Balancing a bustling household and a career in safety, Vanessa Colette takes us behind the scenes as a mother that is expecting and a safety coordinator at Long Building Technologies, where her dedication to structure and consistency is as essential as a hard hat on a construction site. As a mother and a safety coordinator navigating the trials of the pandemic and a demanding profession, Vanessa candidly reveals the routines and leadership strategies that keep her life in equilibrium. Her story isn't just about overcoming hurdles; it's a masterclass in harnessing personal strengths to thrive in the midst of chaos, both on the job and at the family dinner table.
The tightrope walk of work-life balance is a familiar act to many but add the pressures of a male-dominated field like construction, and it's a whole new performance. In our discussion, Vanessa sheds light on the transformative journey of the industry, from the evolution of parental leave to the increasing recognition of women's invaluable contributions. Her insights are not just thought-provoking; they are a call to action for more inclusive and mentally aware professional environments, celebrating the progress while acknowledging the miles we've yet to travel.
Ending on a note of profound gratitude, our conversation with Vanessa Colette transcends the personal narrative and taps into the collective wisdom of our communities. Her experiences are a mosaic of the resilience, growth, and support that shape our lives. As she anticipates the arrival of a new family member, Vanessa's story is a beacon of hope for anyone juggling the demands of work with the richness of family life, reminding us that we're all part of a larger village, each contributing to the tapestry of shared knowledge and experience.
Thanks for joining us at The Safety Link Podcast. Please follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, Apple, Facebook, and YouTube. Don't forget to LIKE, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE!!! Again, Thank You.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I got miss Vanessa's Colette.
She is a safety coordinator.
She has some things going on inher life that I really would
like to hear her talk about aswe talk about this podcast.
This podcast is about us safetyprofessionals, whether it be
mother, father, law enforcement,anybody who's a servant leader.
(00:24):
How is it that we are servingpeople at the highest level but
still got life going on aroundus?
And today miss Vanessa is goingto tell us a little bit about
herself.
Miss Vanessa, I'd appreciate ifyou tell us what you do and you
know what's going on in yourlife that maybe somebody out
(00:46):
there would like to hear.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, kenyon, so I am a safety coordinator for long
building technologies.
I've been there for about fouryears.
What was your next question?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
The next question is basically what is it that you do
?
What's your day?
What's your day look?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
like, oh yeah, really , I feel like in this job my day
can be anything.
It could be anything.
Some things you don't even knoware your job Basically.
Are we having any incidents,environmental property damage,
fleet site visits?
(01:29):
It could be something differentevery day.
Fire testing of alarms.
I feel like my day is kind ofled by what's going on on job
sites.
I'm kind of always chasingright, right, but that's mostly
a day Safety orientations, newhires, a lot of trading, lots of
(01:49):
trading.
That's usually what my dayconsists of Go ahead.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
What got you into safety?
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Well, that's interesting.
I feel like I kind of got ledhere.
So during COVID I had a fouryear old and I was on maternity
leave and then COVID hit and Igot laid off for my job of seven
years.
I had a co-worker who works forlong as a recruiter and they
were looking for somebody insafety.
(02:16):
He came to me and said hey, theonly person I know who can
regulate stuff, and people seemto still like you.
So that's kind of how I gotrecruited.
I don't know if that was acompliment or what that was, but
it worked and I did it and Ireally liked it.
So I was very new to it.
(02:37):
So I had to go through all thetrainings, work on my ASP.
I'm working towards my CSP, butI really enjoyed it.
It's definitely a difficult andstressful job but there's a lot
of rewarding things too.
I just enjoyed it.
I think I like order andregulation and I think I'm just
(03:00):
good at it.
I kind of find consistency.
I kind of find joy andconsistency.
Whereas many people like day today.
I mean my day to day isdifferent, but I also like
consistency and let's followthis plan to get to a goal.
I kind of find the joy in that,and I know some people just
don't, so it kind of worked out.
(03:20):
That's kind of how I got here,though, can you?
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Wow, that's awesome and you know, to me that shows
safety doesn't have a certainlook, it doesn't take a certain
person.
I mean safety is just, it moldsright and you saying you came
from somewhere else and what youtook was.
(03:44):
It sounds like you took some ofyour gifts and you using it to
promote, regulate, enhance,safety Does that sound about
right.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I think you yes, I think you hit the no on the head
.
I think I'm very organized,structured, consistent, and it
works really well for this job,and so that's why I do well at
this job.
I think you're 100% right there.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Awesome.
Well, that's great.
Well, it's really nice to hearhow somebody saw that in you.
But it's even more funny to sayhey man, I know how you
regulate things, but you do itin a way where they still like
you in this position that wehave sometimes is very
(04:29):
unlikeable and you sort of haveto have a little bit of a okay,
well, we're still going to dothe right thing, you know, but
but at the same time doing whatis right, even when this
spotlight is not on you, and youhave to hold that integrity so
close to yourself as a as asafety professional.
(04:51):
So I appreciate that, that youtook the challenge and it sounds
like you're flourishing.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yeah, you're 100% right.
You always have to be a leader.
You don't always have to likeit, you don't always have to
agree with everything, but ithas to be consistent.
You are so right Always dowhat's right.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Right.
So I heard that you said youhave a four year old.
So tell us a little aboutoutside of work family life, if
you don't mind.
Just a little, just a littlebit.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Yeah for sure.
So I'm married.
We actually have three and oneon the way, so we're on our
fourth.
I actually have an interestingspread.
I have teenagers, two teenagersfour year old and then a soon
to be newborn.
So it's kind of like life'spretty hectic hectic at work,
hectic at home, that's.
That's pretty much what we'repretty busy.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Hectic somebody right now, who who may you know, be
listening to this is reallytheir hectic isn't normal.
Tell us how, with the dynamicthat you have in your family,
how are you handling because itsounds like hectic to you?
(06:10):
It's, it's hectic, but you'rehandling somebody out there.
It's hectic and it's a littlebit too much with.
Can you maybe speak to that?
Maybe and it doesn't have to beparticularly to that but maybe
how you and your family handlethe hectic world, because I
think this is what keeps us offof our.
(06:31):
It keeps us off of our platformwhen we come to work at being
the best we can be if we don'thave hectic in control.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yeah, it's, I think, routine.
You have to have routine, youjust have to.
I think this job burnout can bevery high.
