The UpBeat, Powered by CoachArt

In this week’s episode of The UpBeat Podcast powered by CoachArt, our Executive Director and host Greg sits down with actress Madison McLaughlin to discuss her family’s journey with an extremely rare chronic illness.At age 11, Madison made her way to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting, which led to roles on Chicago PD, Supernatural, and Arrow. Now 24, two of Madison’s three younger sisters have been diagnosed with HBSL (full name: hypomyelination with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and leg spasticity), which affects a person’s brain and spinal cord and impairs motor function.

In this week’s episode of The UpBeat Podcast powered by CoachArt, our Executive Director and host Greg is joined by Jenny Winter, a mother from San Diego who has a special perspective to share on a situation many people are experiencing all over the world.Social distancing and quarantining have been a part of almost everyone’s life since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jenny and her son Caleb had a lengthy head start. Due to Caleb’s leukemia diagnosis a little over a year ago, he has been isolating at the hospital or home for the past 14 months, at times even unable to visit with his siblings.

In this week’s episode of The UpBeat Podcast powered by CoachArt, our Executive Director and host Greg is joined by Joel Rothman and Laura Schultz, longtime friends of CoachArt in Los Angeles.One of the most amazing aspects of our CoachArt families is their tireless willingness to give back and help others. We’re constantly inspired by the parents and children who have made the commitment to support similar families in need, even while they themselves undertake the difficult challenge of fighting chronic illness.

Dr. Theopia Jackson, chair of the clinical psychology degree program at Saybrook University in Pasadena, CA, has a long history of providing therapy services to families dealing with chronic illness and complex trauma.In our recent interview for The UpBeat Podcast, I was surprised when she told me that many of the coping mechanisms those families use for navigating the stresses of complicated health situations would also benefit all of us during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. 

In this week’s episode of The UpBeat Podcast powered by CoachArt, our Executive Directorand host Greg sits down for a chat with Alexa Chronister, the inspiring Founder and President ofFight Like A Warrior, a non-profit organization “working to unite, empower, and advocate forthose fighting life-altering health conditions around the world.”Alexa’s medical challenges started early in childhood, but went undiagnosed for years. Doctorsoriginally shrugged off her problems as “growing pains,” but by the time she got to high school,Alexa’s health challenges took her back for a diagnosis — and she was told by a physician thatthe pain was “in her head.”Her amazing parents taught her about self-advocacy and empowerment and finally after a longstruggle, Alexa was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder, andPostural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, a condition affecting the flow of blood through thebody.

In this week’s episode of The UpBeat Podcast powered by CoachArt, our Executive Director and host Greg is joined by Erik Rees, a former pastor at the world-renowned Saddleback Church in Orange County, an author, and the father of Jessie, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2011 at age 11.Immediately after her diagnosis, Jessie was inspired to help other kids at the hospital. She was concerned that kids hospitalized for long periods would be unhappy — and she wanted to change that.So Jessie began making “JoyJars” — plastic jars that she filled with toys and all sorts of things to cheer up a sick kid.

In this week’s episode of The UpBeat Podcast powered by CoachArt, our Executive Director and host Greg is joined by Kendell Hardy, a grandmother, HR resource professional, and last year’s CoachArt Bay Area volunteer of the year. Kendell has been a longtime friend of CoachArt, teaching many children sewing and cooking, two passions that she found at a very early age. She’s here to tell us how she got started, how much she enjoys volunteering with CoachArt students, and how giving your best to someone else helps bring out the best in you.

In this week’s episode of The UpBeat Podcast powered by CoachArt, our Executive Directorand host Greg has the chance to chat with Derek Hughes, a “stand-up magician” who performslive all across the country and has appeared on numerous TV shows, including America’s GotTalent (where he was a finalist on season 10). Derek was also a featured performer at our 2019CoachArt Gala of Champions.As a child, Derek was born prematurely with an atrial septal defect — a hole between twochambers of his heart. Derek shares the amazing story of how he overcame this challengingcondition and how his love of magic and performing helped him along the way. He alsodiscusses tips for how kids with chronic illnesses can find their passion and how his involvementwith the CoachArt Gala of Champions impacted his life and his work.