October 30, 2025 • 34 mins
What if the most meaningful gift you give this year is your story? We’re opening our arms to two big projects fueled by real life and real heart: Beyond the Limb, a practical, compassionate course for new amputees, and Not Defined By My Diagnosis, a community-built book featuring unedited stories from parents and caregivers of special needs kids. Both efforts spring from lived experience—the weight of a prosthetic that doesn’t fit a rebuilt shoulder, the sting of public stares, the everyday work of turning overwhelm into agency—and from a stubborn belief that dignity is non-negotiable.
We dig into why the Hero Arm could be a game changer when insurance won’t budge, and how small adaptations add up: socket comfort, energy pacing, social scripting, wardrobe hacks, and mental health as a skill, not a side note. Then we invite you to write. The new book gathers honest snapshots—first diagnoses, IEP wins, meltdowns turned milestones, sibling love, mobility breakthroughs—kept unedited to honor each voice. Our aim is to publish before the holidays so families can wrap a keepsake that literally includes their child’s chapter, with proceeds funding caregiver and special needs courses through our academy.
Along the way we keep it human: laughter with the dogs at 4:59 a.m., a shoutout to Muck Sticky’s unapologetic joy, and a reminder that wealth is the people in your inner circle, not the things in your garage. You are not your diagnosis. You’re your name, your courage, your choices—and when you share that, someone else finds a way forward. Share your story, support a new amputee, and help us build a library of lived wisdom that anyone can open on a hard day and feel seen.
Subscribe for more conversations that mix practical tools with unfiltered heart. Share this with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review to help others find the show.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:02):
Good evening and welcome to another episode of a
Contagious Smile Unstoppable.
Hi, everybody.
We are here with my incrediblyamazing husband, who is just
here.
SPEAKER_01 (00:13):
Not y'all.
SPEAKER_00 (00:14):
He's tired.
He's done a lot lately.
We've been lifting and moving,and he has pulled a muscle, and
bless his thumpin' gizzard.
It's uncomfortable to say theleast.
So we apologize for not puttingout an episode this Sunday.
We have been getting ready tohave some major changes going
on.
And so again, we apologize, butwe are here now.
(00:37):
So uh how are you feeling, otherthan your pulled muscle, babe?
SPEAKER_02 (00:40):
I'm tired.
Tired?
Tired.
SPEAKER_00 (00:43):
Can you talk a little bit more in the mic?
SPEAKER_02 (00:45):
I can't reach them yonder.
SPEAKER_00 (00:46):
Can't reach yonder.
Here.
There you go.
Howdy, y'all.
SPEAKER_02 (00:53):
I already said howdy y'all.
SPEAKER_00 (00:54):
Here.
So everybody's telling me I'mgetting s more southern.
SPEAKER_02 (01:01):
Good.
SPEAKER_00 (01:02):
Good.
What?
So I have something that I'mgonna announce that my husband
has no idea about at all, whichis gonna be fun.
I love doing this to him.
And you're gonna put that in ifyou do that, thanks.
My husband is gonna be like, Ofcourse you are.
Watch.
This is exactly what he's gonnasay, because we all know how
(01:22):
Michael responds and reacts tothings, right?
So, as you know, we had anamazing outcry, an outburst, an
outreach to Dear Silence.
Right?
It was amazing.
International, hundreds ofsubmissions of people sharing
their light.
SPEAKER_02 (01:41):
My husband's just looking at me like I'm I'm I'm
waiting because I don't knowwhat she's up to.
So if y'all don't know, that'sthe latest book produced by my
wife.
It was well, it was compiled bymy wife.
It was written by hundreds ofyou listeners out there.
So you're unedited.
SPEAKER_00 (01:59):
Unedited.
SPEAKER_02 (02:00):
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (02:01):
And so I've had some people say something about the
editing, but it I'm not touchingsomebody else's submission.
That's not my right to do that.
So no, and it's been an amazingopportunity.
I really think there's gonna bea volume two because there's so
many.
Uh, people even ask me if theycould still write in now for it.
So here's a surprise my husbandhas had no idea about, and I'm
just throwing this in becausehe's gonna say, Oh, of course
(02:22):
you have.
So, part one is there is a newamputee course in a contagious
smile called Beyond the Limb,and it's amazing, and it really
gets an inside look at theday-to-day life and living and
with the ins and outs of how todo things as a new amputee.
SPEAKER_02 (02:42):
Why are you and when did you write this?
SPEAKER_00 (02:45):
Yesterday.
SPEAKER_02 (02:46):
Of course you did.
SPEAKER_00 (02:48):
I am meeting with and been involved with the hero
arm organization and hoping thatI can get a hero arm, and they
have helped me with acrowdfunding go fund me page so
that I could hopefully get thisbecause my insurance will not
cover it.
And my prosthetic that wascreated is too heavy since my
(03:14):
shoulder has been replaced.
So I can't use a normalprosthetic, and that's what
makes the hero arm amazing.
And so I just want to do a shoutout to them and all that they
do, not to mention my GoFundMecrowd, fund me, crowdfunding
video that they created is outas well.
(03:35):
But that's not even what I wasgonna say.
My husband's looking at me likeI can't even so all right, so
here we go.
People wonder, we are notscripted, as if you can't tell.
So, are you ready?
SPEAKER_02 (03:51):
As our daughter would say, What'd you do this
time?
SPEAKER_00 (03:56):
So, okay, are you ready?
On pins and needles, not definedby my diagnosis is the latest
comprehensive compilation bookthat's being put together about
our special needs kiddos, andthey're amazing, amazing.
My husband's hitting his head onthe microphone.
(04:16):
Not defined by my diagnosis.
SPEAKER_02 (04:19):
It is was that the title?
SPEAKER_00 (04:21):
Yeah, that's gonna be the title.
SPEAKER_02 (04:22):
Holy crap, can you repeat the title one more time?
SPEAKER_00 (04:25):
Not defined by my diagnosis.
Okay, I think that's amazing.
SPEAKER_02 (04:29):
Okay, that was a little shorter.
SPEAKER_00 (04:31):
No, it's not, it's the same.
Anyway, of course, I was soreally interrupted.
I love it because we are notdefined.
I'm special needs, but this isfor kids.
I am not, that means I'm gonnahave to do one for adults, you
know that, right?
But I am not defined by mydiagnosis.
I mean, I'm I'm not an amputee.
Right, I am a person who has anamputated arm.
(04:51):
I'm not, you know, my diagnosis.
And after 20 years almost ofadvocating for special needs, I
have had the biggest blessing ofmeeting some of the most amazing
kids ever.
So, what we're gonna do is we'reopening up the floodgates again
for parents, caregivers, anybodylike that that wants to tell
their story.
(05:12):
We have a waiver for you tosign.
You can put your name on it ifyou choose to.
If you want to be confidential,we can do that, or you can just
use your first name, you can useyour child's name, but you
provide the rights over to usbecause we put this book out
there.
All proceeds will go to theacademy, which help fund special
needs courses, which help fundcourses for caregivers and
(05:35):
parents, as well as it is reallyout there to help others, like
the stucco squad, so amazing,and we have so many kids that
love it because stucco teachesyou how to add and subtract and
to do things differently.
And who wants to do the paththat everybody else is on,
right?
Because that's kind of boring.
But we get to go on journeys andsee things no one else ever
does, and we don't take anythingfor granted.
(05:57):
So I will tell you that I've putthis out today, and I already
have people sending me theirstories.
SPEAKER_02 (06:03):
Of course you did.
Of course they are.
SPEAKER_00 (06:06):
They have, and I've just awesome.
I've just finished reading, andI'm only gonna give a little bit
about it.
I've just finished reading abouta mom learning about her baby
having Down syndrome, andeverything that she went through
emotionally through it, it'sit's very telling.
It's a very sweet story that'sgonna be in there.
(06:29):
But my goal, here we go, is thatthe book will be ready and in
the hands of the parents beforethe holidays.
SPEAKER_02 (06:39):
Wow, that's so that's moving.
SPEAKER_00 (06:44):
I know, right?
Because I go at any other speed.
So how amazing would it be?
What an amazing Christmasholiday, Hanukkah, whatever you
celebrate gift for yourself,your child, your parents, your
grandparents, whomever you wantto say, look, your story is
(07:08):
lighting the world.
It's lighting the world becauseI'm gonna sit and read to you
around the Christmas tree oraround the menorah, whatever it
is that you celebrate, where youread the story of the light that
your child brings to you andyour family and share it with
(07:28):
the world.
And then your child will get tohave this keepsake forever.
What better gift can that be?
I would prefer to have giftsthat are personalized.