You know, I have to say things26 times before I start actually
screen my work right, and it'sthe same at home.
(07:06):
Okay, we went through it 26times and now I'm yelling.
It has to be just continuouslymessaging at home and work and
you cannot let things bother youbecause the burnout is so high.
It's just about day by day andjust enjoying the small things.
(07:27):
I don't know.
I don't even know what else tosay, can you?
Speaker 1 (07:33):
and it's what I think you do what can we enjoy today?
You hit it.
I think you hit it on the head.
Yeah, that's the small thingslike it's the small things
because sometimes I think wethink it's this grandiose things
sometimes that we have tomaintenance our health and well
being and it's not.
(07:55):
It's like sometimes sittingback and taking five minutes to
yourself, like literally breathein and breathe out, like get
reconnected, you know um yeah, Iread a book recently was called
Burnout, and it says wellnessisn't doing.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
So I really try during those burnout moments to
remember to do, whether that'sgo for a walk, do something
around the house, do somethingwith the kids.
Wellness isn't doing and I justreally loved that.
It's movement, it's activityand it's really.
You're right, it's the smallthings, those small things, it's
(08:36):
your life.
It adds up to big things and Idon't want to miss it, right.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Right Now I hear you totally because I'm I'm still
thinking about.
When you say hectic, I'mthinking about what hectic means
and I'm just thinking abouthectic.
In a sense it sounds likeyou're going to school, you're
working, you're a mother, you'rea wife, you're a safety
coordinator.
(09:00):
Are you a sister?
You're obviously a daughter.
I mean, there's a lot of roleswe play and I think people don't
connect with those roles In ain a in a sense where when I'm a
mother, I'm just going to be amother.
When I'm a sister, I'm going tobe just a sister.
(09:21):
We try to juggle a whole bunchin in these moments and we
actually miss out on the verymoment with our child we met up,
miss out on the moment with oursisters and mothers because of
the hectic and not knowing howto set that aside for a little
bit every once in a while toenjoy life.
(09:42):
Because to enjoy life, like yousaid, we have to be able to
enjoy those little things, thoselittle moments.
That gives us that extra energyto be able to enjoy life.
We have that extra energy tomove past the ups and downs and
the tough places that we have.
We just need they're likelittle peels, I see, and it's
just nice knowing to see a smileon your face when you talk
(10:04):
about this, that you areactually enjoying what I call is
everyday life for everyordinary blue collar person,
like, I don't care how muchmoney you got, I'm just dealing
with something, and it's nice tosee the smile on your face in
(10:24):
this hectic world, because thatmeans that you're grasping it
and and, and I see that there'sa possibility, a great
possibility, that the peoplethat you're serving they're,
they're definitely getting themost out of you, and what we
have to be ready for is to be onour post and ready for what we
(10:48):
do, because we're like the 9-1-1in our construction business,
and that's why I try to relatethis safety professional.
We say it as being you know meand you, but it's the, it's the
police officers, the nurse, it'sthe doctor, it's the mother,
like you said, like you comehome and you actually do the
same thing that you just did atwork Keeping your kids in
(11:11):
compliance, keeping their healthand welfare safe.
That's what a police officerdoes.
But we have these moments wherewe have to be on point.
We can't make emotionaldecisions.
We can't make emotional choices.
We have to be precise in whatwe're doing.
So it's nice to hear that.
Is there anything else thatthat you would say is a best
(11:34):
practice, that you do that?
You know maybe some somebodyelse doesn't.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
In my home life.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Well, just in your home lives, for how you separate
home and work, working home,you know, maybe those things
that that help you keep you know, rooted in your moments, yeah,
I think probably pretty muchpretty general.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
What a lot of people do Meditation, breathing Again,
I do think I am a big believerin wellness is doing so I try to
stay active, very active Iwouldn't say it different than
any other normal person, can you?
I can't say I do anythingamazing.
You just have to be present,you just you're going to miss
(12:19):
your life.
That's all I can say.
It's not easy, it's not easy.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
I hear you.
So how has your experience beenworking as a safety coordinator
in this industry, particularlyduring pregnancy and and I'm a
hold that question there.
The other question is how is itdifferent from when you had
your teenager To some of thethings that have come through
(12:47):
the industry To right now?
Because I think there's somedifferences of you know, maybe
leave and and things thatcompanies are extending to to
families that are there havingbirthing kids and stuff.
So how, how, how is that?
And then what does that looklike compared to your first
(13:08):
child?
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yeah, so just in the industry is being pregnant?
Is that the first question?
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
I think really that's not such a big deal as being a
woman in the industry wouldprobably be more the question to
ask.
You definitely get a lot ofpushback there.
You know, I think it'sintimidating for guys to know
that you know a lot aboutconstruction.
So I would say that is more ofan issue I face than the
(13:38):
pregnancy.
As far as the differencebetween the teenager, I would
say there's even a differencenow between the four year olds
in the industry and just havingthis one.
Yeah, just the way you go tothe doctor and the practices are
different in four years.
The technology is different,the baby stuff's different.
But leave as far as leave, likewell, colorado recently passed
(14:01):
Colorado family leave.
So now when you do leave it'snot just short term disability
but Colorado supports you, thestate of Colorado on leave, and
your partner as well.
So dads have paternity leave aswell.
So that's fairly new.
So that's kind of nice.
And then you do see a lot ofcompanies doing parental leave
(14:22):
as well.
You definitely see it trendingthat way, but totally different
even from the four year olds.
Kenyon, everything yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Yeah, it's kind of nice.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Yeah, I got a 14 year old and I was that guy that you
know.
I went back to work as soon asyou know.
My wife had the first child,now the second one, like you
said, it was as much different.
I took some time off, my wifewas bedridden and stuff like
(14:52):
that.
I'm in the hospital but, um,but there was, I could tell you,
with that company, I felt nopressure, vanessa, and that's a
lot, and it's a lot being, likeyou said, being a man, like it's
a lot.
It was a lot for me to to say,okay, I'm not letting those guys
(15:15):
down out there, they're givingme permission to handle what's
most important, even though Imay not think at that point in
time that that's not important,because you're right, I can't
even imagine how hard it is foryou, the ladies in this business
(15:37):
, and that's that's why Ithought it was really important
to bring you on here, cause,again, it was last week and then
I don't want to give you a week, I want the month to be women
in construction.
You guys deserve it.
