November 2, 2025 • 35 mins
Elijah gets you caught up on his past week, & spends this episode answering questions from one of the shows loyal listeners, Patricia Williams. Patricia ask's Elijah about friendship, being a para educator, and his opinion on the goverment shutdown. You don't want to miss this show.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
You're listening to The Elijah Winfrey Show, a space for inspiration, impact,
and community connection. Each week, Elijah shares the latest on
his work in the community, answers listener questions, and reflects
on the week that was, from acts of kindness to
real conversations that matter. This is where purpose meets positivity.
(00:22):
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. Here's your host,
Elijah Winfrey.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Hello, folks, and welcome to the Elijah Winfrey Show. I
am indeed your host, Elijah Winfrey. We have a very
very special show for you today. We're gonna switch it
up a little bit. My producer and I were talking
this week about the tons of listeners that we get
that are live and those of you who download the show,
(00:56):
you know on your podcast, you know of your favorite
platforms are to download the show from.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
We are really really grateful for that.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
And so this week we thought, instead of answering you know,
multiple email questions that you send it and they're all great,
by the way, and thank you for continuing to send
those in this week, we wanted to focus on a
particular listener of the show and this individual has been
(01:28):
a fan of ours of the show for a while now,
and you know, I've always wanted to pay it forward
to all of you, but I thought it was a
great idea from my producer to really single out, you know,
a loyal listener and answer her questions. And we're going
(01:53):
to do that momentarily first before we get to that,
I hope that you all have had a really good
weekend as it winds down. I hope that you got
your hour of sleep. I didn't, but that's a whole
another topic for a whole nother day or a whole
nother show. But I've been definitely trying to rest and reset.
(02:17):
You know, I've done some writing, I've you know, worked
on some nonprofit things this weekend that have filled my heart.
So I'm excited about that. I'm always doing something, you know,
to stay afloat, to stay positive, as I hope that
you are as well. My past week was productive as
(02:39):
it usually is, uh, minus one or two setbacks, but
you know, I feel like things are progressing in a
very positive way. I'm very thankful for the position that
I am currently in and and you know, we're just
going to continue to move forward. My role as a
(03:02):
para educator, it's going well. I feel like I'm starting
to see a little bit of growth, and that's a
great sign. You know, I'm curious as to where that
would lead me down the road, but all is well
and decent on that front. My nonprofit, you know, we
you know this is we are let me slow down here.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
We are.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
In the midst of the beginnings of the holiday season,
and we are really excited about some things that we've
been working on pertaining to families and what we would
like to do this holiday season. And we will be
collaborating with another amazing organization and you know, I'll get
(03:54):
into that maybe next episode or the following one, but
we're doing well. We are are helping families in the community.
As you know, there's a government shut down and.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
It's been really difficult for a lot of families.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
So we are, you know, doing our best to make
sure that they keep food on the table and you know,
close on their backs, you know, if possible, if it's
possible for us to make that happen. There are a
lot of other organizations that are doing the same as well,
So I want to shout out everybody from those organizations
and all of you who are checking in on your
(04:37):
family and friends, right. I think it's so important. I
try to close the show saying that, but I think
it's vital that we do that for one another. So
Team win Free is in a good place, and we're
trying our best to help folks in the community. From
a personal standpoint, you know, outside of really struggling with sleep.
(05:00):
Although I am trying really hard to rest, you know,
I really can't complain. You know, when I'm able to
work out, I work out. On the days that I
can't work out, I do meditate. So I am in
workout gear, you know, hoping that it sparked something, and
sometimes it doesn't. But you know, I'm in a good
(05:22):
place and I'm working really hard to rectify, you know,
my issues regarding sleep. Family's doing well, the Kiddle's Loving
High School. You know, Lisa as busy as she always
is with her work, and and you know, we're progressing
one day at a time. So that's what it's been
(05:45):
like the past week, and that's what it's been like
during the weekend.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
So let's let's pivot towards the show or into the show.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
As most of you know, one of the things you
know that keep me going week after week is hearing
from all of you. You've all sent in kind emails
every after every show letting me know how much you
enjoy the content that I am creating with the help
of my amazing.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Producer, Great Nice.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
All of you are are part of this journey, and
you know I will continue to thank you each chance
I get, because the show isn't as successful if not
for for all of you who tune in live and
who tune in based on the downloads. We do see
the numbers, we do. We know where you are. So
(06:39):
thank you, thank you, And that's from everybody around the world,
right We're not just here in this country. We were
listening to around the world, and you know I am.
I'm so thankful and blessed that my voice is able
to travel uh and be heard and represented. So today
what we were going to do we want to feature
(07:02):
one of our longtime supporters, and Patricia Williams is that person.
