share a time when you experienced a second-hand high? Then don't be shy! Sharing is caring.
To have your story featured on the podcast, email secondhandhigh.ohmy@gmail.com. To show your support and keep the podcast moving onward and upward, you can leave a glowing review wherever you stream your podcasts. Also, please like, follow, and rate on social media!
Warning: This episode contains mentions of suicide and eating disorders. Please be mindful of your wellbeing while listening, and turn off or skip over parts that may be triggering.
Second-Hand High. Episode six. You know the drill.
In this installment of the podcast, I had the delight of discussing life's highs and lows with Kennedy Sutton. She's, you guessed it, an esteemed author of high seas pirate romantacy. If you don’t know what that means, you will soon enough.
The setting for her high is a hospital, of all places, and involves the bona fide miracle their staff performed for her baby daughter. The thoughtful, personalized care Kennedy’s whole family received inspired her to use her own gifts to promote them as her cause.
So, text a loved one an inspirational meme, take a deep breath in and out, and settle in for a high that adds a point to the scoreboard for humanity.
This episode's HIGH-lights:Can't get enough of Kennedy's quips? Visit her website, where you can also find her entire book series to date. You can even order signed copies of her books!
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or experiencing crisis. contact the Suicide and Crisis hotline by calling or texting 988.
Kennedy's Because It's Your Cause:
To donate to the great work of the Nashville-based nonprofit, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, and ensure children like Kennedy's daughter receive the compassionate, quality care they deserve, you can visit their website here. Donations are
To have your story featured on the podcast, email secondhandhigh.ohmy@gmail.com. To show your support and keep the podcast moving onward and upward, you can leave a glowing review wherever you stream your podcasts. Also, please like, follow, and rate on social media!
Want to share a time when you experience a second-hand high? Then don't be shy! Sharing is caring.
To have your story featured on the podcast, email secondhandhigh.ohmy@gmail.com. To show your support and keep the podcast moving onward and upward, you can leave a glowing review wherever you stream your podcasts. Also, please like, follow, and rate on social media!
High again! It's your highness and host Sweeney here, and today, I’m talking with Mr. Antoine Martin, a former high school drama classmate of mine. Nowadays, he’s a bona fide physicist, runner-in-training, and, thanks to his partner, an increasingly enthusiastic volunteer for a human services organization that is both his high and his cause.
So don’t change that channel (ok, actually, just don’t click out of this episode), and grab a snack, because it’s time to take a deep breath, kick back, and get all kinds of high!
This episode's HIGH-lights:Want to know more about what Antoine makes for a living? Check out this page on the inner workings of satellite thrusters!The next Paris Marathon, the second largest race in the world of its kind behind the N.Y.C. Marathon, will take place on April 7th, 2024. Mark your calendars! Registration info can be found here
Save the City is a global movement of volunteers showing kindness and caring for people in need in cities around the world. You can learn more about their wonderful work here
Antoine's Because It's Your Cause:
To volunteer with Save the City, you can check here to see if there's a branch near you! If you'd like to donate to the cause, you can do so from any of their webpages. Just look for the bright blue DONATE button!
Want to share a time when you experience a second-hand high? Then don't be shy! Sharing is caring.
To have your story featured on the podcast, email secondhandhigh.ohmy@gmail.com. To show your support and keep the podcast moving onward and upward, you can leave a glowing review wherever you stream your podcasts. Also, please like, follow, and rate on social media!
Well, high there! Welcome to episode four of, not the first, not the last, but… the SECOND-Hand High season!
Joining us is my longtime friend, Bob Millsap. A career chameleon, loving father and husband, and exceptionally talented writer, Bob’s high centers on the lessons in perseverance he learned from his wife Shelly after she sustained a traumatic brain injury from a homemade soda-turned-accidental-bomb. His ‘Because it’s your Cause’ is his personal resilience journey shared in his new book, Shake Yourself Free.
His high is his wife, his life story is his cause, and added up, it's all one big high!
This episode's HIGH-lights:
Bob's website
Bob's Blog
Bob's 9/11 story
Bob's Because It's Your Cause:
Read his inspirational story in his book, Shake Yourself Free, available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble's website, and bookshop.org
Want to share a time when you experience a second-hand high? Then don't be shy! Sharing is caring.
