Passing Through Life

Sometimes our transitions are intertwined closely with the transitions of another.
Our guest this episode is Cindy Hill, whose first child Ben was born with Velo-Cardio-Facial syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects a person's heart and cognitive abilities. Cindy's eagerly anticipated prospect of joining the "sisterhood of moms" was abruptly altered. Now life became a series of significant--and often challenging-- transitions as Ben moved through his development milestones.
This all took place at a time of new community understanding and inclusion, made possible in part by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Each new milestone required much pre-planning and orientation, particularly in working with the local school system.
As Ben's most knowledgeable and passionate advocate, Cindy had to change right alongside him, always trying to stay one step ahead. Even Cindy's personality changed so she could fight through the complications ahead. After all, Cindy was Ben's mom, and her protective maternal instinct was about to break loose!
Here are some resources that Cindy recommends:
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Bright Beginnings

Provides services that promote the health and development of infants and toddlers so that children start school healthy and ready to learn.
http://www.escneo.org/BrightBeginnings.aspx

Courage to Caregivers

Provides hope, support, and courage to caregivers and loved ones of those living with mental illness, through one-to-one caregiver support, support groups, educational programs and resources.

www.CouragetoCaregivers.org
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Passing Through Life podcast copyright 2018 Luanne Bole-Becker

Episode 6: Becoming Mama Bear

Cindy Hill interview recorded 7.29.18; podcast published 3.27.19

Introducing our guest: Cindy Hill (00:15)

Lu Today's episode is entitled simply, "Becoming Mama Bear." It's episode number six, an interview with Cindy Hill. She's an accomplished writer and a parent activist. That latter role is something she didn't choose, but it kind of became reality when Cindy's firstborn son was born. (That happens!) With a variety of both physical and cognitive challenges. So, welcome Cindy. Thanks for joining us today.

Cindy Nice to be here, Luanne.

Lu We first met, in fact as we were becoming new moms and we discovered we had a common love of Discovery Toys because you became my best customer. Yay! She bought everything I brought! And then we were both writers and we loved a lot of the same things like exploring space and drum circles and who knows what else. So we've been inspiring each other kind of back and forth for more than 30 years now.

Cindy &nbs

It's the day you never, ever expect... or want... to face.
Ruth Durand's husband Matt had recently confided that they would need to be making drastic changes in their living situation, due to the recession. That seemed to be bombshell enough.
But more was in store.
Later this year will be the 10th anniversary of Matt's untimely death. In this episode, Ruth leads us through the days before and after Matt's unexpected suicide at age 40.
Sadly, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, and one of the three leading causes that is on the rise. Perhaps walking alongside Ruth in this journey will provide insight into ways to handle this all-too-common tragedy.
Because there IS life--and life abundant--even after the suicide of a loved one. Here is one person's way through.
TRANSCRIPT FOLLOWS BELOW:
Passing Through Life podcast copyright 2018 Luanne Bole-Becker

Episode 5: Just Getting Your Feet on the Ground

Ruth Durand interview recorded 9.22.18; podcast published 3.6.19

Introducing our guest: Ruth Durand (00:16)

Lu: Today's episode is called just getting your feet on the ground. It's episode number five and it's an interview with Ruth Durand, a beautiful woman and my friend who has had to face and live through possibly one of the worst experiences that there is in life, the suicide of a spouse. Ehhhh. But there's good stuff in this story too, so thanks, Ruth, for being here.

Ruth: Thanks for having me.

Lu: We met because of our kids, I think. Our son Bryan, who's engineering these podcasts--and I manage to mention in everything single one, I think--and Ruth's son Garrett became really good friends. In fact, I can remember some epic birthday parties, in fact, one where each one got to pick out his favorite hot sauce and inflict it on the others.

But I digress. Our kids went to church and school together. As moms, we hung out at church and school events together. And I actually served on several committees and boards with Ruth's husband, Matt Felber, so our families were intertwined and we really just enjoy each other's company. So we're going to enjoy each other's company now too, right? [Yes, we are.] Okay.

When life was still “normal” (01:39)

Lu: I'm going to start out by asking you to tell me a little bit about your life prior to 2009.

Ruth: Hm, that's a tough one. Okay. I think we just lived life, you know, raising, raising the three boys, doing...

Lu: How old were the kids roughly? Are we talking little kids? Teenagers?

Ruth: In 2009 they were 15 and 17.