She's from Atlanta, Georgia, and she reached out with some
beautiful and I mean beautiful reflections and questions that really
spoke to me this week. And I've been thinking about
(07:23):
him quite a bit and how I was going to
answer them, right, So I'm thinking of each question that
she's asking in my head as the week progresses, as
to how I want to, you know, kind of share
my thoughts on it, on those questions and how I
wanted to answer them, so I wanted to take time
to share them on air today with all of you,
(07:47):
and again, thank you all, Like we're gonna maybe turn
us into you know, a thing where we every now
and then we spotlight an amazing supporter and listener of
the show, and I'm so, so so happy. All right,
let's get into it, Patricia Rice. I've been tuning into
(08:13):
the Elijah Winfrey Show for years now, and I just
want to say it's been such a joy to listen
to you each week.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
You've got such a calm, grounded.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Spirit, and I love how you highlight the good that's
happening in our communities. My first question is what inspired
you to start your radio show and what does that
mean to you personally to have this platform where you
can share your voice and shine your light on others.
That's a great question, Patricia, Thank you so much for
(08:46):
those kind words as well. You know, when I thought
about starting this show, I viewed it as another vehicle
or another platform to talk about autism awareness and talk
(09:08):
about the work we do as a nonprofit and you know,
my local community. So the goal wasn't just to host
a program, right, I wanted to have a certain type
of content on the show to talk about and you know,
(09:32):
being that autism is really close to me because of
my niece and nephew, I wanted to to talk about
it and talk about my journey, and to have guests
on the show to talk about their journeys. And my
former co host Tony Bouchet, who who's on the Spectrum
as well, she talked about her journey and and you know,
we had guests on. So it was it was a
(09:54):
platform to kind of raise more awareness awareness And you know,
this really started with my golfing career. As I played golf,
you know, my goal was to connect with dads, right
because we always hear from moms, you know, with their
kiddos on the Spectrum, but there are a lot of
(10:16):
dads who were pretty shy, you know, not really forthcoming.
I think some wanted to they didn't know how to
go about it, you know, And so I would have
my golf bags designed to let.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
People know that I was an advocate.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
You know, and that sparked conversations with a lot of
dads and friends, and you know, I just thought, what
if I'm doing this, you know, as my golf career
winds down, why not create another avenue?
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Right? Why not use the radio to do it.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
There are a lot of successful people who have shows
pertaining to autism and low income families and other pressing
issues in the community that are doing well, that are thriving.
You know, why not me? You know, I think I
can add, you know, something to this community as well.
So I decided to give it a shot. And it's
(11:15):
not without its trials and tribulations, like most things in
our lives.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Right, but.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
I was able to find my footing and get going.
And you know, the more I did it, the more
comfortable I felt.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
And you know, here we are.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
You know, And and you know, the more I do
the show, the more I realized. You know, it's it's
about a lot of things. You know, this show is
about It's not just about autism awareness. It's not just
about low income families. You know, it's it's a space
where you know, you can breathe, you can talk about
kindness and compassion and service. Right, I want to tell
(11:50):
real stories about real people doing good things. There are
a lot of people who are doing a lot of
good things in the community, and I think a lot
of times, you know, we're so focus and not all
of us, but a lot of us are so focused
on the negativity aspect of the world because we lead
with that on the news and with things that we
(12:12):
miss the good people that are really doing things. And
so I try to shine a light on that because
I know it's not just me. I know I don't
do this alone, which is why I highlight my amazing
producer as well. You know, we're a team here, but
I want to highlight people doing good things, you know,
(12:33):
folks who might not get the spotlight but absolutely deserve it,
if that makes sense. And you know, for me, the
show is personal. It's about connection. I can't begin to
tell you how many connections I've made with people and
organizations who want to collaborate on things in the community.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
It's been an absolute blessing. You know.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
When I go back to Spring for Missouri, I interact
with these amazing autism advocates and it started with this show.
A lot of it did, and you know, I am
I'm I'm grateful many times over. But the show is
(13:20):
it's personal, now, you know. You know, I think a
lot of it it's about reminding people you know that
their efforts matter, no matter how big or how small
it is, whether you're helping your neighbor, you're mentoring a child,
or just showing up for somebody who's struggling. Right, I
want to talk about it on the show. I want
to highlight you. I want to talk about the good
(13:42):
you're doing. So you know, there are a lot of
things that went into me wanting to do the show
and shine a light on others. I think every episode
that we've done is an opportunity for us to inspire
and be inspired. And the support from all of you
(14:11):
mean everything to this show. Everything all right. Patricia also
wants to know. She writes, one thing that really stands
out to me about your show is how much you
(14:34):
talk about relationships and authenticity. So I'd love to know
what does true friendship look like to you? This is
a great question too, Patricia. True friendship to me, I
think it's built on honesty and presence, right, And I
(14:58):
don't think presence has to all always be in physical form, right.
It can be through a text right or an email.
But I think it starts there. It's not just when
we're all winning and it's convenient to just be around
because everything is good and you know there's positive vibes everywhere.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Sometimes I well not sometimes I believe a true friend.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
It's someone who's there for you when it's uncomfortable for you,
when you're really struggling.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
A true friend sees.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
You at your best and at your worst, but they
don't waver in their support, right. They stand beside you,
They lead with love, They have honest conversations with you.