I mean, anybody can go to thestore and buy a sweater, anybody
can go online and buy a sweater,but who could put their kid in a
book for them to have reflect onthem for the rest of their life?
(07:49):
I mean, that is just top-notch.
This book is gonna bring all theemotional roller coaster of
happiness and inspiration andstrength and bravery and really
reflect what we as special needsparents go through and give you
a sense of what it is to be whowe are.
(08:11):
And we are a force, we are aforce to be reckoned with.
Let me just tell you.
I'm so excited about this.
I didn't tell my husband becauseI knew what he was gonna say.
He was gonna say, Are youfreaking kidding me?
Because we have so much on ourplate right now, literally.
We we had to get a bigger table,literally, literally, we have to
(08:31):
get a bigger plate and a biggertable.
We have so much going on rightnow.
And I kept thinking, what wouldbe the ultimate gift, right?
To maybe give your grandparentsa book and they unwrap it and
they're not defined by mydiagnosis.
What?
And then you open it up and orhave a sticky note on the cover
(08:52):
and says turn to page 44 orwhatever it is, and there's the
story of their grandchild,right?
What a gift, what the perfectgift that would be.
My husband is literally on theseat of his chair wanting to say
something.
Yes, babe.
SPEAKER_02 (09:07):
No, I'm just you know, I was gonna give another
example of this kind of the kindof stories that were written in
by our listeners in the firstbook, Dear Silence.
Okay.
Then I shall read one.
SPEAKER_00 (09:24):
They both work.
Why are you echoing?
SPEAKER_02 (09:26):
I thought you said they didn't.
SPEAKER_00 (09:27):
No, they do.
SPEAKER_02 (09:27):
Anyway.
So the book is on Amazon.
It's called Dear Silence, YouLost by Victoria Cure.
Please march on over there andpick you up you a copy.
Okay.
These are true, heartfelt,factual stories, testimonials,
real life events that happen insomeone's life.
(09:49):
Some of our listeners.
Maybe they were friends of ourlisteners, I don't know.
But this happened to someone outthere, and it could it could
happen to you, it could happento your loved ones, it could
happen to your children.
So this one is titled We'reStill Here and That Matters More
Than Anything.
(10:10):
And I I bet you a dollar, mywife can remember almost every
one of these.
So here it goes.
After the screaming stopped,after the last punch, after the
door slammed, the police left,the bruises faded, and the world
moved on like nothing everhappened.
We were still here.
(10:31):
Quiet, shaking, trying toremember how to be human again.
And no one tells you how hardthat part is.
No one tells you how to how itfeels to brush your teeth and
cry because you're still alive,or how exhausting it is to walk
through the world like you'refine when your entire body is
(10:53):
still flinching from ghost.
Healing isn't soft.
It's not gentle music and spadays.
It's rage, it's grief, it'sscreaming into a pillow at 2
a.m.
Because you still hear theirvoice in your head.
It's choosing again and againnot to go back, not to numb it,
(11:15):
not to give up.
Some days we're proud.
On other days, we're just tryingto breathe.
But this chapter is not aboutperfection, it's about
persistence.
Because healing is messy, it'snot it's nonlinear, it's
personal and painful, andsometimes so damn slow you
(11:38):
wonder if you'll ever feel wholeagain.
But we keep going, we stitchourselves back together with
shaky hands, we rebuild trustone safe hug at a time, we
relearn how to sleep through thenight, we cry without shame, we
speak without fear, we standwithout apology, and somewhere
(12:03):
along the way we realize we'renot alone.
There are others, survivors whocarry the same invisible armor,
who hear your story and say, Metoo, I get it.
I've been there.
And just like that, healingbecomes a little less lonely.
(12:30):
So if you're still here, stillbreathing, still trying, still
holding your story in yourchest, you are proof that
survival is a sacred kind ofstrength.
They didn't break you.
They couldn't.
They never will.
And you don't owe the worldsilence anymore.
You owe yourself peace.
You owe yourself pride.
(12:52):
This chapter isn't just healing,it's freedom.
It's the return of your voice,your body, your power, your
name.
It's not the end of the story,it's the part where you finally
begin again.
SPEAKER_00 (13:06):
And the name on that is?
SPEAKER_02 (13:08):
There's no name.
SPEAKER_00 (13:09):
Read the beginning of it.
SPEAKER_02 (13:11):
Let me go back.
There's no name.
So, whoever wrote this?
Do you know who it is?
SPEAKER_00 (13:20):
I have a good idea.
SPEAKER_02 (13:21):
Okay.
Well, whoever wrote it, thankyou.
SPEAKER_00 (13:28):
And my husband will tell you I read every single one
that comes in.
I don't just skim through them.
SPEAKER_02 (13:33):
I I couldn't read them, y'all.
Like like this right here.
SPEAKER_01 (13:35):
He's crying.
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (13:37):
I get a little choked up because these are very
personal.
They are very real.
And a lot of times I see my wifein this situation.
You know, because she wentthrough a horrible ordeal that I
wish I could change.
SPEAKER_00 (13:56):
So would you do me the honor of doing something and
write from a perspective of adad a story about faith for the
book?
SPEAKER_02 (14:06):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (14:07):
That would be fantastic.
But I want to get it out thisholiday.
I do.
Oh, the pollen must be so bad.
See, he's got a big old teddybear heart.
SPEAKER_02 (14:20):
Ah, there's something in my eye.
SPEAKER_00 (14:22):
And both of them?
In both of them.
No, allergy seasons are over.
No, no, no.
Also, not that we've had nothingto do, we are starting a school,
S-K-O-O-L community, which isamazing as well.
And that is just launched, butwe still have a lot to input
(14:43):
into it.
But that's out there.
So it's the Phoenix network,which I think is amazing because
that kind of ties together theacademy and everything else, and
it's just awesome.
So this is a way to really getinvolved.
You're still like all emotional.
It's sweet.
It is, it's sweet.
(15:04):
It shows that softer side.
It does.
It's sweet.
So I want to get this out forthe holidays.
So if you have submissions thatyou would like to tell, and I
mean, what a gift! Can youimagine?
I mean, you're just a teddy bearof tears anyway, but like think
of Faith giving you wait, shehas.
You opened up a gift from her,and it was a book, and it was a
(15:27):
book she wrote for you.
And you were like a basket case.
I was kind of worried you weregonna ruin the cover with the
tears that streamed down yourface.
SPEAKER_02 (15:35):
That was during allergy seasons.
SPEAKER_00 (15:37):
No, it wasn't, and it was not no, and I was super
proud of her.
It was a number one best newrelease, too, because she's
amazing.
But to as a parent to open thator a grandparent to unwrap a
gift and see something that waswritten personally, that's a
keepsake that's priceless.
It really is.
(15:58):
And we are opening that rightnow, or you could email me
directly at Victoria at acontagious smile.com.
There's two S.
So A C O N T O I cannot spellworth a flippity doo day today.
SPEAKER_02 (16:14):
A contagious smile.
Right.
A C O N T.
SPEAKER_00 (16:20):
You can't spell the A-C O N T A G I O U S S M I L.
SPEAKER_01 (16:28):
Second Glass of Wine.
SPEAKER_00 (16:30):
Yeah.
Dot comment.
So you can email me directlythere with your submissions and
stories.
Edit that?
No, I'm leaving that.
Well, because we're authentic.
We're human.
That's what we do.
That's who we are.
Hell, people are saying you'resounding a little more uh
southern.
And I'm like, wait, what?
What?
It's the it's the uh minion.
(16:52):
What I love minions, they're thebest ever.
So what a great idea forChristmas gift.
Just or a holiday gift orwhatever you celebrate, or just
you know, a thank you gift.
I mean, really, you know, I wasdriving to the store today, and
and Faith looked at me and goes,You really should have taken me
up on my offer, which she hadtold my surgeon the day of my
(17:15):
amputation, she told the surgeonshe wanted him to take her arm
and transplant it to me.
And I maintained it.
I got I kept it together untilwe went to the R, and then I
absolutely freaking lost it.
And so even my surgeon, who isworld renowned, he lost it.
He came in crying.
And it was just the the visionof life that these kids carry,
(17:38):
uh, they don't take anything forgranted, they celebrate every
laughter.
I mean, we celebrate everylaughter.
Her laughter is infectious, itis just infectious.
And when she laughs, I don'tcare what you're doing, it's
done.
You know, we were talking to PopPop tonight, and he Michael
said, Faith, you better get offyour booty and move your butt.
(17:58):
And he was like, I know whatshe's doing.
She probably stood up, shook hertush, sat back down.
And that's exactly what she did.
And we all just cracked uplaughing about it.
And you know what?
Those priceless moments, youcan't have enough of those.
They're amazing, right?
There's nothing money can buy.
That's nothing that you know amansion can carry, you know.
I mean, and something I'verealized is, you know, it was it
(18:23):
was amazing because I waslistening to an interview and
somebody said it was MichaelBublet, and he for those who
don't know who he is, he he'slike the today's singer of Frank
Sinatra kind of thing, HarryConnick Jr.
And somebody asked him what itmeant in his mind to be rich.
(18:43):
And Michael Bublet actually waslike, it's not materialistic,
it's not monetary.
He said, It's family, it's theones in your inner circle that
you know you can count on.
He said, sure, you can have allthe materialistic things in the
world.
He goes, I know a lot of peoplewho have a lot of materialistic
things, nice cars, nice homes,boats, airplanes, whatever, but
(19:05):
they are the most miserablepeople you've ever met, and they
keep this front on becausethat's how they keep their
materialistic items.
But they don't know if they haveauthentic people in their circle
or do they have people who, youknow, are want, I want, I want.
Also, they're just miserablepeople, right?
(19:25):
It's all, you know, they seegreed and and things of that
nature, you know.
It's like you read all theseinterviews about like Jennifer
Lopez, she fired her staff forspeaking directly to her.
You're not even allowed to speakto her, you have to go through
her, whoever, you know.
Mariah Carey had someone whowould carry her dress for her so
(19:47):
it didn't touch the ground.
Somebody else she hired to cutthe tag out.
And at first, I was like, Irelate to that because I hate
that feel on the back of myneck.
She cut it out to change thesize of her dress on her
dresses.
So if anybody saw it, theywouldn't know what size she
truly was.
I mean, that is so tedious.
That blows my mind that peopleare gonna be, you know, and I
(20:07):
mean to each their own, ifthat's what they need to do,
then so be it.
But those aren't the happiestpeople, and you know what?
You have to go back and take aminute and realize that if it
wasn't for your fans, therewouldn't be a Mariah Carey, they
wouldn't be a Jennifer Lopez,they wouldn't be who they are
today if they didn't have a fanbase, right?
You know, I'm not a fan ofMariah Carey at all after what
(20:30):
she did on the Atlanta radio 26years ago or 21 years ago,
whatever it was.
I I've lost all respect that Ihad for her.
But people love her and to eachtheir own.
But what I'm saying is is thatwho are you to say your fans who
put you in the limelight boughtyou your mansions and cars and
whatever, that you're too goodto speak to them, that you can't
(20:53):
talk to them directly.
I mean, are you serious?
And then you read things likethey have a list of things that
must be done for them when theycome to perform.
Say, one of the things I readabout Jennifer Lopez, I know I'm
out in the left field.
One of the things they say aboutJennifer Lopez, which I think is
hilarious, I had to stop readingit because I thought this is
just can't be real.
(21:13):
She could only have whitefurniture in her dressing room,
she only wants certain flavor ofbottled water, she won't have
anything else.
She has to have certain this,certain that, certain this.
If it's not expressed exactly asit said, she doesn't do it.
I mean, seriously, that justdumbfounded me because I will
walk up.
I've had people walk up to meand say, Oh my god, you're
(21:34):
Victoria Cure.
Yeah, okay.
And I'm like, hey, how's itgoing?
And I'll talk to you just likeevery other person out there.
Like, I don't, and I'm nowherenear Jennifer Lopez.
I'm nowhere nearer, you know, Iget it.
I think I have a bigger heartthan some people.
Why do you keep looking outside?
Oh, now you're rubbing in thefact I can't hear?
unknown (21:53):
No.
SPEAKER_00 (21:54):
You're making fun of the hearing impaired.
Are you falling asleep?
SPEAKER_02 (21:58):
Yes.
Are you serious right now?
You're out in left field.
Okay, then bring us back to seeabout these other folks that
have nothing to do with it.
SPEAKER_00 (22:04):
No, it did.
SPEAKER_02 (22:05):
It all had to reflect violence facts
narcissism.
SPEAKER_00 (22:08):
No, because we were talking about how important it
is as a gift to have somethingthat is priceless.
SPEAKER_02 (22:12):
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (22:13):
And not take it for granted like others do.
So it wasn't really in leftfield, it was more center.
SPEAKER_02 (22:18):
It was left field.
SPEAKER_00 (22:18):
It wasn't left field, it was more center.
SPEAKER_02 (22:20):
Let's agree to disagree.
SPEAKER_00 (22:22):
Do you want me to bring you to tears again?
SPEAKER_02 (22:24):
But you want to bring me to tears?
SPEAKER_00 (22:25):
Yeah, give me a book, I'll read a story.
SPEAKER_02 (22:27):
No.
SPEAKER_00 (22:28):
Why?
Oh, because it'll be moreemotional coming from me?
SPEAKER_02 (22:32):
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (22:32):
Well, then let me have the book.
SPEAKER_02 (22:33):
No.
You can read the excerpts yougot today.
SPEAKER_00 (22:37):
No, you got the book.
SPEAKER_02 (22:38):
Why not?
SPEAKER_00 (22:38):
Because they haven't signed the waiver yet.
They sent me the submission, Isent them the waiver.
So until I get it, I can't.
SPEAKER_02 (22:43):
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (22:44):
So nice try though.
SPEAKER_02 (22:46):
So the email they can send you their story to?
Yeah, go ahead and tell it.
Yeah, go ahead.
No.
Victoria at a contagioussmile.com.
Gonna spell it for everybody?
No.
I already tried and blunderedthat.
SPEAKER_00 (22:59):
Stucco says, Hi! It's Stucco from Stucco Squad.
Also, my husband is doing someamazing engraving, and those are
gonna be some options.
Let's talk about for just mucksticky.
Like amazing, right?
(23:20):
He is so funny.
He's hilarious.
He is hilarious.
You know, there are things abouthim that most people don't know.
I need to send him a messagetonight because it's his
birthday, and I need to send hima message when we get done here.
SPEAKER_02 (23:33):
You see him on the videos, you hear his his songs,
he's hilarious, but he's veryreal.
SPEAKER_00 (23:39):
He he is very real.
He is, and he has a huge heart.
So we want to give a big shoutout to Mutt Sticky and say happy
birthday.
But like his music, you know,there are times as a mom and a
survivor where, you know, yes,you have to have this like, you
know, greatness about you, butwe're all human.
And he has some songs thatabsolutely will just make you
(24:04):
smile.
And he has this song called FOff, and it's to all those
people that have their nose inyour business and you know, are
meddling within I'm supposed tobe.
And there are plenty of times Iwill admit that that has been my
theme song.
I mean, even way before I everhad the privilege and honor of
speaking with him, because I hadbeen speaking with him off and
(24:26):
on for you know a good minutebefore he came on.
And oh my God, just see him inhis own environment and his
element just made him a milliontimes better than I ever thought
he would be.
And so I want to thank him forcoming on and Nick for helping
get him with me.
Um, Nick's an amazing humanbeing, too.
So we got that taken and done.
(24:46):
And Stucco is just enjoying somesweet face rubs right now and
with smiling from ear to ear.
I just want to say for a minute,babe, what does Stucco do when
you try to get like all loveydovey with me?
Because this is hilarious.
SPEAKER_02 (24:58):
This dog actually puts both paws on me and pushes
me away from my own wife.
SPEAKER_00 (25:03):
And if he tries, if my husband tries to put his paw,
wait, say, this is why we're notedited.
If my husband tried to put hisarm on me, Stucco takes his head
and puts it under my husband'sarm and shoves his arm off of
me.
Sorry, I just said you had apaw, but you were a dog in the
(25:24):
day.
So I mean it's all but Stucco ismama's baby, and he tries to
sleep on my pillow and go noseto nose.
And my husband's like, just gethim his own pillow.
Well, he shares one with me, sohe doesn't need his own.
He's right there with me.
Now, the best part of this is at4:59 a.m.
(25:45):
every morning, like clockwork.
These two sweet babies wake myhusband up like clockwork,
right?
They annoyed the piss out ofhim, which is great.
It's funny.
Now, my husband had to go out oftown a few weeks ago, and both
of my sweet boys stayed in thebed with me as always.
(26:06):
And he's like, Enjoy themgetting you up because they're
not, I'm not there to do it.
Okay.
Neither one of my sweet boyseven moved at 459 or 5 or 501 or
6 or 7.
They were great.
And even when I was like, Do youwant to O U T?
They didn't move.
I was up before them.
It was fantastic.
(26:27):
Yeah, it's called Daddy'sWrapped, pollinated version.
SPEAKER_02 (26:32):
Speaking of being wrapped, yeah, I can't wait for
my muck sticky pajamas.
