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In this episode, Meg and Jill are joined by their first-ever guests, Kellie Hetler and Kara Hanes, founders of Hopelynd, a nonprofit rooted in disability advocacy through art and photography. What unfolds is not a conversation about charity or inspiration, but about dignity, presence, and what it means to use your gifts in service of others.

Kellie and Kara share the deeply personal origins of Hopelynd, born from their lived experiences as mothers and artists, and their vision to create spaces, systems, and education that make true inclusion possible. Together, they explore how fear of doing it “wrong” often keeps people from connection, and how willingness, humility, and repair matter more than perfect language.

This episode is an invitation to rethink accessibility, visibility, and belonging, and to consider how ripple-effect change begins when someone is willing to go first, even while still learning.

We explore:

• Creativity as an act of service rather than transaction

• What disability inclusion actually looks like in practice, not theory

• Why fear of making mistakes often causes more harm than mistakes themselves

• The importance of accessible, sensory-aware spaces

• How children model inclusion when adults allow curiosity instead of silence

• Language, intention, and the permission to learn in real time

• Building something meant to outlive its founders

• The quiet courage required to advocate publicly before you feel “ready”

About our guests:

Kellie Hetler and Kara Hanes are internationally traveling photographers and the founders of Hopelynd, a nonprofit organization advocating for disability inclusion through art, photography, education, and community spaces. Their work centers dignity, accessibility, and creating environments where all people are seen, valued, and welcomed.

Upcoming Event:

Hopelynd’s Intrinsic Art Show

📅 March 27

📍 Venue3Two, Grand Rapids

An inclusive art and community event celebrating disabled artists, featuring a sensory-aware environment, live music, and an online art auction.

Links to tickets, the auction, and ways to support Hopelynd are available in the show notes.

Connect with Kellie & Kara at Hopelynd

1. www.hopelynd.com
2. IG: @hopelyndofficial
3. TikTok: @hopelynd
4. FB: @hopelynd
5. LI: @hopelynd
6. 
   

Attend their 2nd event, Intrinsic by Hopelynd on March 27th 7-9pm at Venue32

1. Earlybird tickets $10
2. Online Art Auction starts the day before
3. Here is the link for the online auction:
4. https://givebutter.com/c/xSIzmO/auction
5. Here is our general donation link:

Please Follow Us on Instagram: instagram.com/rootedandrehumanizing

In this episode, Jillian and Meg explore the subtle and often invisible ways we edit ourselves to feel safe, accepted, or seen, and the emotional, relational, and energetic cost of doing so.

What begins as Jillian sharing a deeply personal realization unfolds into a conversation about belonging versus fitting in, nervous system safety, code switching, and how our earliest experiences shape the way we show up in the world. Together, they reflect on childhood conditioning, family dynamics, politics, and leadership, and how learning to belong to yourself changes everything.

This episode invites listeners to consider where they may be compromising who they are, not because the world asked them to, but because it once felt safer to do so.

We explore:

• What we compromise in ourselves to feel safe being seen

• The difference between fitting in and true belonging

• How code switching signals nervous system unsafety

• Why belonging starts with self exploration and self trust

• Parenting, modeling authenticity, and nervous system safety in children

• Why bridging divides often requires standing alone

• How love and self belonging create steadiness in a divided world

Journaling prompts from this episode:

• Who am I, really?

• Do I love myself as I am today?

• Where do I feel safest being fully me?

• Where might I gently stretch my sense of safety without true risk?

Brene Brown Quotes:

1. On Fitting In vs. Belonging: "Fitting in is one of the greatest barriers to belonging. Fitting in is about assessing a situation and becoming who you need to be in order to be accepted. Belonging, on the other hand, doesn't require us to change who we are; it requires us to be who we are".
2. The Core Definition: "True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness".
3. “People are hard to hate close up, move in”

We Would Love to Connect With You

Your reflections, questions, and lived experiences mean so much to us.

If this episode resonates, please share it, leave a review, or reach out.

Connect with Jillian

Website: https://trellissuite.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-pezet-trellis/

Email: jillianp@trellissuite.com

Connect with Meg

Website: www.profoundwellness.net

Email: meg@profoundwellness.net

Facebook: facebook.com/megan.fikse

Instagram: instagram.com/m.laidlaw

Meg’s Offerings

1. Heart Math BioFeedback Device: