Ep 11: Back to School/College with Claudia Saavedra (and FlairNow)

Buckle up, this episode is wild! Our guest on this adventure is Ryan Boyette, a regular guy from Florida who was inspired to move to a war-torn region of Sudan during a mass genocide. He's being bombed, he's living through atrocities and instead of running back to America, he goes…I'm not going anywhere. This is my home. This is where I’m meant to serve. 

Ryan built a network of citizen journalists called Nuba Reports to record and report on the brutality of the Sudanese regime in order to gain worldwide attention.

Hear how Ryan smuggled journalists and activists like Nicholas Kristof, Ann Curry and George Clooney into a dangerous region strictly forbidden to outside media. For those efforts and more, he was recognized with a Human Rights First Award.

With his Master’s Degree from Vanderbilt University in International Education Policy and Management, Ryan, alongside his wife Jazira founded and now run To Move Mountains, an organization that’s building schools, training teachers and creating unique educational opportunities for families in Sudan.

Be sure to follow the Crazy Amazing Humans podcast on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, our website or wherever you listen. Go find us, hit subscribe, and then you’ll be notified about our latest Crazy Amazing Humans podcast episode. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter so you can be the first to know about a new episode. 

Buckle up, this episode is wild! Our guest on this adventure is Ryan Boyette, a regular guy from Florida who was inspired to move to a war-torn region of Sudan during a mass genocide. He's being bombed, he's living through atrocities and instead of running back to America, he goes…I'm not going anywhere. This is my home. This is where I’m meant to serve. 

Ryan built a network of citizen journalists called Nuba Reports to record and report on the brutality of the Sudanese regime in order to gain worldwide attention.

Hear how Ryan smuggled journalists and activists like Nicholas Kristof, Ann Curry and George Clooney into a dangerous region strictly forbidden to outside media. For those efforts and more, he was recognized with a Human Rights First Award.

With his Master’s Degree from Vanderbilt University in International Education Policy and Management, Ryan, alongside his wife Jazira founded and now run To Move Mountains, an organization that’s building schools, training teachers and creating unique educational opportunities for families in Sudan.

Be sure to follow the Crazy Amazing Humans podcast on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, our website or wherever you listen. Go find us, hit subscribe, and then you’ll be notified about our latest Crazy Amazing Humans podcast episode. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter so you can be the first to know about a new episode. 

With all the division we see in the world, is coexistence even possible?

A recent article in Psychology Today on this topic pointed out how we are constantly reminded of our differences, but in reality we are all very much the same. We all want love, we all want purpose, we all want the best for our children, etc...

But the #1 thing we have in common? We want to belong. 

To test this theory, we invited seven guests who each have different belief systems and grew up in different cultures to share their views on coexisting: Robert Scheer, Dr. Tom Catena, Mobolaji Olambiwonnu, Deepa Bharath, Roger Fishman, Chantal Prunier and Ryan Boyette. The results were profound, enlightening, and revealing. Many of us have not had an opportunity to speak with and get to know people whose thoughts, identities and views differ from our own--this episode is that kind of opportunity.

Check out our conversation with this brilliant and diverse group of humans on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, our website or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for being a vital part of our Crazy Amazing Humans Community.

We’re beyond excited to share this exclusive and candid interview with the ultimate girl boss of the ultimate girl brand, Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer at Mattel. Recently, Forbes recognized Lisa McKnight as one of the top brand marketers in the world for 2023 and after listening to this podcast, you’ll know why! While at the helm of the Barbie brand, Lisa and her team have led the charge in making Barbie more relevant than ever, especially with the record-breaking Barbie movie ranking as THE highest-grossing domestic film release in 2023. In this interview Lisa puts us “in the pink” with her extensive knowledge garnered from over 25 years at Mattel. She has been recognized as a driving force in transforming the Barbie brand into the most diverse and inclusive doll line on the market while overseeing the evolution of the Barbie movie from inception to the silver screen. 

You may already know that the Barbie movie has garnered over 1.4 billion dollars at the Worldwide Box Office and Barbie’s director, Greta Gerwig, is now the first woman ever to independently helm a billion dollar movie. But what you may NOT know is the tremendous behind-the-scenes effort it took to bring the film’s top-shelf creatives together, the details of the film’s 5-year timeline, the many homages throughout the film, the truth about the Kens’ fate, and other juicy controversies and collaborations.

