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Friends from Wild Places

Shireen Botha

Business Owner Professionals and entrepreneurs from all over the world come to speak to me and tell me why they do what they do and their vision. I feature a Non-profit Org to spread awareness. I share bookkeeping tips and stories from my life as a business owner. Inspiring other business owners by showing the wild hearts of entrepreneurs and how they cannot be tamed. And just to chat, laugh, and enjoy one another.

Shireen approaches business and life, in general, through the lens of wanting to multiply the light in the world. Whether client, colleague, or friend, she has a special understanding of people. Separate from bookkeeping, her Friends From Wild Places podcast serves as a platform for connection where business owners can share their work and life experiences and even their wild hearts and passions in a safe space.  The podcast also allows entrepreneurs to share about nonprofits that have special meaning for them. 

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  • 20 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 26 min
  • English

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  • S6 · E24
    August 22 · 22 min

    Solopreneur Without Going Broke

    Money fear can freeze the biggest dreams. We talk candidly about what it looks like to want a solopreneur life while still needing stability, and how to move forward without blowing up your finances. Our guiding idea is simple and doable: don’t force a dramatic “quit and pray” moment. Instead, build in a straddle season where you keep your current income, carve out focused time, and stack small wins until the next step is obvious. Allison Coleman Website: http://www.acespayments.com/ Email: hello@northstarsanctuary.net LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/allisoncoleman1 Then we zoom out to something bigger than business: service. When you’re stressed or in a dark place, volunteering and supporting a nonprofit can pull your attention outward and help you reset. That’s why we spotlight the Mallory Gaston Foundation in Sausalito, California, a community gym and wellness nonprofit where affordable memberships help fund youth and young adults earning fitness instructor certifications. Join us as we support the Mallory Gaston Foundation this month! Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s on the edge of a career change, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E23
    August 15 · 26 min

    Finding Your Voice In Wellness

    You can feel successful on paper and still crave something truer. Allison joins us to share how she went from being born and raised in Toronto to building a new life in the San Francisco Bay Area, following community, coastline, and the creative pulse of innovation. Along the way we talk about what it really takes to restart in a new place, especially when you do not arrive with a ready made network, just a suitcase, a plan, and the willingness to figure it out. Allison Coleman Website: http://www.acespayments.com/ Email: hello@northstarsanctuary.net LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/allisoncoleman1 From there, we get practical about launching a yoga business in the Bay Area wellness world where options are endless and standing out is tough. Allison explains how she builds trust with new students by finding her voice, not copying the market, and teaching what people actually need: breathwork, slow flow, yin yoga, restorative yoga, and yoga nidra for stress relief, better sleep, mobility, and longevity. We also explore her “strength and stillness” retreat approach, plus how she uses seasons and lunar themes as simple prompts for micro shifts that stick. Join us as we support the Mallory Gaston Foundation this month! Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review telling us what “stillness” would look like in your week. Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E22
    August 8 · 25 min

    What If Your Business Needs A Nervous System Reset

    We’re Shireen and Tanya, and we start by challenging the old assumption that bookkeeping has to be local to be legitimate. Secure remote access, US-based training, and tight processes can deliver the same precision while giving business owners a more flexible, modern partner. If you’re searching for QuickBooks support, virtual bookkeeping, or a practical way to get your monthly close under control, you’ll feel seen. Allison Coleman Website: http://www.acespayments.com/ Email: hello@northstarsanctuary.net LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/allisoncoleman1 Then we bring on Allison Coleman, a senior payments advisor with ACES Payments, to talk about the systems behind how money moves. We dig into the real-world friction points that drain time and margin: payment processing, merchant services, payroll, operational workflow, and even access to capital. Allison’s approach is simple but powerful: reduce complexity, cut unnecessary costs, and build a finance stack that supports growth instead of creating daily stress. Join us as we support the Mallory Gaston Foundation this month! If this conversation gives you a new lens on business systems and human sustainability, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E21
    July 18 · 27 min