To have your story featured on the podcast, email secondhandhigh.ohmy@gmail.com. To show your support and keep the podcast moving onward and upward, you can leave a glowing review wherever you stream your podcasts. Also, please like, follow, and rate on social media!
Welcome to the third episode of the storied second season of the one, the only… Second-Hand High!
This episode is especially exciting, as it marks my first-ever interview with someone I’ve never met before! Terry Bartley is a West Virginia resident, high school teacher, and a newly minted author! His high takes a look at how watching families receive a little Christmas magic has stuck with him years later, while his "Because it’s your Cause" is a reminder that everyone deserves the right to feel safe and comfortable in the skin they live in.
So, get ready to get on your high horse and go for a ride, cuz it’s that time again!
This episode's HIGH-lights:
JCI USA- Terry's High: https://www.jciusa.org/
The Trans Lifeline- Terry's "Because It's Your Cause"
U.S. Hotline: (877) 565-8860
https://translifeline.org/
Most Writer's are Fans-Terry's podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2WU4J0unmA0K76LoJaVjLL
The Wall of Awful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo08uS904Rg
How to (Explain) ADHD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhcn1_qsYmg
Want to share a time when you experience a second-hand high? Then don't be shy! Sharing is caring.
To have your story featured on the podcast, email secondhandhigh.ohmy@gmail.com. To show your support and keep the podcast moving onward and upward, you can leave a glowing review wherever you stream your podcasts. Also, please like, follow, and rate on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070042946557
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondhandhighohmy/
Get ready for lift off, because in the second episode of season two, we're talking with author of the Deception and Justice series, Kirsha Fox!
Her high unsurprisingly deals with the magic of sharing the love of the written word with others through TikTok, while her "Because it’s your Cause" highlights a well-deserving group that literally rocks.
So strap in and prepare yourself for a little magic, a bit of mayhem, and the high of a lifetime!
Get Kirsha's book pretty much anywhere they're sold. Buy directly from her website to get your copy with a personalized message!: https://kirshafox.com/
The second book in her Deception and Justice series, The Whiteleaf Child, drops in April 2023!
Check out Kirsha's author interviewing platform, The Tell Not Show, on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetellnotshow
For her "Because it's your Cause," Kirsha spotlights the indie band, Sub-Radio. Check them out, follow them on the socials, and send them all your love!
https://www.sub-radio.com/
Want to share a time when you experience a second-hand high? Then don't be shy! Sharing is caring.
To have your story featured on the podcast, email secondhandhigh.ohmy@gmail.com. To show your support and keep the podcast moving onward and upward, you can leave a glowing review wherever you stream your podcasts. Also, please like, follow, and rate on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070042946557
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondhandhighohmy/
It’s great to be back after a long, refreshing hiatus, and now I’m ready to kick off season 2! In the premiere episode, I'm joined by Will Grove— a *Pennsylvania native, serious foodie, and my colleague at the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona. His high is a two-for-one, where he recounts how at a Phoenix-based museum, the kind treatment of the employees towards a young child in his care with behavioral struggles made the day. This kiddo then turned around and reminded Will what it means to literally give your all to those in need.
*Edit: In the intro, I refer to Will as a "Philly native." He is, in fact, from Erie, PA.
Because It's Your Cause- Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona
P: 1-888-500-9165
E: info@biaaz.org
W: biaaz.org
Follow on the following social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter
Will's recommendation for movies about brain injury
The Meyerowitz Stories
Momento (for the most part)
Will's hot spots to eat if you're in Phoenix
The Fountainhead
Cibo Urban Pizzeria
1 favorite place- Phở Thành Vietnamese food (order the Phở Đặc Biệt!)
Sweeney's food recommendations from this episode
Pizzeria Bianco
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
Mr. Pickle's Sandwich Shop
Want to share a time when you experience a second-hand high? Then don't be shy! Sharing is caring.