Get me some pajama britches.
SPEAKER_00 (26:41):
Uh-huh.
You go to his website and theyhave them on sale there.
SPEAKER_02 (26:45):
Yeah.
Y'all go to Muck Sticky'swebsite and buy a pair of muck
sticky PJs.
SPEAKER_00 (26:53):
He holds the Guinness Book of World Records
for per se wearing the mostpajamas in a in a year.
Like, not sorry, in a lifetime.
SPEAKER_02 (27:01):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (27:02):
Yeah.
He he's been wearing them foryears and years and years.
And it's kind of an idolbecause, like, you know, I've
gone out in my pajama bottoms.
I don't care.
SPEAKER_02 (27:10):
I mean, I guess he's respectful about it.
SPEAKER_00 (27:12):
He is.
He wears them respectfully.
It's not like you know, he'swearing anything disrespectful.
But you know what?
And he has this main way ofthinking.
It's like if you don't like whoI am or what I have to offer,
screw you.
You know, and today, why are youlooking at me like a deer in
headlights?
SPEAKER_01 (27:28):
Hello, pot.
SPEAKER_00 (27:30):
Hi, Kettle.
So nice to see you.
SPEAKER_01 (27:32):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (27:32):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (27:33):
Adopt native philosophy.
SPEAKER_00 (27:35):
Huh?
SPEAKER_01 (27:36):
Huh?
SPEAKER_00 (27:37):
I can't hear you.
Let me turn your ears.
I am deaf.
Are you making fun of thehearing impaired?
I am not.
Okay.
You have me teach you how to.
I'm just saying if you can readmy lips.
Oh, I can read your lips.
I read your lips.
Loud and clear.
SPEAKER_02 (27:51):
You understand the words that are coming out of my
mouth?
unknown (27:54):
No.
SPEAKER_00 (27:55):
He thinks he's got all this like swagger.
SPEAKER_02 (27:58):
No.
I've been trying to teach youfor years.
SPEAKER_00 (28:02):
What are you talking about?
SPEAKER_02 (28:03):
Don't give a shit what other people think about
you.
SPEAKER_00 (28:06):
Really?
SPEAKER_02 (28:07):
Really?
Really?
Really?
SPEAKER_00 (28:08):
So we're gonna switch now to body dysphoria.
SPEAKER_02 (28:11):
Yes, we are.
SPEAKER_00 (28:12):
Let's go.
SPEAKER_02 (28:13):
How do you see yourself?
Let me throw some adjectives outhere.
Beautiful?
SPEAKER_00 (28:22):
I have a big heart.
SPEAKER_02 (28:23):
Gorgeous?
SPEAKER_00 (28:24):
I have a big heart.
SPEAKER_02 (28:25):
Sexy?
SPEAKER_00 (28:26):
Physical looks to me are shallow.
There's more to a person thanphysicality.
A lot of people who arephysically attractive.
Talking about somebody else?
No, I'm talking generality.
A lot of people who arephysically attractive on the
outside are much more kind ofstuck up or conceited.
And I think people who have agood heart and are genuine
(28:48):
people make themselves flawless.
It speaks through the outside.
SPEAKER_02 (28:55):
Do you have a good heart?
SPEAKER_00 (28:56):
I have a big heart.
That's my biggest gift and mybiggest fault.
I have a big heart.
I have pretty eyes.
Yeah, I haven't answeredanything.
I can't hear you.
I have a couple of things.
I have pretty eyes.
I have very unusual color eyes.
It's not normal.
You don't see my color veryoften in eyes.
(29:20):
So crickets.
SPEAKER_02 (29:23):
Right.
What?
His philosophy.
What?
He didn't ask anybody.
Hey, can I have your permissionto wear pajamas for the rest of
my life?
He just did it.
That's his way.
And he didn't care what otherpeople thought.
SPEAKER_00 (29:43):
Okay.
So next time I go on stage andI'm doing a speaking engagement,
shit, I'll go out in my pajamas?
SPEAKER_02 (29:50):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (29:52):
Not a business suit like you love me wearing?
SPEAKER_02 (29:55):
Sure.
SPEAKER_00 (29:55):
Yeah, right.
If I go out there in pajamas,you'd be like, I don't know
where you think you're goingout.
There looking like that, youbetter get in here and put on
some pants and clothes andwhatever.
SPEAKER_02 (30:04):
Hey, nice deco.
I'll encourage you.
SPEAKER_00 (30:08):
Uh-huh.
So, what if I want to cut myhair?
My husband loves long hair, andmy hair is past my waist.
And my husband loves long hair.
So, would you find me?
Not that I'm putting you on thespot.
Yes, I am.
Would you would you find me assexy or attractive or cute or
loving if my hair was shortagain?
SPEAKER_02 (30:29):
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (30:29):
You're full of shit.
SPEAKER_02 (30:31):
No, I just I just unloaded in the toilet.
SPEAKER_00 (30:33):
You left some skid marks.
SPEAKER_02 (30:35):
In my breeches?
Maybe.
SPEAKER_00 (30:38):
You love long hair.
You've always loved long hair.
SPEAKER_02 (30:41):
Yes, it's beautiful.
SPEAKER_00 (30:42):
So if I whack it off, I am not gonna be.
SPEAKER_02 (30:46):
Let's not say that.
unknown (30:48):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (30:48):
You're not gonna be not whacking anything off up
here.
SPEAKER_00 (30:51):
You're not gonna be as like, oh, look at my wife's
sexy hair anymore.
SPEAKER_02 (30:55):
I've always put my fingers through your hair.
SPEAKER_00 (30:57):
But if I cut if I cut it like a couple feet,
you're gonna be like, babe, whatthe hell are you?
SPEAKER_02 (31:06):
So it's okay.
I may dislike it, but it's stillyou.
SPEAKER_00 (31:11):
But you you just admitted you would dislike it.
So does that take away thesexiness of the person?
No, you hesitated in in yourresponse.
SPEAKER_02 (31:20):
Not in the person, no.
SPEAKER_00 (31:22):
Okay, so they let's say there was a twin of me, God
help the world.
And one of absolutelyidentified.
SPEAKER_02 (31:28):
There's a little one of you in that room next door.
SPEAKER_00 (31:30):
That's true.
And one of us had long hair downto their waist, and the other
one had hair above theirshoulder.
SPEAKER_02 (31:35):
You're not a half of me.
So you say your sister's sexierthan you?
SPEAKER_00 (31:39):
I don't have a sister, I have a step monster.
But which would you rather have?
Nope, not answering.
Would you rather have a longhair?
Not answering.
Or okay, would you rather haveme have darker skin or lighter
skin?
The perfect just the way youare.
Are you traveling down that roadof safety?
I am the only white woman you'veever had, and you're anyway.
(32:00):
The dogs have to go out.
No, they're fine.
No.
No, they're not.
Why don't you close your head?
No, we're not.
No, no.
We're not doing a short podcastbecause we missed last week.
It's not short.
It is.
It absolutely is.
So don't get your underwear inan uproar.
So let's they have skid marsh,remember?
(32:20):
Isn't that right, stucco?
He even tried to get Rusty totalk to him the other day, and
Rusty now talks back, which Ithink is adorable.
It's so sweet.
Hey, Rusty! Yes.
So why do people stare at othersin public?
SPEAKER_02 (32:46):
I mean, there could be a plethora of reasons.
A lack of understanding,ignorance.
Okay, as many times as we'vebeen out, and we see better than
you because I have more thanwhat what I see that you have.
Whether it's it's looks, whetherit's whether it's non
deformities or challenges, likeyou're missing a left arm.
(33:10):
People may look at you andwonder, okay, what happened?
SPEAKER_00 (33:14):
But they don't wonder.
They looked at you, they lookdown at me, they look at me with
despair and disgust.
They look like uh they look atme like I have the plague, and
if I touch them, they're gonnaget it.
Yeah, I'd love to, you know,have a word with them.
But like there are so many timeswe go out to eat, and if we're
sitting in a restaurant, we lookat the people around us, say
there's a table with an autisticchild at it, at the table, and
(33:34):
people stare at this beautifulchild, or if the child's in a
wheelchair, everybody stares.
I mean, and you know, if I getthe child's attention, I'll
smile and then the sweet facesmiles back, and it makes such a
huge difference.
My husband is uh bowing outbecause of his pulled muscle and
wanting to take the dogs out.
(33:55):
So I guess we are gonna have tocut it short because I can't do
this without him.
SPEAKER_02 (33:58):
She can.
SPEAKER_00 (33:59):
No, I can't, freaking awesome, whatever.