    Building A Death Care Business

    A canceled workshop can feel like a punch to the gut, but it can also be the cleanest data you will ever get. We sit down with Jennifer Lares of Mulling Mortition to talk honestly about the unglamorous side of building a funeral service business: ideas that do not land, the sunk cost trap, and the mental work of making cuts without losing your confidence. Along the way, we keep it real and even get into the unexpectedly practical question of what kind of swag actually fits a death care brand. Jennifer Lares Website: Mullingmortician.com Tel: +1 352-509-6273 Email: Mullingmortician@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-lares-a09163302 If you have ever wondered what embalming really is, how the body changes after death, or how simple rituals like shrouding can add meaning, you will leave with clearer language and fewer myths. Join us as we support Operation Solace this month! We also highlight this month’s nonprofit, Operation Solace, founded in San Antonio to help veterans access non-traditional mental health support, including psychedelic-assisted therapy, and to honor lives lost to suicide through powerful Day of the Dead remembrance. We wrap with a quick word association game and ways to connect with all of us after you listen. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E20
    July 11 · 30 min

    Teaching Death Care With Heart

    Death care looks “quiet” from the outside, but the work is technical, emotional, and relentless and the biggest challenge is often the one nobody admits: not having access to the training you need when a real case demands it. We sit down with Jennifer, the educator and business owner behind Mulling Mortician, to talk about how funeral service professionals actually learn, where skill gaps come from, and what it takes to close them without shame. Jennifer Lares Website: Mullingmortician.com Tel: +1 352-509-6273 Email: Mullingmortician@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-lares-a09163302 We also go behind the brand. Why “mortuary Mary Poppins” fits, how a lighter tone can humanize a profession people stereotype, and what resistance looks like in an industry with gatekeeping tendencies. Then we shift to leadership and mental health: self management, time blocking, the Eisenhower matrix, and the power of “no” as a complete sentence when your creative energy is running out. Join us as we support Operation Solace this month! If you care about better training, better tools, and better care, subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more funeral professionals can find the conversation. Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E19
    July 4 · 29 min

    Proportional Force

    A rainy high school track meet. A crowded tent. One shove that turns into one stab and a teenager sentenced to 35 years. We step into the gray area most headlines skip and ask the uncomfortable question: what does “proportional force” really mean when fear and adrenaline hit faster than thought? We walk through the Texas case involving Karmelo Anthony and Austin Metcalfe, then weigh the arguments that split the public, from self defense claims to the idea of intentional escalation, and why jury composition and community context can shape how justice feels. Jennifer Lares Website: Mullingmortician.com Tel: +1 352-509-6273 Email: Mullingmortician@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-lares-a09163302 Our guest, Dr. Jennifer Lares, brings a rare perspective as a licensed funeral director and embalmer, a former Navy hospital corpsman in mortuary affairs, an educator, and the founder of Mulling Mortician LLC. She shares what she found when she dug into the case, including the role of rivalry, how narratives harden through social media, and why nuance gets lost once a story becomes national debate about race, justice, and “what should have happened.” Tanya adds a policy lens around weapons on school property and the questions people ask when the physical evidence is as stark as a fatal chest wound. If you care about true crime analysis, self defense law, the death care industry, mortuary science careers, and building a legacy with your work, this conversation will stay with you. Join us as we support Operation Solace this month! Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves hard questions, and leave a review so more listeners can find Friends from Wild Places. Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E18
    June 20 · 25 min

    What If Real Reform Starts With You

    We dig into what reform can look like on the ground: showing respect to every person who walks through the door, holding boundaries, and refusing to let cynicism turn you into the kind of officer the public fears. Nancy shares how she teaches students to make change the slow way, like turning a battleship, by holding the line on ethics and professional conduct. Then we shift into the human side of heavy work: how to “recharge the battery” with friendships, community volunteering, and routines that bring genuine joy back into your week. Nancy Alleyne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-a-aa244848/ Nancy also opens up about being a 15-year breast cancer survivor and what that experience taught her about self-care, listening to your body, and why you cannot give from an empty cup. We spotlight two nonprofits that make a direct local impact: Feeding South Florida’s work fighting food insecurity in food deserts and disaster response, plus Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the push to fund research and support families. Join us as we support Feeding South Florida and American Cancer Society this month! If this conversation moves you, check the links, donate if you can, and help us spread it. Subscribe to Friends From Wild Places, share this with someone who cares about justice, self-care, or community support, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E17
    June 13 · 30 min

