53|From Army Medic to Chief Diversity Equity & Inclusion Officer: Wil Johnson’s Story

53|From Army Medic to Chief Diversity Equity & Inclusion Officer: Wil Johnson’s Story

How do you go from earning $10.94 an hour as a substitute paraeducator to becoming the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer of an entire county?   Wil Johnson’s path to leadership was paved with profound challenges, reinvention, and resilience. After dropping out of college and serving as a U.S. Army medic in Alaska, Wil faced a harsh reality during the 2008 recession: despite his military experience and newly earned degrees, he couldn't find a career. Starting at the bottom working one-on-one with aggressive special needs students, Wil learned how to connect with youth who were simply seeking connection, not just attention. Navigating his own personal hardships, including surviving two divorces, he learned the hard way that you have to "put your mask on first" to prioritize your well-being before you can help others.   Today, Wil is the host of the At Homish podcast and leads county-wide initiatives for social justice, proving that true equity is about creating environments where everyone feels safe, supported, and a deep sense of belonging.   Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Intrepid Storytelling 03:00 Will Johnson: A Journey of Diversity and Inclusion 05:20 Growing Up: From Atlanta to the Army 10:49 Life After the Army: Finding My Path 15:53 Navigating Relationships and Moving to Seattle 20:51 Teaching Journey: From Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher 29:54 Behavioral Challenges in Education 40:48 Leadership in Education: Supporting Teachers and Students 43:17 Reflections on George Floyd and Social Justice 50:02 Expanding Community Engagement in Education 56:22 Understanding DEI: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 01:08:39 The Importance of Belonging and Community Support 01:11:50 Future Aspirations and Community Collaborationa   CONNECT WITH WIL Website: https://www.sno.wednet.edu/departments/student-success-services/equity-inclusion [https://www.sno.wednet.edu/departments/student-success-services/equity-inclusion] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wil.johnson1 [https://www.facebook.com/wil.johnson1] At-Homish Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-homish/id1714534402 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-homish/id1714534402]   Your support helps us keep telling meaningful stories. Donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling [https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling]   🎧 Watch and listen on your favorite podcast app: YouTube | Facebook | PodBean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music   Your story matters. If you’d like to share it with us, email IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com [IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com]   #IntrepidStorytelling #WilJohnson #OvercomingAdversity #TrueStory #MentalHealthPodcast #PodcastYouTube #StorytellingPodcast #FacebookWatch

52|Surviving Childhood Trauma and Breaking the Generational Cycle: Janus Valeo’s Story

How do you break a generational cycle of severe trauma when you were raised in the darkest of environments?   Janus Vallejo grew up enduring severe trauma and profound boundary violations at the hands of the very people who were supposed to protect him. After surviving unimaginable horrors in his childhood and later during his military service, his unhealed wounds and profound dissociation manifested in devastating ways. Janus’s unresolved trauma led him down a destructive path where he caused harm to another and faced severe legal consequences. After losing everything, experiencing homelessness, and reaching a point where he nearly ended his own life, a moment of profound honesty in mandatory counseling sparked a turning point.   Today, Janus takes full accountability for his past and dedicates his life to the prevention of child abuse. He works directly with men in the prison system and the community to help them break the pattern of harm before it claims another victim. This is a raw, unsettling, and ultimately critical conversation about accountability, the deep roots of intergenerational trauma, and the relentless mission to save just "one less child".   Chapters: 00:00 Understanding the Cycle of Abuse 02:48 Janus Vallejo's Journey and Advocacy 05:46 Childhood Trauma and Its Impact 08:55 The Role of Family in Abuse Dynamics 11:47 Military Experiences and Trauma 14:53 The Path to Healing and Prevention 17:58 The Complexity of Offending and Recovery 20:51 Statistics and Misconceptions in Abuse 23:57 The Importance of Open Conversations 26:45 Breaking the Cycle of Abuse 35:10 The Role of Parental Dynamics in Childhood Trauma 38:02 Confronting the Past: Seeking Accountability 40:46 Understanding Abuse: The Impact of Early Experiences 42:41 Breaking Patterns: Parenting Styles and Their Effects 49:04 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Healing 55:11 The Power of Service: Transforming Pain into Purpose 01:00:50 Building a Community: The Importance of Connection 01:07:52 Understanding Offenders: The Complexity of Pedophilia 01:10:33 Understanding Pedophilia and Its Complexities 01:15:32 The Role of Society and Labels 01:20:22 Parenting and Its Impact on Children 01:25:37 Rehabilitation vs. Punishment in the Justice System 01:30:08 The Cycle of Abuse and Accountability 01:35:14 Teaching Children About Boundaries and Safety 01:40:10 The Importance of Open Dialogue in Parenting 01:43:24 Healing Through Sharing and Community Support   CONNECT WITH JANUS Buy the book: https://amzn.to/4eAdNdc [https://amzn.to/4eAdNdc] Website: http://www.breakthepatternnow.org [http://www.breakthepatternnow.org] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Janusvaleo [https://www.youtube.com/@Janusvaleo]   Your support helps us keep telling meaningful stories. Donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling [https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling]   🎧 Watch and listen on your favorite podcast app: YouTube | Facebook | PodBean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music   Your story matters. If you’d like to share it with us, email IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com [IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com]   #IntrepidStorytelling #JanusVallejo #TrueStory #SurvivorStory #BreakingTheCycle #PodcastYouTube #FacebookWatch #StorytellingPodcast

