A Contagious Smile Podcast
A Contagious Smile is a powerful platform dedicated to uplifting and empowering special needs families and survivors of domestic violence. Through heartfelt stories, we shine a light on the journeys of extraordinary individuals who have overcome unimaginable challenges. Their triumphs serve as a testament to resilience and strength, inspiring others to rediscover their own inner light. Each episode features candid interviews with survivors, advocates, and experts who provide valuable resources and insights to support those on their own paths to healing and empowerment. Join us as we celebrate the power of resilience, the beauty of shared stories, and the unstoppable spirit of those who turn adversity into hope. Let us guide you in rekindling your spirit, because every smile tells a story of courage and transformation.
A Contagious Smile Podcast
Resilience and Rebirth: Overcoming Bullying, Celebrating Literary Triumphs, and Championing LGBTQ+ Inclusivity
What if the challenges we faced in our youth were actually stepping stones to our most meaningful accomplishments? Join us as we recount our transformative journey from the throes of bullying to the triumphant stage of guest speaking and winning a book award in Miami. We share the exhilarating conclusion of our beloved Never Dying book series and our excitement for exploring new creative territories in poetry and science fiction. As we navigate these personal and professional milestones, we also reflect on the contrasts between past adversities and the nurturing environment of our current school, pondering the broader societal shifts that a new presidency might bring.
This episode also unpacks the roots of prejudice against LGBTQ+ individuals, emphasizing the need for understanding and respect. We celebrate the strides made in embracing diverse identities and the empowering of youth to voice their perspectives on crucial issues like education and LGBTQ+ rights. By fostering open dialogues and creating inclusive environments, we're dedicated to valuing the voices of the younger generation. As we conclude, we reiterate our commitment to maintaining privacy and safety for our guests, ensuring that their stories contribute to meaningful conversations aimed at positive change. Join us as we explore endless possibilities for collaboration and inspiration in future episodes.
Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of CleanPool. I'm your host, Faith, with our co-host Floppy. Hi, Hi.
Speaker 2:Just everything in general, like what's going on in your individual world. What's going on with you, sheltie? What's going on in your individual world? What's going?
Speaker 3:on with you, shanti. Oh, a lot. Um, let's see where do I begin. Um, I guest spoke at a school in person for the first time. Yeah, um, the other day which, um, I do a lot of like virtual, like guest speaking, but I actually got to go to a school for the first time and like talk to the kids and read my book and I thought that was so cool and what else did you talk about.
Speaker 3:So, um, for the younger kids. So I spoke to um several grades. So for the um, first to third graders I read my children's book, and then the older kids, I read the first chapter of another one of my books, which I don't have here, but it's the Bane of Angel Fall Academy, and then we talked about it and I also like walked them through how I publish my books.
Speaker 2:Congratulations. Thank you.
Speaker 1:Congratulations, Paula Thanks.
Speaker 3:Oh wait, I'm sorry, it's like a little quiet, is it? Wait, sorry, it's like I can't hear for some reason. Wait, yeah, there you go. Yeah, what else is going on? Let's see in terms of oh yeah, I'm getting ready to go to Miami. I've never been to Florida, so I'm excited because I'm going to like receive a book award and finally and actually I conveniently have it right here the fourth Never Dying book releases in. I guess it's 20 days now, and I'm really excited because, you know, I've been working on this series since I was like 14. So it's really nice to just see that like finally done and then I can finally like move on to other projects. Um, but also I have a feeling I'm gonna end up writing more in the series just because I'm having a hard time letting go of it.
Speaker 2:That's awesome thank you how's it going at school? What is the feeling of everything going on at school, with everything happening in the world?
Speaker 3:right now. Oh yeah, I really like school. Um, for me, like school is definitely like a really safe place. Um, it's like really fun. So, like I, um, I'm really enjoying my classes this year and I'm really enjoying, like you know, kind of getting to talk about like what's going on in the world and like getting to like be engaged in like everything, and also, um, like just getting to like learn new things. And I think it's like the trimester is almost ending, so I have like all these like term projects I have to do, which can be stressful because there's a lot, but, um, it's also really exciting well, I'm glad that our school is doing good for you, thanks.