To have your story featured on the podcast, email secondhandhigh.ohmy@gmail.com. To show your support and keep the podcast moving onward and upward, you can leave a glowing review wherever you stream your podcasts. Also, please like, follow, and rate on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070042946557
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondhandhighohmy/
Hey, howdy, and… happy first-aversary to Second-Hand High, which turned a whole year old today, June 30th! I'm literally coming in at the 11th hour on the day of to provide this celebratory wrap-up episode for season 1. I couldn't be more proud of the guests I've had, the memories I've made, and my much-improved audio editing skills. Seriously... it's a night and day difference.
This episode features each of my previous guests as they graciously agreed to reflect on their favorite part of being on the podcast. They also shared their favorite quotes that inspire them, and will hopefully do the same for you. Speaking of You, thanks for supporting the podcast in one way or another this past year. It means a lot.
Season 2 will premiere in the fall of 2022, as I take a much-needed break to ponder life's many mysteries. Until then, as ever... be well, and DO GOOD!
Hey, howdy, and... oh, you know the drill!
For lucky episode #13, my guest is a high school friend from France with whom I recently reconnected via social media. Amandine and I not only shared many AP classes, but a love of nerding out over marching band and all things Lord of the Rings!
In the interval between high school and adulthood, Amandine has not only returned to France and become a seasoned English-French interpreter & translator, but a full-fledged humanitarian as well.
Her high takes us out on the High Seas with the refugee rescue organization, SOS Mediterranee, as well on the front lines at a public park feeding and clothing hundreds of unhoused individuals through a non-profit called L’autre Cantine. So batten down the hatches and tune in for a high that is bound to leave you in a state of awe and inspiration.
*SOS Mediterranee rescue chant video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21PZ-txM9lQ
Amandine's 'Because It's Your Cause' Info:
-SOS Mediterranee website: https://en.sosmediterranee.org/
-L’autre Cantine Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lautrecantinenantes/
To quote a beloved first lady, when the haters go low... we get high! Pretty sure that's verbatim...
Speaking of bait, I have no shame dangling some in front of you-- get ready for an ah-mazing episode! Join me as I interview my nemesis-turned best friend-turned reluctant stepsister-to current half sister Dusti Poague (whew)! If she had a motto, it would be "Must love dogs!"
Her favorite pastime is cuddling with her three pet pooches, or as she calls them, her children: Henry, Pig, and Chloe. She owes her high to a fellow canine lover and small town friend who made a big-time impact by saving abandoned dogs from heart-wrenching fates. Prepare yourself for some warm furry fuzzy feel-goods!
This episode's "Because It's your Cause" Charities:
*Round Valley Animal Rescue in Springerville, Arizona: https://www.roundvalleyanimalrescue.org/
*Spay and Neuter Solutions in Tucson, Arizona: http://www.spayandneutersolutions.org/
Cheers to the New Year, and the new highs that will accompany it!
Starting us off strong, our first guest of 2022 will forever be "Lund" to me from our church mission days, but she's now more commonly known as Rebekah Lund Hiatt. Her high involves the non-profit, the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network, where she works as an attorney. When a new colleague first joined the organization, she turned a good work environment into a great one by her thoughtfulness towards her co-workers.
So, three...two...one... let's go!
To support this episode's "Because it's your Cause," the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network, visit http://www.scvan.org/ or call 803-750-1200. Services are available in English and Spanish.
Hold onto your hats, because we're officially back after a brief hiatus!
Episode ten features Elena Joy Thurston, an inspirational LGBTQ+ speaker, trainer, and founder of the nonprofit Pride and Joy Foundation. Elena lost her marriage, her church, and her community when she came out as a lesbian, leaving this mother of four no choice but to find herself, her voice, and her place.
Elena’s viral TEDx talk on surviving conversion therapy has been viewed 45,000+ times and landed her media and speaking opportunities with ABC, CBS, Logitech, Michael’s, and more. Elena Joy recently launched Pride and Joy Publishing, the only publisher of solely LGBTQ+ empowerment and business books.
Her high explores how something as seemingly simple as sifting through photos of strangers being their true, authentic selves helped her realize that maybe she too could find love and happiness.
*To learn more about the Pride and Joy Foundation and support this amazing cause, visit the following links:
https://www.prideandjoyfoundation.com
www.prideandjoyparents.com
https://www.instagram.com/pridejoyfoundation/
https://www.facebook.com/PrideJoyFound
https://twitter.com/PrideJoyFound
***Full disclosure: this episode's high discusses faith transitions and religious themes that may be sensitive to some listeners. Please listen at your own discretion.