SPEAKER_02 (34:03):
Be sure to uh go on Amazon, pick up those books,
y'all.
SPEAKER_00 (34:06):
And if you ever wondered if this was edited or
scripted now, you know it's not.
SPEAKER_02 (34:09):
And go over to Monk Sticky's website.
If you don't know who he is, youare missing out.
He's hilarious.
Videos, all his songs.
Be sure to share all his songsbecause they're they're just
freaking hilarious.
Okay, go on his website, buy hisPJs.
Are you gonna take us out?
No, I brought us in.
Go ahead.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank youfor listening to a contagious
(34:32):
smile unstoppable with VictoriaMichael, stucco and rusty, who
popped in for a brief visit.
Thank y'all.
SPEAKER_01 (34:40):
Good night.
SPEAKER_02 (34:41):
Good night, y'all.
Good evening and welcome to another episode of a
Contagious Smile Unstoppable.
Hi, everybody.
We are here with my incrediblyamazing husband, who is just
here.
SPEAKER_01 (00:13):
Not y'all.
SPEAKER_00 (00:14):
He's tired.
He's done a lot lately.
We've been lifting and moving,and he has pulled a muscle, and
bless his thumpin' gizzard.
It's uncomfortable to say theleast.
So we apologize for not puttingout an episode this Sunday.
We have been getting ready tohave some major changes going
on.
And so again, we apologize, butwe are here now.
(00:37):
So uh how are you feeling, otherthan your pulled muscle, babe?
SPEAKER_02 (00:40):
I'm tired.
Tired?
Tired.
SPEAKER_00 (00:43):
Can you talk a little bit more in the mic?
SPEAKER_02 (00:45):
I can't reach them yonder.
SPEAKER_00 (00:46):
Can't reach yonder.
Here.
There you go.
Howdy, y'all.
SPEAKER_02 (00:53):
I already said howdy y'all.
SPEAKER_00 (00:54):
Here.
So everybody's telling me I'mgetting s more southern.
SPEAKER_02 (01:01):
Good.
SPEAKER_00 (01:02):
Good.
What?
So I have something that I'mgonna announce that my husband
has no idea about at all, whichis gonna be fun.
I love doing this to him.
And you're gonna put that in ifyou do that, thanks.
My husband is gonna be like, Ofcourse you are.
Watch.
This is exactly what he's gonnasay, because we all know how
(01:22):
Michael responds and reacts tothings, right?
So, as you know, we had anamazing outcry, an outburst, an
outreach to Dear Silence.
Right?
It was amazing.
International, hundreds ofsubmissions of people sharing
their light.
SPEAKER_02 (01:41):
My husband's just looking at me like I'm I'm I'm
waiting because I don't knowwhat she's up to.
So if y'all don't know, that'sthe latest book produced by my
wife.
It was well, it was compiled bymy wife.
It was written by hundreds ofyou listeners out there.
So you're unedited.
SPEAKER_00 (01:59):
Unedited.
SPEAKER_02 (02:00):
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (02:01):
And so I've had some people say something about the
editing, but it I'm not touchingsomebody else's submission.
That's not my right to do that.
So no, and it's been an amazingopportunity.
I really think there's gonna bea volume two because there's so
many.
Uh, people even ask me if theycould still write in now for it.
So here's a surprise my husbandhas had no idea about, and I'm
just throwing this in becausehe's gonna say, Oh, of course
(02:22):
you have.
So, part one is there is a newamputee course in a contagious
smile called Beyond the Limb,and it's amazing, and it really
gets an inside look at theday-to-day life and living and
with the ins and outs of how todo things as a new amputee.
SPEAKER_02 (02:42):
Why are you and when did you write this?
SPEAKER_00 (02:45):
Yesterday.
SPEAKER_02 (02:46):
Of course you did.
SPEAKER_00 (02:48):
I am meeting with and been involved with the hero
arm organization and hoping thatI can get a hero arm, and they
have helped me with acrowdfunding go fund me page so
that I could hopefully get thisbecause my insurance will not
cover it.
And my prosthetic that wascreated is too heavy since my
(03:14):
shoulder has been replaced.
So I can't use a normalprosthetic, and that's what
makes the hero arm amazing.
And so I just want to do a shoutout to them and all that they
do, not to mention my GoFundMecrowd, fund me, crowdfunding
video that they created is outas well.
(03:35):
But that's not even what I wasgonna say.
My husband's looking at me likeI can't even so all right, so
here we go.
People wonder, we are notscripted, as if you can't tell.
So, are you ready?
SPEAKER_02 (03:51):
As our daughter would say, What'd you do this
time?
SPEAKER_00 (03:56):
So, okay, are you ready?
On pins and needles, not definedby my diagnosis is the latest
comprehensive compilation bookthat's being put together about
our special needs kiddos, andthey're amazing, amazing.
My husband's hitting his head onthe microphone.
(04:16):
Not defined by my diagnosis.
SPEAKER_02 (04:19):
It is was that the title?
SPEAKER_00 (04:21):
Yeah, that's gonna be the title.
SPEAKER_02 (04:22):
Holy crap, can you repeat the title one more time?
SPEAKER_00 (04:25):
Not defined by my diagnosis.
Okay, I think that's amazing.
SPEAKER_02 (04:29):
Okay, that was a little shorter.
SPEAKER_00 (04:31):
No, it's not, it's the same.
Anyway, of course, I was soreally interrupted.
I love it because we are notdefined.
I'm special needs, but this isfor kids.
I am not, that means I'm gonnahave to do one for adults, you
know that, right?
But I am not defined by mydiagnosis.
I mean, I'm I'm not an amputee.
Right, I am a person who has anamputated arm.
(04:51):
I'm not, you know, my diagnosis.
And after 20 years almost ofadvocating for special needs, I
have had the biggest blessing ofmeeting some of the most amazing
kids ever.
So, what we're gonna do is we'reopening up the floodgates again
for parents, caregivers, anybodylike that that wants to tell
their story.
(05:12):
We have a waiver for you tosign.
You can put your name on it ifyou choose to.
If you want to be confidential,we can do that, or you can just
use your first name, you can useyour child's name, but you
provide the rights over to usbecause we put this book out
there.
All proceeds will go to theacademy, which help fund special
needs courses, which help fundcourses for caregivers and
(05:35):
parents, as well as it is reallyout there to help others, like
the stucco squad, so amazing,and we have so many kids that
love it because stucco teachesyou how to add and subtract and
to do things differently.
And who wants to do the paththat everybody else is on,
right?
Because that's kind of boring.
But we get to go on journeys andsee things no one else ever
does, and we don't take anythingfor granted.
(05:57):
So I will tell you that I've putthis out today, and I already
have people sending me theirstories.
SPEAKER_02 (06:03):
Of course you did.
Of course they are.
SPEAKER_00 (06:06):
They have, and I've just awesome.
I've just finished reading, andI'm only gonna give a little bit
about it.
I've just finished reading abouta mom learning about her baby
having Down syndrome, andeverything that she went through
emotionally through it, it'sit's very telling.
It's a very sweet story that'sgonna be in there.
(06:29):
But my goal, here we go, is thatthe book will be ready and in
the hands of the parents beforethe holidays.
SPEAKER_02 (06:39):
Wow, that's so that's moving.
SPEAKER_00 (06:44):
I know, right?
Because I go at any other speed.
So how amazing would it be?
What an amazing Christmasholiday, Hanukkah, whatever you
celebrate gift for yourself,your child, your parents, your
grandparents, whomever you wantto say, look, your story is
(07:08):
lighting the world.
It's lighting the world becauseI'm gonna sit and read to you
around the Christmas tree oraround the menorah, whatever it
is that you celebrate, where youread the story of the light that
your child brings to you andyour family and share it with
(07:28):
the world.
And then your child will get tohave this keepsake forever.
What better gift can that be?
I would prefer to have giftsthat are personalized.
I mean, anybody can go to thestore and buy a sweater, anybody
can go online and buy a sweater,but who could put their kid in a
book for them to have reflect onthem for the rest of their life?
(07:49):
I mean, that is just top-notch.
This book is gonna bring all theemotional roller coaster of
happiness and inspiration andstrength and bravery and really
reflect what we as special needsparents go through and give you
a sense of what it is to be whowe are.
(08:11):
And we are a force, we are aforce to be reckoned with.
Let me just tell you.
I'm so excited about this.
I didn't tell my husband becauseI knew what he was gonna say.
He was gonna say, Are youfreaking kidding me?
Because we have so much on ourplate right now, literally.
We we had to get a bigger table,literally, literally, we have to
(08:31):
get a bigger plate and a biggertable.
We have so much going on rightnow.
