You Are A Big Deal with Becca Jay - 48. Jamie Hudspeth: Intentional Connection to Earth, the Pain of Wrongful Death, Leaning in to What Comes, & How Life Isn't Siloed

48. Jamie Hudspeth: Intentional Connection to Earth, the Pain of Wrongful Death, Leaning in to What Comes, & How Life Isn't Siloed

09/11/23 • 47 min

Jamie Hudspeth (she/her) is a daughter, sister, and an Auntie. She grew up in southern Indiana playing in the woods with her two brothers and sister. She loves to read, cook, bake, hike, ski, bike (almost anything outdoors) and enjoys doing these activities with family and friends. She is a lover of all animals and a keeper of plants. She is a healthcare provider and uses her training to be a source of knowledge and an advocate for those in need. In 2021, her family experienced a tragic loss: the wrongful death of her father, after a routine surgery. Despite this loss, she continues to strive to see positive in the world, maximize her time doing activities she loves, spend time with her family, and hopes to propagate love, kindness, and encouragement for others. Jamie is an empath and is intentional about seeing the good in the world. She speaks up and shows up for people and communities by using her voice and actions. She sees a need and does something about it. Jamie has a beautiful connection with Earth and a respect for all beings. She is a ripple creator who drops wisdom on the regular.
Content warning: we speak about death and loss of a parent
Jamie shares about the importance of seeing people as they navigate the challenges of the healthcare system. In her position as a pharmacist, she has also taken on the role of advocate. We discuss the challenge and attempted balance that exists to both trust doctors and be your own advocate. Jamie is very vulnerable about the pain, ache and grief that accompanies her daily as she continues to process the loss of her dad, Greg. She shares about the importance of honoring her dad's life by continuing to show up and seek justice for her dad. I get fired up about the lack of accountability for those involved in her dad's wrongful death. Jamie speaks about how therapy and movement have helped her process through the grief and anger she experiences. We talk about her mom, Georgia and about the BISON (metaphor, look up the story of the bison) and plants and connection to Earth. Jamie is full of so much gratitude and she keeps showing up for life.
Jamie lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
Book recommendations:
Tracks by Robyn Davidson
Grandma Gatewood's Walk by Ben Montgomery
Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Find Jamie @jmehudspeth
When in Colorado, check out Get Up! Training ;) and online store:
BEYOND BUCKSKIN www.beyondbuckskin.com
PLEASE READ these articles:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/06/18/tb-bone-product/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/08/04/tb-outbreak-tuberculosis-bone-graft/
*If you have a connection that could support Jamie and others, please reach out.

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Support the show

You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Subscribe: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/support
Follow Becca Jay on IG @beccajay.getuptraining

Previous Episode

47. Imrul Mazid: Running as a Vessel for Healing and Impact; Recalibrating Purpose; Sculpting Society

Imrul Mazid (he/him) is an advocate, a partner, a runner, a fundraiser, a supporter, a writer, a poet, a justice-seeker, and an action-taker. Imrul moved to the SF Bay Area from Canada in 1992. He lived at the base of a 1600-ft mountain where he would hike and later trail run. After racing in middle school and high school, Imrul logged less than 21 km over 21 years. His freedom journey started in 2018, when he ran a 5K and fundraised for the Asian Prisoner Support Committee. In September 2022, Imrul raised over $2000 through a Philadelphia 5K, Running Down the Walls. Incarcerated folks participated by running inside prisons, while supporters ran on the outside. All contributions went to Philly Muslim Freedom Fund (PMFF), which directly uplifted 15 women returning citizens. In the process, he ran down his internal walls and unlocked a wellspring of ideas for 2023. He received his BA in Economics and Sociology from UC Davis, his Master of Science from the University of Pennsylvania and his MA in Sociology and Education from the Teachers College of Columbia University. He is trained in social justice philanthropy, grassroots fundraising, and grantmaking processes. He is currently a Community Development Manager for Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative (MuslimARC). Today, Imrul is a proud middle-of-the-pack runner striving for his first marathon (and still fundraising!). His training is increasingly wrapped in joy, soaked in gratitude, and drawn from wells of love and compassion. It has been a pleasure for me to be a part of Imrul’s freedom journey. Imrul is a powerful and empathetic voice for good and justice. He works hard and shows up in beautiful, intentional ways.
We talk about Imrul's freedom journey and how running has served as a vehicle for freedom. He has been drawn to issues related to decarceration and abolition and uses running as advocacy. Imrul works hard to de-emphasize himself and uplift those who have been oppressed. He speaks about the importance of reading and learning and growing, devouring everything to do with Black-centered freedom stories. Running has become an unconditioning for Imrul and lots of unlearning and humility. He acknowledges the "ists" that used to hurt his pride and ego. Imrul challenged himself to sit in discomfort as he shared his writing via spoken word poetry. Running for him has to be for something bigger than himself. As a Muslim, during Ramadan, Imrul has been able to connect with Creator and has felt more aligned as he fasts from both food and water, which makes things quite a bit more challenging when you add running in during that time. Imrul combines movement, advocacy and his voice through writing.
"Sculpt society in a more just orientation and to be fair and just with myself." -Imrul
Imrul lives on Lenapehoking land.
Book recommendation:
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
When in South Philly, check out Hardena (www.hardenaphilly.com)
Learn more about Imrul's story (www.imazid.com) and follow his marathon build-up on IG @im.runner14

