You Should Meet My Friend

Send us a textIn our first episode of Season 3, we meet Amy Ryder. In this episode learn about Amy’s friend Troy Gilbert who was killed in action while flying a combat mission in Anbar Province, Iraq, on Nov. 27, 2006. We talk about what this shocking experience taught her about the power of showing up for people and ultimately, how it led to her new job as Program Manager for No Greater Sacrifice (https://nogreatersacrifice.org). No Greater Sacrifice is a nonprofit organization dedicated to investing in the children of our nation's fallen and wounded Service members with scholarships and resources to improve their quality of life through higher education. Amy also shouts out Ginger Gilbert Ravella’s work with Never Alone Widows (https://www.neveralonewidows.com), a faith based ministry that seeks to provide healing, comfort, and community for widows.

Send us a textMissy and Elisabeth are getting Season 3 started. Our pre-season meeting started with updates on our families, but ended up being a great preview of the new season! We're also experimenting with/learning new editing and sound enhancing software (how is this ep sounding?). With every season and every episode we are growing our skills. Come on the journey with us!

Send us a textMissy and Elisabeth had a "planning meeting" and by meeting we mean we talked for an hour about lots of things and some of those things were Season 3! We also talked about kids realizing the Common App window is open, suddenly it's the end of summer and there are things to get done before kids leave for school, and the Olympics, what we loved and how we want to go to the LA28 and the SLC34 games. In between we also talked about guests, our schedule, and Elisabeth attending Podcast Movement 2024. Check in with us, and look for Season 3 episodes in September!

Send us a textThank you thank you thank you to all who have joined us for Season 2! Missy and Elisabeth talk about summer plans, roses and thorns of Season 2, the importance of storytelling and some ideas to continue to grow and improve next season. SPECIAL SHOUT OUT(S) to Jessica Kidwell of the We Should Talk About That podcast (westatpod.com) and Angie Drake of Not Your Average American (notyouraverageamerican.com) for their mentoring and support of this passion project. We'll be taking the summer off (see: plans) but will also be getting our Season 3 guest list together so we can kick off more episodes in the fall.

Send us a textIn our final guest episode of Season 2, we meet Elizabeth (Liz) McClure, a recommendation from Season 1 guest Stella. After surviving a horrific accident as a young women, Liz hung up her horse dreams and focused on recovering and building a life. When her daughter's desire to learn to ride got too big to ignore, back to the house barn she went, and hasn't looked back. Liz talks about the horse barn family at Suncoast Stables (suncoaststable.com) and what's ahead for the "crazy" horse girls of the McClure family. Liz and her family are long time supporters of World Vision (www.worldvision.org) and the great work they do fighting poverty around the world.

Send us a textIn this episode we meet Darla Edmonds, a long time friend of both Missy and Elisabeth, although we each met Darla at different locations. Legally classified as nomads, Darla, her husband and their pup travel the country and the world seeking adventure and also helping their fellow man.  Hear about Utah, their restaurant in Maine and their motorcycle ride through Europe. Darla gave shout outs to numerous organizations they support, to include Heroes and Horses (heroesandhorses.org), Fisher House (fisherhouse.org), and the Maine Island Trail Association (Mita.org).

Send us a textIn this episode we meet Jodi Price Hajosy. Jodi, Missy and Elisabeth all met in Germany over 20 years ago. It was great catching up and reliving our infamous overnight pottery excursion. Even though we've been friends for ages, we learned (and re-learned) lots about Jodi - her passion for the environment and taking action to solve our problems with waste.  Her community of Greenville SC is notable for their collegial and forward thinking city government - a great template for our own communities. Jodi gave a shout out to Planned Parenthood and the great work they have done and continue to do supporting women's health.

Send us a textIn this episode we meet Vero, or more formally, playwright Veronique Autphenne. A recommendation from season 1’s Tonda Phalen and friend of Elisabeth, Vero writes social satire, comedies, and mysteries that explore issues of class, loyalty, and the insecurities that drive our most ill-advised actions. Her plays have been produced in numerous festivals in the US and the UK, including a performance of six of her short plays, Empty Nest, staged in a local vintage furniture store. Vero is also the founder of the oft-mentioned Writing Group. You can find all her plays at newplayexchange.org/users/29541/veronique-autphenne. She also shouts out local non-profit Food for Neighbors foodforneighbors.org, which supports food pantries in middle and high schools, and global non-profit World Central Kitchen wck.org

Send us a textIn episode 3, we meet Willie God’s Arrow Forman, our first male guest! Missy met Willie while both worked at Farming 4 Hunger in Maryland (https://farming4hunger.com/). Willie struggled with drug addiction for over 20 years in Morningside Maryland where he grew up. He was in and out of jails, institutions, and even suffered a drug overdose at age 15. He rededicated his life to God and his recovery while incarcerated. Willie, aka God’s Arrow, now has over 3 years drug and alcohol free, and continues to participate in Celebrate Recovery (https://www.celebraterecovery.com/) at Emmanuel Church in Huntingtown Maryland. Willie also serves in many other Ministries all over the region!

