How I turned my scars into beautiful art and current taking my life journey and showing the world how tattoos have become more than just beautiful art now. It’s become a form of therapy. Redefining a scar of pain or abuse gives one empowerment to speak what we want out scar to represent, not giving power to what caused them.
I am a true trauma survivor. Mother of two amazing grown adults and a grandmother of a beautiful 3 year old girl. I am a creator of so many things including 4 streetwear brands launching in 2024, currently writing my book, being featured in a book, two tattoo lifestyle shows and a leader of a tattoo women’s group called “Angel’s In Ink.” Recently exploring the podcast world and potentially doing a movie based on my life story. I have a 4 year old Frenchie who is my best friend. I recently quit my career in the service industry to drive for Lyft so I can meet new people and network my career. I am 45. I love to cook in my spare time and music is my therapy along with changing peoples lives.
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An Authors Kiss with Sara Troy and her guest Ian Hawkins, on air from September 12th
When I was really small, my amazing Granny Peg gave me some recordings of stories and got me hooked on storytelling. I knew that when I grew up, that’s what I would want to do.
So I did! I told stories on the radio and television, as well as to big crowds of people who enjoyed what I had to say.
One day I realised that sometimes the stories people tell themselves make them unhappy. Then I thought that if I understood how to change those stories, people wouldn’t be sad any more.
Now I have the best job in the world: I tell stories about stories, helping people make changes in their lives that help them do the things they want to do and make the world a better place.
The power of story
Stories are the software our brains run on. Whatever we do in business or personal life, our achievements depend on the stories we tell ourselves – and allow others to tell about us.
Ian Hawkins is an author and business journalist whose work has appeared on CBS, Reuters and BBC World.
Ian has hosted events in Europe, the USA and Australia, and coached Olympians, cabinet ministers and CEOs.
Born with a debilitating heart condition, Ian spent much of his childhood in hospital. On leaving, he declared that he would refuse to live a boring life. This is a promise he has kept.
On leaving university, Ian wrote for BBC comedy shows including The News Quiz and Loose Ends. On the stand up circuit, he honed his presentation skills in front of live audiences in the UK and NYC and co-authored an acclaimed book on public speaking.
Ian’s abilities as a storyteller led to him taking on senior editorial roles in content creation and business journalism, reporting from the ground on subjects as diverse as pharma labs in Gothenburg to water purification in Nicaragua, whilst dodging muggers in Panama City and filming from a helicopter over an active volcano.
In the COVID pandemic, Ian started a business from his hospital bed which kept him busy throughout and beyond convalescence.
In keynotes, workshops and after dinner, Ian explains why stories are the ‘software’ that our brains run on and how a good story can be a catalyst for incredible change. Ian draws on stories from brands, his experience and films suggested by the audience. Audiences will be engaged, moved and motivated – and given powerful tools to create lasting change in their own lives, businesses and relationships. Expect insight, inspiration and interaction – wrapped up in Ian’s trademark humour.
Ian’s career began at the UK’s largest speaker bureau, working with some of the biggest names on the circuit. At the same time, he was a professional stand up, writing for BBC comedy shows including The News Quiz and Loose Ends.
Business journalism has taken Ian from pharma labs in Gothenburg to water purification in Nicaragua, dodging muggers in Panama City and filming from a helicopter over an active volcano.
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On September 18th 2015, I had the biggest life changing event happen to me and my family to date. I lost not only my best friend and fiancé, the man my children saw as Dad, I lost my future. I was forced to not only say goodbye to the man I loved but to be the one to give the official words to turn off the life support machines keeping him alive.
Once I discovered DNA jewellery and keepsakes I knew this was my purpose in life. To ensure no other families have the same regret of not having something to hold onto after losing someone taken too early. While we focus on loss we also celebrate the good times too.
Every aspect of my business is in memory and honour of Manny, I launched TTA on the anniversary of his passing to celebrate him and how even in his passing, he is supporting our family and is a part of our lives daily. The name coming from a saying he’d repeat over and over that it’s how long he’d love me and until he took his last breath, he kept that promise and now I live everyday keeping up my end.
Unlike many other DNA artisans, I ensure I cater for all moments in life, turning all of life’s memories into keepsakes you can hold, I do tend to be more drawn to loss, especially the loss of loved ones because that’s why I started my business.