And I kept thinking, what wouldbe the ultimate gift, right?
To maybe give your grandparentsa book and they unwrap it and
they're not defined by mydiagnosis.
What?
And then you open it up and orhave a sticky note on the cover
(08:52):
and says turn to page 44 orwhatever it is, and there's the
story of their grandchild,right?
What a gift, what the perfectgift that would be.
My husband is literally on theseat of his chair wanting to say
something.
Yes, babe.
SPEAKER_02 (09:07):
No, I'm just you know, I was gonna give another
example of this kind of the kindof stories that were written in
by our listeners in the firstbook, Dear Silence.
Okay.
Then I shall read one.
SPEAKER_00 (09:24):
They both work.
Why are you echoing?
SPEAKER_02 (09:26):
I thought you said they didn't.
SPEAKER_00 (09:27):
No, they do.
SPEAKER_02 (09:27):
Anyway.
So the book is on Amazon.
It's called Dear Silence, YouLost by Victoria Cure.
Please march on over there andpick you up you a copy.
Okay.
These are true, heartfelt,factual stories, testimonials,
real life events that happen insomeone's life.
(09:49):
Some of our listeners.
Maybe they were friends of ourlisteners, I don't know.
But this happened to someone outthere, and it could it could
happen to you, it could happento your loved ones, it could
happen to your children.
So this one is titled We'reStill Here and That Matters More
Than Anything.
(10:10):
And I I bet you a dollar, mywife can remember almost every
one of these.
So here it goes.
After the screaming stopped,after the last punch, after the
door slammed, the police left,the bruises faded, and the world
moved on like nothing everhappened.
We were still here.
(10:31):
Quiet, shaking, trying toremember how to be human again.
And no one tells you how hardthat part is.
No one tells you how to how itfeels to brush your teeth and
cry because you're still alive,or how exhausting it is to walk
through the world like you'refine when your entire body is
(10:53):
still flinching from ghost.
Healing isn't soft.
It's not gentle music and spadays.
It's rage, it's grief, it'sscreaming into a pillow at 2
a.m.
Because you still hear theirvoice in your head.
It's choosing again and againnot to go back, not to numb it,
(11:15):
not to give up.
Some days we're proud.
On other days, we're just tryingto breathe.
But this chapter is not aboutperfection, it's about
persistence.
Because healing is messy, it'snot it's nonlinear, it's
personal and painful, andsometimes so damn slow you
(11:38):
wonder if you'll ever feel wholeagain.
But we keep going, we stitchourselves back together with
shaky hands, we rebuild trustone safe hug at a time, we
relearn how to sleep through thenight, we cry without shame, we
speak without fear, we standwithout apology, and somewhere
(12:03):
along the way we realize we'renot alone.
There are others, survivors whocarry the same invisible armor,
who hear your story and say, Metoo, I get it.
I've been there.
And just like that, healingbecomes a little less lonely.
(12:30):
So if you're still here, stillbreathing, still trying, still
holding your story in yourchest, you are proof that
survival is a sacred kind ofstrength.
They didn't break you.
They couldn't.
They never will.
And you don't owe the worldsilence anymore.
You owe yourself peace.
You owe yourself pride.
(12:52):
This chapter isn't just healing,it's freedom.
It's the return of your voice,your body, your power, your
name.
It's not the end of the story,it's the part where you finally
begin again.
SPEAKER_00 (13:06):
And the name on that is?
SPEAKER_02 (13:08):
There's no name.
SPEAKER_00 (13:09):
Read the beginning of it.
SPEAKER_02 (13:11):
Let me go back.
There's no name.
So, whoever wrote this?
Do you know who it is?
SPEAKER_00 (13:20):
I have a good idea.
SPEAKER_02 (13:21):
Okay.
Well, whoever wrote it, thankyou.
SPEAKER_00 (13:28):
And my husband will tell you I read every single one
that comes in.
I don't just skim through them.
SPEAKER_02 (13:33):
I I couldn't read them, y'all.
Like like this right here.
SPEAKER_01 (13:35):
He's crying.
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (13:37):
I get a little choked up because these are very
personal.
They are very real.
And a lot of times I see my wifein this situation.
You know, because she wentthrough a horrible ordeal that I
wish I could change.
SPEAKER_00 (13:56):
So would you do me the honor of doing something and
write from a perspective of adad a story about faith for the
book?
SPEAKER_02 (14:06):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (14:07):
That would be fantastic.
But I want to get it out thisholiday.
I do.
Oh, the pollen must be so bad.
See, he's got a big old teddybear heart.
SPEAKER_02 (14:20):
Ah, there's something in my eye.
SPEAKER_00 (14:22):
And both of them?
In both of them.
No, allergy seasons are over.
No, no, no.
Also, not that we've had nothingto do, we are starting a school,
S-K-O-O-L community, which isamazing as well.
And that is just launched, butwe still have a lot to input
(14:43):
into it.
But that's out there.
So it's the Phoenix network,which I think is amazing because
that kind of ties together theacademy and everything else, and
it's just awesome.
So this is a way to really getinvolved.
You're still like all emotional.
It's sweet.
It is, it's sweet.
(15:04):
It shows that softer side.
It does.
It's sweet.
So I want to get this out forthe holidays.
So if you have submissions thatyou would like to tell, and I
mean, what a gift! Can youimagine?
I mean, you're just a teddy bearof tears anyway, but like think
of Faith giving you wait, shehas.
You opened up a gift from her,and it was a book, and it was a
(15:27):
book she wrote for you.
And you were like a basket case.
I was kind of worried you weregonna ruin the cover with the
tears that streamed down yourface.
SPEAKER_02 (15:35):
That was during allergy seasons.
SPEAKER_00 (15:37):
No, it wasn't, and it was not no, and I was super
proud of her.
It was a number one best newrelease, too, because she's
amazing.
But to as a parent to open thator a grandparent to unwrap a
gift and see something that waswritten personally, that's a
keepsake that's priceless.
It really is.
(15:58):
And we are opening that rightnow, or you could email me
directly at Victoria at acontagious smile.com.
There's two S.
So A C O N T O I cannot spellworth a flippity doo day today.
SPEAKER_02 (16:14):
A contagious smile.
Right.
A C O N T.
SPEAKER_00 (16:20):
You can't spell the A-C O N T A G I O U S S M I L.
SPEAKER_01 (16:28):
Second Glass of Wine.
SPEAKER_00 (16:30):
Yeah.
Dot comment.
So you can email me directlythere with your submissions and
stories.
Edit that?
No, I'm leaving that.
Well, because we're authentic.
We're human.
That's what we do.
That's who we are.
Hell, people are saying you'resounding a little more uh
southern.
And I'm like, wait, what?
What?
It's the it's the uh minion.
(16:52):
What I love minions, they're thebest ever.
So what a great idea forChristmas gift.
Just or a holiday gift orwhatever you celebrate, or just
you know, a thank you gift.
I mean, really, you know, I wasdriving to the store today, and
and Faith looked at me and goes,You really should have taken me
up on my offer, which she hadtold my surgeon the day of my
(17:15):
amputation, she told the surgeonshe wanted him to take her arm
and transplant it to me.
And I maintained it.
I got I kept it together untilwe went to the R, and then I
absolutely freaking lost it.
And so even my surgeon, who isworld renowned, he lost it.
He came in crying.
And it was just the the visionof life that these kids carry,
(17:38):
uh, they don't take anything forgranted, they celebrate every
laughter.
I mean, we celebrate everylaughter.
Her laughter is infectious, itis just infectious.
And when she laughs, I don'tcare what you're doing, it's
done.
You know, we were talking to PopPop tonight, and he Michael
said, Faith, you better get offyour booty and move your butt.
(17:58):
And he was like, I know whatshe's doing.
She probably stood up, shook hertush, sat back down.
And that's exactly what she did.
And we all just cracked uplaughing about it.
And you know what?
Those priceless moments, youcan't have enough of those.
They're amazing, right?
There's nothing money can buy.
That's nothing that you know amansion can carry, you know.
I mean, and something I'verealized is, you know, it was it
(18:23):
was amazing because I waslistening to an interview and
somebody said it was MichaelBublet, and he for those who
don't know who he is, he he'slike the today's singer of Frank
Sinatra kind of thing, HarryConnick Jr.
And somebody asked him what itmeant in his mind to be rich.
(18:43):
And Michael Bublet actually waslike, it's not materialistic,
it's not monetary.
He said, It's family, it's theones in your inner circle that
you know you can count on.
He said, sure, you can have allthe materialistic things in the
world.
