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Ep 386: The Power of Telling Our Stories with Tonya McKenzie

Tonya McKenzie opens up about her journey as a gun violence survivor and author. Discover how her interest in podcasting was driven by a desire to create a safe haven for discussing challenging topics.

Tonya has encountered a community of individuals who have faced similar experiences. By listening to the stories of fellow survivors, she has gained profound insights into the diverse ways people navigate trauma and adversity.

Join us in this powerful conversation as we explore the therapeutic and educational value of sharing our experiences in order to heal and grow. Don't miss this episode, where personal stories become a source of strength and resilience.

Episode Highlight:

01:11 - You don't think people have gone through what you've gone through. I think everybody feels kind of isolated in their stuff until you start talking about it, and then other people that you're talking to will be like, "Oh yeah, well let me tell you what happened to me." So, it was mind-blowing to me because I thought the things that had happened to me were isolated to me. Well, why is that? Well, because we never talked about it, especially when things happen in Black families. We aren't supposed to talk about it. But I realized once I wrote this book, listen, you gonna have to talk about it. So, I started to talk, and that made others feel like they had a safe space to talk about some difficult things.

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About the Podcast

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About your host

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Elzie Flenard III

Elzie D. Flenard, III—Elzie The Entrepreneur is a purpose-driven mentor, visionary communicator, and faith-led creator on a mission to help others live in purpose, on purpose. Raised in the small town of Mounds, Illinois, Elzie’s journey from humble beginnings to entrepreneurial leadership is proof that your starting point doesn’t define your destiny.