51|Fighting for Motherhood: Nicole Orr’s Story

What happens when your timeline for finding "the one" runs out, but your dream of becoming a mother is stronger than ever?   Nicole Orr knew she wanted to be a mom since she was a little girl, mapping out a plan to have a husband and four children by her early twenties. But when a difficult childhood, past trauma, and a grueling dating scene left her without a partner by age 30, she took her family planning into her own hands. In this raw and deeply empowering episode, Nicole shares her journey to becoming a Single Mother by Choice (SMBC). From the bizarre process of selecting a sperm donor based on a "carefree smile," to the grueling emotional rollercoaster of IUI treatments during the pandemic, Nicole never gave up her dream. She also opens up about her harrowing birth story, which started with plans for an unmedicated water birth and ended in an emergency C-section with a shocking 12.6-pound baby. Nicole’s fight for motherhood is an inspiring look at the resilience and determination it takes to build a family on your own terms.   Chapters: 00:00 Dreams of Motherhood: A Journey Begins 03:13 The Power of Storytelling 06:05 Navigating Childhood and Acceptance 09:00 The Quest for Love and Family 12:11 Choosing to Be a Single Mom by Choice 15:03 Building a Support System 17:49 Researching Parenthood Decisions 21:01 Connecting with Donor Siblings 24:05 The Donor Selection Process 29:46 Intentional Family Planning 33:33 The Journey to Parenthood: IUI vs IVF 39:36 Navigating the Two-Week Wait: Emotions and Expectations 46:59 Dreams of a Larger Family: Challenges and Aspirations 52:37 Birth Stories: The Unpredictable Journey of Motherhood 01:04:50 Normalizing Single Parenthood: Dreams and Realities   CONNECT WITH NICOLE EMAIL: nicolekatrineorr@gmail.com [nicolekatrineorr@gmail.com] FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleKatrine [https://www.facebook.com/NicoleKatrine]   Your support helps us keep telling meaningful stories. Donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling [https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling]   🎧 Watch and listen on your favorite podcast app: YouTube | Facebook | PodBean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music   Your story matters. If you’d like to share it with us, email IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com [IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com]   #IntrepidStorytelling #NicoleOrr #SingleMomByChoice #MotherhoodJourney #SoloParenting #DonorConceived #IUIJourney #PodcastYouTube #FacebookWatch #StorytellingPodcast