That's that's another thing that I think about, you know,
(15:55):
when I'm thinking of true friends in my life and
my circle is tight. You want somebody who's going to
hold you accountable, not in a way where you know
they're they're they're punching you, you know, mentally, but they're
they're they're teaching you, you know, about these hard lessons
that you have to learn. Right, they know you've honestly
(16:18):
made a mistake. They're not afraid to call you out
on it and still be there for you, right when
your response may be something negative back towards them. You know,
they kind of hang in there and take that and
they go. You know, I I know where you're coming from.
But this is what I what I mean to say.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
So you know, I I.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Think holding you accountable it's it's a big deal. I
think it's it's also, as I just said, it's not
how often you talk. I think a lot of it is.
It's how you deeply connect with one another. You know,
(16:59):
from a friendships endpoint. You know, I've learned that, you know,
real friends don't compete with one another. I don't want
to want up anybody. If you're winning, I want to
be there. If you're losing, I want to I want
to be there to listen and offer a hand or
voice if I can that will help. I want you
(17:21):
to win. You know that's the thing too, I want
my friends to win. When when my friends are winning,
it makes me extremely happy and it's inspired me to
work harder in the things that I'm passionate about that
I want to win in. And you know, you know,
(17:46):
I've also learned that as I've gotten older, I've become
more intentional about the kind of energy I let in
my circle.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Right.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
You know, some people, as you continue to ascend up,
you shed and you know, that's not a bad thing,
you know. I I can tell you on both hands
how many people I've been able to shed and move forward,
not because I dislike them. Well, some we do grow
(18:19):
apart and you do find out more about people, and
there can be that, But sometimes it's not because you
dislike the person. Sometimes they're not meant to go on
that next journey with you or that next step in life.
And so I've been very intentional about my circle and
(18:42):
keeping it very tight because I try to love and
like everybody. But I also know that friendship at its
core is about peace, not pressure. Right, I don't feel that.
(19:04):
I don't feel the need or the pressure to make
tons of friends.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
Right. If it's not bringing me peace, I'm not gonna do.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
It doesn't mean I don't wish that person well, it
just means I'm not willing to jeopardize my peace now
that I've found it.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
For a number of friends, and I'm okay with that.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
I've always been okay with that, and that's how I
see it and define it. I know there be other
people who may see it differently, and that's okay, But
it's worked out for me. And you know, I feel
like it's I'm grateful for that. I really am. Okay,
(19:58):
Patricia also asks she goes on and she wants to know,
I know you work as a payer professional, a paer professional,
and you're heading into your fourth year in that role.
As you've said, how has that experience shaped you and
do you see yourself continuing in that field long term?
(20:24):
Being a pair of is It's extremely hard. Don't let
anybody tell you different. But it's been one of the
most rewarding experiences of my life. In the community, I
advocate you you talk to families, you're connected with families
(20:48):
through individuals who are also doing the work in the community,
and you have tough conversations with families from time.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
To time, and.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
So you don't really interact with the kids as much.
In the school is completely different, and I've been trying
to get them to sync up, you know, for the
last four years now, and I do feel like I'm
trending in the right direction this year. But it's it's
(21:19):
it's extremely rewarding. And you know, every day every day
that I'm in that school building, I get to work
with some incredible kids and some of them just lea
they just need a little bit of guidance. A little
(21:39):
extra belief goes a long way, believe me, and once
you pour into that, you watch them thrive. You know,
you step back and watch them grow. And there are
also days where you know you have to learn to
leave with patients. You have to have great empathy and
in resilience because it's it's hard. Some days you don't
(22:01):
have the answers. Some days you don't have anything, if
I'm being honest, But you show up and you feed
off of your teammates. I can't begin to tell you
how impactful my teammates have been, all of them, teacher staff,
my fellow Paris custodians, like, we're a unit in that building,
and I lean on them a lot from time to time.
(22:28):
The kids teach me a lot. I try to teach them.
It's a lot of laughter, right I think. As far
as long term goals, Patricia, I I try to do
(22:49):
this year by year, and my wife teases me about this,
you know, she kind of says, or she's not kind
of She says to me, you're doing these one year
deals with yourself.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
And I'm like, yeah, you know, I kind of like it.
It's a one year you know thing.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Where I do the year, I really assess where I
am in that journey, how impactful I've been. Are things
getting stale? Is it time for me to pivot?
Speaker 3 (23:20):
You know, I think about a lot of that.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
I do, and I'm not sure if it's long term.
You know, I try not to think too far ahead
regarding that whether I'm going to be there another five
years or fifteen years.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
You know.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
I try to focus on the here and the now
and the things that I can do to help these kids,
you know, grow from a core value and life skill department.
So I think the jury's still out on whether or
not this is a long term thing for me. And
(24:03):
and I say that because you know, I have my
nonprofit and h I I'm in control, right. I think
we all want some form of control and the things
that we're passionate about and the things that we do.
