Why The Hell Am I Here?

At age 17, Traci Willis lost her brother to a heroin overdose - a tragedy that perhaps informed her future as an advocate for addicts and their families, though certainly didn't define it. But she's taken life's lemons and used them to become a light for others in the dark.  Click here for more information about Family Life Counseling.  Click here for more information about International Overdose Awareness Day.  Click here for more information about Richland Young Professionals (it's the least we could do). 

When he was 11 years old, Collier Landry's father murdered his mother. When he was 12 years old, Collier testified in court, helping to convict and sentence his father to 20-years-to-life for the crime. Now almost three decades later, Collier returns to his hometown - and the home where it happened - for the Cleveland premiere of a documentary about his experience. Click here to watch this episode on YouTube.  Click here for more information about "A Murder in Mansfield."  Click here for more information about the Cleveland International Film Festival.  Click here to follow Collier Landry on Twitter.

On March 8, Mansfield sent 15 people of all backgrounds to South by Southwest (SXSW), an annual conglomerate of film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences that takes place in Austin, Texas. Their goal was to absorb as much information as humanly possible and eventually formulate a plan to better the city of Mansfield. Upon their return, we asked them three questions: What's one thing you learned at SXSW that could be a short-term goal for Mansfield (7:04), what's one thing you learned that could be a long-term goal (25:01), and what did you personally take away from the experience (44:58)?  Click here to read the blogs from the SXSW team.  Here are all the members of the SXSW team, in the order you'll hear them speak:  Jay Allred  Allie Watson  Aurelio Diaz  Benjamin Davis  Bob Bianchi  Cameron Haring  Chelsie Thompson  Damien Beauford  Jennifer Kime Jodie Perry  Jotika Shetty  Leona Smith Matthew Stanfield  Nikki Lewis  Maura Teynor

Llalan Fowler, commonly known as "the bookstore lady," has a life that revolves around storytelling. She curates stories for a living, she's actively trying to change the story of her hometown, and she's learning every day from the story of her life thus far.  Click here for more information about Main Street Books.  Click here to read Voices from the Borderland. 

This episode title pays homage to the Netherlands - the homeland of Edward Akinyemi - by asking "Why the hell am I here?" in Dutch. Yes, there are obvious differences between living and traveling across Europe versus a Midwestern town, as Edward is often asked. But, he says, it's important to remember "we're all just human beings, just like any other place."  Click here to learn more about Edward's job with the North End Community Improvement Collaborative. 

This special episode of WTHAIH is due to the limited schedule of Bradley Cronenwett, who is only in Mansfield for a short period of time in-between touring with productions of Cirque du Soleil. These days he's traveling the world as the assistant head of lighting with Cirque, but he got his start pulling the curtain for a production at Shelby High School.  Click here for tickets to see The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Renaissance Theatre.  Click here to learn more about Cirque du Soleil.  Click here to learn more about New Year's Eve traditions in Brazil (yes, I looked up wave jumping). 

Nicholas Copley is all about holistic health - bringing together a well-nourished body with an emotionally intelligent mind. As the self-described "Leslie Knope of Mansfield," he hopes to bring his homegrown methods to his hometown.  Click here to watch the Foraged Feasts series.  Click here to watch Brittany eat a chocolate-covered cicada.  Click here to learn more about Lionheart Medicinal Gardens. 

First, she fell in love with a man. Then, she fell in love with the town. Now, Jessica Hiser is teaching others to love the place she calls home. Click here to learn more about Spherion. 

Damien Beauford knows the meaning of hard time - both inside and outside of prison. But driven by a personal prophecy and the love of his family, he's striving to tell his story as a way to serve others...and to create his own happy ending.  Click here to learn more about The Ridge Project.  Click here to learn about Storyside Church.  Click here to visit Damien at Barberz Inc. in Mansfield. 

Local artist Orie Rush connects the dots on his journey from Mansfield to Chicago and back to Mansfield, and not taking anything for granted.

In this episode we bid a bittersweet farewell to Jasmine Evans, formerly of Richland Source, as she heads on a missions trip to the Himalayas - something she's felt called to do for quite some time. Click here to follow along with Jasmine's journey on her blog. 

From Arizona to California to Ohio, Nikki Lewis discusses the twists and turns life takes to bring you where you are today. Click here for more information about Nikki's job at the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Meet Jake Penwell, a native of Shelby, Ohio and fully-involved community member with an unusual occupation and a fascinating perspective. Click here more information about Jake & Turner Funeral Home. 

Meet your host Brittany Schock as she discusses the mission behind the "Why The Hell Am I Here?" podcast and her own journey to get where she is today.