50|My Dad Escaped The Nazis: Jason Prokowiew's Story

What happens when you sit down with your abuser to ask them about their own horrific childhood trauma?   In this raw and powerful episode of Intrepid Storytelling, Deanna Powell sits down with retired disability attorney and author Jason Prokowiew. Jason shares the harrowing history behind his memoir, War Boys, tracing his father’s journey from a ten-year-old orphan in Nazi-occupied Belarus to a deeply wounded man whose unresolved trauma manifested as severe alcoholism and abuse in his own home. Seeking answers, a 21-year-old Jason made the terrifying decision to interview his father about his wartime past, recording 50 hours of tapes to understand the roots of their generational pain. From finding his voice in an Al-Anon meeting to the agonizing reality of confronting a father who dismissed his abuse as "not that bad," Jason's journey is an unflinching look at breaking destructive family cycles. This episode dives deep into the complexities of healing, surviving, and finding the courage to realize your story matters, without forcing a traditional narrative of neatly packaged forgiveness.   Chapters: 00:00 The Impact of War and Family Trauma 12:07 Breaking the Cycle of Abuse 23:48 The Journey of Storytelling and Healing 28:45 A Moment of Vulnerability 33:15 The Importance of Storytelling 35:33 Navigating Difficult Conversations 44:16 The Impact of Shared Trauma 51:05 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward   BUY THE BOOK: https://amzn.to/43SGUlT [https://amzn.to/43SGUlT] CONNECT WITH JASON: https://www.jasonwprokowiew.com/ [https://www.jasonwprokowiew.com/] www.warboysbook.com [http://www.warboysbook.com/] https://www.instagram.com/jasonprokowiew/ [https://www.instagram.com/jasonprokowiew/] https://bsky.app/profile/jasonprokowiew.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/jasonprokowiew.bsky.social] https://www.amazon.com/War-Boys-Father-Son-Memoir/dp/1949487709 [https://www.amazon.com/War-Boys-Father-Son-Memoir/dp/1949487709]   Your support helps us keep telling meaningful stories. Donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling [https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling]   🎧 Watch and listen on your favorite podcast app: YouTube | Facebook | PodBean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music   Your story matters. If you’d like to share it with us, email IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com [IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com]   #IntrepidStorytelling #JasonProkowiew #GenerationalTrauma #ChildhoodAbuseSurvivor #TraumaRecovery #PodcastYouTube #FacebookWatch

49|From Prison Cell Journals to Published Author: David Boggs’s Story

Can someone truly change after spending 23 years deeply embedded in the criminal underworld?   David Boggs spent over two decades living a high-stakes life, navigating international borders, and utilizing his fluency in seven languages to build an illicit enterprise. But after receiving a five-year prison sentence, he found himself isolated and reflecting on the widespread damage of his choices. To cope with the loss of his relationship and the harsh reality of a broken correctional system, David began writing daily letters from his cell. When his loved one stopped writing back, he kept journaling to maintain his sanity, a practice that eventually birthed his self-published book, No Simple Explanation.   In this raw and honest episode of Intrepid Storytelling, Deanna Powell sits down with David to discuss the illusion of prison rehabilitation and the crushing weight of trying to rebuild a life when society repeatedly revokes second chances. Despite facing over 20 rescinded job offers due to his background, David shares his unwavering resilience, his three core life philosophies, and his mother’s simple but profound advice: "just keep going".   Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Intrepid Storytelling 02:31 David Boggs: A Journey of Redemption 05:53 The Birth of 'No Simple Explanation' 10:06 Reflections on Prison and Rehabilitation 12:20 Facing Challenges and Overcoming Stigmas 17:27 Life Lessons and Philosophies 39:00 The Power of Storytelling and Community   BUY THE BOOK: https://amzn.to/4vrGHCo [https://amzn.to/4vrGHCo]   CONNECT WITH DAVID: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578915953091 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578915953091]   Your support helps us keep telling meaningful stories. Donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling [https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling]   🎧 Watch and listen on your favorite podcast app: YouTube | Facebook | PodBean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music   Your story matters. If you’d like to share it with us, email IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com [IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com]   #IntrepidStorytelling #DavidBoggs #TrueStory #RedemptionStory #OvercomingAdversity #StorytellingPodcast #PodcastYouTube #FacebookWatch