Send us a textIn episode 2, we meet Angie Drake. A long time bestie of Missy, we talk about her adventures living in South America, which led to the start of her company, Not Your Average American (https://notyouraverageamerican.com/).  Not Your Average American has explored city streets and back roads, high mountains and sandy coast, jungle rivers, and the wild islands of the Galapagos. Angie and her husband share their experiences – good and bad- in hopes that you might want to venture south and plan your next vacation in Ecuador.

Send us a textOn the first episode of season 2 of You Should Meet My Friend, we talk to Dr Vanessa Gattis, President and CEO of the Prince William County Community Foundation and friend of Laura Hatcher (season 1, episode 5). After retiring from the Army, Vanessa saw an important need and figured out how to meet it. The Prince William County Community Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to cultivating philanthropic support to ensure the ongoing well-being and vibrancy of Prince William County communities.

Send us a textMissy and Elisabeth are happy to announce Season 2 starting in May! Seven awesome new episodes - friends and people who should be our friends :-) - headed your way! Listen to our preview to get a taste of what's ahead, and the unintentional theme of our new episodes.

Send us a textEpisode 6 – Season One Wrap Up (recorded December 4, 2023) – Missy and Elisabeth talk about the challenges and rewards to stepping into the podcast with enthusiasm and a complete lack of knowledge. We learned lots, did not run out of things to talk about, and want to dive into a new season in 2024. Thanks for listening!

Send us a textEpisode 5 – Laura Hatcher (recorded December 3, 2023) – a Navy veteran, Laura and Elisabeth crossed paths at the annual leadership symposium the regularly attend. Turns out, their kids go to the same high school! Laura is an entrepreneur and business owner of Laura Hatcher Photography, https://www.laurahatcherphotography.com

Send us a textEpisode 4 – Sheila Richardson (recorded November 19, 2023) – Sheila and Missy met while assigned to the same base in Texas. A voracious reader, Shelia decided to embark on the journey of writing a book after a spark of inspiration. You can find out more about her YA fantasy trilogy, The Guardians of Orion, at https://slrichardson.com.

Send us a textEpisode 3 – Stella Beyerly (recorded October 22, 2023) – Stella and Elisabeth met 24 years ago while assigned to the same base in Texas. Eleven years ago, Stella had a potentially life changing medical emergency. Her tenacity while recovering, which she would attribute to being a Buffalo girl, was awe inspiring. Stella volunteers with and supports Mt Carmel Veterans Service Center https://www.veteranscenter.org

Send us a textEpisode 2 – Tonda Phalen (recorded October 15, 2023) – Tonda and Elisabeth met as theater moms, and have been fascinated ever since. Tonda is a gifted photographer, works at the Smithsonian, has trained as a trapeze artist and most interesting of all, has been a frequent attendee at Burning Man. Her Burn family can be found here: https://www.whiskeyanddust.org and you can check out her photos from the 2023 Burning Man here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/kLTGr1A6Jv6myXVX6

Send us a textEpisode 1 – Jennifer Judd (recorded October 8, 2023) – A longtime friend of Elisabeth’s and a fellow veteran, Jen recently graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She has returned to her hometown of Bedford, Pennsylvania and you can find her work at www.jenjudd.com.

Send us a textPreview Episode (recorded September 14, 2023) – Missy and Elisabeth talk about what this podcast is all about. There are a million podcasts out that interview celebrities, world renown experts and thought leaders. It’s great that this resource exists for us to get to know people we have no hope of meeting. But did you know that right now in your life there are heroes, experts and thought leaders? Right now in your life there are friends with their own extraordinary stories. Life races by pretty fast, so we want to take a moment to sit and listen to our friends. Maybe what makes our friend extraordinary is something you need to hear too. Elisabeth and Missy dig into their own friend groups to find magic. You should meet our friend!