Yes! We Rise

At the beginning of every episode of the Yes! We Rise Podcast, you'll notice some incredible music, which is all thanks to Lori and Jeremy Lowell of Drishti Beats . Together, they join Christine to share about their journey and personal upleveling, which led to the creation of Drishti Beats, where their offerings include yoga workshops, yoga teacher trainings, and retreats incorporating their very...

Education can change lives, and while college is often seen as the onramp to success, so often we forget about the financial burden that comes with earning a degree. Dr. Faith Okpotor is changing the lives of students through her powerful project, College Fully Funded . Faith is a college professor of international relations, researching political violence and international security, with a specia...

Creativity is an exchange of energy, passion, and trust. Today, mural artist Chicho Lorenzo joins Christine sharing his joy, wisdom, and light. Chicho is living out his calling as a creative in a way that brings people together. He believes that art is best created when it is mutually inspired. Chicho's personality is magnetic. He believes in the power of sharing all emotions and that happiness is...

There is wisdom and power in plants, beyond what we often allow ourselves to see! Kat Maier knows this firsthand, and in today's episode of the We Rise Podcast, she invites us all to dive deep into ourselves and the lessons of the plants. Learn about the power of herbalism, wide angle vision, dropping into the consciousness of the heart, and the transformational beauty of sitting in hard spaces. K...

What does it take to overcome and heal through trauma? In today's episode of Yes! We Rise, Christine is joined by professor Jerrod Brown. Jerrod offers his wisdom and expertise on trauma and cultivating resilience and healing. He explains the importance of leaning into emotions, self-care, and gratitude. Learn about trauma at the individual level and as a community, and discover simple, yet powerf...

Do you believe your voice matters? Do you believe that the way you communicate with others can directly impact how they show up in the world? Roxanne Derhodge joins Christine to share her empowering knowledge around authentic leadership. Discover what it means to own your voice and empower others to do the same. Roxanne digs into what it means to be a leader for the collective, and how CEOs and bu...

What if loving yourself and deepening your relationship to self could lead to transforming the world? This is exactly what Susan McCulley believes. Susan is a mindful movement teacher based in Charlottesville, Virginia, with a passion for helping people use movement to connect with themselves and as a result, change the world. In today's episode of the We Rise Podcast, Susan shares how tuning into...

Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in peer communities. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, they begin to imagine what might be possible in their own communities. But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration? Tune in as Christine shares stories from 3...

Natalie Bullen is a full-time entrepreneur who helps women have confidence in their value, rewrite money narratives, and demand the compensation they are actually worth. Her coaching and consulting firm, Unapologetic Wealth, supports women, especially women of color, to capture the wealth they deserve and desire. In this passionate episode of the We Rise Podcast, Natalie empowers each of us to cla...

Dr. Fanike-Kiara Young has an incredible background as a licensed therapist, master healing alchemist, reiki practitioner, certified clinical hypnotherapist, and has a deep background in behavioral health, childhood, and financial trauma. She helps women entrepreneurs overcome their negative thought patterns and limiting beliefs so they can step into who they want to be, both personally and profes...

Ruma Mazumdar is a real estate attorney and entrepreneur supporting home buyers and sellers as they enter into an exciting new chapter of their lives. As a South Asian-American, she made the decision to leave her six-figure corporate law firm job to begin her own practice, Key Esquire, and now works largely with the South Asian immigrant community. Breaking away from traditional values and finding...

Rorri Geller-Mohamed is the founder of U Power Change , an organization focused on anti-racism and diversity, equity, and inclusion coaching and consulting. Through her program Changemakers, she helps women that identify as white to feel empowered and ready to engage in racial equity and justice work. Rorri also has a blog and podcast, Racially Responsible , focused on growing equity. Today, Rorri...

Elizabeth Hope Derby is a business and mindset coach based in Charlottesville, Virginia who partners with women entrepreneurs to help them create more sustainable, profitable and enjoyable businesses. Christine and Elizabeth explore the power of shifting from scarcity to possibility, the power of having a community to support you, and how to create movement by taking it one step at a time. Today o...