You guys have a place here and,um, I love the I got.
(15:59):
I live with all women here atmy house.
You know, I got my two girls,my wife I used to have my mom,
my mom dog just passed away, butall women here and I need that
because of how I'm wired and andand so it's.
It's nice to hear you guys whenyou guys come in, because the
detail that you guys have atyour work and in a whole bunch
(16:24):
of other gifts, but therethere's a, there's a need for
you guys in this business and,um, I'm just glad that the, the,
the headway that I see that isbeing made from companies like
seeing that value, um, it'sreally nice to see and I
honestly had an opportunity tosee it, uh, this past Monday at
(16:44):
the um AGC, um women inconstruction conference, when
those ladies were up theretalking.
It was just so, so powerful tohear One what they're going
through but how they'recontinually walking in that hot
mess and I see you walking inthis mess.
(17:05):
That that, uh, we have createdum with a false sense of what a
man is, shall I say so.
so thank you for that.
Um, the next question I havecan you share any unique
challenges that that maybe youfaced, as that you're facing,
(17:26):
you know, while you're workingum in this field?
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Cool, oh, unique challenge.
I don't think mine would be anydifferent than any safety
professional.
I think the biggest challengeis taking something from an idea
to building a program, tosaying, hey, this is a goal, to
implementing it to across thecompany.
(17:55):
How do we do that?
That is probably the biggest,the biggest challenge.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Wow yeah, really getting something to stick where
people like it and want to doit and continue it on, huh, yeah
.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
I mean, if, like Kenyan, you and I, talking one
on one, things make perfectsense, you bring it to 500, some
people, nothing makes sense.
So, yeah, how do we do this andhow do we do it?
So we have the same end goalbut we still respect our own
culture or regions, beliefs andstill gets that goal.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Right.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Yeah, that's, you know, there's a there's a lot of
safety people.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Right, you're right, that's a.
That's a big challenge I'vefound over the years.
You have to have every levelinvolved as much as possible,
because then there's it's notjust your idea, then it becomes,
you know, a magnitude of people.
And once you get that buy in,now you got to send it out to
(19:10):
the masses, maybe critique onceor twice, because at the end of
the day, I noticed that my firstcouple of years as a safety
manager I was implementingthings that I thought was
correct but didn't realize thatwhat I was doing, it was correct
but nobody wanted to buy intoit.
(19:33):
Because I use this a lot, butit's true, nobody is truth is is
honestly worried about what youhave to say until they know how
much you care.
And so when you show that youcare, that their input is in
with this, now you createownership from somebody else out
(19:57):
in the field.
Now, now there can't be hey,I'm not doing this because I
don't like it.
Well, you were involved withthe, the, the planning of this.
So where did we miss?
What did we miss here?
So you're right, that is.
I think a lot of safety peoplego through the struggle of that
(20:18):
piece and it's it's really justtrying to find the right people
to help you build that andimplement that, because you know
we don't like change.
There you go.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
That's it.
Yeah, it's kind of verybeautiful the way you said that.
I think that probably tookyears to come up with that.
It's that experience where youcan have that great answer.
Kenyon, yeah, you said it muchnicer.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Yeah, no, you're right, it's right.
It is that experience and andand I guess, in saying that it's
it's, we just got to continueencouraging, encouraging, you
know, people to continue walkingin this, this tough space.
It's not easy what we do,because they're, they're,
they're, like you said, man,there's, there's so many hats
(21:13):
that we play just in a safetyrole.
It's unimaginable, and I don't.
I think people think we justwalk around and look for hazards
but they don't know that wedeal with insurance companies on
the back end, we deal withdifferent attitudes and colors
and creeds and cultures and wehave to be adaptable to those
(21:35):
things, and adaptable to thosethings without any biases.
When we're doing that, becauseeverybody deserves their moment
of whatever it is fixing theproblem, reconciliation, or
moving on from because you knowyou don't care for people, you
(21:58):
know, but something, at thatpoint in time I think, like you
said, through that journey we webegin to realize what is what's
right.
Okay, moving on, moving on.
Thank you, ms Vanessa, I'mloving it.
I'm loving it.
(22:21):
You talked about something youknow it's, it's, it's tough, it
is.
I can, I've seen it.
I'm going to be truly authentichere and honest with you Every
once in a while.
Sometimes, as a man, my egopops out, and it's it's not on
purpose, it's it's, I think it'show, as as young men, we were
(22:45):
ingrained in certain things.
Some people, you know, changeand some people don't.
But I could tell you we'regoing to this.
This, this next future is goingto push a lot of those, those
mentalities.
They're going to be far and farin between and they're going to
be recognizable and they're notgoing to be working for for
certain companies, when all thisis put out in more of the open
(23:08):
and it's grasped more bydifferent companies.
But how, what keeps you goingwhen you do hear, feel or see
(23:33):
anything that you would thinkwould be able, because they're
treating you in a certain way asa woman?
What, how, how do you getthrough those things?
What?
Do you have somebody to talk toyou?
Do you have a mentor?
What's pushing you through?
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Yeah, I kind of like it.
I know that's a weird thing tosay, but tell me I can't do
stuff and I'm going to do itbetter For me.
That's kind of you know whereit's at.
But of course I have mentors,and they're not just women.
I have many women.
So yeah, but I think you know,if you're going to challenge me,
(24:15):
that's the best challenge.
Tell me I can't do something,I'll do it and I'm going to do
it better.
So, even though it can be achallenge to be a woman in this
industry, I can't say that I'mgoing to go home and you know
ball about it.
I'm just going to do better,kenyon, yeah that sounds.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
You know I don't want to put myself in just because I
don't know what it is to be ayoung lady, but I know, as an
African American male, I know Igot my challenges.
But I'm just like you, I'm home, I don't whimper about it.
I don't really talk about it.
I just know that I got to be upearlier than the men in front
(24:58):
of me, I know that I got to bein position before they get in
position and I know that I haveto continue keeping my knowledge
and my wherewithal togetherbecause, at the end of the day,
I know for myself, just like youknow for yourself, that there's
an area for possibledisadvantage but, like you said,
(25:22):
I use that to my advantage towheel me through.
I like talking about thisbecause there's some people that
, like you said, either are in aplace where they're burnt out
or they don't know how to wheelthemselves through because they
don't have some of the qualitiesthat maybe me and you have.