Graphic designer Katie Melnick had never really failed. She was accepted into the art school she wanted, won scholarships she sought, and landed a great job at a boutique design studio in Cleveland right out of college.
And then, the recession hit. Melnick's job disappeared unexpectedly... and virtually overnight! (She even toyed with starting a blog called "Will Design for Food.") Melnick's next job, with a small jewelry company, ended disastrously amid office politics and broken promises.
That's when Melnick decided to change her approach in job hunting. It was time to figure out where the mismatches were happening. And how to forge an employee/employer relationship that benefited both of them.
In this premier episode of "Passing Through Life," podcast host Luanne Bole-Becker interviews Melnick to explore how to manage these types of job and life transitions, including advice for others in similar situations.
Melnick is now a successful independent artist working with clients big and small. She and husband and business partner Jasen Melnick are the owners of Fizz Creative.
Resource links suggested by Katie Melnick:

Fizz Creative
https://hellofizz.com

AIGA, the professional association for design
https://www.aiga.org

Books that helped Melnick get over unemployment

48 Days to the Work you Love
https://www.amazon.com/Days-Work-You-Love-Preparing/dp/1433669331

The Art of Nonconformity
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Non-Conformity-Rules-Change-World/dp/B004BK4I26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542838080&sr=1-1&keywords=the+art+of+nonconformity

ReWork
https://www.amazon.com/Rework/dp/B003BLGD06/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542838155&sr=1-1&keywords=rework

A transcript for this interview is now available on the Facebook page "Passing Through Life Podcast."
https://www.facebook.com/passing-through-life-podcast

Most of us have experienced roadblocks along a career path.
For a university professor, NOT getting tenure is a major roadblock. It means that the place where you've invested your time and reputation for years now expects you to leave. Just like that. There go your job security and income! So what happens next?
Photographer, educator, and activist Steve Cagan learned this lesson the hard way. Hear how he used this unexpected setback to delve deeper into activism, and eventually to pursue a long-term relationship and build a powerful portfolio of work to assist the people of El Choco, Colombia.
For more information, please check out these links:
Steve Cagan and his work
Gold Mining in El Choco--the images of Steve Cagan and Mary Kelsey
Steve Cagan discusses "activist photography" in a previous interview
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TRANSCRIPT FOR THIS EPISODE
Passing Through Life podcast copyright 2018
Luanne Bole-Becker

Episode 4: Tenure Isn't Everything
Steve Cagan interview recorded 7.31.18, podcast published 2.20.19

Introducing our guest—Steve Cagan, activist photographer (00:00:15)

Lu: Today's episode is "Tenure Isn't Everything," episode number four, an interview with Steve Cagan, an award-winning activist photographer. He's won very prestigious awards, including a Fulbright fellowship. So welcome Steve. Thanks for joining us

Steve: Two Fulbrights!

Lu: Ooooh. Two. Whoa ho ho! Okay. But a bit of background. Well, I first saw Steve's photography 30 years ago, which is impossible because we are youngsters! But it was in an exhibit highlighting factory closings around Cleveland or around the region. We didn't actually meet until 2010 when we collaborated on a project to document the lives of refugee families that were resettling here in northeast Ohio. And I have to say I was a little intimidated because Steve has this long history of exhibits and awards and I was interested in creating a photo exhibit, but I had absolutely no experience as a curator, a gallery owner, a serious photographer, any of those things. But I just knew I wanted refugees’ lives captured in a compelling and visual way. So several people actually referred me to you, Steve, and you're kind of like a perfect fit because you've pretty much dedicated your life to using photography, but using it to advance and support social causes.

So that leads me to my first question. You call yourself an activist photographer. What the heck is that?

Steve: Well, that's a very good question. It's something that I've been actually developing both as a practice and as a kind of critical understanding. What's at the heart of that notion is that my photography is done in collaboration with organizations or communities that are in struggle for justice-- perhaps around ve<

Although job changes are the most obvious transitions that Dave Clements has experienced, his story covers a broad spectrum of life's twists and turns and how to maneuver them.
Early on, Dave found himself counseling fellow employees how to brave those unexpected job changes by "riding the wave." (In fact, he has authored a book by that same title.) And Dave's penchant for constantly finding -- and creating -- new challenges eventually led him from management consulting into ministry, and then even to a continent on the other side of the world!
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NOTE: This show transcript is still raw. Once final edits are made, it will be noted right here in the show notes.
This episode was recorded 1.22.19. All portions are copyright 2019 Luanne Bole-Becker.