Debby Collings has experienced many ups and downs in her life from broken relationships to cancer to career changes; but, she has always managed to find her joy. Whenever she is feeling troubled or just bored, photography has been her outlet, She calls it shutter therapy, and I can attest to her incredible bird photos. Debbie jokes that she must have been a gypsy is a past life, which might explain why she has always had the urge to move around so much. She’s recently moved back to her hometown of Milwaukee to be closer to her family after realizing their support was crucial during her recovery from cancer.

Notes from podcast:

1. Debbie grew up as a corporate brat, moving around a lot; she’s still on the move, fiercely independent. She jokes around that she must have been a gypsy in a past life, which explains why she always has the urge to move.
2. As the only girl in her family, she had to do its her way if she wanted something done.
3. She often felt like college was a waste of time and frequently considered leaving, which she dd her senior year.
4. Debbie worked in broadcast sales and pharmaceutical sales but was fired after working one year for not having a degree.
5. She went back to college to famish her degree in art history and found that she really enjoyed it. Today, Debbie works for PetLink selling microchip service to animal shelters, non profits, and animal control.
6. Debbie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, during Covid and lockdown in Colorado. Her family and extended family were incredibly supportive, and she realized she needed to be closer to family, so moved back to Milwaukee.
7. She finds her joy thru photography; it’s her shutter therapy.
8. Glady, the cross eyed bear is a remarkable story of survival and defines Debbie’s life.
9. Today, Debbie is more comfortable with herself. No longer a people pleaser, she’s become more stubborn, set in her ways, and may be another reason Debbie says she’s still single.
10. What are her words for happiness? Talk to people, don’t sit on your feelings. Find an outlet. When you’re bored or unhappy, do something that brings you joy. For Debbie, this is photography.

To learn more about Jean and the Be Joyful podcast visit www.bejoyful.love.

For her next podcast, Jean decided to interview her husband Duncan Hill, and how they have navigated marriage, travel, communication, God and Africa. Duncan spent 17 years rescuing children in Uganda. It was after he heard from God that this became his mission. So with his own $$ and lots of donations and a lot of faith, that’s what he did. They recently traveled back after a 7 year hiatus to reunite with his kids. What a blessing and adventure. Jean is so proud of the work he’s done and continues to do.

Notes on podcast:

1. In 1981 Duncan became a Christian. He was a stock broker up until 1997 when he started a small retail business, then he heard from God in 2002 that he was suppose to go to Uganda. He paid attention to the signs. God told him to go!
2. His heart was completely broken by the Aids crisis in Uganda. In the summer of 2002, Duncan started the Uganda Orphans Fund.
3. Duncan built homes for Ugandan churches to house orphaned children. Some local Ugandan families donated land and he started Kasozi (Hill in their local language)Village with a school, dormitories, a chapel and staff quarters.
4. Kasozi Village housed 150 kids. The school had to do their due diligence when accepting applications.
5. Kasozi school was based on the British school system with its own elementary school up to P7. If the kids had the acumen to go on to senior levels, the school would fund their education. This was all done by donations.
6. In 2018 Kasozi Village was given to a Ugandan non-profit school. In exchange for the land, buildings, vehicles they promised to take care of the Kasozi kids.
7. In Jan/Feb 2025 Duncan and Jean went back to see his kids. It was like magic. It was a personally gratifying time but there were some kids who were languishing and needed help. Duncan is now supporting 30 kids with their school fees, requirements and needs, to keep them moving forward toward success and self-sufficiency.
8. Duncan is funding this with his own money, but as their needs get greater and the number of kids in need increases, he’ll need to ask for financial help. His plan is to create the Kasozi Fund for just this purpose. Stay tuned.
9. Duncan and Jean pay their own expenses. Every penny in donations will go to help the kids.
10. Duncan believes that you need God’s direction to make your calling a success.
11. Duncan and Jean met in college but didn’t say a word to each other. They met 45 years later on FB in 2002, and married two months later.
12. They work well because they communicate. They care how the other person feels and they work things through.
13. Keys to their success are communication, acceptance and laughter.

To learn more about Jean and the Be Joyful podcast visit www.bejoyful.love.

Channa Beth Butcher wrote her PHD dissertation on UNLEARNING THE COLONIAL NARRATIVE OF THE AFRICAN GIRL THROUGH HER STORIES OF THE LIFE EXPERIENCES OF ONE KENYAN GIRL. Channa Beth achieved this feat at the age of 77. She is an inspiration and a reminder that it’s never too late to achieve the unimaginable. This past spring she founded E3 Kenya which stands for Encourage, Engage, Empower. The non-profit's goal is to teach women how to be self-sustaining. In this podcast you’ll learn about her love of learning, her fearlessness/willingness to take on new academic challenges, her intense curiosity about another culture, and her total disregard of her age when taking on new roles/challenges.

Notes on podcast

1. I was an only child and only grandchild and always felt very loved and safe. From a young age I knew i’d go to college. This was reinforced by my parents and grandparents.
2. She describes her childhood as an idyllic upbringing and spent a lot of time w her grandparents who were huge book lovers; she attributes that to her love of reading and learning.
3. When I was in Mexico in the early 80s I felt chagrined that I couldn’t communicate w the women there and wanted to learn SpanishShe studied Spanish for 4 years and became certified to teach Spanish and history and taught.
4. Languages come very easily for me. I’d start out with a book and a CD. I have to know what I’m saying grammatically. Best to take a class to learn.
5. Learned Swahili in 2014. I saw an article about Africa and was there a few months later. Went to Tanzania and gorilla tract in Rwanda.
6. Her favorite movie is “The Nun Story” w Audrey Hepburn and set in Belgian Congo. I was enthralled with Africa. When I got off the plane I cried. Felt like I belonged.
7. Once the locals saw that I spoke Swahili, they really opened up. It was an inspiration to the whites who ran the camp where I stayed.
8. When you speak to a person in your language it goes to their head, when you speak in their language it goes to their heart. Nelson Mandela quote.
9. So much racism still exists in the tourist industry and in East Africa. That’s changing but colonialism is still present.
10. Colonialism is not taught in the schools. Nonprofits exploit the dark side of native girls. But there is another side to the story. Let’s look at the reality that girls are going to school and have their own aspirations and agency. This became the crux of my dissertation.
11. Primary education is free but secondary education has school fees. She has long seen the girls of Kenya portrayed as poor, desperate and in need of money, but soon learned they just needed encouragement and support. Her dissertation theme became desensitizing the myth around these women.
12. Her dissertation centered around interviewing a senior at Starehe, a girls school in Kenya about her experiences, She did 90 hours of interviews about her everyday life. My Kenyan girl started out wanting to be a doctor and switched to law. She’ll be entering law school this year.
13. She started a non-profit called E3 Kenya. Part of my impetus to get my PhD was so I could be taken more seriously. I wanted to be legitimate.
14. Teach the girls how to be self-sustaining for what they need. Teach the girls how to sew and make reusable menstrual pads.
15. It was the most joyful 3 days I’ve had in a long time. We only made 2 menstrual pads given the complexities of Africa. But we did it and will be going back. “Sisterherd Strong.”
16. What advice do you have for women considering a life change? Go for it. Take a leap of faith that you can do it. You’re never too old. It will make you happy. Believe that your dreams are possible.
17. My success comes from having supportive parents, grandparents and a supportive husband.

To learn more about Jean and the Be Joyful podcast visit www.bejoyful.love.