Get ready, because this episode featuring my fake frenemy Clark Graham is much like a chocolate-covered pretzel-- a little bit salty, a little bit sweet.
Eir's feel-good moments stem from seeing loved ones leave behind religious beliefs that no longer serve them, proving a high can occur even in the most unexpected of places.
Join us for the ride as we discuss pronouns, partners, priorities, and everything in between. And while you're at it, remember to be well... do good!
Care to be inspired? Then you've caught us at the right time to have a good time! This episode's guest, Hannah Issacs's, is a former teacher-in-the trenches friend of mine who is from Philly, but now lives somewhere substantially less chilly.
Her high comes courtesy of her step-dad Bob. What about Bob? He's just the kind of guy who will drive out of his way to make sure cancer patients get to their treatment appointments, in addition to other helpful errands. Beyond acting out of a sense of obligation, Bob has since developed many friendships while on the road, teaching Hannah that you're never to old to make a life-changing impact on someone else.
Far from leaving you high and dry, you're sure to feel high-ly motivated to be the change you seek.
It's (probably) not what you think... Crotch is actually a person, who happens to be my best friend from college and the very definition of an entrepreneur.
Her highs for this episode include her father's hugely generous gesture to a single mother with a large family, as well as a religious leader who put his money where his heart is to help a college student in his congregation succeed.
As it happens, Crotch may be more of a chip of the ol' block than even she realized. So check your watch because it's time to get high!!!
The highs keep coming six by six hurrah, hurrah!
And if you're lucky, you might learn a few tricks, courtesy of this episode's guest, Nick Ramos, a former roommate and current friend of mine.
Journey with us as he describes a work superior who wears her bravery on her sleeve, and taught him to not be so quick to judge a person by their peppiness. We'll also hear how this man's best friend does, in fact, walk on four legs, has a tail, and has taught him a doggone good lesson about the importance of unconditional love.
Ready, set... relax and listen! You'll be glad you did.
Shall we begin? Yes, let's! My oldest cousin Sarah Konold recounts how her mom, my aunt, overcame childhood trauma to become an amazing mother to her and her brother, as well as a trusted youth mentor. Due to her mom's sterling example, Sarah is currently in school to earn her psychology degree and work with kids in foster care.
Get ready. Get set. Get high!
She may have bore me, but she rarely bores me... I'm keeping it in the family for this episode, and am mostly pleased to introduce my guest... my one and only mother, Connie Sweeney!
She has not one, but TWO stories (and some tangents in between), about observing the charitable acts of fellow church-goers that continue to inspire how she serves others to this day. These tales are sure to leave you high, but certainly not dry. Oh my!
On this, the third episode of Second-Hand High, I'm joined by Patricia Mejia, who may be my most bizarre-ever friend connection. Never underestimate the power of karaoke and sushi!
If you want to inhale the feel-good fumes of a great story, you're in the right place—Patricia, who was born in the Philippines, shares how her parents' work ethic and incredible generosity inspired her to take a page out of their book—and teach it to the next generation.
Thanks for listening! Enjoy riding the high. As always, be well, do good!
On this, the second episode of Second-Hand High, I'm joined for my very first interview-style podcast episode by my husband, I mean, guest, Arthur Sweeney-Lawson!
Listen as this aspiring web developer and newly minted father recounts how his aunt's inspiring act of goodwill during the Bosnian War has stuck with him all these years later, helping him view others beyond their setbacks and circumstances.
Come for the story, stay for the high!
Welcome to the inaugural episode of my podcast! Second-Hand High started as the wisps of an idea two years ago when my husband and I were out walking our dog around our apartment building and ran head first into a pungent cloud of marijuana smoke. I just had to wonder... is a 'contact high real?' Spoiler alert: yes.
It also made me think of the good feels we all get when we see or hear of someone who does a deed to make others' lives better and brighter-- a feel-good high of a different kind. And thus wisps became full-on smoke, and well... here we are. Join me as I recount how my mom, Bruce Halprin, and my 7th grade science teacher gave me the highs that keep on giving. Who knows? Maybe you'll catch them too!