The Shining Beautiful Series Podcast

Whew!  The holidays are over and the ladies are focusing on new goals for 2021 and celebrating some last-minute victories in 2020.  The ladies have been wickedly busy this winter and thank you for all your support as they wind up season two of the Shining Beautiful Series Podcast.

The experts warned us.  We did our best to avoid it, but it still entered our circle--even our house!  Yep, we had to get tested and went quarantine.  Mom and Mikelle and no one else.  That was a first.  The result is a few changes in the roles and responsibilities of Mikelle's support team members.

As far as support services have come for people with disabilities, dentistry lags behind.  Part funding, part lack of trained dentist and a system overwhelmed with patients, it is tough to get great care when your teeth aren't great.   In this episode, Katherine details Mikelle's dental journey and recent implant surgery.  The struggle is real. The optimism is high. The determination on Mikelle's...

Allison and Katherine discuss the difficulties of educating Jack who is in his final year of high school.  There are many losses but are there some precious finds for everyone.

Arghh...tech is ever-evolving.  In this episode, you get a peek behind the scenes as the SB team explores new podcasting tools in an effort to provide you with higher quality podcasts.  It is goofy, messy and it is real.  We understand why folks are reluctant to engage with this often steep learning curve.  Listen in and laugh a lot as we wipe up our tech spills and thrills.

Shockober, Rocktober....we decided it is Thoughtober--a time to reboot, reflect and renew.  Katherine shares her fall sojourn to nurturing herself through nature and updates on the ladies. PS. Vote!

The problem: Mikelle's on/off switch to her wheelchair broke three times.  A $2 part that cost $4,000 to fix. A frustrating problem which causes Mikelle to be without a working chair for weeks.   The solution: Go outside the rehab system to crowdsourcing within our community.  In this episode, listen in to how Salena, one of Mikelle's team members, taps into her network of creative artists and des...

We all know MIkelle is a star that shines beautifully!  Now, she gets to shine on the new Colorado Office of Employment Firsts soon to be launched website.   Karen Ferrington for COEF and well-known photographer Darcy Keifel came to Mikelle's home to capture her magic.  (All done carefully with masks and social distancing!)

COVID is kicking the can of inclusion way down the road for Mikelle and Katherine. This acclaimed blog post viewed by many policy professionals and advocates is an updated audio version. Thought-provoking, this podcast looks at how life has changed for Mikelle since the virus landed in our state.  Like many families, the SB Community is figuring out and concerned about inclusion during the colder...

We have read during this pandemic organizations are focusing on rethinking, reimagining, resilience in a quickly changing world.   We decided to take a queue from business and do some reimagining ourselves.  We asked each of our team members who were interested in more responsibility to write their own job descriptions.  They did.  What follows is their perspectives on the experience of carving ou...

The times, they are a-changing. Mikelle's team is transitioning members with a couple of returning members and one departure. It might be time to rethink how we pay Mikelle's support team. Creativity and innovation are going more critical fall/winter approaches in the time of COVID. How do we reward innovation? Time to re-imagine our model. Listen in as Katherine shares her perspective on this som...

In the last episode, Katherine shared her concerns about traveling in the time of COVID-19.  This podcast gives Mikelle, Mo, and Mary Ann describe the worries, preparation, and impact of Katherine's sojourn into the Rocky Mountains.  It can be a rough but beautiful road.

Let's face it.  We are all feeling a little COVID-Cabin Fever.  Traditionally, Katherine and Mikelle's lives overlap, yet, leave each has their own space to do "their thing."  Every year, Mikelle kicks Katherine out for a week to 10 days.  But, this year is different in so many ways.  Mikelle was so sure she wanted Katherine to getaway, and Katherine wasn't so sure she wanted to go.  In this episo...

Nice podcast here.  It starts with Mary Ann, a member of Mikelle's support team, spotting a mural on a garage wall along a nearby alley. "Mikelle, you give me hope. Let's stop!"  The conversation evolves into mental health support and creative celebrations in the time of COVID-19 and ends with a sweet, somewhat philosophical conclusion.

Join Beth Keaton and Katherine Carol on this powerful episode on working with parent expectations, foster parental involvement in preparing their family member for employment success using customized employment.  It is a real treat to hear these two ladies explore the possibilities of parent power.

In this vibrant and fun interview with Co-Director of The Coleman Institue for People with Cognitive Disabilities, Shea Tanis, Mikelle and Katherine peer into the future of support services for people with disabilities with Shea.  Eerily predictive, we discuss how technology becomes far more important for people with disabilities than it has ever been before.

The world is regrouping and recovering, but a grocery worker at our local store passed away from COVID-19 and eleven others have tested positive.  We are not jumping back into the community and are for the most part staying safer at home.   Technology continues to be our connection to Gretchen and others. In this episode, Katherine shares how the ladies are getting creative with Zoom making it mor...

We meet some interesting people.  Corey Davis served in the Navy and is currently in film school here in Denver. He met Mikelle through his girlfriend, Monique, who works for Mikelle.  Amazed by her story, Corey has decided to document Mikelle's story and her use of technology for his film project.  Here is a short interview on why he chose to work with Mikelle. 

Yes, we have moved from social distancing to social isolation. Like you, we are trying to figure out what works and what doesn't.  A quick update and intro into some concrete tools you can try to make life more meaningful for you and those who you support remotely or in the home as families take it all on!

Let's have coffee and chat.  How are you doing? We are in week 4 of social distancing and lockdown.  Looks like we have a few more weeks of this new reality. In this short episode, Katherine shares how she and Mikelle are working through the lack of social connection and self-care.  It is nice to know we are not alone. 

The voices and experiences of people with disabilities and their families need to be heard during this COVID-19 crisis. Our guest this episode is our friend, Win Charles from Aspen, Colorado. Aspen was the first Colorado community for the virus outbreak in Colorado. Win shares her worries, her challenges, and experiences in self-isolation. 

Time for a new normal?  How do we building community when we can't get out in our communities?  Like you, we are figuring this out at the Shining Beautiful household.  We are bringing the team together to come up with a game plan for keeping life fun, engaging and how to amp up both low and high tech solutions. Give us a listen. You are not alone.   

Recently, several listeners asked to learn more about Katherine and her journey as a parent. How did she figure out this crazy system of supports? And, how, as a parent, did she figure out who she needed to be to support Mikelle. It's complicated. Let's start at the beginning as Katherine shares the people and events that shaped her approach to life and disability. Each parent has a unique journey...

Hello Everyone!  Thank you for your ongoing support for our podcast!  It has been exactly one year since we launched and to date we are right at 2000 downloads.  Not bad for a kitchen table podcast by two newbies! While that is great news, the focus on this episode is on telling your story and how it can change funding opportunities, build community and just make life more understandable. Here are...

In a time of differences, it so refreshing to celebrate enduring love and friendship.  Jerome and Mikelle met in high school and their friendship is stronger than ever.  I think this just might help you believe in the power of love once again.  Enjoy.  Happy Valentine's Day!