Happy New Year! As we begin 2022, Christine is thrilled to bring author and alcohol-free life coach, Karolina Rzadkowolska to share her expertise and passion for creating an alcohol-free life! Hear Karolina's journey of becoming the best version of herself, learn the mental and physical benefits of taking a break from alcohol, and feel empowered to transform your life. In the face of a society tha...

Elizabeth Wright lives in Knoxville, Tennessee working as a Communication Strategist at the The Highlander Research and Education Center in Tennessee. A fierce advocate for justice, involved in youth organizing in Knoxville, and passionate about justice, Elizabeth shares some of the incredible work taking place in the South and Appalachian communities to bring about transformation, movement buildi...

In today's episode of the We Rise Podcast, Christine welcomes friend and mentor Frank Dukes to share about his work as a mediator and community leader. Facilitating conversations for communities on a wide range of issues, Frank shares the importance of conflict resolution and building trust. Hear about embracing uncomfortable conversations, creating brave space, and cultivating community. Enjoy! F...

On today's episode of the We Rise Podcast, Christine shares a beautiful conversation with Nicole Horseherder about her work to protect the water sources of Black Mesa, Arizona as well as the Navajo Nation. A Black Mesa native, Nicole is the director of Tó Nizhóni Ání , which translates to "sacred water speaks". She explains the power of reconnecting with her culture and traditions as a way to empo...

Welcome back to the We Rise Podcast. Today, Christine explores resilience in the Chesapeake Bay with a focus on St. Michaels, Maryland . Sharing from personal experience, Christine talks about the high level view of the gorgeous Chesapeake Bay, focusing specifically on the Bay health. Discover the beautiful Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum , and hear how St. Michaels, Maryland is creating economic a...

In this powerful interview, Christine speaks to the North America Director of Resilient Cities Network , Laurian Farrell. Join as she shares about her upbringing, passion for engineering, and drive to center equity and resilience in cities and communities. Laurian talks about the incredible power of bringing all voices to the table and the importance of equity and planning for a resilient future....

In this episode of the We Rise Podcast, Christine is joined by leadership coach Heidi Metro for a powerful conversation about the importance of identifying your core values, leading from within and the freedom of setting boundaries. Learn about the power of looking inward before pouring out. Heidi also shares the beautiful work of the Keystone Collective, a group committed to social justice and eq...

In today's episode of the We Rise Podcast, learn about rising up and resilience in central Appalachia. Christine looks at some of the historic mining wars and the lasting impacts from the Battle of Blair Mountain in West Virginia, how the coal mining industry is shifting, and how communities are creating lasting change. Wrapping up the episode, hear about growing solar projects in Southwest Virgin...

Welcome back to the We Rise Podcast! In today's episode, Christine focuses on women leading and centering women's voices, both a key component to building community and creating transformation. Be inspired by the progress of women, including trans and non binary folks, occupying more places of power. Hear stories of Wahleah Johns and Nicole Horseherder, leaders in the transition around coal and re...

Joined with two incredible women of Dante, Virginia , Christine shares a lively conversation with Pat Gibson and Catherine Pratt. Sharing about their upbringing in Dante and reminiscing about the past, Pat and Cat share their passion for revitalizing the community-oriented town of Dante, Virginia. Learn about the optimism it takes to rekindle the past for the youth of tomorrow, finding hope in oth...

Welcome back to the We Rise Podcast. In today's episode, Christine has a lively conversation with Amanda Workman-Scott, the Director of Community Engagement at the West Virginia Community Development Hub . Amanda shares the importance of building trust, empowering communities, and overcoming fear of change. She also dives into the importance of work-life balance and preventing burnout. Join in as...

What is deep listening? Why is it so important? In this episode of the We Rise Podcast, Christine Gyovai dives into the power of listening and the impact of being heard. Learn helpful tips to be an active listener and its role in fostering deep connections, honoring a person's worth, and creating possibility. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Find out more about the Crossroads Youth Summit hosted by the I...