Damn! I Ran Into War Zones (Episode 139)

If You Write It Down, Make It Accurate. I'm Autistic (Episode 140)

Most people talk about autism. Far fewer can tell you what it actually feels like to walk into a workplace while autistic and wonder if the rules are about to change without warning. We sit down with Sam Mitchell, executive director of Autism Rocks And Rolls, for a raw, practical conversation about fear, literal instructions, and why a job that “looks fine on paper” can become overwhelming the moment reality doesn’t match the written expectations.  Sam breaks down the hidden stressors many employers and co-workers never notice: the anxiety around management, the pressure of workplace social interaction, and the painful pattern of being misunderstood or mistreated. He explains why it’s often not getting hired that’s hardest, it’s keeping the job and surviving the unwritten social code. We also dig into the difference between quantity-driven workplaces and the autistic drive for quality, accuracy, and doing things the right way, even when the culture rewards speed over care.  We move from challenges to solutions: what kinds of roles can be a better fit, why clear direction and predictable routines matter, how online work can reduce social strain, and what it looks like to “bend” on schedules while still keeping healthy boundaries. Sam also shares how he built real leadership skills running a nonprofit, including the importance of surrounding yourself with a board that covers your weak spots.  If you’re autistic, love someone who is, or manage people for a living, this conversation will change how you think about hiring, retention, and human potential. Subscribe to Mind Shift Power Podcast, share this episode with a manager or educator, and leave a review telling us: what workplace change would make the biggest difference? 🔗 Connect with Sam Mitchell: https://info@autismrocksandrolls.com/ [https://info@autismrocksandrolls.com/] Send us an anonymous text message [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2217223/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-support] Every episode brings global perspectives and leadership insights. Click on the "Support the show" link above and keep the mission alive for free! Search MindShift Power Podcast buy topic here: https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-search [https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-search] Explore more about my work beyond podcasting, check out the blog, share your thoughts, or become a guest! https://www.FatimaBey.com [https://www.FatimaBey.com] I also have another podcast called The MindShifter Audio Blog! Experience my written words like never before, as I personally narrate my blogs for a truly engaging audio journey. https://www.fatimabey.com/audioblog [https://www.fatimabey.com/audioblog] Follow me on social media: https://www.fatimabey.com/#1035650492 [https://www.fatimabey.com/#1035650492] Thank you for listening!

Damn! I Ran Into War Zones (Episode 139)

What would you do if the news you were producing no longer felt like the truth? We sit down with author and activist Susan Burgess Lent, who walked away from broadcast journalism and chose to learn firsthand what conflict and poverty do to people, from post-genocide Rwanda to Darfur and the slums of Nairobi. She doesn’t romanticize humanitarian aid or conflict reporting. She tells the story the way the field teaches it: through risk, relationships, and the realities you can’t “unknow” once you’ve witnessed them. We talk about how real relief projects begin, not with grand plans, but with listening. Susan explains why the most ethical international development work is rooted in humility, cultural awareness, and local leadership, and why treating communities as “projects” is a fast path to harm. She also makes a strong case for trauma-informed care and mental health support in war zones and chronically under-resourced communities, where the psychological toll can be as devastating as the physical shortages. For younger listeners who want to help, we get practical: the toolkit you need, the role mentors play, why language and geography matter, how safety decisions get made, and what people misunderstand about the UN, NGOs, and how humanitarian funding actually reaches the ground. Susan also shares where to find her books and the bigger idea she still believes in: women’s centers as safe resource hubs in refugee camps, displaced persons camps, and urban slums. If this conversation challenges you, share it with someone who wants to make a difference, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What kind of advocate are you willing to be? 🔗 Connect with Susan Burgees-Lent: https://susanburgesslent.com/ [https://susanburgesslent.com/] Send us an anonymous text message [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2217223/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-support] Every episode brings global perspectives and leadership insights. Click on the "Support the show" link above and keep the mission alive for free! Search MindShift Power Podcast buy topic here: https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-search [https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-search] Explore more about my work beyond podcasting, check out the blog, share your thoughts, or become a guest! https://www.FatimaBey.com [https://www.FatimaBey.com] I also have another podcast called The MindShifter Audio Blog! Experience my written words like never before, as I personally narrate my blogs for a truly engaging audio journey. https://www.fatimabey.com/audioblog [https://www.fatimabey.com/audioblog] Follow me on social media: https://www.fatimabey.com/#1035650492 [https://www.fatimabey.com/#1035650492] Thank you for listening!

Released From Prison - What Now? (Episode 138)

