The Heart of Advocacy

In this episode, Doni and Ken welcome Mara Palmer—a stylist, entrepreneur, and advocate for community empowerment and sustainable living. Mara shares her incredible journey, from balancing early motherhood with building a business to finding incredible opportunities in the hair, beauty, and fashion industries. 

Throughout the conversation, Mara discusses her entrepreneurial ventures, including her styling company "Fulfilled Nee...

In this powerful and vulnerable episode, hosts Doni and Ken are joined by M Abeo, a mental health advocate, TedX speaker, photographer, and the creator of the Faces of Fortitude movement. After losing their brother to suicide over a decade ago and surviving their own attempt as a teenager, M began Faces of Fortitude as a personal healing journey. The project has since grown into a transformative movement, providing a stigma-free sp...

In this podcast episode, Matt Driggs, co-founder of Driggs, Bills & Day law firm, shares how his life in business and law has been shaped by personal values, professional challenges, and philanthropy. Though initially drawn to engineering, his love for language and writing led him to pursue law, embarking on a career focused on empathy and client-centered service.

His business philosophy emphasizes growth, learning, and positive...

This week, Doni and Ken are joined by Derrick and Tanise Love for an exciting conversation about professional growth, community building, and the power of human connection. Together, they explore the journey of launching Sync Seattle, a group dedicated to uplifting Black-led nonprofits and businesses, and fostering meaningful relationships in the community.
 From navigating the challenges of moving to Seattle during the pandemi...

Join hosts Doni and Ken for an inspiring conversation with Malia Razzaia, Executive Director of Dress for Success Seattle, a nonprofit empowering women to achieve economic independence. 

Listeners will gain insight into Dress for Success' holistic mission, which goes far beyond providing professional attire. Malia discusses key pillars of the organization, including digital equity, financial education, and career support servic...

In this episode, hosts Doni and Ken are joined by Deon and Carita, the founders of Holistic Coalition NW, a wellness center focused on integrating touch therapy and mental health into community life. The duo shares their transformative journeys—from early careers in healthcare and military service to becoming leaders in holistic health. Influenced by family backgrounds in caregiving and crisis response, they discovered a shared vis...

In this episode, hosts Doni and Ken sit down with Taylor Deline, Executive Director of Held Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing mental health resources for students and developing the next generation of mental health professionals. Taylor opens up about some of the lessons she has learned regarding her own mental health, reflecting on how her passion for the cause was ignited in college after seeing a dramatic nee...

In this episode, Fancy Vargas joins Doni and Ken to discuss her journey building Elevate PR Management and the community-driven initiatives she supports in her professional and personal life. Fancy shares how her childhood trauma propelled her into advocacy, fostering connections across diverse backgrounds and inspiring her commitment to paying blessings forward. She reflects on moments of financial hardship as well as the decision...

In this episode of the podcast, hosts Doni and Ken sit down with Colleen Constant and Isaiah Ruffin, the dynamic duo behind Project Pizza, a school bus turned pizza food truck, that has expanded into a brick-and-mortar restaurant. The conversation dives into their journey as business owners, and even touches on their favorite pizza styles and unique culinary influences like jerk chicken, Ethiopian stew, and Somali smoked lamb that ...

In this episode, our hosts Doni and Ken engage in a deep and inspiring conversation with Monika Thornton, founder of the nonprofit Powerful Beginnings. Monika shares how her career aspirations shifted to founding an organization that provides vital resources to individuals recovering from domestic abuse. The discussion touches on the importance of trauma recovery and life restoration for abuse survivors; focusing on the transformat...