And it's nice to hear againwhen it's like I'm starting to
(25:49):
learn, that some things it'sreally just one plus one equals
two.
We always want to do one plustwo, one plus three and make it
more complex, but it's reallyone plus one, and that one plus
one is one foot in front of theother, you know, because a lot
(26:10):
of these things will never fullybe like it's not happening no
more.
So it's like okay, now I needto figure out from Miss Vanessa
how I can be a better man towomen, because I need to listen
to what it is you guys aresaying.
You know we're doing or howit's approached, because I never
(26:33):
want to fit in that moldanymore.
I want to be able to partner, Iwant to be able to communicate
without some of my oldbrokenness, shall I say I think
I can call it brokenness.
It truly wasn't upstanding,because when you really find out
(26:55):
what it takes to work together,what it takes for a lady to be
a lady and a man to be a man,there has to be room for an
open-minded understanding andwith empathy, sympathy, as well
as encouragement and empowerment.
And you know how does Kenyon dothat better?
(27:16):
I'm working on that, and one ofthem is supporting you guys in
this time, in this moment, butnot just this moment, but as I
move on on a daily basis.
So thank you for continuing tomake that move, because a young
(27:37):
lady out there needs you.
A young lady needs tounderstand what makes you go,
miss Vanessa, and just continuesharing that with us, and I
really appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Thanks, Kenyon.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Ah, let's see too.
I'm going to ask you anotherquestion, you know, I guess.
What advice would you give to ayoung lady coming into
construction?
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Yeah, it's going to be hard.
You buckle in.
It's going to be a ride.
There's never a dull moment.
It doesn't have.
You know, like we talked aboutit, it's traditionally men
dominated, but it doesn't meanyou don't have the ability to
learn it and be just as good atit, but just keep going.
(28:26):
You have to keep going.
You're right, you're not allknowing.
Maybe you could possibly,unless you're in this position,
know the span of what we see anddo.
It's not just hey, your safetyglasses aren't on, we're going
to go create a problem, and Ithink that's what people think.
You know the police.
You're creating a problem.
So just you got to keep going.
(28:48):
You're never going to be allknowing.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Never.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
You're never, never.
You're going to thinksomething's going to turn up
state and you don't even know itwas your job.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
And it's beautiful to have growth in it and to have
and to be and to beuncomfortable.
There's so much growth andbeing uncomfortable, so find
comfort and being uncomfortable,boom.
That doesn't go to girls, thatgoes to guys, that goes to
anybody Kenyan.
That's anybody right, that'sthe best spot to be is
uncomfortable, so find comfortsWow.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
I'm finding this out myself.
You know it's like you're right, you have to be able to embrace
these tough times because it'sit's.
It's what's in, it's what's inthe valley, it's what's in that,
that moment that gives yougrowth, that gives you that
(29:46):
becoming.
You know, I was watching theother day this snake was
shedding its skin and themovements, the, the contortions
and everything that that snakewas going through to get that
skin off, I was like man, thatsnake is going through it, I
(30:08):
mean flipping out.
But it showed me that that,like change is a thing that as
humans we do not like it, andbut it's actually a gift.
It's a gift that when you shednew skin, you become a new
(30:34):
person, you become a new, and sojust being able to, like you
said, accept change and takethat on, you're actually
becoming a person that you'venever probably even imagined,
and so that's you know, that'swhat I continually hear when you
talk and exude from ourconversation.
(30:59):
My last question well, not mylast question, I got one more.
The second to last question is,as you look a little bit ahead,
what changes in, I guessimprovements would you like to
(31:22):
see in terms of for theworkplace, for women, any
policies, maybe attitudes, youknow, what change do you think
you would like to see?
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Yeah, I mean I would like it to be organic.
You know I'm not gonna say, hey, you gotta treat me this way
because I'm a woman.
I don't know if I can reallyanswer that Kenyan.
I would just like organicgrowth and I do think it's
happening slowly over time, justorganically.
I don't know that I can giveyou 100% answer on that so that
(32:04):
you're looking for?
Speaker 1 (32:05):
No, it's really fine, just a question.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
I just would like it to happen organic.
I don't want you to just handme something because I'm a woman
.
Yeah, and I think it's slowlyhappening.
Over time, we're more open towomen and these new construction
trades.
I see it, it's just like yousaid the Women in Construction
Week and the AGC having it, andI think it's really beautiful
(32:31):
that they're starting to put aspotlight on that same with,
like, mental health.
So I think it's organicallyhappening, which would be the
best way for me personally,right, yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Okay, the last question I have for you is is
there anything that I didn't askyou that maybe you wanted to
talk about?
Speaker 2 (32:59):
Not necessarily.
I think you asked a lot ofgreat questions, probably more
about me than safety, which iskind of nice.
No, I think you asked somegreat questions, Kenyan, thank
you.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Well, that's good, and I did ask you more about you
because I wanted to raise MsVanessa up.
That's what my platform is for,and I like raising folks up in
their sense because people haveto know that, regardless, if I'm
doing well, you're doing wellor whatever it may be, we all
(33:37):
have something and I believethat making you, like you said,
organic, you're real.
Young ladies, ladies, yourpeers, they can look at you and
say, man, I'm not the onlyperson going through this.
We normalize life.
Sometimes we think we're theonly one going through what
(34:00):
we're going through, but you'renot.
It's just.
The greatest thing is is thateverybody ain't going through
the same thing at the same time.
Could you imagine that If allof us had the same problem at
the same time, we couldn't helpeach other.
But when we gain a communitynow I know, ms Vanessa, you have
(34:20):
added I believe you've added tomy village of knowledge.
Every time you gain arelationship, you gain another
level or capacity of knowledgefrom that person, but you only
do that by communicating,relating, talking, loving, doing
(34:41):
all the extra things that takesto make a relationship work.
And so I leave it at this, msVanessa, I thank you for what
you're doing, how you're doingit, and I think about where
you're going.
Please continue to look forpeople that may be needing your
(35:07):
help, needing your pull andsometimes needing your push,
because you are of value, nomatter what anybody says, and I
just I'm so thankful because yougot a child, that this last one
(35:27):
is not this last one.
It might not be your last one,but this child that's coming is
going to get even that much moreof Ms Vanessa than the other
two got.
You know, and those are thethings that I love.
Moving forward is the newness,the brightness and the better
(35:51):
person we can become when wedeal with all of these things
that we deal with.