He goes, I know a lot of peoplewho have a lot of materialistic
things, nice cars, nice homes,boats, airplanes, whatever, but
(19:05):
they are the most miserablepeople you've ever met, and they
keep this front on becausethat's how they keep their
materialistic items.
But they don't know if they haveauthentic people in their circle
or do they have people who, youknow, are want, I want, I want.
Also, they're just miserablepeople, right?
(19:25):
It's all, you know, they seegreed and and things of that
nature, you know.
It's like you read all theseinterviews about like Jennifer
Lopez, she fired her staff forspeaking directly to her.
You're not even allowed to speakto her, you have to go through
her, whoever, you know.
Mariah Carey had someone whowould carry her dress for her so
(19:47):
it didn't touch the ground.
Somebody else she hired to cutthe tag out.
And at first, I was like, Irelate to that because I hate
that feel on the back of myneck.
She cut it out to change thesize of her dress on her
dresses.
So if anybody saw it, theywouldn't know what size she
truly was.
I mean, that is so tedious.
That blows my mind that peopleare gonna be, you know, and I
(20:07):
mean to each their own, ifthat's what they need to do,
then so be it.
But those aren't the happiestpeople, and you know what?
You have to go back and take aminute and realize that if it
wasn't for your fans, therewouldn't be a Mariah Carey, they
wouldn't be a Jennifer Lopez,they wouldn't be who they are
today if they didn't have a fanbase, right?
You know, I'm not a fan ofMariah Carey at all after what
(20:30):
she did on the Atlanta radio 26years ago or 21 years ago,
whatever it was.
I I've lost all respect that Ihad for her.
But people love her and to eachtheir own.
But what I'm saying is is thatwho are you to say your fans who
put you in the limelight boughtyou your mansions and cars and
whatever, that you're too goodto speak to them, that you can't
(20:53):
talk to them directly.
I mean, are you serious?
And then you read things likethey have a list of things that
must be done for them when theycome to perform.
Say, one of the things I readabout Jennifer Lopez, I know I'm
out in the left field.
One of the things they say aboutJennifer Lopez, which I think is
hilarious, I had to stop readingit because I thought this is
just can't be real.
(21:13):
She could only have whitefurniture in her dressing room,
she only wants certain flavor ofbottled water, she won't have
anything else.
She has to have certain this,certain that, certain this.
If it's not expressed exactly asit said, she doesn't do it.
I mean, seriously, that justdumbfounded me because I will
walk up.
I've had people walk up to meand say, Oh my god, you're
(21:34):
Victoria Cure.
Yeah, okay.
And I'm like, hey, how's itgoing?
And I'll talk to you just likeevery other person out there.
Like, I don't, and I'm nowherenear Jennifer Lopez.
I'm nowhere nearer, you know, Iget it.
I think I have a bigger heartthan some people.
Why do you keep looking outside?
Oh, now you're rubbing in thefact I can't hear?
unknown (21:53):
No.
SPEAKER_00 (21:54):
You're making fun of the hearing impaired.
Are you falling asleep?
SPEAKER_02 (21:58):
Yes.
Are you serious right now?
You're out in left field.
Okay, then bring us back to seeabout these other folks that
have nothing to do with it.
SPEAKER_00 (22:04):
No, it did.
SPEAKER_02 (22:05):
It all had to reflect violence facts
narcissism.
SPEAKER_00 (22:08):
No, because we were talking about how important it
is as a gift to have somethingthat is priceless.
SPEAKER_02 (22:12):
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (22:13):
And not take it for granted like others do.
So it wasn't really in leftfield, it was more center.
SPEAKER_02 (22:18):
It was left field.
SPEAKER_00 (22:18):
It wasn't left field, it was more center.
SPEAKER_02 (22:20):
Let's agree to disagree.
SPEAKER_00 (22:22):
Do you want me to bring you to tears again?
SPEAKER_02 (22:24):
But you want to bring me to tears?
SPEAKER_00 (22:25):
Yeah, give me a book, I'll read a story.
SPEAKER_02 (22:27):
No.
SPEAKER_00 (22:28):
Why?
Oh, because it'll be moreemotional coming from me?
SPEAKER_02 (22:32):
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (22:32):
Well, then let me have the book.
SPEAKER_02 (22:33):
No.
You can read the excerpts yougot today.
SPEAKER_00 (22:37):
No, you got the book.
SPEAKER_02 (22:38):
Why not?
SPEAKER_00 (22:38):
Because they haven't signed the waiver yet.
They sent me the submission, Isent them the waiver.
So until I get it, I can't.
SPEAKER_02 (22:43):
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (22:44):
So nice try though.
SPEAKER_02 (22:46):
So the email they can send you their story to?
Yeah, go ahead and tell it.
Yeah, go ahead.
No.
Victoria at a contagioussmile.com.
Gonna spell it for everybody?
No.
I already tried and blunderedthat.
SPEAKER_00 (22:59):
Stucco says, Hi! It's Stucco from Stucco Squad.
Also, my husband is doing someamazing engraving, and those are
gonna be some options.
Let's talk about for just mucksticky.
Like amazing, right?
(23:20):
He is so funny.
He's hilarious.
He is hilarious.
You know, there are things abouthim that most people don't know.
I need to send him a messagetonight because it's his
birthday, and I need to send hima message when we get done here.
SPEAKER_02 (23:33):
You see him on the videos, you hear his his songs,
he's hilarious, but he's veryreal.
SPEAKER_00 (23:39):
He he is very real.
He is, and he has a huge heart.
So we want to give a big shoutout to Mutt Sticky and say happy
birthday.
But like his music, you know,there are times as a mom and a
survivor where, you know, yes,you have to have this like, you
know, greatness about you, butwe're all human.
And he has some songs thatabsolutely will just make you
(24:04):
smile.
And he has this song called FOff, and it's to all those
people that have their nose inyour business and you know, are
meddling within I'm supposed tobe.
And there are plenty of times Iwill admit that that has been my
theme song.
I mean, even way before I everhad the privilege and honor of
speaking with him, because I hadbeen speaking with him off and
(24:26):
on for you know a good minutebefore he came on.
And oh my God, just see him inhis own environment and his
element just made him a milliontimes better than I ever thought
he would be.
And so I want to thank him forcoming on and Nick for helping
get him with me.
Um, Nick's an amazing humanbeing, too.
So we got that taken and done.
(24:46):
And Stucco is just enjoying somesweet face rubs right now and
with smiling from ear to ear.
I just want to say for a minute,babe, what does Stucco do when
you try to get like all loveydovey with me?
Because this is hilarious.
SPEAKER_02 (24:58):
This dog actually puts both paws on me and pushes
me away from my own wife.
SPEAKER_00 (25:03):
And if he tries, if my husband tries to put his paw,
wait, say, this is why we're notedited.
If my husband tried to put hisarm on me, Stucco takes his head
and puts it under my husband'sarm and shoves his arm off of
me.
Sorry, I just said you had apaw, but you were a dog in the
(25:24):
day.
So I mean it's all but Stucco ismama's baby, and he tries to
sleep on my pillow and go noseto nose.
And my husband's like, just gethim his own pillow.
Well, he shares one with me, sohe doesn't need his own.
He's right there with me.
Now, the best part of this is at4:59 a.m.
(25:45):
every morning, like clockwork.
These two sweet babies wake myhusband up like clockwork,
right?
They annoyed the piss out ofhim, which is great.
It's funny.
Now, my husband had to go out oftown a few weeks ago, and both
of my sweet boys stayed in thebed with me as always.
(26:06):
And he's like, Enjoy themgetting you up because they're
not, I'm not there to do it.
Okay.
Neither one of my sweet boyseven moved at 459 or 5 or 501 or
6 or 7.
They were great.
And even when I was like, Do youwant to O U T?
They didn't move.
I was up before them.
It was fantastic.
(26:27):
Yeah, it's called Daddy'sWrapped, pollinated version.
SPEAKER_02 (26:32):
Speaking of being wrapped, yeah, I can't wait for
my muck sticky pajamas.
Get me some pajama britches.
SPEAKER_00 (26:41):
Uh-huh.
You go to his website and theyhave them on sale there.
SPEAKER_02 (26:45):
Yeah.
Y'all go to Muck Sticky'swebsite and buy a pair of muck
sticky PJs.
SPEAKER_00 (26:53):
He holds the Guinness Book of World Records
for per se wearing the mostpajamas in a in a year.
Like, not sorry, in a lifetime.
SPEAKER_02 (27:01):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (27:02):
Yeah.
He he's been wearing them foryears and years and years.
And it's kind of an idolbecause, like, you know, I've
gone out in my pajama bottoms.
I don't care.
SPEAKER_02 (27:10):
I mean, I guess he's respectful about it.