In this conversation, you’ll also discover the many philanthropic efforts at Mattel with which Lisa is involved, including The Future of Pink is Green, Barbie Loves the Ocean and Save the Children. She also shares from her heart something that all working mothers can relate to – the tricky and ongoing balancing act of career and family life.

We are sure you’ll enjoy this uplifting and insightful conversation. Pink attire optional. Be sure to follow us on Instagram  and also subscribe to our Youtube  version of the podcast that you’ll know about this episode as well as the many Crazy Amazing Humans featured in all of our episodes. We’re always here to remind you that any gesture of kindness has the potential to create a Crazy Amazing Human experience, one person at a time. You have the power to create that every day because YOU ARE Crazy Amazing!

Thanks for being a vital part of our Crazy Amazing Humans Community.

Our guest is The Right Honourable Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada. Kim is a powerhouse whose life has been a life of firsts: from the age of 16 when she became the first female student body president at Prince of Wales Secondary School, to the first female president for her freshman class at University of British Columbia, to holding elected office at all three levels of Canadian government and then becoming Canada’s first (and only) female Prime Minister in 1993. Clearly, Kim has spent much of her life breaking barriers for women. She was the first woman to serve as Canada’s Minister of Justice and Minister of National Defence, as well as the first woman to serve as Minister of Defence of a NATO member country. Ms. Campbell served as the Canadian Consul General in Los Angeles, taught at the Harvard Kennedy School and is a member of the International Women’s Forum, a global organization of women of significant and diverse achievement, and served as its global president (2003-2005). She was inducted into the IWF Hall of Fame in 2008.  

Kim Campbell is also a founding member of the Club de Madrid, now the largest international forum of former heads of government and state who work to promote democratic values. After serving as Acting President (2002), Secretary General (2004-2006), Vice President and a member of the Board (2007- 2011), she returned to the Board in 2019. 

Among her involvement in international organizations focused on democracy and security issues, Kim Campbell chaired the Steering Committee for the World Movement for Democracy in Washington, D.C. from 2008-2015, and is a Trustee of the International Center for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence (ICSR) at King’s College, London. Ms. Campbell became an international leader of leaders as Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders (1999-2003) and is currently a member and Chair Emerita. The Council’s membership is composed of women who hold, or have held, the office of President or Prime Minister. 

Ms. Campbell’s most notable achievement in recent years has been the design and launch of a ground-breaking leadership program for undergraduates at the University of Alberta: The Peter Lougheed Leadership College. She served as its Founding Principal from 2014-2018. 

In 2016 Kim Campbell was appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to serve as Chairperson of the Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments, a role she has reprised three times since, most recently in spring 2021.

In 2021, Ms. Campbell joined the board of Toronto-based Glen Gould Foundation (glengould.ca) and the advisory board of The Vancouver Anti-Corruption Institute. VACI is a project of The International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy (ICCLR), which was created during Ms. Campbell’s tenure as Minister of Justice. Also in 2021, Ms. Campbell accepted an invitation to become a fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of arts, manufactures and commerce (thersa.org), which was founded in 1754 in England. Additionally, Ms. Campbell received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the International Leadership Association (ILA), for her significant contributions to the understanding and practice of effective leadership which has had an exceptional impact internationally.

Kim Campbell lives with her husband - pianist, actor, playwright, composer and producer Hershey Felder - in Florence, Italy.

Join us as Kim Campbell speaks candidly on issues related to leadership, international politics, democratization, climate change, gender, Canadian/American relations and much more. By discovering how someone else has learned important life lessons from lived experiences, many times we can then apply these insights to our lives and unlock our own hidden potentials. 

Be sure to follow us on Instagram and also subscribe to our YouTube version of the podcast so that you’ll know about this episode as well as the many Crazy Amazing Humans featured in all of our episodes. We’re always here to remind you that any gesture of kindness has the potential to create a Crazy Amazing Human experience, one person at a time. You have the power to create that every day because YOU ARE Crazy Amazing!

Our guest for this episode is Nikki Mark, founder of the TM23 Foundation and Tommy’s Field. Nikki’s son, Tommy, died unexpectedly in his sleep at the age of 12. Her story and this conversation is about processing grief and loss - and, ultimately, discovering ways to heal. Her principles not only apply to the loss of a loved one, but also help anyone who has experienced personal trauma and loss. 

