Almost 400 medical professionals die by suicide per year, and that was before the pandemic. Medical professionals, like today’s Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories guest Dr. Naomi Jean-Baptiste, are experiencing something many haven’t before -- and as a result are under unimaginable stress. Dr. JB has been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic since day one, and she identified needs that weren’t being met -- mental wellness support for her peers, access to medical information for the publi...
Sep 13, 2021•38 min•Ep 66•Transcript available on Metacast “The biggest difference we can make comes down to the sum of the small things we do for others each day.” - Megan Snedden This quote by today’s podcast guest, Megan, captures her philosophy about creating a life filled with purpose through random acts of kindness. What started as a viral video on Facebook led Megan to creating The Kind Effect , a movement where Megan travels the world performing good deeds for strangers. In this week’s episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories , Megan share...
Sep 06, 2021•33 min•Ep 65•Transcript available on Metacast Trauma can impact anyone, and at some point in our lives, it likely affects all of us. The Surfside building collapse. A second large earthquake in Haiti. The 20th anniversary of 9/11. A global pandemic. These are just a few examples that have taken place in 2021 alone. Let’s face it, traumatic events are all around us. Luckily professionals like Jennifer Tomko, a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in treating trauma, are here to help clients find growth through their trauma. In episode 64...
Aug 30, 2021•35 min•Ep 64•Transcript available on Metacast The Bold Beauty Project has been shattering beauty standards since 2016. In the latest episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories , Shelly Baer shares her journey of breaking the stigma that comes with disability. After a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis at the age of three, Shelly never let it slow her down -- but she did struggle to fully accept her identity as a disabled woman. Decades later, Shelly founded and co-directed a photography exhibit, Bold Beauty Project , that changed her lif...
Aug 23, 2021•37 min•Ep 63•Transcript available on Metacast Jaimie Hilfiger is a model, actress, beauty mogul, and self-made entrepreneur -- yes, with a famous last name too. BUT that is only one small fraction of her story. She’s opening up about her skincare struggles with type 2 rosacea -- and how it led her to launch a skincare line , break into the beauty industry, and help others cultivate confidence through self-care. “Never be afraid to be yourself” is her mantra. In this episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories , Jaimie tells her sto...
Aug 16, 2021•34 min•Ep 62•Transcript available on Metacast This week on Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories we are celebrating Miami Spa Month with Marizza Contreras, founder of K’Alma Spa . Marizza became a self-made entrepreneur in 2004, but she brought a new wellness retreat to life with the start of K’Alma Spa in 2018, combining her background in the wellness industry with her passion for changing the lives of her clients. The shift in her approach to wellness took place after her own life-changing event. “I never thought this was my path until I ha...
Aug 09, 2021•37 min•Ep 61•Transcript available on Metacast I’m baaaaaack for a solo episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories . As the host of a podcast all about sharing entrepreneurship stories, and the owner of a business that does the same… something I’ve heard too often from business owners is “I just don’t like talking about myself.” If you want to market your small business, you MUST tell YOUR small business stories. Today, I sit down to discuss the four stories your small business needs to be telling, and how that leads to building authenti...
Aug 02, 2021•31 min•Ep 60•Transcript available on Metacast Seven years ago, Meg Daly had a crazy idea. With two broken arms from a recent bike accident and a new lens for how she looked at the world, Meg walked below Miami’s Metrorail and saw nothing but potential. Space that to anyone else would be considered dirty, dangerous, and not worth a second look, but Meg saw an opportunity for a chance to bring more green into Miami - specifically in an underutilized space. Her vision slowly started to come to life in 2014, and today The Underline is open to t...
Jul 26, 2021•30 min•Ep 59•Transcript available on Metacast Does everyone need healing? According to Shameka and Isaac Collins, the answer is a big yes . Together, the married mental health counselors have worked with people from all walks of life who want to better themselves. Their love for people and motto of “Do it Together” led them towards opening Collins & Collins Clinical Services in 2019 where they restore families and relationships as a team. In today’s episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories , the couple shares more about their prac...