And I'm not saying control, uh to the point where
you you're reckless and and you know you're you're delegating
(24:24):
too much. I mean, ah, control in the sense of,
you know, I can really I can make my schedule.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
You know, I know where.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
My impact is needed most and when to get there
or and when to do that.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
You know, in the school, it's not quite like that.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
And that's fine, right, everything you do from a business standpoint,
school standpoint, whatever it is, college, there are there are
rules and regulations in place that you should follow. Uh
And and I try to do that to the best
of my ability, you know. And and I think that's
the thing that I probably would really have to think
about moving forward, because I do dedicate. I dedicate a
(25:07):
lot of time and throughout my day to be in
the school. And again, I love being there. I'm excited
to wake up and get dressed and go every day.
But you know, I try to be careful, you know,
when I think about these things being long term. You know,
(25:31):
for now, I'm trying to enjoy the moment. And you know, again,
as long as I know my impact is rooted in
service and I'm leading with.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Love, I'll be there.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
I'll be there, Okay, And the Patricia finishes up.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
With this.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
My last question to you, Elijah has to do with
what's happening right now with the government shut down and
so many family struggling. How has Team Winfrey been handling
these things. What kind of support are you able to
offer during such a tough time? This is a great
question to, you know, kind of close the show on today, Patricia.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
It's been tough.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
It's been tough to see things on the news. I
felt all my life, I felt like the political system
has been broken, and I don't knew. I don't know
what to I don't have the answer as to how
(26:43):
we create a better one. You know, I'm constantly brainstorming.
But you know, things like the shutdown just it breaks
my heart and it makes me pretty angry at the
same time because there are a lot of fans, families
who were depending on those paychecks, who were depending on
(27:04):
snap benefits to make ends meet and to get by,
to just get by right because of the cost of living,
and you know, too shut down the government because you know,
adults can't sit at the table and agree to disagree
and find common ground and find the middle for the
(27:27):
betterment of everybody. It just continues to raise red flags
for me. And I do believe there will be a
point where where they get this right. But it's frustrating
because they get to go to work, they get paid.
(27:49):
A lot of these families and service members they don't.
And you know, I wrote a post on my social
media platforms yesterday, and you know, I really stress that
(28:11):
we us in the community, we have to band together
and make sure these families are being fed. These families
have clothes, uh and and they're getting the shelter that
they need. You know, they're they're being helped with their bills.
We could we could you know, extend a hand. If
(28:33):
you know you have it, please share it. It's important
that you do that because none of us are immune
from being in this situation.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
None of us are.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
And sometimes I think when people in power, they get
in these seats, they begin to to some degree hide
behind these titles and they try to do what's best
for them in the moment as opposed to what's best
for everybody else, for all of us, for the greater
(29:05):
good of the world. There's a lot of ego and
I really hope that that changes at some point because
this is absolutely devastating to a lot of these families
who may never recover. And with Team Winfrey, you know,
(29:37):
we're not a big nonprofit, but that doesn't mean we
don't go out in the community and try to do
our part. You know, we gave away grocery gift cards,
or we handed out grocery gift cards last month. We're
going to continue that this month, and you know we're
going to be listening, right. Maybe a lot of these
(29:58):
families just they want somebody there to listen to their plight.
Sometimes people just need to know that they're not alone.
And that's what we try to provide. A team win.
And there are a lot of other amazing organizations that
(30:18):
are doing the same thing. And even in the hard times,
we still show up for one another, and all of
us can choose to give, We can still give, we
(30:39):
can still uplift.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
And be hopeful.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
It braces my heart every day this goes on. And
I'm hoping maybe tomorrow they stop this and they reinstate
the snap benefits and you know they get these these
families and individuals paid. But it hurts, it really hurts
(31:15):
to see it. So I encourage all of you in
your respective communities today moving forward, if you can, if
you can spare it, reach out and help someone, help
(31:38):
someone you know and help someone you don't know. Be
that voice, be that ear that you're lending to people.
We all need each other at the end of the day.
The sooner we realize that the better off we will
(31:59):
all be all right, Patricia, I want to thank you
so much for those those thoughtful questions and for being
such a loyal listener. You know, this show has been
(32:20):
on the air now for five six years maybe, and
I'm so grateful that you took time out of your
week or weekend or whatever whatever day it was to
write these questions and email them in to us. And
(32:46):
I hope that I was able to answer your questions
as best as I could for you as I closed
the show. And this is to everyone out there right now,
(33:08):
I want you to remember that friendship, service and faith.
Let me say it again, friendship, service and faith in
one another can carry us through anything, through the darkest times.
(33:28):
If we have those things, we can do anything. If
we stay locked in, we can move mountains. We may
not be able to change the world overnight, but we
can change it one act of kindness at a time.
(33:49):
This is what this show is all about. This is
why you tune in. You all a part of that change.
Do me a favor this week, this upcoming week, check
in on your family and friends. Put a smile on
someone's face, all right, make sure it starts with you.
