Ronit Plank Creative

Ronit Plank Creative

A podcast about the pivotal moments in life and decisions that define us. Hosted by Ronit Plank.

25/10/2021

Tuesday on the podcast, Jen Kiaba Ep.99: Cults in Our Midst

⚡️And Then Everything Changed is available wherever you get podcasts! ⚡️

Photos from Ronit Plank Creative's post 29/09/2021

I’m so pleased to present episode 97 of my podcast AND THEN EVERYTHING CHANGED featuring Treveal Lynch . I learned so much about overcoming family history and creating a new life for oneself. Here’s the link:

https://andtheneverythingchangedpodcast.com/atec-becoming-the-person-youre-meant-to-be-after-childhood-violence-drugs-and-neglect-featuring-traveal-lynch/

When he was growing up, Treveal Lynch’s father was out of the picture, his mom was addicted to drugs and he faced emotional trauma almost on a daily basis. As a teenager he began using drugs and alcohol too, unable to escape from the patterns he grew up around. It wasn’t until he was arrested and found himself standing trial that he realized the way he was living no longer felt right.

In this episode, Treveal shares the story of his childhood and how he came to the decision that he needed to change his life for the better. He is now a faith-based community leader, author of the new book "What Is Enough”, & founder of a self-development company built on his philosophy that we and our possibilities are one and the same; everything we hope to be tomorrow we already are today. Using his own story as guide, he helps individuals revive hope for their lives and reclaim their purpose.

27/06/2020

And Then Everything Changed featuring interviews with survivors, authors, and thought leaders has moved!

Please take a moment and "like" the new page for the podcast at Ronit Plank.

I'll be posting episode updates, links, and giveaways there!

Thank you so much for helping me build this community! ❤️

20/06/2020

Hi everyone!
📣I’m going to be moving this page to my Ronit Plank page in a few days.

That’s where I will have all of my episodes and guest updates and news. 🙌🏻

Please like that page so you never miss a post. 🧡

Thank you for helping me build this podcast and community! ❤️

Timeline photos 19/06/2020

Forgiveness isn’t easy...but as Juan Aleman discovered first-hand, it’s possible when both people are committed to the process.⁣

Growing up, Juan didn’t know much about his father. He’d left when Juan was a baby, and Juan didn’t have any childhood memories of him. And the memories his older sisters had were nothing good: lots of alcohol, followed by domestic violence.⁣

But after Juan had joined the army and started a family of his own, his dad reached out to meet. Recently sober, his father wasn’t anything like Juan expected...and neither was the apology he offered.⁣

And since Juan’s father passed away, Juan has had even more time to think about that apology and why he was able to forgive him. To hear about his thoughts on parenting and forgiveness and how Juan addressed his own unhealthy relationship with drinking, tune in to episode 31 of And Then Everything Changed. ⁣

Then let me know in the comments your thoughts on forgiveness.

17/06/2020

Everyone wants their parents to be loving, funny, cool and supportive...and Juan Aleman is no exception. So when he was able to meet his father for the first time that he could remember, Juan hoped to meet a hero who could swoop in and help Juan whenever he needed it.⁣

But that’s not what happened.⁣

Instead, Juan’s father was just...another guy. A guy that, according to Juan’s older sisters, got drunk all the time and was violent when he did. A guy who “didn’t want” Juan, according to Juan’s mother.⁣

As Juan grew older, though, he had an important realization: parents are just people. Nothing more and nothing less. And that belief helped Juan be open to meeting his father once again - this time after Juan himself was a parent. ⁣

To hear what happened next, tune in to episode 31 of And Then Everything Changed. In it, I speak with Juan about his latchkey childhood, what parenting and forgiveness mean to him, and how Juan got sober himself after years of drinking.⁣

And once you tune in, tag a friend who needs to hear Juan’s story!