“Aren’t you glad you’re free?” sounds like a celebration, but for many young men coming home from prison it lands like pressure, confusion, and a thousand urgent questions. We sit down with Tavon J. Partlow Sr. from Maryland, founder of Re-entry Recovery and Beyond, to talk about the real first moments after incarceration and the parts most people never think to ask about. We get honest about the mental and emotional overwhelm of reentry, including how probation and parole can keep you feeling like you are still on trial. Tavon breaks down why communication matters so much when prison teaches a survival style of speaking and reacting, and why learning your triggers and building self-awareness can protect your relationships and your future. We also talk mental health support, therapy stigma, and how state insurance and benefits can make counseling possible when funding is tight. Then we move into the systems that block progress: employment after incarceration, housing barriers, and the label that follows a criminal record. Tavon shares practical strategies like turning prison work into resume experience, building new networks, and choosing accountability without letting the past become a permanent address. We also speak directly to families, partners, and friends about what support looks like in real life: patience, sensitivity, and treating someone like fragile glass without taking away their dignity. If you care about prison reentry, reducing recidivism, and helping returning citizens rebuild with purpose, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review. What’s one way you think we should treat people who are trying to change? 🔗 Connect with Tavon (Founder Low): https://www.reentryrecoverybeyond.com/ [https://www.reentryrecoverybeyond.com/] Send us an anonymous text message [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2217223/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-support] Every episode brings global perspectives and leadership insights. Click on the "Support the show" link above and keep the mission alive for free! Search MindShift Power Podcast buy topic here: https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-search [https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-search] Explore more about my work beyond podcasting, check out the blog, share your thoughts, or become a guest! https://www.FatimaBey.com [https://www.FatimaBey.com] I also have another podcast called The MindShifter Audio Blog! Experience my written words like never before, as I personally narrate my blogs for a truly engaging audio journey. https://www.fatimabey.com/audioblog [https://www.fatimabey.com/audioblog] Follow me on social media: https://www.fatimabey.com/#1035650492 [https://www.fatimabey.com/#1035650492] Thank you for listening!

He's Not Spoiling You - He's Breaking You In (Episode 137)

The “windowless van” story is not what puts most teens at risk. The real danger often looks like attention, gifts, flattery, and a private message that slowly turns into a demand. We sit down with Basil Bass, founder of the Association for the Recovery of Children, former CIA operative, and former U.S. Marine Corps captain, to talk plainly about how trafficking recruitment and grooming work in the real world and why common myths can leave families exposed. We break down what predators actually look for: vulnerability, isolation, low self-worth, and a teen who feels unseen at home. Basil explains the grooming ladder, how the “help” always comes with a price, and why the most important question is, “What do they want in return?” We also talk about how social platforms can be used to identify and exploit kids, how bold abductions can still happen, and why prevention requires more than a one-hour awareness talk. Fatima shares a direct message to teens about boundaries, identity, and refusing to be treated like a commodity. Basil offers practical next steps for getting help safely, including involving trusted parents and reputable law enforcement, plus ways his organization supports reports through its tip line and training. If you care about teen safety online, child trafficking prevention, and recognizing grooming tactics before they escalate, this conversation is built for you. Subscribe, share this with a parent or teen you care about, and leave a review with the most important red flag you want more people to recognize. 🔗 Connect with the Association for the Recovery of Children: https://www.recoveryofchildren.org/ [https://www.recoveryofchildren.org/] Review Bazzel's Books: https://bazbooks.com/ [https://bazbooks.com/] Send us an anonymous text message [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2217223/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-support] Every episode brings global perspectives and leadership insights. Click on the "Support the show" link above and keep the mission alive for free! Search MindShift Power Podcast buy topic here: https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-search [https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-search] Explore more about my work beyond podcasting, check out the blog, share your thoughts, or become a guest! https://www.FatimaBey.com [https://www.FatimaBey.com] I also have another podcast called The MindShifter Audio Blog! Experience my written words like never before, as I personally narrate my blogs for a truly engaging audio journey. https://www.fatimabey.com/audioblog [https://www.fatimabey.com/audioblog] Follow me on social media: https://www.fatimabey.com/#1035650492 [https://www.fatimabey.com/#1035650492] Thank you for listening!

Surviving is NOT Your Real Personality (Episode 136)

Your body doesn’t “overreact” for no reason, and your habits aren’t random. We’re joined by Patty Cabot, a New York based author whose story cuts through diet culture and goes straight to the root: how childhood sexual abuse can shape weight, boundaries, self-worth, and the way we show up in relationships for decades. Patty shares how she spent more than 20 years gaining and losing 50 to 75 pounds at a time, becoming “great at dieting” while still feeling stuck. The real shift happens when she finds a therapist who understands eating disorders and trauma, and says the quiet part out loud: the weight is a symptom. From there, we unpack what trauma looks like in real life: shutting down during intimacy, feeling like you can’t say no, self-medicating to get through dates, and living with a nervous system trained for freeze when fight and flight were never options. We also talk about the taboo of child sexual abuse, how shame and secrecy keep survivors isolated, and why “normal” can become dangerously distorted when harm is familiar. Patty explains the difference between a trauma mindset and a healthy mindset, and why simple truths like “sex can be an expression of love” can feel like a lightning bolt when your history taught you otherwise. She offers her book, Not That Girl Anymore, to help others feel less alone and to show that healing and love are still possible, even if it takes real work. If any part of this conversation hits close to home, share it with someone who needs it, subscribe for more honest conversations, and leave a review so more survivors and supporters can find this show. For a free download fo Patty's book 'Not That Girl Anymore', please visit: https://www.fatimabey.com/136 [https://www.fatimabey.com/136] If you would like to support her and purchase her book, please visit: https://www.amazon.com/Not-That-Girl-Anymore-Childhood/dp/B0CKCVQ3VX Send us an anonymous text message [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2217223/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-support] Every episode brings global perspectives and leadership insights. Click on the "Support the show" link above and keep the mission alive for free! Search MindShift Power Podcast buy topic here: https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-search [https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-search] Explore more about my work beyond podcasting, check out the blog, share your thoughts, or become a guest! https://www.FatimaBey.com [https://www.FatimaBey.com] I also have another podcast called The MindShifter Audio Blog! Experience my written words like never before, as I personally narrate my blogs for a truly engaging audio journey. https://www.fatimabey.com/audioblog [https://www.fatimabey.com/audioblog] Follow me on social media: https://www.fatimabey.com/#1035650492 [https://www.fatimabey.com/#1035650492] Thank you for listening!