(34:14):
Thank you for listening to the Elijah Winfrey Show. Please
be sure to download this show. Whatever you download your
favorite podcast until next week. Take care, God bless.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
How about
You're listening to The Elijah Winfrey Show, a space for inspiration, impact,
and community connection. Each week, Elijah shares the latest on
his work in the community, answers listener questions, and reflects
on the week that was, from acts of kindness to
real conversations that matter. This is where purpose meets positivity.
(00:22):
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. Here's your host,
Elijah Winfrey.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Hello, folks, and welcome to the Elijah Winfrey Show. I
am indeed your host, Elijah Winfrey. We have a very
very special show for you today. We're gonna switch it
up a little bit. My producer and I were talking
this week about the tons of listeners that we get
that are live and those of you who download the show,
(00:56):
you know on your podcast, you know of your favorite
platforms are to download the show from.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
We are really really grateful for that.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
And so this week we thought, instead of answering you know,
multiple email questions that you send it and they're all great,
by the way, and thank you for continuing to send
those in this week, we wanted to focus on a
particular listener of the show and this individual has been
(01:28):
a fan of ours of the show for a while now,
and you know, I've always wanted to pay it forward
to all of you, but I thought it was a
great idea from my producer to really single out, you know,
a loyal listener and answer her questions. And we're going
(01:53):
to do that momentarily first before we get to that,
I hope that you all have had a really good
weekend as it winds down. I hope that you got
your hour of sleep. I didn't, but that's a whole
another topic for a whole nother day or a whole
nother show. But I've been definitely trying to rest and reset.
(02:17):
You know, I've done some writing, I've you know, worked
on some nonprofit things this weekend that have filled my heart.
So I'm excited about that. I'm always doing something, you know,
to stay afloat, to stay positive, as I hope that
you are as well. My past week was productive as
(02:39):
it usually is, uh, minus one or two setbacks, but
you know, I feel like things are progressing in a
very positive way. I'm very thankful for the position that
I am currently in and and you know, we're just
going to continue to move forward. My role as a
(03:02):
para educator, it's going well. I feel like I'm starting
to see a little bit of growth, and that's a
great sign. You know, I'm curious as to where that
would lead me down the road, but all is well
and decent on that front. My nonprofit, you know, we
you know this is we are let me slow down here.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
We are.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
In the midst of the beginnings of the holiday season,
and we are really excited about some things that we've
been working on pertaining to families and what we would
like to do this holiday season. And we will be
collaborating with another amazing organization and you know, I'll get
(03:54):
into that maybe next episode or the following one, but
we're doing well. We are are helping families in the community.
As you know, there's a government shut down and.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
It's been really difficult for a lot of families.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
So we are, you know, doing our best to make
sure that they keep food on the table and you know,
close on their backs, you know, if possible, if it's
possible for us to make that happen. There are a
lot of other organizations that are doing the same as well,
So I want to shout out everybody from those organizations
and all of you who are checking in on your
(04:37):
family and friends, right. I think it's so important. I
try to close the show saying that, but I think
it's vital that we do that for one another. So
Team win Free is in a good place, and we're
trying our best to help folks in the community. From
a personal standpoint, you know, outside of really struggling with sleep.
(05:00):
Although I am trying really hard to rest, you know,
I really can't complain. You know, when I'm able to
work out, I work out. On the days that I
can't work out, I do meditate. So I am in
workout gear, you know, hoping that it sparked something, and
sometimes it doesn't. But you know, I'm in a good
(05:22):
place and I'm working really hard to rectify, you know,
my issues regarding sleep. Family's doing well, the Kiddle's Loving
High School. You know, Lisa as busy as she always
is with her work, and and you know, we're progressing
one day at a time. So that's what it's been
(05:45):
like the past week, and that's what it's been like
during the weekend.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
So let's let's pivot towards the show or into the show.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
As most of you know, one of the things you
know that keep me going week after week is hearing
from all of you. You've all sent in kind emails
every after every show letting me know how much you
enjoy the content that I am creating with the help
of my amazing.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Producer, Great Nice.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
All of you are are part of this journey, and
you know I will continue to thank you each chance
I get, because the show isn't as successful if not
for for all of you who tune in live and
who tune in based on the downloads. We do see
the numbers, we do. We know where you are. So
(06:39):
thank you, thank you, And that's from everybody around the world,
right We're not just here in this country. We were
listening to around the world, and you know I am.
I'm so thankful and blessed that my voice is able
to travel uh and be heard and represented. So today
what we were going to do we want to feature
(07:02):
one of our longtime supporters, and Patricia Williams is that person.