So, again, thank you for yourtime, thank you for your
knowledge, and I wish you allthe best, ms Vanessa.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
Thank you, Kenyan.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
And you have a blessed day and I'll talk to you
later.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
You too.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
Ms Vanessa, don't hang up or stop.
It'll tell you to it'srecording you, and so it'll wait
till when I, as soon as I hitrecord, it'll start downloading
your stuff.
Once that's done, then you canget off.
Okay okay, thank you.
I got miss Vanessa's Colette.
She is a safety coordinator.
She has some things going on inher life that I really would
like to hear her talk about aswe talk about this podcast.
This podcast is about us safetyprofessionals, whether it be
mother, father, law enforcement,anybody who's a servant leader.
(00:24):
How is it that we are servingpeople at the highest level but
still got life going on aroundus?
And today miss Vanessa is goingto tell us a little bit about
herself.
Miss Vanessa, I'd appreciate ifyou tell us what you do and you
know what's going on in yourlife that maybe somebody out
(00:46):
there would like to hear.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, kenyon, so I am a safety coordinator for long
building technologies.
I've been there for about fouryears.
What was your next question?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
The next question is basically what is it that you do
?
What's your day?
What's your day look?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
like, oh yeah, really , I feel like in this job my day
can be anything.
It could be anything.
Some things you don't even knoware your job Basically.
Are we having any incidents,environmental property damage,
fleet site visits?
(01:29):
It could be something differentevery day.
Fire testing of alarms.
I feel like my day is kind ofled by what's going on on job
sites.
I'm kind of always chasingright, right, but that's mostly
a day Safety orientations, newhires, a lot of trading, lots of
(01:49):
trading.
That's usually what my dayconsists of Go ahead.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
What got you into safety?
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Well, that's interesting.
I feel like I kind of got ledhere.
So during COVID I had a fouryear old and I was on maternity
leave and then COVID hit and Igot laid off for my job of seven
years.
I had a co-worker who works forlong as a recruiter and they
were looking for somebody insafety.
(02:16):
He came to me and said hey, theonly person I know who can
regulate stuff, and people seemto still like you.
So that's kind of how I gotrecruited.
I don't know if that was acompliment or what that was, but
it worked and I did it and Ireally liked it.
So I was very new to it.
(02:37):
So I had to go through all thetrainings, work on my ASP.
I'm working towards my CSP, butI really enjoyed it.
It's definitely a difficult andstressful job but there's a lot
of rewarding things too.
I just enjoyed it.
I think I like order andregulation and I think I'm just
(03:00):
good at it.
I kind of find consistency.
I kind of find joy andconsistency.
Whereas many people like day today.
I mean my day to day isdifferent, but I also like
consistency and let's followthis plan to get to a goal.
I kind of find the joy in that,and I know some people just
don't, so it kind of worked out.
(03:20):
That's kind of how I got here,though, can you?
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Wow, that's awesome and you know, to me that shows
safety doesn't have a certainlook, it doesn't take a certain
person.
I mean safety is just, it moldsright and you saying you came
from somewhere else and what youtook was.
(03:44):
It sounds like you took some ofyour gifts and you using it to
promote, regulate, enhance,safety Does that sound about
right.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I think you yes, I think you hit the no on the head
.
I think I'm very organized,structured, consistent, and it
works really well for this job,and so that's why I do well at
this job.
I think you're 100% right there.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Awesome.
Well, that's great.
Well, it's really nice to hearhow somebody saw that in you.
But it's even more funny to sayhey man, I know how you
regulate things, but you do itin a way where they still like
you in this position that wehave sometimes is very
(04:29):
unlikeable and you sort of haveto have a little bit of a okay,
well, we're still going to dothe right thing, you know, but
but at the same time doing whatis right, even when this
spotlight is not on you, and youhave to hold that integrity so
close to yourself as a as asafety professional.
(04:51):
So I appreciate that, that youtook the challenge and it sounds
like you're flourishing.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yeah, you're 100% right.
You always have to be a leader.
You don't always have to likeit, you don't always have to
agree with everything, but ithas to be consistent.
You are so right Always dowhat's right.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Right.
So I heard that you said youhave a four year old.
So tell us a little aboutoutside of work family life, if
you don't mind.
Just a little, just a littlebit.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Yeah for sure.
So I'm married.
We actually have three and oneon the way, so we're on our
fourth.
I actually have an interestingspread.
I have teenagers, two teenagersfour year old and then a soon
to be newborn.
So it's kind of like life'spretty hectic hectic at work,
hectic at home, that's.
That's pretty much what we'repretty busy.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Hectic somebody right now, who who may you know, be
listening to this is reallytheir hectic isn't normal.
Tell us how, with the dynamicthat you have in your family,
how are you handling because itsounds like hectic to you?
(06:10):
It's, it's hectic, but you'rehandling somebody out there.
It's hectic and it's a littlebit too much with.
Can you maybe speak to that?
Maybe and it doesn't have to beparticularly to that but maybe
how you and your family handlethe hectic world, because I
think this is what keeps us offof our.
(06:31):
It keeps us off of our platformwhen we come to work at being
the best we can be if we don'thave hectic in control.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yeah, it's, I think, routine.
You have to have routine, youjust have to.
I think this job burnout can bevery high.
You know, I have to say things26 times before I start actually
screen my work right, and it'sthe same at home.
(07:06):
Okay, we went through it 26times and now I'm yelling.
It has to be just continuouslymessaging at home and work and
you cannot let things bother youbecause the burnout is so high.
It's just about day by day andjust enjoying the small things.
(07:27):
I don't know.
I don't even know what else tosay, can you?
Speaker 1 (07:33):
and it's what I think you do what can we enjoy today?
You hit it.
I think you hit it on the head.
Yeah, that's the small thingslike it's the small things
because sometimes I think wethink it's this grandiose things
sometimes that we have tomaintenance our health and well
being and it's not.
(07:55):
It's like sometimes sittingback and taking five minutes to
yourself, like literally breathein and breathe out, like get
reconnected, you know um yeah, Iread a book recently was called
Burnout, and it says wellnessisn't doing.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
So I really try during those burnout moments to
remember to do, whether that'sgo for a walk, do something
around the house, do somethingwith the kids.
Wellness isn't doing and I justreally loved that.
It's movement, it's activityand it's really.