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49. Louamy Sepulveda: Finding the Middle; Sobriety; Remaining Teachable and Willing; Challenging Old Narratives

Louamy Sepulveda (she/her) is a partner, an advocate, a therapist, a comedian, and a friend. She is a rapper, a wellness guide, an encourager, an empowerer and a connection-creator. Louamy describes her health and wellness journey as a beautiful off-the-rails ride. She has experienced many moments that felt like quicksands of deep stuckness, as well as colorful moments where chambers of new breath unlocked. She has shifted her perspective from being weight-loss obsessed, to working towards a healthy and peaceful life. She describes herself as a rookie when it comes to this new way of living.
Louamy's first real hike was in 2021. She hiked up Mt. Tamalpais in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was a 9 mile hike with 2000 ft elevation change. As a Bronx native, that was a huge deal for a girl that didn't want to walk up the block to the bodega. Life has been filled with firsts for these past several years. She is currently living in Philly, as a new resident in a new city. She has been a psychotherapist and has been working in community mental health for 8 years. She received her MS from Pace University. Louamy is a gastric sleeve surgery recipient, a romantic at heart, and has been sober for 1,372 days.
Louamy is a forever learner of new ways. She can be loving and compassionate to her body after being so mean to it for a long time. She prays to remain teachable and willing through life's twists and turns. She is a lover of music, art, dance, and comedy. As a proud Puerto Rican, she does this freedom work for her lineage- the ones before her and the ones to come. Grateful for every breath and every step, Louamy knows it's just the beginning. Louamy is powerful, strong, brave, bold, determined, diligent and kind. When she asks you how you are doing, she really wants to know. Louamy is a force and a beautiful, bright energy.
Louamy talks about life being more colorful instead of so black and white. She is honest about being tired of not remembering before she got sober. Louamy is more intentional about being in the present moment, relinquishing self-centeredness and understanding that we can't do this life journey by ourselves. She talks about staying sober is all about taking it day by day, praying, connecting with other people and having support. Lou consistently checks in with herself every morning to see what comes up for her and what she needs for the day. Louamy beautifully says that this journey is finding the middle, not living in extremes and not wanting to put everything in a box. She has been witness to people changing and states that it requires work and action. "What are you doing and also, what are you not doing?" AND having compassion for yourself in the process. We talk about how there is so much generational pain...where does it go? If one person doesn't stop the continuation, it continues and it is SO important for us to help stop the cycle. Louamy says it's an inside job to shift the narrative. "This work is not only for me." Louamy is a HOPE-GIVER and a healer and she teaches people that they can have power over their lives. "Healing people heal people." She remembers that her body has shown up for her for all of these years. Louamy knows for sure that it gets better! "If we get better, it gets better."

Lou lives on Lenapehoking land.
Book recommendation:
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Get Rooted by Robyn Moreno
Find Louamy @therapist.comedian.rapper
Look for all of Louamy's wisdom on this IG page.
When in Philly, check out Uncle Bobbie's Coffee and Books www.unclebobbies.com

Support the show

You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Subscribe: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/support
Follow Becca Jay on IG @beccajay.getuptraining