She's from Atlanta, Georgia, and she reached out with some
beautiful and I mean beautiful reflections and questions that really
spoke to me this week. And I've been thinking about
(07:23):
him quite a bit and how I was going to
answer them, right, So I'm thinking of each question that
she's asking in my head as the week progresses, as
to how I want to, you know, kind of share
my thoughts on it, on those questions and how I
wanted to answer them, so I wanted to take time
to share them on air today with all of you,
(07:47):
and again, thank you all, Like we're gonna maybe turn
us into you know, a thing where we every now
and then we spotlight an amazing supporter and listener of
the show, and I'm so, so so happy. All right,
let's get into it, Patricia Rice. I've been tuning into
(08:13):
the Elijah Winfrey Show for years now, and I just
want to say it's been such a joy to listen
to you each week.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
You've got such a calm, grounded.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Spirit, and I love how you highlight the good that's
happening in our communities. My first question is what inspired
you to start your radio show and what does that
mean to you personally to have this platform where you
can share your voice and shine your light on others.
That's a great question, Patricia, Thank you so much for
(08:46):
those kind words as well. You know, when I thought
about starting this show, I viewed it as another vehicle
or another platform to talk about autism awareness and talk
(09:08):
about the work we do as a nonprofit and you know,
my local community. So the goal wasn't just to host
a program, right, I wanted to have a certain type
of content on the show to talk about and you know,
(09:32):
being that autism is really close to me because of
my niece and nephew, I wanted to to talk about
it and talk about my journey, and to have guests
on the show to talk about their journeys. And my
former co host Tony Bouchet, who who's on the Spectrum
as well, she talked about her journey and and you know,
we had guests on. So it was it was a
(09:54):
platform to kind of raise more awareness awareness And you know,
this really started with my golfing career. As I played golf,
you know, my goal was to connect with dads, right
because we always hear from moms, you know, with their
kiddos on the Spectrum, but there are a lot of
(10:16):
dads who were pretty shy, you know, not really forthcoming.
I think some wanted to they didn't know how to
go about it, you know, And so I would have
my golf bags designed to let.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
People know that I was an advocate.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
You know, and that sparked conversations with a lot of
dads and friends, and you know, I just thought, what
if I'm doing this, you know, as my golf career
winds down, why not create another avenue?
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Right? Why not use the radio to do it.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
There are a lot of successful people who have shows
pertaining to autism and low income families and other pressing
issues in the community that are doing well, that are thriving.
You know, why not me? You know, I think I
can add, you know, something to this community as well.
So I decided to give it a shot. And it's
(11:15):
not without its trials and tribulations, like most things in
our lives.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Right, but.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
I was able to find my footing and get going.
And you know, the more I did it, the more
comfortable I felt.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
And you know, here we are.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
You know, And and you know, the more I do
the show, the more I realized. You know, it's it's
about a lot of things. You know, this show is
about It's not just about autism awareness. It's not just
about low income families. You know, it's it's a space
where you know, you can breathe, you can talk about
kindness and compassion and service. Right, I want to tell
(11:50):
real stories about real people doing good things. There are
a lot of people who are doing a lot of
good things in the community, and I think a lot
of times, you know, we're so focus and not all
of us, but a lot of us are so focused
on the negativity aspect of the world because we lead
with that on the news and with things that we
(12:12):
miss the good people that are really doing things. And
so I try to shine a light on that because
I know it's not just me. I know I don't
do this alone, which is why I highlight my amazing
producer as well. You know, we're a team here, but
I want to highlight people doing good things, you know,
(12:33):
folks who might not get the spotlight but absolutely deserve it,
if that makes sense. And you know, for me, the
show is personal. It's about connection. I can't begin to
tell you how many connections I've made with people and
organizations who want to collaborate on things in the community.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
It's been an absolute blessing. You know.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
When I go back to Spring for Missouri, I interact
with these amazing autism advocates and it started with this show.
A lot of it did, and you know, I am
I'm I'm grateful many times over. But the show is
(13:20):
it's personal, now, you know. You know, I think a
lot of it it's about reminding people you know that
their efforts matter, no matter how big or how small
it is, whether you're helping your neighbor, you're mentoring a child,
or just showing up for somebody who's struggling. Right, I
want to talk about it on the show. I want
to highlight you. I want to talk about the good
(13:42):
you're doing. So you know, there are a lot of
things that went into me wanting to do the show
and shine a light on others. I think every episode
that we've done is an opportunity for us to inspire
and be inspired. And the support from all of you
(14:11):
mean everything to this show. Everything all right. Patricia also
wants to know. She writes, one thing that really stands
out to me about your show is how much you
(14:34):
talk about relationships and authenticity. So I'd love to know
what does true friendship look like to you? This is
a great question too, Patricia. True friendship to me, I
think it's built on honesty and presence, right, And I
(14:58):
don't think presence has to all always be in physical form, right.
It can be through a text right or an email.
But I think it starts there. It's not just when
we're all winning and it's convenient to just be around
because everything is good and you know there's positive vibes everywhere.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Sometimes I well not sometimes I believe a true friend.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
It's someone who's there for you when it's uncomfortable for you,
when you're really struggling.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
A true friend sees.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
You at your best and at your worst, but they
don't waver in their support, right. They stand beside you,
They lead with love, They have honest conversations with you.
