The Human Experience

Eric is bi-racial; his mom is white and his dad is black. His experience of being bi-racial is not one we often hear when talking about social complexities, but it's important nonetheless. Eric is a counselor by trade, a job that seems to suit him well as he is able to access and express his emotions freely, a skill that not everyone has honed. His yearning for both justice and compassion are a we...

Hannah is the co-founder of a drop-in center in Columbus, OH called Sanctuary Night. Serving vulnerable women on the streets, Sanctuary Night meets the practical needs that we often take for granted, while also offering a space free of judgement or shame for women to find refuge and rest. Having experienced her own trauma early on in life, Hannah's learned capacity for compassion and grace have al...

Irine's joy is contagious. She is exactly the type of person that lights up a room. But that doesn't mean that her life has been easy; on the contrary, Irine has had to fight against social and familial norms to get to where she is today. And she is helping other young women get there too. 📍 This episode was recorded in Kitale, Kenya. Learn more about Neema Learn more about Neema's capital campai...

In the beginning of 2022, Tyler was on top of the world; he loved his life, he loved where he lived, and he knew that he had no definite plans for the future - just the way he preferred it. But just a few short months later, so much of that would change. Tyler's story offers a unique perspective - being the partner of someone that is dealing with a serious mental health condition. Mental health is...

Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, murder, and suicide. Shelly Edwards Jorgensen is the author of Beautiful Ashes, a memoir about her life growing up in a domestic violence household and the permanent consequences it can have on your life. Shelly's father murdered her mother when Shelly was 15. It was both a shock and something that...

Alli is a licensed clinical social worker serving an extremely vulnerable population in the heart of Pittsburgh - those struggling with chronic, severe mental illness. The organization Alli works for, People's Oakland, is a pillar of their community - offering a respite and a space for safe, holistic healing to its members. Alli's journey to finding her purpose in this line of work is poignant and...

Loitanit has had aspirations beyond her hometown of Kitale, Kenya for as long as she can remember. Growing up as a pastors kid, she saw people visit from all over the world. When she had the opportunity to go to the United States for school, Loitanit jumped at the chance; hoping to make her home there. But her family needed her back home. Now, Loitanit works for Neema as the the Business Skills De...

The word refugee is bandied about quite a bit, armchair politics and clickbait news articles often inciting the conversation. But do we really know what we're talking about? Or rather, who we're talking about? Amin is a former refugee from Somalia. He is now an American citizen with a beautiful family and is on his way to realizing his dreams as a CRNA, but the road to get here wasn't easy. Amin w...

Theresa and her husband, Ibrahim, run a lovely guesthouse in the heart of Kitale, Kenya called Karibuni Lodge. After growing up in the U.K. and finding herself in the monotony of the corporate world, Theresa knew she wanted something different for her life. Building a life in Kenya hasn't always been easy, but it's where their lives, their business, and their children are. Kenya is home. 📍 This e...

In the blink of an eye, everything can change. That's what happened when Sue found herself facing a corporate giant as she fought for justice for the sexual assault that was perpetrated against her. Since then, Sue is on a mission to end sexual exploitation through her organization, Walk Her Home. A nonprofit created to educate about human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, fundraise...

Mike's childhood wasn't picturesque by any means, but he worked to create success for himself. He was on top of the world when news of an illness brought him to his knees. In one fell swoop, everything changed. What do you do when it feels like everything you've worked for means nothing? What do you do when you lose it all? Mike has fought tirelessly to rebuild the life he thought he had lost. And...

Jackie is a trauma counselor for Neema , a skills-training facility for vulnerable young women in rural, western Kenya. Jackie's job is difficult, but her heart is boundless and abundant. Her passion for counseling and the healing that it brings is clear in the way she speaks and in the relationships she has built. Neema's staff of trauma counselors, social workers, teachers, and caregivers contin...

We all know that refugees come to the United States. But do you know what happens after they arrive? Laura is an American working in refugee resettlement, a job that has both lit a passion and compassion deep within her. This wasn't the career she set out to do, but it's now where she's thriving. There are so many opportunities for U.S. citizens to welcome refugees to the United States; to help th...

Joe's story, like many of ours, spans generations. A dedicated father, husband, brother, son and friend, Joe is committed to breaking the cyclical bonds of abuse seen over many lifetimes. Though he can identify with the lows, Joe's resilience and strength are what make him who he is. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (US) The Crisis Hotline (US) 📍 This episode was recorded in West Chester, P...

Minister Tia is a Domestic Violence Survivor, Advocate, Author and Speaker. She tells her story, unflinchingly, in her memoir, Suffering in Silence . A true champion for victims, Tia can be found every Friday evening at 7pm EST on LuvBay Afrobeat Music and Talk Radio where she discusses different aspects of Domestic Violence on her show, Suffering in Silence. You can catch up on previous episodes...

You are a product of who and where you came from. For better or worse, your story doesn't start with you. Join host, Jennifer Peterkin, as she shares part one of her story. Music by Zakhar Valaha & Juan Sanchez _______________________ STAY CONNECTED The Human Experience Podcast | Instagram | Facebook The Human Experience Legacies | Instagram Connect with Jennifer on Substack | LinkedIn Support...

Join us for Part 2 of The Human Experience launch as host, Jennifer Peterkin, shares more of her story and what led her to this space. If you are in the United States and need help please visit The National Domestic Violence Hotline. Music by Zakhar Valaha, Olexy & Juan Sanchez _______________________ STAY CONNECTED The Human Experience Podcast | Instagram | Facebook The Human Experience Legac...

Introducing The Human Experience - a weekly podcast about how our lived experience shapes who we become. Launching January 31, 2023. Stay tuned! Music by Zakhar Valaha _______________________ STAY CONNECTED The Human Experience Podcast | Instagram | Facebook The Human Experience Legacies | Instagram Connect with Jennifer on Substack | LinkedIn Support the Podcast

Introducing The Human Experience - a weekly podcast about how our lived experience shapes who we become. Launching January 31, 2023. Stay tuned! Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi, LesFM _______________________ STAY CONNECTED The Human Experience Podcast | Instagram | Facebook The Human Experience Legacies | Instagram Connect with Jennifer on Substack | LinkedIn Support the Podcast