You're right, it's the smallthings, those small things, it's
(08:36):
your life.
It adds up to big things and Idon't want to miss it, right.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Right Now I hear you totally because I'm I'm still
thinking about.
When you say hectic, I'mthinking about what hectic means
and I'm just thinking abouthectic.
In a sense it sounds likeyou're going to school, you're
working, you're a mother, you'rea wife, you're a safety
coordinator.
(09:00):
Are you a sister?
You're obviously a daughter.
I mean, there's a lot of roleswe play and I think people don't
connect with those roles In ain a in a sense where when I'm a
mother, I'm just going to be amother.
When I'm a sister, I'm going tobe just a sister.
(09:21):
We try to juggle a whole bunchin in these moments and we
actually miss out on the verymoment with our child we met up,
miss out on the moment with oursisters and mothers because of
the hectic and not knowing howto set that aside for a little
bit every once in a while toenjoy life.
(09:42):
Because to enjoy life, like yousaid, we have to be able to
enjoy those little things, thoselittle moments.
That gives us that extra energyto be able to enjoy life.
We have that extra energy tomove past the ups and downs and
the tough places that we have.
We just need they're likelittle peels, I see, and it's
just nice knowing to see a smileon your face when you talk
(10:04):
about this, that you areactually enjoying what I call is
everyday life for everyordinary blue collar person,
like, I don't care how muchmoney you got, I'm just dealing
with something, and it's nice tosee the smile on your face in
(10:24):
this hectic world, because thatmeans that you're grasping it
and and, and I see that there'sa possibility, a great
possibility, that the peoplethat you're serving they're,
they're definitely getting themost out of you, and what we
have to be ready for is to be onour post and ready for what we
(10:48):
do, because we're like the 9-1-1in our construction business,
and that's why I try to relatethis safety professional.
We say it as being you know meand you, but it's the, it's the
police officers, the nurse, it'sthe doctor, it's the mother,
like you said, like you comehome and you actually do the
same thing that you just did atwork Keeping your kids in
(11:11):
compliance, keeping their healthand welfare safe.
That's what a police officerdoes.
But we have these moments wherewe have to be on point.
We can't make emotionaldecisions.
We can't make emotional choices.
We have to be precise in whatwe're doing.
So it's nice to hear that.
Is there anything else thatthat you would say is a best
(11:34):
practice, that you do that?
You know maybe some somebodyelse doesn't.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
In my home life.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Well, just in your home lives, for how you separate
home and work, working home,you know, maybe those things
that that help you keep you know, rooted in your moments, yeah,
I think probably pretty muchpretty general.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
What a lot of people do Meditation, breathing Again,
I do think I am a big believerin wellness is doing so I try to
stay active, very active Iwouldn't say it different than
any other normal person, can you?
I can't say I do anythingamazing.
You just have to be present,you just you're going to miss
(12:19):
your life.
That's all I can say.
It's not easy, it's not easy.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
I hear you.
So how has your experience beenworking as a safety coordinator
in this industry, particularlyduring pregnancy and and I'm a
hold that question there.
The other question is how is itdifferent from when you had
your teenager To some of thethings that have come through
(12:47):
the industry To right now?
Because I think there's somedifferences of you know, maybe
leave and and things thatcompanies are extending to to
families that are there havingbirthing kids and stuff.
So how, how, how is that?
And then what does that looklike compared to your first
(13:08):
child?
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yeah, so just in the industry is being pregnant?
Is that the first question?
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
I think really that's not such a big deal as being a
woman in the industry wouldprobably be more the question to
ask.
You definitely get a lot ofpushback there.
You know, I think it'sintimidating for guys to know
that you know a lot aboutconstruction.
So I would say that is more ofan issue I face than the
(13:38):
pregnancy.
As far as the differencebetween the teenager, I would
say there's even a differencenow between the four year olds
in the industry and just havingthis one.
Yeah, just the way you go tothe doctor and the practices are
different in four years.
The technology is different,the baby stuff's different.
But leave as far as leave, likewell, colorado recently passed
(14:01):
Colorado family leave.
So now when you do leave it'snot just short term disability
but Colorado supports you, thestate of Colorado on leave, and
your partner as well.
So dads have paternity leave aswell.
So that's fairly new.
So that's kind of nice.
And then you do see a lot ofcompanies doing parental leave
(14:22):
as well.
You definitely see it trendingthat way, but totally different
even from the four year olds.
Kenyon, everything yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Yeah, it's kind of nice.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Yeah, I got a 14 year old and I was that guy that you
know.
I went back to work as soon asyou know.
My wife had the first child,now the second one, like you
said, it was as much different.
I took some time off, my wifewas bedridden and stuff like
(14:52):
that.
I'm in the hospital but, um,but there was, I could tell you,
with that company, I felt nopressure, vanessa, and that's a
lot, and it's a lot being, likeyou said, being a man, like it's
a lot.
It was a lot for me to to say,okay, I'm not letting those guys
(15:15):
down out there, they're givingme permission to handle what's
most important, even though Imay not think at that point in
time that that's not important,because you're right, I can't
even imagine how hard it is foryou, the ladies in this business
(15:37):
, and that's that's why Ithought it was really important
to bring you on here, cause,again, it was last week and then
I don't want to give you a week, I want the month to be women
in construction.
You guys deserve it.
You guys have a place here and,um, I love the I got.
(15:59):
I live with all women here atmy house.
You know, I got my two girls,my wife I used to have my mom,
my mom dog just passed away, butall women here and I need that
because of how I'm wired and andand so it's.
It's nice to hear you guys whenyou guys come in, because the
detail that you guys have atyour work and in a whole bunch
(16:24):
of other gifts, but therethere's a, there's a need for
you guys in this business and,um, I'm just glad that the, the,
the headway that I see that isbeing made from companies like
seeing that value, um, it'sreally nice to see and I
honestly had an opportunity tosee it, uh, this past Monday at
(16:44):
the um AGC, um women inconstruction conference, when
those ladies were up theretalking.
It was just so, so powerful tohear One what they're going
through but how they'recontinually walking in that hot
mess and I see you walking inthis mess.
(17:05):
That that, uh, we have createdum with a false sense of what a
man is, shall I say so.
so thank you for that.
Um, the next question I havecan you share any unique
challenges that that maybe youfaced, as that you're facing,
(17:26):
you know, while you're workingum in this field?