That's that's another thing that I think about, you know,
(15:55):
when I'm thinking of true friends in my life and
my circle is tight. You want somebody who's going to
hold you accountable, not in a way where you know
they're they're they're punching you, you know, mentally, but they're
they're they're teaching you, you know, about these hard lessons
that you have to learn. Right, they know you've honestly
(16:18):
made a mistake. They're not afraid to call you out
on it and still be there for you, right when
your response may be something negative back towards them. You know,
they kind of hang in there and take that and
they go. You know, I I know where you're coming from.
But this is what I what I mean to say.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
So you know, I I.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Think holding you accountable it's it's a big deal. I
think it's it's also, as I just said, it's not
how often you talk. I think a lot of it is.
It's how you deeply connect with one another. You know,
(16:59):
from a friendships endpoint. You know, I've learned that, you know,
real friends don't compete with one another. I don't want
to want up anybody. If you're winning, I want to
be there. If you're losing, I want to I want
to be there to listen and offer a hand or
voice if I can that will help. I want you
(17:21):
to win. You know that's the thing too, I want
my friends to win. When when my friends are winning,
it makes me extremely happy and it's inspired me to
work harder in the things that I'm passionate about that
I want to win in. And you know, you know,
(17:46):
I've also learned that as I've gotten older, I've become
more intentional about the kind of energy I let in
my circle.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Right.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
You know, some people, as you continue to ascend up,
you shed and you know, that's not a bad thing,
you know. I I can tell you on both hands
how many people I've been able to shed and move forward,
not because I dislike them. Well, some we do grow
(18:19):
apart and you do find out more about people, and
there can be that, But sometimes it's not because you
dislike the person. Sometimes they're not meant to go on
that next journey with you or that next step in life.
And so I've been very intentional about my circle and
(18:42):
keeping it very tight because I try to love and
like everybody. But I also know that friendship at its
core is about peace, not pressure. Right, I don't feel that.
(19:04):
I don't feel the need or the pressure to make
tons of friends.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
Right. If it's not bringing me peace, I'm not gonna do.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
It doesn't mean I don't wish that person well, it
just means I'm not willing to jeopardize my peace now
that I've found it.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
For a number of friends, and I'm okay with that.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
I've always been okay with that, and that's how I
see it and define it. I know there be other
people who may see it differently, and that's okay, But
it's worked out for me. And you know, I feel
like it's I'm grateful for that. I really am. Okay,
(19:58):
Patricia also asks she goes on and she wants to know,
I know you work as a payer professional, a paer professional,
and you're heading into your fourth year in that role.
As you've said, how has that experience shaped you and
do you see yourself continuing in that field long term?
(20:24):
Being a pair of is It's extremely hard. Don't let
anybody tell you different. But it's been one of the
most rewarding experiences of my life. In the community, I
advocate you you talk to families, you're connected with families
(20:48):
through individuals who are also doing the work in the community,
and you have tough conversations with families from time.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
To time, and.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
So you don't really interact with the kids as much.
In the school is completely different, and I've been trying
to get them to sync up, you know, for the
last four years now, and I do feel like I'm
trending in the right direction this year. But it's it's
(21:19):
it's extremely rewarding. And you know, every day every day
that I'm in that school building, I get to work
with some incredible kids and some of them just lea
they just need a little bit of guidance. A little
(21:39):
extra belief goes a long way, believe me, and once
you pour into that, you watch them thrive. You know,
you step back and watch them grow. And there are
also days where you know you have to learn to
leave with patients. You have to have great empathy and
in resilience because it's it's hard. Some days you don't
(22:01):
have the answers. Some days you don't have anything, if
I'm being honest, But you show up and you feed
off of your teammates. I can't begin to tell you
how impactful my teammates have been, all of them, teacher staff,
my fellow Paris custodians, like, we're a unit in that building,
and I lean on them a lot from time to time.
(22:28):
The kids teach me a lot. I try to teach them.
It's a lot of laughter, right I think. As far
as long term goals, Patricia, I I try to do
(22:49):
this year by year, and my wife teases me about this,
you know, she kind of says, or she's not kind
of She says to me, you're doing these one year
deals with yourself.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
And I'm like, yeah, you know, I kind of like it.
It's a one year you know thing.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Where I do the year, I really assess where I
am in that journey, how impactful I've been. Are things
getting stale? Is it time for me to pivot?
Speaker 3 (23:20):
You know, I think about a lot of that.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
I do, and I'm not sure if it's long term.
You know, I try not to think too far ahead
regarding that whether I'm going to be there another five
years or fifteen years.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
You know.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
I try to focus on the here and the now
and the things that I can do to help these kids,
you know, grow from a core value and life skill department.
So I think the jury's still out on whether or
not this is a long term thing for me. And
(24:03):
and I say that because you know, I have my
nonprofit and h I I'm in control, right. I think
we all want some form of control and the things
that we're passionate about and the things that we do.