Speaker 2:So how is the bullying situation at your school? First of all, what you've been through. How have you been through? What have you experienced?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so my current school is definitely a lot better. Like I feel really comfortable in that environment compared to like previous places I've been in. Like I feel really comfortable in that environment compared to like previous places I've been I've been in. Um it's definitely um I don't want to say now that I'm older, because I know there are some other high schools where bullying is a very serious issue um, but right now, like I've managed to um get myself in an environment where I'm comfortable and I really like everybody and I hope people like me I think they do do.
Speaker 2:He loves you, everybody loves you.
Speaker 3:Oh good, thank you.
Speaker 2:So what is your next step for your next book? What are you going to be working on?
Speaker 3:Ooh okay. So I just wrapped up this like really quick poetry project. I know I was telling you about it. I think, yeah, just this quick, like quick novel told in poetry. So I just finished the first draft of that a few days ago. It's quite short compared to my other books it's like you won't know her name length as opposed to these full-length novels. So now I'm finally I have a backlog of projects just like ideas that I really want to start writing that I just haven't gotten the chance to. So, for example, there was this prologue of this new science fiction book that I wrote a while ago. I never was like serious about writing it, just because it's a big project and there's a lot to think about. But now I'm finally starting to write that one, just like kind of continuing where I left off, like a thousand words in.
Speaker 2:So moving forward, what do?
Speaker 3:you guys think is going to go on after the new president takes over. I gotta think about that one what do you think?
Speaker 1:hopefully the prices will be lower. The grocery prices, I guess yeah, and lines will be at one.
Speaker 2:I'm trying to figure out.
Speaker 3:I'm trying to figure out, like, because I got like a couple things I want to say and I'm like, figure out, I'm trying to figure out, like I got like a couple things I want to say and I'm like what do I say? Because I have a couple different ways I could go about this. Of course, I mean it's like you know, I don't know where we're going from here. The one thing I do know is, no matter what, I get a lot of writing inspiration from the world, so, really like, no matter what happens if things get better or if they get worse, then, like, I'm going to have a new book to write.
Speaker 3:So, Are you surprised at the one? I'd say it's not what I expected, but it's also. I mean, in hindsight it probably isn't terribly surprising.
Speaker 2:Right, so how hard is it? What's the hardest thing about being a young woman at y'all's age at this point in time? And what else is going on?
Speaker 3:I definitely there's a lot going on in the world and it's like it's difficult for everybody, but I think there are exclusive to girls but also kind of being in like a professional field and being an author and seeing how like men can be treated differently like that's definitely like very difficult.
Speaker 2:What do you guys think Are the kids in? You guys think the kids in your age and when I say kids, I mean young women. I'm just old. Do you guys think that it's tougher for them if they're in the LGBTQ community, or are there more people, more accepting now.
Speaker 3:I can answer Sure, maybe I think it's yes and no. I think it definitely depends on like where you live, okay, and it's like. I think, though, definitely like being a part of like any minority group anywhere is going to have a certain level of difficulty. Um, though, in some, in some ways, like living in like southern California or actually really just like coastal California in general, versus, like you know, a state that's like in like a small town somewhere in like the Midwest, yeah, yeah, like there's definitely a difference.
Speaker 1:I also think that's normal because I'm also in family. But when I get family, I don't accept that and I'm also in family. That's blue.
Speaker 2:Do you believe in yourself and then you get into the community.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I like. Sorry, I don't know how to Wait. Can you repeat that?
Speaker 2:If you are, let's say you're a lesbian or you're bisexual, or you're homosexual do you believe that you were born that way and then you discover it as you grow, or you know, you grow up? Or do you believe that maybe at some point in time you turn that way and then you come into the community?
Speaker 3:I believe you're born rather it being something that like and of course you know like things can change, you know, and things can be fluid. But I do think it's like, ultimately, you know you are like, it's not that, it's like a choice, if that makes sense.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what do you think? I believe that you're growing into it, but you don't know what they're uncomfortable or living for, or all that. And when you're little, when you're older, it makes more sense to you.
Speaker 2:Right, but you can be born that way. You just haven't recognized it. Is that what you think?
Speaker 1:Yeah, basically.
Speaker 2:Yeah, born that way, you just haven't recognized it. Is that what you think?
Speaker 1:yeah, yeah do you think that people?
Speaker 3:are more accepting of the lgbtq community now versus like you know your parents time I, yes, but there's still a lot of progress that can be made. I think you know I mean definitely on like, a level of like policy and politics, and it's like you know, there's a lot of things that we can do to ensure that there's equality and that people aren't getting like discriminated based on their like, sexual orientation or their gender. But compared to, for for example, like my parents or my grandparents, there's definitely a lot of progress. It's definitely more like acceptable and safer, but there's still, like, a lot more that can be done.