Timeline photos 16/06/2020

When Juan Aleman was a child, he didn’t know much about his father. ⁣

He knew he’d left when Juan was a baby, only spending a summer here and there with Juan.⁣

He knew from his older sisters that his father had a drinking problem and hurt their mother.⁣

But it wasn’t until after Juan had joined the army and begun a family of his own that he got to know his newly sober father, first-hand. And in the time they had left together, they forged a close connection.⁣

In episode 31 of And Then Everything Changed, Juan shares how he forgave his father for leaving, what parenting means to him, and how he got sober himself after years of drinking. So tune in on your preferred streaming platform.⁣

Then let me know the most impactful part of Juan’s story for you!

14/06/2020

You can listen to this episode here ❤️:

https://andtheneverythingchangedpodcast.com/episode-30/

Timeline photos 12/06/2020

Oppression doesn’t just impact the life of one family or one family member.⁣

It limits the lives of entire communities and family lines. Because generation after generation, people lack access to basic resources, like quality jobs, healthcare, and the coping mechanisms, compassion and safe spaces they need to thrive.⁣

Lisa Butler has witnessed the dangerous effects of oppression countless times. First, while growing up on the south side of Chicago. Later, while mentoring teen moms. And still today, while working as a licensed social worker and creating What’s Left Behind, her documentary highlighting the moms and families of murdered young people lost to gun violence in Chicago.⁣

To hear what Lisa believes we ALL need to do to create beneficial change, tune in to episode 30 of And Then Everything Changed. Lisa also shares her own story of growing up in Chicago and her thoughts on the cycle of poverty, so this is one episode you don’t want to miss.⁣

After you listen on your favorite podcasting platform, let me know the most impactful moment from my discussion with Lisa!

10/06/2020

Poverty doesn’t just impact people’s lives. It can steal them entirely.⁣

Because when kids need to focus on just getting to school, finding something to eat and avoiding being shot in their own neighborhood...how can they dream of the future? How can they imagine going to high school or even college?⁣

That’s only one of the many important questions Lisa Butler asks in episode 30 of And Then Everything Changed.⁣

Lisa Butler has experienced her own challenges in life. After her parents were unable to pay the fees for a magnet program Lisa was invited to join in her high school, Lisa started rebelling and acting out. At only sixteen years old, Lisa became pregnant by an older man who took advantage of her. And while she passed high school, Lisa flunked out of college.⁣

But none of that stopped Lisa from achieving her own dream to work as a therapist. After mentoring teen moms in Chicago, she went back to school and became a licensed clinical social worker. And now, she’s working to raise awareness about the horrific effects chronic stress, chronic violence and lack of resources are having on black communities in Chicago.⁣

So to hear more of Lisa’s story, her thoughts about the cycle of poverty and what she believes needs to change to aid Chicago’s black communities, tune in to episode 30 on your favorite podcasting platform.⁣

Then tell me what quote from Lisa you found most inspirational in this episode!

Episode 30 - And Then Everything Changed Podcast 08/06/2020

New episode! Lisa Butler LCSW on her work with teenage mothers, the legacy of oppression in her community, and inspiration for courageously creating the life of your dreams.

https://andtheneverythingchangedpodcast.com/episode-30/

Episode 30 - And Then Everything Changed Podcast EPISODE SHOW NOTES Episode 30: The Hope for Something Different featuring Lisa Butler A feminist before she knew what feminism was Lisa Butler grew up wondering why she and her mother were members of a strict Pentecostal church on the south side of Chicago, one that stripped women of their freedom a...

Timeline photos 08/06/2020

Many people know what it feels like to have hope for a different future, and Lisa Butler is no exception. ⁣

Lisa was a feminist before she even knew what feminism was, and she grew up wondering why she and her mother were members of a strict Pentecostal church on the south side of Chicago...especially since the church stripped women of their freedom and asked them to give up their power to the pulpit.⁣

Lisa was a smart and motivated student with big dreams for her future, but she had to put those dreams on hold when she got pregnant at 16. Now, Lisa is a licensed clinical social worker with a special interest in the physical and emotional effects of chronic stress that black women experience living in dangerous neighborhoods. She works in private practice and has also mentored teen moms in Chicago to help them think critically and help better care for themselves.⁣

Tune in to episode 30 of And Then Everything Changed to hear Lisa share her views on oppression, and how a lack of basic resources like jobs, quality healthcare, and education has perpetuated the cycle of poverty. Plus, Lisa talks about the work she's doing on What’s Left Behind, her documentary highlighting the moms and families of murdered young people lost to gun violence in Chicago.⁣

If you can relate to Lisa’s dreams of a different, better future, drop a heart in the comments...