And I'm not saying control, uh to the point where
you you're reckless and and you know you're you're delegating
(24:24):
too much. I mean, ah, control in the sense of,
you know, I can really I can make my schedule.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
You know, I know where.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
My impact is needed most and when to get there
or and when to do that.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
You know, in the school, it's not quite like that.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
And that's fine, right, everything you do from a business standpoint,
school standpoint, whatever it is, college, there are there are
rules and regulations in place that you should follow. Uh
And and I try to do that to the best
of my ability, you know. And and I think that's
the thing that I probably would really have to think
about moving forward, because I do dedicate. I dedicate a
(25:07):
lot of time and throughout my day to be in
the school. And again, I love being there. I'm excited
to wake up and get dressed and go every day.
But you know, I try to be careful, you know,
when I think about these things being long term. You know,
(25:31):
for now, I'm trying to enjoy the moment. And you know, again,
as long as I know my impact is rooted in
service and I'm leading with.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Love, I'll be there.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
I'll be there, Okay, And the Patricia finishes up.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
With this.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
My last question to you, Elijah has to do with
what's happening right now with the government shut down and
so many family struggling. How has Team Winfrey been handling
these things. What kind of support are you able to
offer during such a tough time? This is a great
question to, you know, kind of close the show on today, Patricia.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
It's been tough.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
It's been tough to see things on the news. I
felt all my life, I felt like the political system
has been broken, and I don't knew. I don't know
what to I don't have the answer as to how
(26:43):
we create a better one. You know, I'm constantly brainstorming.
But you know, things like the shutdown just it breaks
my heart and it makes me pretty angry at the
same time because there are a lot of fans, families
who were depending on those paychecks, who were depending on
(27:04):
snap benefits to make ends meet and to get by,
to just get by right because of the cost of living,
and you know, too shut down the government because you know,
adults can't sit at the table and agree to disagree
and find common ground and find the middle for the
(27:27):
betterment of everybody. It just continues to raise red flags
for me. And I do believe there will be a
point where where they get this right. But it's frustrating
because they get to go to work, they get paid.
(27:49):
A lot of these families and service members they don't.
And you know, I wrote a post on my social
media platforms yesterday, and you know, I really stress that
(28:11):
we us in the community, we have to band together
and make sure these families are being fed. These families
have clothes, uh and and they're getting the shelter that
they need. You know, they're they're being helped with their bills.
We could we could you know, extend a hand. If
(28:33):
you know you have it, please share it. It's important
that you do that because none of us are immune
from being in this situation.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
None of us are.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
And sometimes I think when people in power, they get
in these seats, they begin to to some degree hide
behind these titles and they try to do what's best
for them in the moment as opposed to what's best
for everybody else, for all of us, for the greater
(29:05):
good of the world. There's a lot of ego and
I really hope that that changes at some point because
this is absolutely devastating to a lot of these families
who may never recover. And with Team Winfrey, you know,
(29:37):
we're not a big nonprofit, but that doesn't mean we
don't go out in the community and try to do
our part. You know, we gave away grocery gift cards,
or we handed out grocery gift cards last month. We're
going to continue that this month, and you know we're
going to be listening, right. Maybe a lot of these
(29:58):
families just they want somebody there to listen to their plight.
Sometimes people just need to know that they're not alone.
And that's what we try to provide. A team win.
And there are a lot of other amazing organizations that
(30:18):
are doing the same thing. And even in the hard times,
we still show up for one another, and all of
us can choose to give, We can still give, we
(30:39):
can still uplift.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
And be hopeful.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
It braces my heart every day this goes on. And
I'm hoping maybe tomorrow they stop this and they reinstate
the snap benefits and you know they get these these
families and individuals paid. But it hurts, it really hurts
(31:15):
to see it. So I encourage all of you in
your respective communities today moving forward, if you can, if
you can spare it, reach out and help someone, help
(31:38):
someone you know and help someone you don't know. Be
that voice, be that ear that you're lending to people.
We all need each other at the end of the day.
The sooner we realize that the better off we will
(31:59):
all be all right, Patricia, I want to thank you
so much for those those thoughtful questions and for being
such a loyal listener. You know, this show has been
(32:20):
on the air now for five six years maybe, and
I'm so grateful that you took time out of your
week or weekend or whatever whatever day it was to
write these questions and email them in to us. And
(32:46):
I hope that I was able to answer your questions
as best as I could for you as I closed
the show. And this is to everyone out there right now,
(33:08):
I want you to remember that friendship, service and faith.
Let me say it again, friendship, service and faith in
one another can carry us through anything, through the darkest times.
(33:28):
If we have those things, we can do anything. If
we stay locked in, we can move mountains. We may
not be able to change the world overnight, but we
can change it one act of kindness at a time.
(33:49):
This is what this show is all about. This is
why you tune in. You all a part of that change.
Do me a favor this week, this upcoming week, check
in on your family and friends. Put a smile on
someone's face, all right, make sure it starts with you.
(34:14):
Thank you for listening to the Elijah Winfrey Show. Please
be sure to download this show. Whatever you download your
favorite podcast until next week. Take care, God bless.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
How about
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