SPEAKER_00 (27:12):
He is.
He wears them respectfully.
It's not like you know, he'swearing anything disrespectful.
But you know what?
And he has this main way ofthinking.
It's like if you don't like whoI am or what I have to offer,
screw you.
You know, and today, why are youlooking at me like a deer in
headlights?
SPEAKER_01 (27:28):
Hello, pot.
SPEAKER_00 (27:30):
Hi, Kettle.
So nice to see you.
SPEAKER_01 (27:32):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (27:32):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (27:33):
Adopt native philosophy.
SPEAKER_00 (27:35):
Huh?
SPEAKER_01 (27:36):
Huh?
SPEAKER_00 (27:37):
I can't hear you.
Let me turn your ears.
I am deaf.
Are you making fun of thehearing impaired?
I am not.
Okay.
You have me teach you how to.
I'm just saying if you can readmy lips.
Oh, I can read your lips.
I read your lips.
Loud and clear.
SPEAKER_02 (27:51):
You understand the words that are coming out of my
mouth?
unknown (27:54):
No.
SPEAKER_00 (27:55):
He thinks he's got all this like swagger.
SPEAKER_02 (27:58):
No.
I've been trying to teach youfor years.
SPEAKER_00 (28:02):
What are you talking about?
SPEAKER_02 (28:03):
Don't give a shit what other people think about
you.
SPEAKER_00 (28:06):
Really?
SPEAKER_02 (28:07):
Really?
Really?
Really?
SPEAKER_00 (28:08):
So we're gonna switch now to body dysphoria.
SPEAKER_02 (28:11):
Yes, we are.
SPEAKER_00 (28:12):
Let's go.
SPEAKER_02 (28:13):
How do you see yourself?
Let me throw some adjectives outhere.
Beautiful?
SPEAKER_00 (28:22):
I have a big heart.
SPEAKER_02 (28:23):
Gorgeous?
SPEAKER_00 (28:24):
I have a big heart.
SPEAKER_02 (28:25):
Sexy?
SPEAKER_00 (28:26):
Physical looks to me are shallow.
There's more to a person thanphysicality.
A lot of people who arephysically attractive.
Talking about somebody else?
No, I'm talking generality.
A lot of people who arephysically attractive on the
outside are much more kind ofstuck up or conceited.
And I think people who have agood heart and are genuine
(28:48):
people make themselves flawless.
It speaks through the outside.
SPEAKER_02 (28:55):
Do you have a good heart?
SPEAKER_00 (28:56):
I have a big heart.
That's my biggest gift and mybiggest fault.
I have a big heart.
I have pretty eyes.
Yeah, I haven't answeredanything.
I can't hear you.
I have a couple of things.
I have pretty eyes.
I have very unusual color eyes.
It's not normal.
You don't see my color veryoften in eyes.
(29:20):
So crickets.
SPEAKER_02 (29:23):
Right.
What?
His philosophy.
What?
He didn't ask anybody.
Hey, can I have your permissionto wear pajamas for the rest of
my life?
He just did it.
That's his way.
And he didn't care what otherpeople thought.
SPEAKER_00 (29:43):
Okay.
So next time I go on stage andI'm doing a speaking engagement,
shit, I'll go out in my pajamas?
SPEAKER_02 (29:50):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (29:52):
Not a business suit like you love me wearing?
SPEAKER_02 (29:55):
Sure.
SPEAKER_00 (29:55):
Yeah, right.
If I go out there in pajamas,you'd be like, I don't know
where you think you're goingout.
There looking like that, youbetter get in here and put on
some pants and clothes andwhatever.
SPEAKER_02 (30:04):
Hey, nice deco.
I'll encourage you.
SPEAKER_00 (30:08):
Uh-huh.
So, what if I want to cut myhair?
My husband loves long hair, andmy hair is past my waist.
And my husband loves long hair.
So, would you find me?
Not that I'm putting you on thespot.
Yes, I am.
Would you would you find me assexy or attractive or cute or
loving if my hair was shortagain?
SPEAKER_02 (30:29):
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (30:29):
You're full of shit.
SPEAKER_02 (30:31):
No, I just I just unloaded in the toilet.
SPEAKER_00 (30:33):
You left some skid marks.
SPEAKER_02 (30:35):
In my breeches?
Maybe.
SPEAKER_00 (30:38):
You love long hair.
You've always loved long hair.
SPEAKER_02 (30:41):
Yes, it's beautiful.
SPEAKER_00 (30:42):
So if I whack it off, I am not gonna be.
SPEAKER_02 (30:46):
Let's not say that.
unknown (30:48):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (30:48):
You're not gonna be not whacking anything off up
here.
SPEAKER_00 (30:51):
You're not gonna be as like, oh, look at my wife's
sexy hair anymore.
SPEAKER_02 (30:55):
I've always put my fingers through your hair.
SPEAKER_00 (30:57):
But if I cut if I cut it like a couple feet,
you're gonna be like, babe, whatthe hell are you?
SPEAKER_02 (31:06):
So it's okay.
I may dislike it, but it's stillyou.
SPEAKER_00 (31:11):
But you you just admitted you would dislike it.
So does that take away thesexiness of the person?
No, you hesitated in in yourresponse.
SPEAKER_02 (31:20):
Not in the person, no.
SPEAKER_00 (31:22):
Okay, so they let's say there was a twin of me, God
help the world.
And one of absolutelyidentified.
SPEAKER_02 (31:28):
There's a little one of you in that room next door.
SPEAKER_00 (31:30):
That's true.
And one of us had long hair downto their waist, and the other
one had hair above theirshoulder.
SPEAKER_02 (31:35):
You're not a half of me.
So you say your sister's sexierthan you?
SPEAKER_00 (31:39):
I don't have a sister, I have a step monster.
But which would you rather have?
Nope, not answering.
Would you rather have a longhair?
Not answering.
Or okay, would you rather haveme have darker skin or lighter
skin?
The perfect just the way youare.
Are you traveling down that roadof safety?
I am the only white woman you'veever had, and you're anyway.
(32:00):
The dogs have to go out.
No, they're fine.
No.
No, they're not.
Why don't you close your head?
No, we're not.
No, no.
We're not doing a short podcastbecause we missed last week.
It's not short.
It is.
It absolutely is.
So don't get your underwear inan uproar.
So let's they have skid marsh,remember?
(32:20):
Isn't that right, stucco?
He even tried to get Rusty totalk to him the other day, and
Rusty now talks back, which Ithink is adorable.
It's so sweet.
Hey, Rusty! Yes.
So why do people stare at othersin public?
SPEAKER_02 (32:46):
I mean, there could be a plethora of reasons.
A lack of understanding,ignorance.
Okay, as many times as we'vebeen out, and we see better than
you because I have more thanwhat what I see that you have.
Whether it's it's looks, whetherit's whether it's non
deformities or challenges, likeyou're missing a left arm.
(33:10):
People may look at you andwonder, okay, what happened?
SPEAKER_00 (33:14):
But they don't wonder.
They looked at you, they lookdown at me, they look at me with
despair and disgust.
They look like uh they look atme like I have the plague, and
if I touch them, they're gonnaget it.
Yeah, I'd love to, you know,have a word with them.
But like there are so many timeswe go out to eat, and if we're
sitting in a restaurant, we lookat the people around us, say
there's a table with an autisticchild at it, at the table, and
(33:34):
people stare at this beautifulchild, or if the child's in a
wheelchair, everybody stares.
I mean, and you know, if I getthe child's attention, I'll
smile and then the sweet facesmiles back, and it makes such a
huge difference.
My husband is uh bowing outbecause of his pulled muscle and
wanting to take the dogs out.
(33:55):
So I guess we are gonna have tocut it short because I can't do
this without him.
SPEAKER_02 (33:58):
She can.
SPEAKER_00 (33:59):
No, I can't, freaking awesome, whatever.
SPEAKER_02 (34:03):
Be sure to uh go on Amazon, pick up those books,
y'all.
SPEAKER_00 (34:06):
And if you ever wondered if this was edited or
scripted now, you know it's not.
SPEAKER_02 (34:09):
And go over to Monk Sticky's website.
If you don't know who he is, youare missing out.
He's hilarious.
Videos, all his songs.
Be sure to share all his songsbecause they're they're just
freaking hilarious.
Okay, go on his website, buy hisPJs.
Are you gonna take us out?
No, I brought us in.
Go ahead.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank youfor listening to a contagious
(34:32):
smile unstoppable with VictoriaMichael, stucco and rusty, who
popped in for a brief visit.
Thank y'all.
SPEAKER_01 (34:40):
Good night.
SPEAKER_02 (34:41):
Good night, y'all.
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