Speaker 1:I actually don't know that, but it is a little bit. I was born in 1900 and the community was especially in the 80s where it was excluded out of everything and people always looked down on the community. But now it's a little better and people are getting accepted into the community and accepted as they are.
Speaker 2:Yeah so here's a question. So, Shanti, would you have a problem if a trans boy, a trans young man, came into your locker room while you were changing and getting dressed? Would that make you uncomfortable? Um, wait, so um, like someone who was like, born a boy and transitioned into a girl because that's in the news a lot is that the parents are very much against them being able to go into the the girl's locker room they identify as a girl, and I wanted to know from you how you would feel personally?
Speaker 3:no, because I don't, um, it doesn't happen very much, you know, I mean we're all the same age, it's all typically young people, and it doesn't seem to happen that much because typically, I mean, most people just change in the bathrooms and the stalls. So, um, every person who I've known, um, who's like a trans woman, you know, we don't like, we don't really change around each other anyway, um, and it's like I, you know, I personally, like don't have a problem with it, but also I don't, you know, I don't use the locker room, um, but I think that's very rare and it's more that it can be like blown out of proportion in the way that it's like publicized, where there's really, like, you know, it's not very much happening and it's not. If it is, it's not happening in a way that's like inappropriate, if that makes sense.
Speaker 2:People, adults and parents are I think you know making such a big deal about this that we never hear from the young ladies and young gentlemen about how they feel about it. It's just the parents speaking their side, but you never hear from the individuals who actually go through it on a daily basis. So that's why I'm curious about your feelings about it.
Speaker 1:I mean it wouldn't okay a little bit if there was a patient in the locker room with them and the girls would be like wearing normal clothing and like the men's locker room would be full of milk and like, um, mary Poppins will be going out on the fence. But other than that it will be a complete no.
Speaker 2:Okay, what age do you believe that it? Is okay for that to start're transitioning into.
Speaker 1:Do I ask you that first one or five?
Speaker 3:um, it's up to you, okay. Um. So, in terms of things like locker rooms, first off, I'm not a fan of locker rooms in general. Um, I much prefer to just, you know, when I had physical education, just to change the bathroom, um, so, really, like most schools you know, either don't require you'd have to change for pe or they don't have locker rooms, um, but typically, um, if we're talking about bathrooms, bathrooms in general are private. So, like I think, if there's a student you know they're young, say they're in elementary school, and because I do know people who have been in elementary school and who have made that transition then they should be allowed to use the bathroom if they're comfortable in, because ultimately it um makes, like them feel more comfortable. And really, you know, these kids are too young to know that there's like anything quote unquote wrong about that. So it's more that by, like, forcing them to use a facility they're not comfortable in is then also teaching the other kids that there's something wrong, even if it's not if that makes sense, it makes perfect sense.
Speaker 1:I honestly think it will be around 15 or 15, because that makes more sense For a Canadian kid. They know they're a grandmother, like a boy or a girl, but if they're a paid grandmother they will most likely lose a part of themselves and feel confused. There's no number of generations, but chemo class know a little bit more about it and they're watching chemo. That's fine. So if chemo means they're more comfortable that way, they're okay and that is completely fine.
Speaker 2:What do you say to the individuals, because both of you are so heroic and have overcome so much. What do you say to the individuals that may be? Bullying those kids that are learning about who they are and they're transitioning and you know what? I'm sure it's not easy for them. And what do you say to the kids that aren't so open to it and maybe they're bullying those kids?
Speaker 3:I think that you know, I would tell them to think about, like, where is this hate coming from? You know, because at the end of the day, even if, like, they don't understand someone else's lifestyle, what good does it do to like hate on someone based on how they identify? Because, at the end of the day, it's none of their business, right? And then they're making it like their business and they're like hating, and it doesn't. It's not even going to do anything, it's not going to change this person's identity, or at least I hope it won't.