At the time of Manny’s passing I had no idea this industry existed, my goal now is to never hear another person say “I wish I knew you existed when….” And only hear “thank god I knew” to help families during all stages of life.
Today Tomorrow & Always was officially launched by accredited artisan and mother of four, Allison Ockenden in Manny’s honour – letting him live on in her heart and hands as she crafts each precious and entirely unique keepsake.
Today Tomorrow & Always was created with the vision of helping others celebrate life, love and loss. Cherishing births, relationships and marriages as well as commemorating the life of lost loved ones by creating memories you can hold and admire.
Allison’s goal is to create a priceless mementos to represent any memory you have from times throughout your life, because life holds so many precious moments that deserve to be re lived again and again.
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Their Story Matters with Sara Troy and her guest Col. Eileen Collins, on air from April 11th
Retired NASA astronaut and the agency’s first female shuttle commander, Col. Eileen Collins
With all the craziness happening here on Earth, recent stories of big happenings in outer space haven’t received as much media attention as they might deserve.
Trashing the International Space Station, mountains of space junk clogging the atmosphere, gender-specific spacesuits for woke bureaucrats, top-secret Chinese space walks, and lots more have barely registered a blip on the public’s radar.
Retired NASA astronaut and the agency’s first female shuttle commander, Col. Eileen Collins shares her journey in space and what is happening now.
Introducing Retired Colonel Eileen Collins, NASA’s first female shuttle commander. As of today, 72 women have flown in space, and many of those have cited Col. Collins as an inspiration. Eileen Collins retired from the Air Force in 2005 and from NASA in 2006, having logged more than 6,751 hours in thirty different types of aircraft and spent 872 hours in space. She is the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame, among many other honors. Col. Collins recently served as an advisor to the National Space Council and is a board member of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation.
She retired from the Air Force in Jan 2005 and from NASA in May 2006 after a 28-year distinguished career. A former military instructor and test pilot, Collins was the first female pilot and first female commander of a space shuttle.
Collins graduated from the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in 1990. She was selected by NASA and became an astronaut in July 1991. After tours at Kennedy Space Center (shuttle launch and landing) and Johnson Space Center (shuttle engineer and capsule communicator), she flew the space shuttle as pilot in 1995 aboard Discovery. She was also the pilot for Atlantis in 1997, where her crew docked with the Russian Space Station MIR. Collins became the first woman commander of a U.S. spacecraft with shuttle mission Columbia in 1999, the deployment of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Her final space flight was as commander of Discovery in 2005, the “Return to Flight Mission” after the tragic loss of Columbia. She has logged more than 6,751 hours in 30 different types of aircraft and more than 872 hours in space as a veteran of four space flights.
Collins currently serves on several boards and advisory panels, is a professional speaker and an aerospace consultant. She is married with two children.
Collins is also a member of the Air Force Association, Order of Daedalians, Women Military Aviators, Women in Aviation International, U.S. Space Foundation, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Ninety-Nines.
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Their Story Matters with Sara Troy and her guest Janet Sanders, on air from November 8th
Is it safe for Americans to move to Mexico or even vacation there?
“The answer is “Absolutely not,” says Janet Sanders, a successful, retired American businesswoman who moved to Yucatan in 2016 with her husband, Joe. On October 9, 2021, and again on January 19, 2022, the couple was attacked and terrorized at their home by a mob aided and abetted by Mexican police.
On January 19, a group of approximately 40 thugs armed with machetes and guns attacked the home of Janet and Joe, holding them hostage for 22 hours. Under the direction of a son of the area’s Police Comandante, the mob destroyed the home’s electrical and water system and the couple’s computers and related equipment. Several police officers were on hand; they just stood by and watched.
Total losses from the rampage are almost a quarter of a million dollars. This was all part of a violent intimidation campaign to force them to leave their beautiful home. Fearing for their lives, Janet and Joe did so after the second attack.
Now, Janet Sanders is fighting back.
She and her husband have petitioned the Governor of Yucatan to commission an investigation of the police and all other officials involved in fomenting this crime. Janet has contacted U.S. officials as well. Her evidence includes photos, videos, signed legal documents, and Mexican government-issued findings.
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