Advertise on podcast: Break The Odds

Welcome to season two! Come kick-off the season with us + hear some exciting updates! Press play to listen.   ABOUT THE SHOW:   Welcome to Break The Odds—the place to help you break the odds and walk confidently into your God-given purpose. Think of this podcast as your regular coffee chat where we talk about life, career, and legacy.    Hosted by Elease Dillard (award-winning entrepreneur, author, and speaker) enjoy hearing from industry leaders, professionals, and individuals on the show as they share their stories of breaking the odds to help you reach the the next level in your life, family, career, and communities.   Let’s do this together. Let’s break the odds.   —   LET’S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/lets.breaktheodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lets.breaktheodds/   EPISODE NOTES & BLOG:  https://letsbreaktheodds.com/podcast-season-2-premiere

Join us for season 2 in 2022! • Today’s episode is a very special one because today is a celebration! Not only are we celebrating our season finale, but we have also turned one years old! But most of all, we want to celebrate YOU! To help us celebrate, we have Gladys Dillard back on the show! So grab your party hat and let’s get started with the celebration, shall we? Press play to listen.   — LET’S CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lets.breaktheodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/break.theodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON CLUBHOUSE: “Break The Odds” Club   EPISODE NOTES & BLOG: https://letsbreaktheodds.com/season-one-finale 

Are you a working student with the desire to graduate debt-free? Or are you someone who works a 9-5 job but feels a calling on your heart to start your own venture?   Friend, you’re in the right place because today’s guest shares how they broke the odds in the workplace and how your job can help you pursue your dreams! Back with us today for part 2 of her interview series is Marlene Maina—Chair and Founder of JosiahKids Incorporated.   MEET MARLENE MAINA:   Marlene Maina is a Christian writer, Bible teacher and a personal growth and development speaker. She is the Chair and Founder of JosiahKids Incorporated, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to educate, empower and equip young students and TEENS in the local community in the areas of faith, leadership, community service and the arts.   Marlene’s academic background includes: a certificate in Medical Administration, a two-year training in Youth Ministry, a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Education, A Master of Divinity (MDiv), and a Master in Leadership, from Luther Rice College and Seminary in Lithonia, Georgia. Her professional journey has led her through a handful of fortune 500 companies, including The Coca-Cola Company where she worked for sixteen years supporting senior leaders, and one c-suite executive.   — LET’S CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lets.breaktheodds   LET’S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/break.theodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON CLUBHOUSE: “Break The Odds” Club   EPISODE NOTES/BLOG + CONNECT WITH MARLENE: https://letsbreaktheodds.com/interview-marlene-maina-pursuing-dreams

Today’s guest shares how they broke the odds by turning pain into purpose and shares how you can break the odds, overcome, and live a life filled with JOY.   MEET MARLENE MAINA:   Marlene Maina is a Christian writer, Bible teacher and a personal growth and development speaker. She is the Chair and Founder of JosiahKids Incorporated, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to educate, empower and equip young students and TEENS in the local community in the areas of faith, leadership, community service and the arts.   Marlene’s academic background includes: a certificate in Medical Administration, a two-year training in Youth Ministry, a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Education, A Master of Divinity (MDiv), and a Master in Leadership, from Luther Rice College and Seminary in Lithonia, Georgia. Her professional journey has led her through a handful of fortune 500 companies, including The Coca-Cola Company where she worked for sixteen years supporting senior leaders, and one c-suite executive.   -   Episode Disclaimer:   On the show, our mission is to be a positive and encouraging environment to help our listeners break the odds in their lives. In today’s episode we will be discussing a heavier topic.   To ensure that this episode does not trigger any traumatic experiences for our listeners, we would like to provide the following trigger warning:   This episode involves conversations mentioning grief, pain, loss, parents separating, and the feeling of hopelessness. However, this episode also involves conversations about how to overcome, break the odds, find hope, and turn pain into a life filled with purpose and JOY.   This show does not claim to be a substitute for counseling or any other professional guidance—and encourages our listeners to reach out to a licensed professional if needed.   *visit blog post for resources   — LET’S CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lets.breaktheodds   LET’S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/break.theodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON CLUBHOUSE: “Break The Odds” Club   EPISODE NOTES/BLOG + CONNECT WITH MARLENE: https://letsbreaktheodds.com/interview-marlene-maina-finding-hope-joy

Have you ever felt different? I think we all can answer “yes” to that question at some point in our lives.    Regardless of your background, no two people are created the same which means each and every one of us have unique qualities and better yet…a unique purpose!   For today’s episode, we have Gynella Ngounou—award-winning fashion entrepreneur and Founder/CEO of Students Expressing Life through Fashion (SELF) back on the show for part 2 of her interview series! In part 1, Gynella talks about how to break the odds with entrepreneurship, how to find a mentor, and shares tips for winning business grants.    If you listen to Gynella’s bio, she mentions in the first sentence how she stutters. She has also branded herself as The Stuttering Sewist.   With this week being National Stuttering Awareness Week, we couldn’t think of a better time for you all to hear Gynella’s story of breaking the odds with stuttering, and her tips for how to walk confidently into your purpose—regardless if you stutter or not.   *If you haven’t listened to part 1, we encourage you to tune-in to that episode as well. If you have listened to part 1, we do a brief recap at the beginning of this episode, so you can fast-forward to 10:50 to hear new content from Gynella’s interview.   Press play to listen!   — LET’S CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lets.breaktheodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/break.theodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON CLUBHOUSE: “Break The Odds” Club   EPISODE NOTES & BLOG: https://letsbreaktheodds.com/interview-gynella-ngounou-overcoming-stuttering