Speaker 2:Right. I think it makes that person more unattractive because they're showing an ugliness about them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what do you think? I think that's why they're being bullied because they're transgendered into another gender or, like some people, are non-binary and get bullied because of that. But what the people don't know about bullying is that they only choose to pretend them. All my mind is how they feel, that they're best friends and that they're most likely themselves and that they need to understand that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely, I mean I think it makes someone who picks on others really make themselves look small because that person probably has done absolutely nothing to them. They're trying to become their authentic self and in turn, they're being belittled by others who've done no wrong to them.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It is messed up. But see, when I was in school there was never the LGBTQ community. That was not there. And you know, we I want to say we had a few people that were of the homosexual nature.
Speaker 2:We had a couple that might have been of the lesbian nature, but some people really made life hard for them. But it was not. They didn't have like non-binary and and all they didn't have all the choices that are out there today. They had, you know, you're either homosexual, heterosexual, that's it Like there's no you know in between. And most people hit it out of fear of what would happen back then and they definitely wouldn't bring someone of the same sex um, like two boys or two girls to a dance or to a prom or something like that. That would never happen, they would never let them in. So I think in a way, there there has come a long way. Or to a prom or something like that. That would never happen, they would never let them in.
Speaker 1:So I think, in a way, there has come a long way.
Speaker 2:No, not I agree with. What do you think we could do? What do you both think we could do to make things better for kids of your generation? How can we help?
Speaker 3:just in general. Um, be as specific as you want. Oh, good question. Do you want to go first? Because I'm gonna have to think about that for a minute. I got a lot of things I could say well, have it because we're that's.
Speaker 2:We're doing this up and forward today because I wanted you know. So many people are talking and it's all you know. Older adults, it's all older parents, and you don't hear from the teenage years.
Speaker 2:You don't hear from the kids and teenage students about how they feel about what's going on after the election or how they feel about what's going on in the LGBTQ community, btq community, and I wanted you guys to you know, open up and talk about it and use this forum today as an open forum, because you guys are the voices for those that don't get a voice right now, and it's almost like so many adults and parents are like not letting the kids and teens talk, and I don't agree with that and I want you guys to be able to talk, and so this is the opportunity for you all to stand up and talk for each other.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think you know you could say that like that's definitely a big thing and how we can make life better for teenagers is to listen and to kind of value our opinions. You know I know teenagers, you know, aren't old enough to vote, but I know we all still have opinions on like policy and government and all of that.
Speaker 2:That can be incredibly helpful just to listen to you know you have better opinions than some adults you do. You guys are more informed and more educated than some adults are.
Speaker 3:I'm just saying Sorry go ahead, yeah, and I think like also like kind of with that. You know, like making education more accessible to everyone is definitely a real way that we can improve life for teenagers. I know a lot of like teenagers and kids are like, oh you know, we hate school and in that honestly often reflects on the school but not the idea of education. So making schools safer and more comfortable environments for students to really explore what they're interested in and learn is a way that we can definitely just improve life for all teenagers.
Speaker 2:I agree.
Speaker 1:I think that for the LQA community, the LQA community is safe in that they're welcome and that they are loved for who they are. So my marriage, my parents, my kids, no matter what kind of a man they are or who they love, they should know that they are appreciated and that, no matter what they are, always keep them safe with them.
Speaker 2:I agree.
Speaker 1:Thank you or to those animals. I agree.
Speaker 2:What else do you think that the young adults of your generation need to say and be heard about that aren't getting the recognition and the availability to talk about?
Speaker 3:Do you want to go first?
Speaker 1:I don't want to let the voice be known.
Speaker 2:Well, that's what you guys are doing. You're voicing for them and we're going to also offer for other teens to come on and start talking with you guys to talk Because y'all are the voice.
Speaker 1:Y'all are using your voice to help so many others voice to help so many others, and it's not like we're not even talking for them, but they need to have a voice of their own for themselves, like find a way to get their word out, like to a country or to a land or that individual thing, by talking to a friend or family member.
Speaker 2:What do they have to support they?
Speaker 1:just say in Ireland that if they're not there for you when you're down but they're there for you when you're down they don't deserve a characters when they're up. Do that. If you're not there for them when they're down, do not let them be there for you when they're following up. I've made it through a lot.
Speaker 2:That's excellent advice.
Speaker 3:I feel like everything that I would say has already been said in terms of the question. That was a good answer.
Speaker 2:What do you guys think about having other teams on for more open forums to discuss how we can make a difference? And try to start making differences, because you guys are the voice and you guys have millions of listeners and millions of followers.
Speaker 2:Between the last two shows that you both did. There was like six plus something a million, yeah. So you guys have the voice and you have the platform and you guys can do it. You can help others learn how to do it. So we want to be able to make changes for the best, for the better, for our next generation, generation, which is you guys. How do you think we can start using this platform?