08/06/2020

Episode 30 will be available tomorrow, 6/8 bright and early. My guest Lisa Butler LCSW joins me to share her story of leaving a strict church, knowing from an early age what she wanted, losing her way for a while, and then realizing her dream.

We talk about her work with teenage mothers in the south side of Chicago and the toll gun violence has taken on families, and how Toni Morrison and feminism helped save her.

Ahmaud Arbery was hit with a truck before he died, and his killer allegedly used a racial slur, investigator testifies 04/06/2020

This is difficult to read but what I have believed since I first saw this painful and violent story. My heart breaks again for Mr. Arbery and his family and the torment he experienced at the hands of these awful men.

Ahmaud Arbery was hit with a truck before he died, and his killer allegedly used a racial slur, investigator testifies https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/04/us/mcmichaels-hearing-ahmaud-arbery/index.html

Ahmaud Arbery was hit with a truck before he died, and his killer allegedly used a racial slur, investigator testifies William Bryan told investigators he heard Travis McMichael use a racial epithet after fatally shooting Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County, a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent testified Thursday during preliminary hearings.

Photos from Ronit Plank Creative's post 02/06/2020

I ❤️ this post by Kandise le Blanc

Full piece here:

https://insidethekandidish.wordpress.com/2020/05/30/dear-white-people-this-is-what-we-want-you-to-do/

29/05/2020

Nowadays, Rebecca West is a successful interior designer and business coach who’s planning to move to Paris with her new husband.⁣

But being more aware of her own needs and how to communicate them clearly with her partner is one of several reasons Rebecca’s second marriage is seven years strong.⁣

As Rebecca says in episode 29 of And Then Everything Changed, it takes two people to make a marriage work or not work. But the collapse of her first marriage taught Rebecca a lot of lessons.⁣

That she was stronger than she believed.⁣

That living spaces reflect and shape our self-beliefs and worldview. ⁣

That she had what it took to be an entrepreneur, an author, a business coach and - after a long engagement - a wife once again.⁣

To hear how Rebecca found her calling for interior design, developed a unique understanding of “home” while growing up as an army family and more, tune in to episode 29 on your favorite streaming platform. ⁣

Then let me know in the comments your thoughts on this quote from !⁣

27/05/2020

When Rebecca West made the hard decision to divorce from her husband, she didn’t know where life would take her. She didn’t even necessarily know that she was making the right decision. But once the decision was made, all she could do was push through the pain and move forward.⁣

There was just one problem: because Rebecca kept their house after the divorce, she couldn’t escape reminders of their marriage. There was the bed they shared. The couch from his parents. The paint color they chose. Every time Rebecca got home from work, she’d be smacked in the face with memories and the feeling that she had failed.⁣

Until one day, Rebecca looked around her house and said, "I can't keep living like this." That’s when she transformed her home on a recently-divorced-woman's budget…and discovered a hidden calling: working as an entrepreneur to help folks feel happy at home.⁣

Now, Rebecca is CEO of the interior design company Seriously Happy Homes and coaches other interior designers at Seriously Happy Coaching and Consulting. Plus, she wrote the book, “Happy Starts at Home” and is planning to move to Paris soon with her new contractor husband. And in Rebecca’s words, “I have a much fuller life now because of the pain of that transition.”⁣

Sound like too much of a Hallmark movie? Maybe. But that doesn’t make Rebecca’s journey from struggling to strong any less inspiring or interesting to hear. So be sure to tune in to episode 29 of And Then Everything Changed to hear my full discussion with .⁣

Then tag someone you know who could benefit from Rebecca’s tips on how to turn your home into a happier place through interior design!