Do you have a dream yet have had some setbacks towards making that dream a reality? Are you struggling with how to come up with the funds to take your dream to the next level? Are you longing for mentorship and guidance for pursuing your dream yet don’t know how to find a mentor?   Friend, you are in the right place because today’s guest not only broke the odds by becoming a fashion designer but she is also the founder + CEO of her own fashion design company, a mentor to aspiring fashion designers, and also a PRO at successfully receiving business grants and pitching her company in front of investors. On the show, she shares tips for how you can too! Press play to listen.   - Joining us today is Gynella Ngounou: (Gynella’s bio)   Gynella Ngounou is an award-winning fashion entrepreneur, who stutters. She developed a passion for fashion and design at a young age, and was admitted to study at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). However, due to financial constraints, she withdrew and became a self-taught designer struggling to find resources to fulfill her designer needs.   In 2018, she launched Students Expressing Life through Fashion (better known as SELF) to equip at-risk fashion designers and hobbyists with affordable, quality fashion education and sustainable careers. The company would go on to partner with Dillard’s, Quaint Revolt Media, and New York Fashion Week independent designers. Today, Students Expressing Life through Fashion is an award-winning Academy providing certificate programs, direct mentorship, industry placements, and business services in a resourceful sewing and tech incubator. With SELF looking to graduate its first class next Fall, Gynella is also excited to launch her eco-luxe women’s wear fashion label called NGOUNOU.   — LET’S CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lets.breaktheodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/break.theodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON CLUBHOUSE: “Break The Odds” Club   EPISODE NOTES & BLOG: https://letsbreaktheodds.com/interview-gynella-ngounou-fashion-design-plus-business-grant-tips

Have you heard of the trending app Clubhouse? During today’s episode Elease explains what Clubhouse is, her experience with it so far, and 10 tips for using it as a resource/tool to help you break the odds. Press play to listen.   *Please Note: This is not an endorsement nor sponsored post/episode by Clubhouse. As with all social media platforms you want to be careful. Episodes on Break The Odds do not serve as endorsements of any comments, opinions, actions, resources, and any other behavior by guests, individuals, and other parties. By using any third-party resources/platforms, you may be subject to their terms and conditions.   — LET’S CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lets.breaktheodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/break.theodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON CLUBHOUSE: “Break The Odds” Club   EPISODE NOTES & BLOG: https://letsbreaktheodds.com/what-is-clubhouse

Back on the show to close out our Establishing Fresh Vision Series is our special guest Gladys Dillard! Tune-in to hear an encouraging conversation about positive self-image! Press play listen.   Meet Gladys:   Gladys is a wife, mother, and community servant.   By trade, Gladys is a Pharmacist and has had experience working in hospitals and serving within the Cardiovascular Unit. With her medical background, Gladys served as the Vice President of Wisdom, Future & Hope, Inc.—a home health pediatric therapy company.   With over 20 years of organizational leadership, Gladys has mentored community leaders within the business, non-profit, and educational space to help them and their organizations break the odds.   In her free time, Gladys actively volunteers within her local community and leads an online international community dedicated to helping others fulfill their God-given purpose.   — LET’S CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lets.breaktheodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/break.theodds/   EPISODE NOTES & BLOG + CONNECT WITH GLADYS: https://letsbreaktheodds.com/interview-gladys-dillard-self-image

Today is a very special day! In a previous episode, Elease announced that she was in the process of hiring someone at The Student Navigator and today you get to meet this team member!   Meet Gladys Dillard:   Gladys is a wife, mother, and community servant.   By trade, Gladys is a Pharmacist and has had experience working in hospitals and serving within the Cardiovascular Unit. With her medical background, Gladys served as the Vice President of Wisdom, Future & Hope, Inc.—a home health pediatric therapy company.   With over 20 years of organizational leadership, Gladys has mentored community leaders within the business, non-profit, and educational space to help them and their organizations break the odds.   In her free time, Gladys actively volunteers within her local community and leads an online international community dedicated to helping others fulfill their God-given purpose.   Tune-in to meet Gladys, hear a special behind the scenes moment, and hear a message of encouragement as we continue with our Establishing Fresh Vision series! Press play listen.   — LET’S CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lets.breaktheodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/break.theodds/   EPISODE NOTES & BLOG + CONNECT WITH GLADYS: https://letsbreaktheodds.com/meet-gladys-dillard

Do you already having fresh vision, goals and dreams outlined, and is taking action to make your dreams a reality…yet still waiting for a breakthrough?   Whether you are waiting for a breakthrough to happen for yourself or for someone else in your life, we have an encouraging message for you! Press play to listen.   — LET’S CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lets.breaktheodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/break.theodds/   EPISODE NOTES & BLOG: https://letsbreaktheodds.com/get-ready

Happy Valentine’s Day! You are LOVED here at Break The Odds and we are grateful to have you as a part of our community. We have a special Valentine’s Day message for you! Press play to listen.   — LET’S CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lets.breaktheodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/break.theodds/   EPISODE NOTES & BLOG: https://letsbreaktheodds.com/valentines-day   - Elease’s Singleness Journey (Original Episode): https://letsbreaktheodds.com/elease-dillard-singleness-journey

Do you have a vision board? Does it need to be updated? Join Elease for part 2 of our “Establishing Fresh Vision” series as she explains what a vision board is, how to update/create one,  and why top leaders use it an effective tool towards establishing fresh vision. Press play to listen.   — LET’S CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lets.breaktheodds/   LET’S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/break.theodds/   EPISODE NOTES & BLOG: https://letsbreaktheodds.com/vision-board