You’ll be encouraged and inspired by the crazy amazing way she lives with a hopeful and positive mindset as she shares her story firsthand on the podcast--from her immediate response to her devastating loss to the explorative and magical journey that ensues. Nikki thoughtfully and thoroughly goes down that road and comes to a place where she learns about herself and life in a brand new way. Nikki shares the tools that helped her along her path and teaches us the 5 things to best help others during the early days of grief and loss plus a lot more.

We’re confident you’ll benefit from learning about Nikki's philosophy of seeing life through the lens of love and healing from the inside out. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and also subscribe to our YouTube version of the podcast so that you’ll know about this episode as well as the many Crazy Amazing Humans featured in all of our episodes. We’re always here to remind you that any gesture of kindness has the potential to create a Crazy Amazing Humans experience, one person at a time. You have the power to create that every day because YOU ARE Crazy Amazing!

 Hey Crazy Amazing Humans! As you know, one of our biggest goals is to always provide helpful and practical information for your life. With that in mind, here are some startling facts:

-Kidney disease is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.

-Kidney disease is known as a “silent killer” and it is very hard to detect until it is almost too late, unless you get checked regularly. 

-Kidney disease can happen at any stage of life - from teens and young adults, to older adults, to even babies and young children.

March is National Kidney Month so what better time to talk about what our kidneys do for us, how to be proactive with our kidney health, and highlight the efforts of those who are making an impact in helping individuals and their families who are dealing with kidney-related health issues. The World Kidney Day Joint Steering Committee has declared 2023 to be the year of “Kidney Health for All – Preparing for the Unexpected, Supporting the Vulnerable!” We certainly agree!

Join us as Elisa & Michael Schenkman of the GOFARR Kidney Fund at Children’s Hospital L.A. and Mary Beth Barry from the CORE Kidney Health Program at UCLA share their invaluable knowledge and stories of courage, perseverance and hope. Our lively conversation will give you a deeper understanding of what your kidneys do, what signs to look for and how to be your own advocate when it comes to your health. 

Listen as we share important information that could save your life and the lives of those you love. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and also subscribe to our YouTube version of the podcast so that you’ll know about this episode as well as the many Crazy Amazing Humans featured in all of our episodes.

We’re always here to remind you that any gesture of kindness has the potential to create a Crazy Amazing Human experience, one person at a time. You have the power to create that every day because YOU ARE Crazy Amazing! Please review the podcast as we love to hear what you think. Thanks for being a vital part of our Crazy Amazing Humans Community.

Being musicians, Crazy Amazing Humans hosts Katrina and Jefferson are always ready to celebrate the artistic gifts of others. In this episode they feature Ricky Kej, a 2x Grammy Award winner, U.S. Billboard #1 artist, GQ Hero 2020 and an internationally renowned Indian Music Composer and Environmentalist. Ricky has won over 100 music awards in 20 countries. He serves as the UNESCO MGIEP “Global Ambassador for Kindness”, UNCCD “Land Ambassador”,  UNICEF “Celebrity Supporter” & Ambassador for “Earth Day Network.” 

Ricky has performed at prestigious venues in over 30 countries, including the UN Headquarters in New York and Geneva. His vast repertoire of work includes 16 studio albums and 4 feature films, including the natural history documentary ‘Wild Karnataka’ narrated by Sir David Attenborough. He serves as the UNESCO “Global Ambassador for Kindness,” UNCCD “Land Ambassador”,  UNICEF “Celebrity Supporter” and Ambassador for the Earth Day Network. In addition to his music success, he has been recognized for his tireless work in creating awareness for environmental issues. 

Ricky is nominated again this year for a Grammy and we speak with him remotely from his home studio in India.  His most recent Grammy Award was last year for the album Divine Tides, a collaboration with Stewart Copeland of The Police (his Grammy acceptance speech with Copeland from 2022 addressed the importance of the environment and went viral. You’ll hear that in the podcast as well.) 

Ricky’s awards include the United Nations “Global Humanitarian Artist” award and is conferred with the title “Youth Icon of India”. ‘Real Leaders’, a Signatory to the United Nations named Ricky Kej as one of the 100 Real Leaders who ‘Inspire the Future’. The House of Commons, Parliament of Canada awarded Ricky for his “Outstanding Musical and Humanitarian Achievement”. His vast repertoire of work includes 16 studio albums released internationally, over 3500 commercials and 4 feature films, including the natural history documentary ‘Wild Karnataka’ narrated by Sir David Attenborough. 