Jul 19, 2021•36 min•Ep 58•Transcript available on Metacast From fighting for her life, to serving the greater good, Jaclyn Strauss’ entrepreneurial journey started with an experience she never would have imagined. She almost died during the birth of her second child. Death during childbirth is something we don’t frequently talk about, but is very much a reality. It was Jaclyn’s wakeup call. Not only would her family have the grief of losing her, but they would have had the burden of untangling household matters that only lived inside her own head. ...
Jul 12, 2021•36 min•Ep 57•Transcript available on Metacast Lifelong fighter Diego De Vera is living his entrepreneurial dream. Shortly after his move to Miami, the Argentina-native founded his very own gym, KO Zone , and fulfilled his life-long goal. Over the last 15 years KO Zone has grown to be the number one Martial Arts Gym in South Florida, according to Diego. It’s not just the expert training that brings people back to the gym each week, but the community you experience right as you walk through the doors....
Jul 05, 2021•25 min•Ep 56•Transcript available on Metacast Almost 40% of all food produced in the US is wasted. In addition, 10% of people in the US are food insecure - which means the food wasted could feed those who are in need and there would still be food left over. These stats, while shocking, are not hard to believe when you consider the potential for waste at restaurants, grocery stores, and even in our own homes. This is what shocked Rafael Garrido and his wife Monica into action, together creating a digital marketplace dedicated to helping food...
Jun 28, 2021•31 min•Ep 55•Transcript available on Metacast Jennifer Jones has over a decade of experience in health and wellness. Specifically she’s found success in holistic nutrition, and so have her clients. She doesn’t focus on the calories, diet trends, food, or exercise alone – but looks at the whole individual. After implementing a holistic approach to nutrition in her own life, Jennifer saw dramatic results that included relief from debilitating menstrual cycles. Now, as the CEO of JENuine nutrition , she teaches her clients (with a 100% s...
Jun 21, 2021•28 min•Ep 54•Transcript available on Metacast One day at a time, nonprofit Be Strong International , is making South Florida a better place for individuals and families. At the helm is CEO Michelle Shirley, who began her career with the organization out of college, thinking it was a “stepping stone” to other opportunities. Little did she know, she would grow dramatically personally and professionally through her work with Be Strong International. Passion. Purpose. Happiness. These are all things she found in her own life through her w...
Jun 14, 2021•35 min•Ep 53•Transcript available on Metacast We’ve all got goals, but there is nothing worse than feeling stuck in pursuit of them. Even harder? Avoiding burnout in today’s society, where “success” becomes the synonym to busy. In today’s episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories , our guest Keshawn Hughes talks about it all: how you can recognize the signs of burnout, how you can avoid it, and the resources available to beat it. The Neurocoach also shares how burnout has impacted her life, and how it eventually led to finding her pass...
Jun 07, 2021•33 min•Ep 52•Transcript available on Metacast From anger-management problems to co-founding a nonprofit grounded in kindness , Kemy Joseph changed his life with positivity. Today, he is on a mission to help millions of others see how positivity can change theirs too. In today’s episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Storie s, we have the pleasure of hearing his journey through entrepreneurship, finding positivity during hard times, and making the impossible, possible....
Apr 12, 2021•35 min•Ep 51•Transcript available on Metacast We made it! Today’s episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories is a special one. To celebrate episode 50 (and nearly a year of podcasting!), Tamika sits down for another solo episode to reflect on the past 49 stories we’ve heard from guests and share some of her favorites.
Apr 05, 2021•21 min•Ep 50•Transcript available on Metacast The year 2020 was a difficult one for many, but for Iliana Perez-Ruiz, each month brought a new life-changing challenge. On top of a global pandemic, Iliana underwent a sudden divorce, lost her job, and was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer. Even with so much thrown at her, Iliana showed her strength. In today’s episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories , Iliana tells her story of how she overcame each and every curveball 2020 threw her way, and how just a year later, she’s cancer-free, a succe...
Mar 29, 2021•37 min•Ep 49•Transcript available on Metacast Somy Ali spends 7 days a week saving the lives of sexual abuse, domestic violence, and human trafficking victims. As the founder of No More Tears , she has helped over 30,000 men, women, and children find freedom from lives of abuse. In today’s episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories , Somy tells her story, from what her present day looks like as a not-for-profit founder all the way back to where the passion for this cause came from. ...
