The Shining Beautiful Series Podcast

Balancing during these times of constant change is challenging.  Long-term planning is less predictable than in the past.  The team at Shining Beautiful is navigating the increasing pace of change by focusing on balance.  In this episode, Mikelle, her support team member, MaryAnn, and Katherine share their unique perspectives on maintaining balance and " the art of the bounce. "

We welcome back our friends, Jen and Codi Mendenhall,  from Grand Junction, Colorado. Jen and Codi are entering that critical transition planning phase as Codi celebrates her sixteenth birthday, has her first date and finds a valuable volunteer experience, all preparing her for a bright future.   This is a fun episode as Codi speaks using a speech-generating device like Mikelle.  These ladies talk...

"I love to work."  "Be sure to think out of the box."  These are just some of the comments from Texas advocate Ricky Broussard.  Ricky's unique perspectives include having lived in several more extensive institutional settings before being able to live in his apartment and hire his own staff.  MIkelle and Ricky share thoughts on living with cerebral palsy and still getting the best out of life.  T...

The Shining Beautiful team shares the ups and downs of navigating two weeks without Katherine.  It wasn't perfect, but it was good. Listen as MaryAnn and Mikelle share their experiences including a team member who came down with Covid, a minor incident that required some leadership and problem-solving.  The good news is that Mikelle has more confidence in her team.  

Caregivers and parents need a break from time to time. Time to think, reflect, and turn back the clock on always being available. As we find out, it isn't easy to leave emotionally, financially, or logistically.  As special needs parents, you just don't back a suitcase and walk out the door.  It has been three years since Katherine had a real vacation. The islands are calling and she must go...esp...

Meet Doug Crandell, author of 22 Cents an Hour, Disability Rights and the Fight to End Subminimum Wages. Join Mikelle and Katherine as we explore with Doug, the history of subminimum wages, and the challenges which are still present after all these years to gain pay equity for workers with disabilities in this lively podcast episode. Doug's book is available on Amazon. Here is the link. Get your c...

At the time of Mikelle's diagnosis of cerebral palsy, the path was uncharted. Expectations for her were low, and while willing to learn, her doctor knew little about her condition. Katherine and Mikelle share the great, the good, and the ugly parts of their journey to help Mikelle navigate the medical system and beyond.

Oh, the holidays created some challenges for the ladies.  Family in the hospital, Mikelle's van totaled by a DUI driver on Christmas Day, a missing new computer, and continued staff shortages, but with persistence and plenty of patience--they prevail!

A new meeting of the moms!  So what does inclusion look like in the age of staff shortages and COVID and in rural Colorado? Meet, Jen Mendenhall, parent, advocate, and a new member of the State Rehabilitation Council. After months of frustration, Jen and Codi found the perfect balance for them with hybrid education.  Join us in learning how parents have to carve out education and inclusion with wh...

Well, 2021 had to end with some chaos.  Sandwiched in between a couple of family ER visits (not us) and a drunk driver crashing into Mikelle's parked van, we had a great holiday. Join Liz, MaryAnn, Mikelle, and Katherine as they share what they like best about the Shining Beautiful holiday celebration.  Wishing you the best!!

It is time to get honest about education and the impact of COVID on both teachers and students. Educating students with special needs presents opportunities and challenges even when everything is working well.  The glue that holds special education together is The Individualized Educational Plan (IEP).  This tool is critical to the successful education of students with special needs, or is it? Cov...

It is Halloween and we are supposed to be scared, right?  While the jack-o-lantern glow fades, the staffing shortages burn brighter every day.  Mikelle, Katherine, and Kendyl, a direct service professional discuss the why, the impact, and strategies to create a new future in this transitional time including how Colorado is using its American Rescue Plan to improve recruitment and retention of DSP'...

Oh, boy!  Not even sure where to start on this episode, but it feels like chaos cause it is like chaos.  Good times mix with challenging times. Change is complex and confusing.  Perhaps, the most challenging aspect of 2021 for us is the labor shortage in all aspects of service delivery for people with disabilities.  We have never seen it like it is now. In this episode, see how Mikelle and Katheri...

Please forgive the tech advocates for the slow start on this podcast.  We are not perfect but we are smart enough to invite Rehabilitation Subject Matter Expert, Amy Gonzales to our podcast!  In this episode, we cover the gambit of working with other communities, learning cultural sensitivity, and the future of employment for people with disabilities.  Amy is so fun!

This is not our first hiring rodeo.  Over the years, we have pretty good luck building an amazing team.  However, this year everything is different.  Confronting a labor shortage in health care, we had to get creative. Try a few new things and search for deeper understanding for those who are in education and direct support.  This episode is all about adventuring into our post-COVID world and list...

We are fascinated with Win Charles's courage and grace.  After both her parent's passed, she found herself facing a dilemma about where she should live.  None of this was planned.  Listen to see how Win dealt with difficult decisions and determined her destiny.  Win candidly shares the ups and downs of being on her own.    

Check the literature and there isn't much on wellness and cerebral palsy.  MaryAnn, a nutritionist in training, Katherine, and Mikelle discuss the unique needs of people with CP and how they approach health and wellness together.

There are days....and this is one of them. Katherine planned a quick road trip to look at reality, clear her mind and seek new vistas for both her and Mikelle.  Celebrating moms!  We all need a chance to vent.

What a great episode with Jerome Deroy from Narativ.com ! This episode is all about the story.  How to listen to it. How to tell it. And, the importance of sharing it.  Shining Beautiful was awarded a small grant from the Creative Ideas Fund as part of the Denver Mill Levy to offer four workshops on Adding Voice to Advocacy.  

Let's face it, we are all done with this pandemic.  Unfortunately, it is not done with us.  Mikelle grew tired of seeing the same four faces each week.  She started Zoom bombing Katherine's calls just to connect with someone new.  Listen to this quick story of how the team rejuvenated MIkelle's spirit and expanded her community.  In other words, Mikelle gets her Mojo back.

Podcasting pays off!  Mikelle and Katherine prepare to be interviewed by KUNC's Henry Zimmerman of the Colorado Edition.  Nervous, the ladies discuss how they prepared for the big moment with Gretchen Storm and Lex Pummer.   https://www.kunc.org/show/kuncs-colorado-edition

Hello, dear listeners.  Thanks to you, we are now celebrating two years of podcasting.  Listen in to hear what wonderful opportunities are coming our way because of you!

February is typically the month of romantic love, but this year isn't any more typical than the last one! For the gals at SB, the month has been jammed packed with unexpected events, which if allowed could be exasperating.  Today's episode is all about finding sunshine in winter, self-love as opposed to romantic love, and generally walking on the bright side of the street.  Join us!

We apologize.  We failed to introduce you to a valued team member and now she is leaving us! So, say hello and goodbye to Danika.  Unlike some of our other fabulous team members, Danika is older, a mom of two children, and works for a local police department.  We miss her but celebrate her time with us.

Hiring a friend has its risks.  What happens to the friendship?  Can your boss still be your friend?  All these questions were asked by Mikelle and her friend, Lex.  Complicating a new hire is the onboarding process during COVID-19.  Listen to this episode as the ladies "Dish the Dirt" on they made it work.