You’ll want to listen to this absolutely brilliant talent because he’s walking the walk of taking actions for the environment, both large and small, that make a huge difference. In our conversation, Ricky provides insights and ideas that will resonate and empower you to see how you can use your unique talents and abilities to make a difference, too. 

We're starting off the year with some helpful information and reminders with regards to safety for ourselves and our loved ones that you won’t want to miss! January also happens to be Human Trafficking Awareness Month so in this episode, we are featuring Keelin Washington and Jeff Wohler, experts in both of those fields. 

Keelin Washington, a human trafficking survivor, is a Program Facilitator on multiple anti-human trafficking programs including support groups and the kNOw More program, an awareness curriculum for middle and high school aged youth. She is also the Survivor Advocate and Mental Health Coach at Generate Hope, a safe house that provides healing and a real way out. As an expert in the field, Keelin has spoken at Shared Hope International, The Washington Times podcast, Debx/Amplified Voices among many more. Her dynamic work includes creating training videos and developing curriculum for organizations working with survivors, designing reintegration programming for survivors, including therapy, court advocacy. 

Jeff Wohler is a lawyer, has an extensive background in law enforcement and was a former Special Agent with the US Treasury Department where he worked on organized crime and complex financial investigations. In his current role as President and CEO of the San Diego Harbor Police Foundation, he has created a robust Human Trafficking awareness training program that contains six separate segments and all of these training modules are available for free through their website at www.helpstophumantrafficking.org  Jeff is the recipient of the 2021 ASTORS Platinum Award for Excellence in Public Safety and Community Enrichment sponsored by American Security Today, along with the 2022 Hope Rising award for the Foundations work.  

In this episode we are certain you’ll learn surprising new things about the subjects of safety and human trafficking. You will also be immensely inspired by the work that Jeff Wohler and Keelin Washington are doing to make a difference and create hope out of darkness. Don’t forget to make sure you’re following us on Instagram and also subscribe to our YouTube version of the podcast so that you’ll know about this episode as well as the many crazy amazing humans featured in all of our episodes.

We’re always here to remind you that any gesture of kindness has the potential to create a Crazy Amazing Human experience, one person at a time. You have the power to create that every day because YOU are Crazy Amazing! Thanks for being part of the Crazy Amazing Humans community. We appreciate you!

We're starting off the year with some helpful information and reminders with regards to safety for ourselves and our loved ones that you won’t want to miss! January also happens to be Human Trafficking Awareness Month so in this episode, we are featuring Keelin Washington and Jeff Wohler, experts in both of those fields. 

Keelin Washington, a human trafficking survivor, is a Program Facilitator on multiple anti-human trafficking programs including support groups and the kNOw More program, an awareness curriculum for middle and high school aged youth. She is also the Survivor Advocate and Mental Health Coach at Generate Hope, a safe house that provides healing and a real way out. As an expert in the field, Keelin has spoken at Shared Hope International, The Washington Times podcast, Debx/Amplified Voices among many more. Her dynamic work includes creating training videos and developing curriculum for organizations working with survivors, designing reintegration programming for survivors, including therapy, court advocacy. 

Jeff Wohler is a lawyer, has an extensive background in law enforcement and was a former Special Agent with the US Treasury Department where he worked on organized crime and complex financial investigations. In his current role as President and CEO of the San Diego Harbor Police Foundation, he has created a robust Human Trafficking awareness training program that contains six separate segments and all of these training modules are available for free through their website at www.helpstophumantrafficking.org  Jeff is the recipient of the 2021 ASTORS Platinum Award for Excellence in Public Safety and Community Enrichment sponsored by American Security Today, along with the 2022 Hope Rising award for the Foundations work.  

In this episode we are certain you’ll learn surprising new things about the subjects of safety and human trafficking. You will also be immensely inspired by the work that Jeff Wohler and Keelin Washington are doing to make a difference and create hope out of darkness. Don’t forget to make sure you’re following us on Instagram and also subscribe to our YouTube version of the podcast so that you’ll know about this episode as well as the many crazy amazing humans featured in all of our episodes.

We’re always here to remind you that any gesture of kindness has the potential to create a Crazy Amazing Human experience, one person at a time. You have the power to create that every day because YOU are Crazy Amazing! Thanks for being part of the Crazy Amazing Humans community. We appreciate you!