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Cool, oh, unique challenge.
I don't think mine would be anydifferent than any safety
professional.
I think the biggest challengeis taking something from an idea
to building a program, tosaying, hey, this is a goal, to
implementing it to across thecompany.
(17:55):
How do we do that?
That is probably the biggest,the biggest challenge.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Wow yeah, really getting something to stick where
people like it and want to doit and continue it on, huh, yeah
.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
I mean, if, like Kenyan, you and I, talking one
on one, things make perfectsense, you bring it to 500, some
people, nothing makes sense.
So, yeah, how do we do this andhow do we do it?
So we have the same end goalbut we still respect our own
culture or regions, beliefs andstill gets that goal.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Right.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Yeah, that's, you know, there's a there's a lot of
safety people.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Right, you're right, that's a.
That's a big challenge I'vefound over the years.
You have to have every levelinvolved as much as possible,
because then there's it's notjust your idea, then it becomes,
you know, a magnitude of people.
And once you get that buy in,now you got to send it out to
(19:10):
the masses, maybe critique onceor twice, because at the end of
the day, I noticed that my firstcouple of years as a safety
manager I was implementingthings that I thought was
correct but didn't realize thatwhat I was doing, it was correct
but nobody wanted to buy intoit.
(19:33):
Because I use this a lot, butit's true, nobody is truth is is
honestly worried about what youhave to say until they know how
much you care.
And so when you show that youcare, that their input is in
with this, now you createownership from somebody else out
(19:57):
in the field.
Now, now there can't be hey,I'm not doing this because I
don't like it.
Well, you were involved withthe, the, the planning of this.
So where did we miss?
What did we miss here?
So you're right, that is.
I think a lot of safety peoplego through the struggle of that
(20:18):
piece and it's it's really justtrying to find the right people
to help you build that andimplement that, because you know
we don't like change.
There you go.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
That's it.
Yeah, it's kind of verybeautiful the way you said that.
I think that probably tookyears to come up with that.
It's that experience where youcan have that great answer.
Kenyon, yeah, you said it muchnicer.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Yeah, no, you're right, it's right.
It is that experience and andand I guess, in saying that it's
it's, we just got to continueencouraging, encouraging, you
know, people to continue walkingin this, this tough space.
It's not easy what we do,because they're, they're,
they're, like you said, man,there's, there's so many hats
(21:13):
that we play just in a safetyrole.
It's unimaginable, and I don't.
I think people think we justwalk around and look for hazards
but they don't know that wedeal with insurance companies on
the back end, we deal withdifferent attitudes and colors
and creeds and cultures and wehave to be adaptable to those
(21:35):
things, and adaptable to thosethings without any biases.
When we're doing that, becauseeverybody deserves their moment
of whatever it is fixing theproblem, reconciliation, or
moving on from because you knowyou don't care for people, you
(21:58):
know, but something, at thatpoint in time I think, like you
said, through that journey we webegin to realize what is what's
right.
Okay, moving on, moving on.
Thank you, ms Vanessa, I'mloving it.
I'm loving it.
(22:21):
You talked about something youknow it's, it's, it's tough, it
is.
I can, I've seen it.
I'm going to be truly authentichere and honest with you Every
once in a while.
Sometimes, as a man, my egopops out, and it's it's not on
purpose, it's it's, I think it'show, as as young men, we were
(22:45):
ingrained in certain things.
Some people, you know, changeand some people don't.
But I could tell you we'regoing to this.
This, this next future is goingto push a lot of those, those
mentalities.
They're going to be far and farin between and they're going to
be recognizable and they're notgoing to be working for for
certain companies, when all thisis put out in more of the open
(23:08):
and it's grasped more bydifferent companies.
But how, what keeps you goingwhen you do hear, feel or see
(23:33):
anything that you would thinkwould be able, because they're
treating you in a certain way asa woman?
What, how, how do you getthrough those things?
What?
Do you have somebody to talk toyou?
Do you have a mentor?
What's pushing you through?
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Yeah, I kind of like it.
I know that's a weird thing tosay, but tell me I can't do
stuff and I'm going to do itbetter For me.
That's kind of you know whereit's at.
But of course I have mentors,and they're not just women.
I have many women.
So yeah, but I think you know,if you're going to challenge me,
(24:15):
that's the best challenge.
Tell me I can't do something,I'll do it and I'm going to do
it better.
So, even though it can be achallenge to be a woman in this
industry, I can't say that I'mgoing to go home and you know
ball about it.
I'm just going to do better,kenyon, yeah that sounds.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
You know I don't want to put myself in just because I
don't know what it is to be ayoung lady, but I know, as an
African American male, I know Igot my challenges.
But I'm just like you, I'm home, I don't whimper about it.
I don't really talk about it.
I just know that I got to be upearlier than the men in front
(24:58):
of me, I know that I got to bein position before they get in
position and I know that I haveto continue keeping my knowledge
and my wherewithal togetherbecause, at the end of the day,
I know for myself, just like youknow for yourself, that there's
an area for possibledisadvantage but, like you said,
(25:22):
I use that to my advantage towheel me through.
I like talking about thisbecause there's some people that
, like you said, either are in aplace where they're burnt out
or they don't know how to wheelthemselves through because they
don't have some of the qualitiesthat maybe me and you have.
And it's nice to hear againwhen it's like I'm starting to
(25:49):
learn, that some things it'sreally just one plus one equals
two.
We always want to do one plustwo, one plus three and make it
more complex, but it's reallyone plus one, and that one plus
one is one foot in front of theother, you know, because a lot
(26:10):
of these things will never fullybe like it's not happening no
more.
So it's like okay, now I needto figure out from Miss Vanessa
how I can be a better man towomen, because I need to listen
to what it is you guys aresaying.
You know we're doing or howit's approached, because I never
(26:33):
want to fit in that moldanymore.
I want to be able to partner, Iwant to be able to communicate
without some of my oldbrokenness, shall I say I think
I can call it brokenness.
It truly wasn't upstanding,because when you really find out
(26:55):
what it takes to work together,what it takes for a lady to be
a lady and a man to be a man,there has to be room for an
open-minded understanding andwith empathy, sympathy, as well
as encouragement and empowerment.
And you know how does Kenyon dothat better?
(27:16):
I'm working on that, and one ofthem is supporting you guys in
this time, in this moment, butnot just this moment, but as I
move on on a daily basis.