    What Drives People To Commit Crime

    People love to ask the million-dollar question: what causes someone to commit a crime? We go deeper than a single motive and talk through the messy truth that criminal behavior is multifactorial. Greed, jealousy, revenge, ideology, and plain old stress can all play a role, but the most useful framework is what protects people when temptation or pressure hits. We break down self-control alongside protective factors like family, community, faith, and work and what happens when those anchors disappear and risk factors take over. Nancy Alleyne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-a-aa244848/ Then we get practical for students and career-changers: what the criminal justice field actually looks like beyond the TV version. We talk expectations versus reality, the CSI effect, and what mainstream true crime often gets wrong about the scope and pace of real investigations. Finally, we share a concrete tool for planning your next step, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, plus real examples of career paths that do not start with a badge but still lead to meaningful work. Join us as we support Feeding South Florida this month! Subscribe so you do not miss part three, share this with a friend who loves true crime, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E16
    June 6 · 30 min

    Can A Jury Stay Unbiased?

    A CEO is killed on a New York sidewalk, a suspect is arrested after a multi-day manhunt, and the public reaction splits in a way that should worry anyone who cares about justice. Some people see a cold-blooded murder. Others see payback for a broken, for-profit healthcare system. We sit with that discomfort and ask the question that would hang over any courtroom: if you were on the jury, could you separate your own insurance anger from the facts of a violent crime? Nancy Alleyne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-a-aa244848/ Then the conversation shifts from courts to character. Using the quote “Treat others as you would like to be treated,” we explore small, daily choices that reveal how rushed and angry society has become, from holding the door to how people drive and speak to strangers. Dr Alleyne also shares her path from New York to probation work and into teaching, and why curiosity about crime can become a lifelong call to serve the public. Join us as we support Feeding South Florida this month! Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a true crime fan who loves the messy questions, and leave a review so more listeners can find Friends from Wild Places. Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E15
    May 23 · 24 min

    Albanian Culture In Five Big Flavors

    Albania isn’t just a place on a map, it’s a feeling, and once you hear how Albanians treat guests, you understand why travelers come back changed. We sit down with Anila Nicklos to unpack Albanian culture in a way that’s practical and vivid: what hospitality looks like in real life, why the food matters so much, what makes the Albanian language unique, and how a small country can hold mountains, rivers, lakes, and sea views within minutes of each other. If you’ve been searching for Albania travel tips, Albanian culture facts, or a fresh perspective on identity and belonging, this conversation is a warm starting point. Anila Nicklos Tel: +1 216-870-1054 Email: anila@icaremm.com LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/anila-nicklos Then the focus shifts inward: legacy. Anila shares her word for the year, patience, and how it connects to long-term dedication, sacrifice, and showing up for the work even when results take decades. The line that sticks with us is simple and challenging: do the right thing when no one is looking, for the greater good, so we leave the world better than we found it. From there, we spotlight our monthly nonprofit, OUR Rescue (ourrescue.org), and why stopping human trafficking requires attention, funding, and community support. Join us as we support Our Rescue Organization this month! If you like honest conversations that mix heart, curiosity, and a little laughter, you’ll love the word association game that closes the show. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find Friends From Wild Places. What word would you start the game with? Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E14
    May 16 · 26 min