26/05/2020

Woo hoo! Episode 29 is here!

Have you ever looked around your home and felt weighed down or deflated? Is the place you spend so much time (especially these days) enhancing your life and making you feel good?

After her first marriage ended Rebecca West looked around the home she had shared with her ex and asked herself if what she saw made her happy— and then she got to work transforming her space and her life.

Now Rebecca helps other people do the same! In this episode we talk about when she knew she needed to change her life, how she began her new one, and her beautiful book Happy Starts at Home 🙌🏻🏡.

Thank you Rebecca West Seriously Happy Homes for being my guest!

Reinventing Home featuring Rebecca West 26/05/2020

Reinventing Home featuring Rebecca West After the breakdown of her marriage, Rebecca West was ready to start her new life but reminders of her previous one filled her home. That’s when she realized she would have to transform her space to break free from her old story and reinvent herself. What began as a fresh interior became a new car...

25/05/2020

Episode 29 will be up tomorrow! My guest Rebecca West of Seriously Happy Homes talks with me about how she made her career dreams come true after her first marriage ended and what everyone can do to transform their space to reflect who they are and what they want to become. ❤️ 🏠 😌

An episode to help make home feel better 🥰

I’ll have links tomorrow!

22/05/2020

Lukus Estok never expected that writing a Facebook post would make him a trending story for Good Morning America, Inside Edition, and The Daily Show.

But that’s what happened when Lukus wrote about going to donate his blood plasma as a Coronavirus survivor...only to be turned away because he was gay.

At the time, Lukus felt deflated and emotionally drained. In early April of 2020, the FDA had updated its guidelines on blood donations from gay men, decreasing the abstinence period from 12 months to 3 months. And Lukus had followed those new requirements...but gotten rejected nonetheless.

Now, Lukus feels grateful not for the experience, but for the way his story has reached others and given him the power to speak about the need for greater change. And in episode 28 of And Then Everything Changed, you can hear Lukus use his voice to discuss the entire experience, from rejection to advocating for change in the media.

And once you tune in, be sure to tag a friend in the comments who also needs to hear Lukus’ powerful story!

20/05/2020

Did you know that up to 2015, if a man ever had s*xual contact with another man, they weren’t allowed to donate blood? Ever?

That’s just one of the surprising and concerning facts Lukus Estok shares in episode 28 of And Then Everything Changed.

As a Coronavirus survivor who is also gay, Lukus followed FDA’s updated guidelines to abstain from s*xual contact for 3 months so he could donate his plasma for research. But when Lukus went to the hospital to donate, he experienced the lingering stigma of HIV being a “gay disease.”

And even after he explained the FDA’s new guidelines, Lukus was told: “I don't know what you think you know, but you will not be donating here today.”

At first, Lukus mostly felt disbelief. But a week after it happened, Lukus found himself writing a Facebook post about the experience...and now, that post has been shared 25,000 times and countless people have reached out to Lukus saying, “I’m sharing your experience because I want this end, too.”

Lukus only wrote the post to let his family and friends know what had happened. But now, it’s given him a platform to help future generations grow up in a world where everyone is treated fairly and equally. And for this week’s episode of And Then Everything Changed, I interview Lukus about his entire experience, what change he hopes his story can enact, and much more.

(Hint: Lukus’ donation struggle has a happy ending! Be sure to tune in to episode 28 to find out what it is…)

Then tell me in the comments the most surprising moment of the interview!

19/05/2020

What if all you wanted to do was help others...but lingering stigma got in your way?

That’s what happened to Lukus Estok.

As a coronavirus survivor, Lukus was proud to have the opportunity to donate his blood plasma to help search for a cure to Covid-19. There was just one problem: Lukus is gay. And despite following the FDA’s new, April 2020 guidelines for gay men to be abstinent for 3 months, Lukus was turned away during his hospital appointment.

So Lukus couldn’t provide his plasma for antibody studies...and he couldn’t experience what it felt like to be treated like every other blood donor.