Mar 22, 2021•35 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast Food justice is social justice, and Asha Walker is doing her part to bring healthy food options to Miami communities. With a mission that was inspired by the direct need surrounding her, Asha Founded Health in the Hood to bring vibrant vegetable gardens ( and other wellness programs ) to underserved communities. In today’s episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories , Asha shares the story of Health in the Hood from day one, the impact they make today, and her goals for growth in the coming y...
Mar 08, 2021•31 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast Every body is beautiful to Cynthia Fleischmann, who has captured this in her art since 2009. In today’s episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories , Cynthia tells her story of being a body paint artist, the special connection between people and place, and how a life-changing accident (causing her to lose her leg) hasn’t stopped her from living a life she loves.
Mar 01, 2021•27 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast Nine months ago, the visceral images of George Floyd’s murder spread like wildfire around the world, sparking an international movement. Floyd’s cousin, Thomas McLaurin, his family, and millions of others’ lives changed as a result. They were forced to see something they now couldn’t unsee. As we round out Black History Month (although we’ll keep sharing Black stories all year long on this podcast), we welcome Thomas McLaurin to Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories to share his story, as the cous...
Feb 22, 2021•36 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast Fail fast, fix it, and move on. Those are the wise words of Nate Wilkins, co-creator of Ageless Workout and today’s guest of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories . It took an unexpected health scare and weeks in the hospital for Nate to find his calling -- aiding aging adults in taking their lives back one healthy habit at a time, just as he had to learn to do for himself.
Feb 15, 2021•33 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast Thanks to Mindy Scheier, the world is becoming more accessible to people with disabilities. During her 20 years in the fashion industry, it never occurred to Mindy (or her peers) that there was a huge demographic of people missing out on having clothes made with their needs in mind. Like many Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories guests, it took a life-changing event for Mindy to find her new passion . Mindy had her “ah-ha” moment when her 8-year-old son (who was born with Muscular Dystrophy) want...
Feb 08, 2021•27 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast Is it okay to have more than one dream in life? If you were to ask Kaleb Thornhill, the answer would be an astounding yes. The NFL Professional (and guest on this week’s episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories ) challenges individuals daily to keep raising the bar. Everyone’s purpose can be ever-evolving, just like his.
Feb 01, 2021•33 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast After a 30-year bodybuilding career, Yaxeni Oriquen is no stranger to discipline. The Venezuelan former model has earned herself titles as prestigious as Ms. Olympia , and knows how to capture a stage. In today’s episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories we learn Yaxeni’s story, from her first moments at a gym to founding her own . ...
Jan 25, 2021•33 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast Are you living your 10? Chances are, you are not. Cory Chadwick believes that as individuals we have so much more potential than we know. The proud father and husband founded The Mental Gym – a new type of personal training, teaching people to think differently, shift thinking patterns, and show up living their best self. You’re already working out your body each week, why not work out your mind?
Jan 18, 2021•36 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month – and today on Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories , Betty Lara of Glory House is sharing the nonprofit’s mission of supporting human tracking survivors. On Episode 39, Betty shares path towards bringing Glory House to life, the incredible work they do, the things you may not even know about human trafficking in America, and most importantly, the ways you can help. On January 11, Human Trafficking Awareness Day, you can join Glory House in th...
Jan 11, 2021•36 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast Torre Washington is changing the perception of bodybuilders as we know them. As a vegan for the last 22 years (and vegetarian since birth), Torre has mastered what it means to build muscle on a plant-based diet. On today’s episode of Lift U Up: Inspiring Health Stories , Torre walks us through his journey to plant-based eating, bodybuilding, and educating people around the globe on the importance of a vegan lifestyle. ...
Jan 04, 2021•34 min•Ep 38•Transcript available on Metacast This year, 2020, has left us all with one thing in common – the shared trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic. This trauma, among so many other hardships, have led to a decline in the mental health of thousands. Luckily, doctors like Dr. Delvena Thomas are pushing forward on breaking the stigma of mental health, providing treatment, and even spreading awareness of preventative measures. The mother, physician, scientist, and soldier added entrepreneur to her resume when she opened her private practice a...
Dec 28, 2020•33 min•Ep 37•Transcript available on Metacast 