    Beyond Checkbox Leadership

    Checkbox diversity is easy. Building a culture where people feel seen, trusted, and excited to do great work is the real challenge, and it starts with something surprisingly simple: getting to know each other as humans. We sit down with Anila, a diversity strategist and community advocate, to unpack what leaders can do right now to create high-performance teams rooted in shared purpose. We talk about the practical habits that make inclusion real, from curiosity about other cultures to small relationship-building moves that turn “team” into something people can feel. Anila Nicklos Tel: +1 216-870-1054 Email: anila@icaremm.com LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/anila-nicklos Then we shift into healthcare innovation and what patient-centred care looks like when you take the phrase seriously. Anila shares how her work in strategic partnerships at iCare Mobile Medicine is guided by ethics, empathy, and the commitment to meet patients where they are. We walk through how mobile urgent care works in Florida, including what clinicians can handle on-site, how lab work and imaging like x-rays can be facilitated, and the clear line where an ER referral is the safest next step. Join us as we support Our Rescue Organization this month! We also go deeper on storytelling as a leadership skill. Anila explains how stories helped her bridge cultures, advocate for communities, and translate values like resilience and education into language organisations can rally around. If you lead people, build partnerships, or care about better healthcare access, you’ll leave with concrete ideas you can use immediately. Subscribe, share this with someone who leads a team, and leave a review so more listeners can find Friends From Wild Places. Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E13
    May 9 · 23 min

    What Stays True When Everything Changes

    If you had no witnesses and only your word to offer, what would convince a jury you’re telling the truth? We start with that uncomfortable question while unpacking a high profile attempted murder trial in Hawaii, then follow the thread where it really leads: integrity, consistency, and what your life says about you when the stakes are high. Anila Nicklos Tel: +1 216-870-1054 Email: anila@icaremm.com LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/anila-nicklos Then we welcome our special guest, Anila Nicklos, originally from Tirana, Albania. Anila brings the kind of insight that comes from living a full reinvention. She shares what it actually feels like to leave your homeland, lose your support system, and try to belong in a new culture without losing yourself. One of the most striking parts of her story is how identity can be tied to language. She was already being published as a writer in Albania, then arrived in the US and faced the reality that her work couldn’t be read. From journalism to leadership, she explains how she rebuilt her voice and eventually began writing fiction in English, one hard won sentence at a time. Join us as we support Our Rescue Organization this month! Subscribe, share this conversation with someone rebuilding their next chapter, and leave a review so more listeners can find Friends From Wild Places. What part of your identity has been the hardest to translate? Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E12
    April 25 · 27 min

    Are You Confusing Opinion With Fact

    The hardest part of growth is not moving countries, changing careers, or chasing bigger goals. It’s learning how to be yourself without letting comparison steal your confidence. Franklin joins us to talk candidly about that inner fight, what it feels like to live between cultures, and how self-belief becomes a daily practice rather than a personality trait you either have or don’t. Franklin Moya Website: https://jfranklin.eu/ Email: j.franklin.art@hotmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jfranklinme/ We also spotlight Toastmasters International, a worldwide nonprofit that helps people build public speaking confidence and leadership skills through structured meetings, supportive roles, and honest feedback. Then we lighten things up with a “Fact or Opinion” game that turns into a bigger conversation about how often we mistake feelings for facts and why respecting different opinions matters right now. Join us as we support Toastmasters International this month! If you enjoyed the conversation, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review. What’s one belief you used to treat as fact that you’ve since changed your mind about? Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E11
    April 18 · 25 min

    Writing Through The Storm

    COVID didn’t just disrupt Franklin’s career, it cracked his life open and forced a choice: sink into the loss or finally write the book he’d been carrying since he was 19. He chose the page. What follows is a candid, human story about reinvention, rejection, and how creative work can become a lifeline when your “stable plan” disappears overnight. Franklin Moya Website: https://jfranklin.eu/ Email: j.franklin.art@hotmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jfranklinme/ Then the conversation turns personal development and a question that reshaped everything: what is success, for you? Franklin’s answer isn’t flashy, it’s durable. We also explore what it means to live across borders and languages, including the surprising detail that he dreams in Spanish, French, and English. Along the way we touch on a charity children’s book he illustrated to support disabled children in Spain, plus the reality of cabin crew life as both a dream job and a practical stepping stone toward public speaking, illustration, and long-term creative independence. Join us as we support Toastmasters International this month! If you’ve been navigating burnout, a toxic workplace, or a career change after the pandemic, this one will land. Subscribe, share it with a friend who’s rebuilding, and leave us a review with your own definition of success. Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E10
    April 11 · 26 min

    Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway

    Then we shift from crime to courage. Our guest, Franklin Moyle, known artistically as Jay Franklin, joins us for his first-ever podcast and does it in his second language. He opens up about the quote that shaped his life: “Feel the fear and do it anyway” from Susan Jeffers. We talk about self-confidence, imposter syndrome, and the uncomfortable truth that many people who look fearless are simply better at hiding their fear. If you’re building a business, changing careers, or trying to speak up in public, this conversation is a grounded reminder that bravery is a practice, not a personality type. Franklin Moya Website: https://jfranklin.eu/ Email: j.franklin.art@hotmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jfranklinme/ We also get into Franklin’s immigrant journey and reinvention story: leaving Venezuela as the economy collapsed, arriving in France on a student visa, working through demanding hospitality jobs while studying, and earning the right to stay by staying consistent, paying his dues, and keeping his long game in view. It’s a powerful lens on entrepreneurship, resilience, and building a future one choice at a time. Join us as we support Toastmasters International this month! If you like honest stories, practical lessons, and a little true crime curiosity, subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a push, and leave us a review. What’s one fear you’re ready to act through this week? Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E9
    March 28 · 26 min

    Waiting For The Right Door To Open

    What if the closed doors in your life are actually signposts? We sit down with Michael Perie—mortuary educator, industry pro, and calming presence—to unpack how faith, timing, and real rest can shape a career that serves people at their most tender moments. Michael shares why he waits for clarity before moving, how doing “nothing” on purpose refills his tank, and why a steady voice can change the temperature of a room, a graveside, or a classroom. Michael Perie Website: http://www.mp-educates.com/ Email: mike_perie@yahoo.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-perie-0902025a/ From there, we zoom into the future of funeral service. Cremation is steadily becoming the norm in regions once defined by burial, and that shift demands new training. Michael outlines what students need now: practical cremation workflows, chain-of-custody precision, transparent communication with families, and ethical decision-making that honors budget, ritual, and belief. We also explore alkaline hydrolysis—water cremation—where student enthusiasm outpaces business adoption, and discuss the regulatory, financial, and cultural hurdles that keep innovative options on the edge in many mid-southern states. Join us as we support In His Grace Ministries this month! Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of purpose and practice, share this episode with someone who could use a green light, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your feedback guides our next guests and topics—what should we explore next? Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E8
    March 21 · 22 min

    Listening First, Leading Better

    What if the fastest way to lead better is to talk less and listen more? Michael of MP Educates joins us to share how intentional listening, humble feedback, and clear boundaries helped him grow as a father, pastor, mortuary professional, and educator—without burning out. His story begins with a hard truth: answering before someone finishes speaking isn’t leadership, it’s fear. By slowing down and watching for nonverbal cues, he built trust, learned what actually works, and made smarter choices under pressure. Michael Perie Website: http://www.mp-educates.com/ Email: mike_perie@yahoo.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-perie-0902025a/ For entrepreneurs ready to launch, Michael offers simple, decisive guidance: gather information first and keep learning as you grow. Know the true costs, prepare for the surprises, and let research shape your roadmap. That discipline pays off when you step into ownership; you’ll be solving problems with a reservoir of hard-won knowledge rather than guesswork. We also spotlight IHG Missions, the nonprofit he and his wife lead in Memphis. Their essentials bags—socks, toiletries, warm gear, encouragement notes, and even cash—center dignity and choice. Michael’s take on giving is refreshingly direct: give from a generous heart and trust the act to do good. Join us as we support In His Grace Ministries this month! We close with what’s next: a home studio to improve livestream quality and presentation, plus expanded MP Educates seminars and online CEUs that make professional growth more accessible. If you’re navigating multiple callings or just starting out, this conversation offers an honest blueprint—listen first, set boundaries you’ll honor, prepare like it matters, and serve people by name. If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find stories like this. Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E7
    March 14 · 25 min