So thank you for continuing tomake that move, because a young
(27:37):
lady out there needs you.
A young lady needs tounderstand what makes you go,
miss Vanessa, and just continuesharing that with us, and I
really appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Thanks, Kenyon.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Ah, let's see too.
I'm going to ask you anotherquestion, you know, I guess.
What advice would you give to ayoung lady coming into
construction?
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Yeah, it's going to be hard.
You buckle in.
It's going to be a ride.
There's never a dull moment.
It doesn't have.
You know, like we talked aboutit, it's traditionally men
dominated, but it doesn't meanyou don't have the ability to
learn it and be just as good atit, but just keep going.
(28:26):
You have to keep going.
You're right, you're not allknowing.
Maybe you could possibly,unless you're in this position,
know the span of what we see anddo.
It's not just hey, your safetyglasses aren't on, we're going
to go create a problem, and Ithink that's what people think.
You know the police.
You're creating a problem.
So just you got to keep going.
(28:48):
You're never going to be allknowing.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Never.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
You're never, never.
You're going to thinksomething's going to turn up
state and you don't even know itwas your job.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
And it's beautiful to have growth in it and to have
and to be and to beuncomfortable.
There's so much growth andbeing uncomfortable, so find
comfort and being uncomfortable,boom.
That doesn't go to girls, thatgoes to guys, that goes to
anybody Kenyan.
That's anybody right, that'sthe best spot to be is
uncomfortable, so find comfortsWow.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
I'm finding this out myself.
You know it's like you're right, you have to be able to embrace
these tough times because it'sit's.
It's what's in, it's what's inthe valley, it's what's in that,
that moment that gives yougrowth, that gives you that
(29:46):
becoming.
You know, I was watching theother day this snake was
shedding its skin and themovements, the, the contortions
and everything that that snakewas going through to get that
skin off, I was like man, thatsnake is going through it, I
(30:08):
mean flipping out.
But it showed me that that,like change is a thing that as
humans we do not like it, andbut it's actually a gift.
It's a gift that when you shednew skin, you become a new
(30:34):
person, you become a new, and sojust being able to, like you
said, accept change and takethat on, you're actually
becoming a person that you'venever probably even imagined,
and so that's you know, that'swhat I continually hear when you
talk and exude from ourconversation.
(30:59):
My last question well, not mylast question, I got one more.
The second to last question is,as you look a little bit ahead,
what changes in, I guessimprovements would you like to
(31:22):
see in terms of for theworkplace, for women, any
policies, maybe attitudes, youknow, what change do you think
you would like to see?
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Yeah, I mean I would like it to be organic.
You know I'm not gonna say, hey, you gotta treat me this way
because I'm a woman.
I don't know if I can reallyanswer that Kenyan.
I would just like organicgrowth and I do think it's
happening slowly over time, justorganically.
I don't know that I can giveyou 100% answer on that so that
(32:04):
you're looking for?
Speaker 1 (32:05):
No, it's really fine, just a question.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
I just would like it to happen organic.
I don't want you to just handme something because I'm a woman
.
Yeah, and I think it's slowlyhappening.
Over time, we're more open towomen and these new construction
trades.
I see it, it's just like yousaid the Women in Construction
Week and the AGC having it, andI think it's really beautiful
(32:31):
that they're starting to put aspotlight on that same with,
like, mental health.
So I think it's organicallyhappening, which would be the
best way for me personally,right, yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Okay, the last question I have for you is is
there anything that I didn't askyou that maybe you wanted to
talk about?
Speaker 2 (32:59):
Not necessarily.
I think you asked a lot ofgreat questions, probably more
about me than safety, which iskind of nice.
No, I think you asked somegreat questions, Kenyan, thank
you.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Well, that's good, and I did ask you more about you
because I wanted to raise MsVanessa up.
That's what my platform is for,and I like raising folks up in
their sense because people haveto know that, regardless, if I'm
doing well, you're doing wellor whatever it may be, we all
(33:37):
have something and I believethat making you, like you said,
organic, you're real.
Young ladies, ladies, yourpeers, they can look at you and
say, man, I'm not the onlyperson going through this.
We normalize life.
Sometimes we think we're theonly one going through what
(34:00):
we're going through, but you'renot.
It's just.
The greatest thing is is thateverybody ain't going through
the same thing at the same time.
Could you imagine that If allof us had the same problem at
the same time, we couldn't helpeach other.
But when we gain a communitynow I know, ms Vanessa, you have
(34:20):
added I believe you've added tomy village of knowledge.
Every time you gain arelationship, you gain another
level or capacity of knowledgefrom that person, but you only
do that by communicating,relating, talking, loving, doing
(34:41):
all the extra things that takesto make a relationship work.
And so I leave it at this, msVanessa, I thank you for what
you're doing, how you're doingit, and I think about where
you're going.
Please continue to look forpeople that may be needing your
(35:07):
help, needing your pull andsometimes needing your push,
because you are of value, nomatter what anybody says, and I
just I'm so thankful because yougot a child, that this last one
(35:27):
is not this last one.
It might not be your last one,but this child that's coming is
going to get even that much moreof Ms Vanessa than the other
two got.
You know, and those are thethings that I love.
Moving forward is the newness,the brightness and the better
(35:51):
person we can become when wedeal with all of these things
that we deal with.
So, again, thank you for yourtime, thank you for your
knowledge, and I wish you allthe best, ms Vanessa.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
Thank you, Kenyan.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
And you have a blessed day and I'll talk to you
later.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
You too.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
Ms Vanessa, don't hang up or stop.
It'll tell you to it'srecording you, and so it'll wait
till when I, as soon as I hitrecord, it'll start downloading
your stuff.
Once that's done, then you canget off.
Okay okay, thank you.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes present: Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial
Introducing… Aubrey O’Day Diddy’s former protege, television personality, platinum selling music artist, Danity Kane alum Aubrey O’Day joins veteran journalists Amy Robach and TJ Holmes to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation. Join them throughout the trial as they discuss, debate, and dissect every detail, every aspect of the proceedings. Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise, as only she is qualified to do given her first-hand knowledge. From her days on Making the Band, as she emerged as the breakout star, the truth of the situation would be the opposite of the glitz and glamour. Listen throughout every minute of the trial, for this exclusive coverage. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes present Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial, an iHeartRadio podcast.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.