It didn't take long for Lukus’ story to get picked up by Good Morning America, Inside Edition, and The Daily Show. And suddenly, Lukus has found himself very publicly speaking about who he is and why the FDA needs to take a closer look at their blood-donation deferral period for gay men.

To hear even more about Lukus’ donation experience and how he is using his newfound platform to effect change and share some very good news, tune in to episode 28 of And Then Everything Changed. Regular listeners probably remember Lukus from bonus episode 3, Surviving Coronavirus, and this second discussion with Lukus is just as insightful and captivating as the first!

So be sure to check out episode 28 on your favorite streaming platform. Then let me know which part of Lukus’ story surprised or inspires you the most!

Ending the Blood Donation Deferral Period for Gay Men featuring Lukus Estok 19/05/2020

Ending the Blood Donation Deferral Period for Gay Men featuring Lukus Estok As a Coronavirus survivor, Lukus Estok was proud to be able to donate his blood plasma to help search for a cure to Covid-19. Because the FDA had announced on April 2, 2020, it was updating its guidelines on blood donations from gay men, decreasing the abstinence period for men who had s*x with othe...

Photos from Ronit Plank Creative's post 16/05/2020

Episode 1 just won a 2020 Communicator Award of Distinction! 🙌🏻

Thank you to my guest Paul Boardman for sharing his remarkable story. ❤️

https://andtheneverythingchangedpodcast.com/episode-1/

Photos from Ronit Plank Creative's post 15/05/2020

‪Seeds from the Storm just won a 2020 Communicator Award for Excellence! Thank you Monique Caradine The OverFlow Coach for sharing your story ❤️🙌🏻. You can find this ATEC podcast episode here:‬

https://andtheneverythingchangedpodcast.com/episode-6/‬

15/05/2020

What if your children could learn more effectively and more enjoyably than ever before...without you having to remind them countless times to do their reading or finish their homework?⁣

It may sound like an impossible dream, but that’s exactly what happened to Akilah Richards’ family when they joined The Movement.⁣

Because Unschooling is all about putting the power of learning back into your kids’ hands. Instead of being told by conventional teachers or their parents what to study or what classwork to complete, students follow their own natural interests. In the case of Akilah’s two daughters, this meant teaching themselves Japanese and Mandarin Chinese by immersing themselves in the world of anime and manga, learning the history of how countries develop flags, and much more.⁣

And when her daughters needed help, that’s when they’d come to Akilah and say, “By the way, I’m learning Japanese and I need help. So could you pay for this language app I found?”⁣

That’s what partnership looks like in natural, authentic learning. And that’s the kind of partnership Akilah is hoping more parents and children can discover by learning more about the Unschooling Movement.⁣

And to help you do exactly that, check out episode 27 of And Then Everything Changed. In it, I chat with Akilah about the basics of Unschooling, her family’s journey with it and the amazing benefits it can offer.⁣

Then tell me in the comments how you are a supportive partner of your children’s learning experiences!

News! Awards! Thank YOUs! 14/05/2020

News! Awards! Thank YOUs! A little message to share some great news, updates on the podcast, and episodes in the works. Plus And Then Everything Changed is now available on iHeart Radio as well as iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Podbean!

Photos from Ronit Plank Creative's post 14/05/2020

Thank you, Poonum Desai and for featuring me today!

Love your stories.
❤️

Videos (show all)

Tuesday on the podcast, Jen Kiaba Ep.99: Cults in Our Midst⚡️And Then Everything Changed is available wherever you get p...
And Then Everything Changed: Unschooling Ourselves featuring Akilah Richards
And Then Everything Changed: What Motherhood Can Mean with Jan Capps
And Then Everything Changed: Symphony For the Planet featuring Terra Nostra Creators, Susan Lubetkin and Christophe Chag...
And Then Everything Changed: We All Have Angels featuring Laura Powers
And Then Everything Changed: Escaping the Midwest Church that was a Cult featuring Benjamin Risha
And Then Everything Changed: The Place of a Woman featuring Sam Ssemaganda
And Then Everything Changed: Debt Comes Calling with Raeshal Solomon