    From Courts To Cadavers

    A brutal New Jersey murder case, a debate over DNA and motive, and a pastor–mortician who walked away from an NBA dream—this conversation brings heat and heart in equal measure. We open by pulling apart the Colts Neck mansion murders, asking how juries should weigh physical evidence when media narratives muddy the water. Do life insurance policies and business disputes make greed a credible motive, or does the sheer cruelty toward family strain belief? We explore reasonable doubt, tunnel vision, and the limits of what jurors actually hear. Michael Perie Website: http://www.mp-educates.com/ Email: mike_perie@yahoo.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-perie-0902025a/ What follows is a masterclass in service. Michael demystifies embalming and preparation, explains how precision honors families at their most vulnerable, and reveals how MP Educates turns complex funeral science into practical learning. His teaching is vivid and grounded—think chemical indexes explained like mixing Kool-Aid—and his mentorship is transformational, with former apprentices now leading programs and owning funeral homes. Along the way, we unpack how to balance faith with evidence, ambition with responsibility, and personal growth with community impact. Join us as we support In His Grace Ministries this month! If you’re curious about true crime beyond the headlines, the inner life of funeral care, or how to choose purpose when the spotlight fades, you’ll find wisdom here. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who loves meaningful career pivots, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—we’d love to hear what shifted your perspective. Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E6
    February 28 · 23 min

    Grief Work, Real Talk

    What if the most powerful credential in grief care isn’t a license, but a life? We sit down with Terri, a grief companion and community builder, to unpack how showing up—consistently, vulnerably, and without polish—became the engine of a mission-driven practice. From the early days of obscurity to becoming “that grief lady” people recognize in restaurants, Terri shares the slow, human work of building trust online, the courage to speak about failure in death care, and the reason lived experience can change how a room breathes. Terri Chaplin Website: https://www.myhealingheartscommunity.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terri.chaplin/ Email: tchaplin@livingingratitudewtlc.com Tel: +1 301-481-1291 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-terri-chaplin-54043352/ Our nonprofit spotlight turns to Kitchen Table Conversations, founded by Garrick Colwell, offering accessible webinars on advanced care planning and anticipatory grief. Caregivers facing dementia or terminal illness often don’t realize what they’re feeling has a name; giving them language and tools is an act of relief and dignity. We close with a grounding breath, a playful word association game, and clear ways to connect with Terri, Tanya, and Shireen. If you believe empathy should lead the way in grief, caregiving, and end-of-life planning, this conversation will feel like a steady hand on your shoulder. Join us as we support Kitchen Table Conversations this month! If this moved you, follow the show, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a quick review—your words help more people find support when it matters most. Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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  • S6 · E5
    February 21 · 24 min

    Gratitude Through Grief

    What if grief wasn’t a problem to fix but a love you learn to carry? We sit down with Terri, a certified grief companion and founder of Living in Gratitude with TLC and the Healing Hearts community, to trace how personal tragedy became a blueprint for accessible, human-centered support. From the private magic of one-to-one sessions to the brave choice to show up daily online as a mother who lost a child and a widow who rebuilt, Terri shows how visibility invites others to speak, be seen, and find steadier ground. Terri Chaplin Website: https://www.myhealingheartscommunity.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terri.chaplin/ Email: tchaplin@livingingratitudewtlc.com Tel: +1 301-481-1291 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-terri-chaplin-54043352/ We also face a harder truth: how funeral care can go wrong when families meet upsells and cold scripts at their most fragile hour. Terri shares experiences that felt transactional and dehumanizing, then offers a path forward with her compassionate communication training for funeral professionals, clinicians, teachers, and anyone likely to meet a grieving person. Clear language, gentle pacing, and small acts of care turn a harrowing process into dignified support. Listeners leave with a practical toolkit: ask better questions, act without being prompted, make space for names and stories, and remember that presence is the service. Join us as we support Kitchen Table Conversations this month! If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who could use a softer landing today. Subscribe for more stories, leave a review to help others find us, and tell us: what words helped you most when you were grieving? Send us Fan Mail Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Shireen's Bookkeeping Services LLC Outsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Stay Wild! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/ Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast Leave a review!

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