Speaker 3:to do that. Yeah, I think that would be amazing I think I want to too yeah absolutely.
Speaker 1:I will help in any way possible, and I know that there are people out there in Crete who have had to go to hell and back, but me, and Tom too have.
Speaker 2:Y'all are two, both amazing, strong, beautiful young women who are published authors that have gone through hell and come back on the other side and you use what you went through to help others, which a lot of people wouldn't do, and so I think the world of both of you obviously you guys know that but it's the fact that this is your forum, this is your platform and you know, I was at the grocery store yesterday and I was talking to a 16 year old gentleman who wants to come on and he was so excited because he says there's nothing out there that allows the voices of tomorrow's generational leaders to speak. And I said, oh yes, there is, and this is what it is. And he thinks it's absolutely fabulous because that's how change is going to get made is with you guys, using your voice to you know, make things known, how we can bring it a difference to the, to the foot of it. I mean, where do we start, where do we go from here and how do we make it happen?
Speaker 1:yeah, well, I think that the new generation, they actually help have a purpose in life. But as the old generation keeps going going, the new generation brings the old ones to set new rules new boundaries, and the future ends in life Right.
Speaker 2:So how would you both like to open the forum to invite people you guys can send out? You know, give an invitation, an open invitation. Both of you, you know, go ahead, tell people, come on, we can talk about whatever. Just what do you guys want to use your forum for?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I definitely know some people who would yeah, I definitely know some people who would.
Speaker 2:I know that it'll be a lot of people who like to come on, yeah, you know, because I don't know if you know, but this is reaching the most amazing amount of people she just interviewed. I don't. Did you ever watch ice skating? Did you ever watch ice skating? I don't think I did. Well, if you google scott hamilton, you'll see that he, uh, was an olympic gold medalist who.
Speaker 2:That's so cool. He fought cancer, uh, three times and he came from a really unusual situation. Beautiful backstory he was adopted, he was sick his whole childhood. Um, he's five foot three and he overcame everything and he is known around the world as the ice skater who does the backflips on ice. That's so cool, and we just spent a good amount of time talking with him and he even said he wished that there was a forum like this when they were, when he was younger, because it's so necessary for kids to be heard I'm sorry, I don't mean to say kids, teens to be heard, and that's what I want you guys to be able to do is open the platform and make a difference, because y'all have more listeners than you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's so cool. I think everyone out there needs to listen to everyone else and learn from them, learn from what it's been through, and I know they're crazy enough, and so I really cry for help from people.
Speaker 2:Right. And what would you guys say to people who right now, may be not in the best place? Maybe they're depressed or getting bullied, or they feel they have no one or their home life isn't so great. What would you guys say to them?
Speaker 3:My biggest message is just always like you're not alone, even though it very much feels that way, I mean, I know it. It felt that way when I was going through everything, but it's like, in the end, you're not alone. There are people there for you and there are people who have gone through the same thing, who are going through it, and it's really about finding that support and like finding that community, whether it's like in person or online.
Speaker 1:Figure it out, because no matter what you're going through, you will always be with it in the end and good will come to you. It may be pain, but sometimes pain can get better and help you get through all this and to be alive, knowing that there's good to come, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Absolutely so how would you feel if we started by asking people to? Write in and either ask questions for you two or maybe tell about a situation they're in and ask for some advice. I mean, how do you guys feel about starting?
Speaker 1:with a Q&A session. Yeah, that would be awesome, yeah.
Speaker 2:So why don't you guys tell everybody if you have a question or a situation and you want some answers to write into you guys and you guys will let them know. And we don't have to say their names.
Speaker 2:We can keep their identity safe and we, you know, if you want to say they want us to say their name, we can. If not, that's okay. We'll make sure that we try to help the best way that we can, right girls. So guys want to think about that and if they want to come on, they can reach out to us as well and we can get them on the show and talk about certain topics and how we can make change. We need to make change.
Speaker 1:We need to make this world a better place yeah, so this will move the best I'm gonna know a lot of that stuff going. Yes, there are. Is there anything else you guys want to say before we?
Speaker 2:wrap up today.
Speaker 3:I don't know, I don't think so. I think we covered everything.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think so Take us out Me. Uh-huh, there's another episode. There's another episode on I will see you next time.
