The Your Story Matters Podcast

The Your Story Matters Podcast Episode 48: Dr. Sheldon Eakins

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2443798/fan_mail/new] Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. Each week The Your Story Matters Podcast will feature a new guest sharing their "why" and stories. On this episode of the Your Story Matters Podcast I speak with Sheldon L. Eakins, Ph.D. Dr. Eakins is an experienced educational leader with over fifteen years of experience in K–12 and higher education. He has served as a teacher, special education director, school principal, and adjunct professor. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Dr. Eakins focuses on creating learning environments where all students feel accepted, supported, and included. He is the author of multiple books, including What Are You Bringing to the Potluck? How School Leaders Set the Table for a Community of Belonging and Meaningful Classroom Management: Adapting Your Teaching to Build Culture and Community. Additionally, Dr. Eakins hosts the "Leading Equity Podcast" and is the founder of the Purposeful Teaching Academy. His work centers on student success, school leadership, and building a strong sense of belonging in schools. I am so excited for you to learn about and from Dr. Sheldon Eakins today.   LI: Sheldon Eakins Ph.D. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheldoneakins/] IG: @sheldoneakins IG: @eakinsfitness Purposeful Teaching Academy [https://purposeful247.com/about]

The Your Story Matters Podcast Episode 47: Sophie Tran

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2443798/fan_mail/new] Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. Each week The Your Story Matters Podcast will feature a new guest sharing their "why" and stories. On this episode of the Your Story Matters Podcast I have a conversation with Sophie Tran. Sophie Tran has served as Communications Director and Field Representative for Assembly District 65 in California, a Vietnamese language freelance interpreter, Vietnamese television host for VietFace TV, SBTN, and Little Saigon TV, as well as a media buyer and planner for Chereen Media Advertising Agency. If that isn’t enough she is also a model, wife, mother, author and co-creator of the Award Winning Mommy & Me Vietnamese YouTube show and Podcast with her sister Jennifer Tran. Learn how her family legacy influenced their show and how they became Silver YouTube Award Creators. I am so excited for you to learn about and from Sophie Tran today. YouTube: Mommy & Me Vietnamese [https://youtu.be/ehqdicPT2zg?si=ouQIMFdQMZ9rJ_QT] Mommy & Me Vietnamese Book [https://lovetosingbooks.com/products/love-to-sing-with-mommy-me-vietnamese] Spotify: Mommy & Me Vietnamese [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1F3JbS6eCH5fvK1csRsSTp] Apple Music: Mommy & Me Vietnamese [https://music.apple.com/sg/artist/mommy-me-vietnamese/1772176623] FB: Mommy & Me Vietnamese [https://www.facebook.com/MommyandMeVietnamese] FB: Sophie Tran [https://www.facebook.com/sophiebaobaotran] LI: Sophie Tran [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-tran-5219b920/]

The Your Story Matters Podcast Episode 46: Whitney “JP” Jean-Pierre & Dr. Dustin J. Krein

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2443798/fan_mail/new] Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. On this episode of The Your Story Matters Podcast I am joined by Whitney “JP” Jean-Pierre and Dustin J. Krein. They share their stories as well as strategies for universities and K-12 serving organizations to start and maintain university-assisted community school partnerships. Whitney “JP” Jean-Pierre serves as the Community Programs Coordinator for the University-Assisted Community Schools in the Institute for School-Community Partnerships, Integrated Services, and Child Mental Health and Educational Policy. This role helps the community by connecting university and community resources to support the overall well-being and success of students, families, and teachers in school districts, while also facilitating training, data collection, and collaboration efforts for the continuous improvement of university-assisted community school initiatives. Prior to joining this project, Whitney worked as a Community Resource Teacher for Hillsborough County Schools. She earned her undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of South Florida and her graduate degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Tampa. Dustin J. Krein, Ed.D. is the Sustainability Director for University-Assisted Community Schools at the USF Institute for School-Community Partnerships, where he works to expand and strengthen community schools with Hillsborough County Public Schools. A four-time AmeriCorps member, his career is grounded in service to K–12 at-risk youth and advancing holistic, community-based approaches to education. Dustin holds his doctorate in educational program development from the University of South Florida. With more than a decade of experience across K–12 and higher education, Dr. Krein is passionate about student-centered innovation and building local, collaborative models that connect schools, communities, and real-world learning.  I am so excited for you to get to know and learn from Whitney "JP" Jean-Pierre & Dr. Dustin J. Krein today. Dr. Dustin J. Krein [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinkrein/] Whitney “JP” Jean-Pierre  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-jean-pierre-946034235/] Hillsborough County Public Schools [https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/page/community-schools/] USF Institute for School-Community Partnerships [https://iscp.usf.edu/]

The Your Story Matters Podcast Episode 45: Liz Gracian

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2443798/fan_mail/new] Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. Each week The Your Story Matters Podcast features a new guest sharing their "why" and stories. On this episode of the Your Story Matters Podcast I had a conversation with Liz Gracian. Liz Gracian is a teacher, community leader, and the owner of the Untold Story Bookstore and Cafe in Anaheim, California.  I am thrilled for you to get to know and learn from Liz Gracian today. Liz Gracian [https://www.facebook.com/Ms.BarriosGracian] The Untold Story Bookstore and Cafe [https://untoldstorybooks.com/] LA Times Article, "Anaheim Finally Has a Bookstore that Feels Like Home" by Gustavo Arellano [https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-08-01/the-untold-story-anaheim-bookstore] IG: @theuntoldstorybookstore_cafe [https://www.instagram.com/theuntoldstorybookstore_cafe/] The Untold Story Tellers Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-untold-story-tellers/id1850582959]

The Your Story Matters Podcast Episode 44: Dr. Antoinette Gutierrez

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2443798/fan_mail/new] Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. Each week The Your Story Matters Podcast features a new guest sharing their "why" and stories. On this episode of the Your Story Matters Podcast I speak with Dr. Antoinette Gutierrez. Dr. Gutierrez is an experienced high school, district leader, consultant and author, who currently serves as the Program Manager for the Colton, Redlands, Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program. Her new book, Healing for Leadership: How Emotionally Intelligent Leaders Build Safe, Resilient Teams, is out now.  I am so excited for you to get to know and learn from Dr. Antoinette Gutierrez today! LinkedIn: Dr. Antoinette Gutierrez [https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinette-gutierrez-ed-d-403bb74b/] Healing for Leadership: How Emotionally Intelligent Leaders Build Safe, Resilient Teams [https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Leadership-Emotionally-Intelligent-Resilient/dp/B0G1S1Y1CD]