The Disruption podcast is focused on creating big, bold change - through the disruption of systems that cause harm to others and the institutions that support those systems and through disruption in your own personal life leading you to find pathways to your own purpose, freedom, and power to be fully you. We believe that disruption in these spaces activates transformational impact across society. We are Tracey Breeden and Michelle Pelton, the host and co-host of the Disruption podcast. We are queer activists, passionate about driving change, who will share our personal stories of disruption with you and lead you through discussions with fellow disruptors, including other activists and advocates, leaders on the inside and outside of organizations, and notable friends and influencers - all with the hope to inspire and activate you towards the big, bold change that you want to see in yourself and in the world. We will dig deep into those personal stories and into pressing topics like creating safe spaces and belonging, advocating for social change through activism in the most difficult places, personal elevation and radical leadership through living authentically, and sex positivity. We’ll even talk about closing the orgasm gap! It can get pretty serious, but we’ll also love, laugh and weave lightness into our time together. The truth is disruption of self and the systems that surround us is not easy, and often requires us to lay down our safety. It all begins with giving ourselves permission to take that first step into personal truth and power. Look around and know you are not alone. We are people from all walks of life on that journey with you. Get ready to disrupt! To find out more about Tracey and the passion and purpose behind the disruption message, check out traceybreeden.com. In the Contacts section, you can send us a note telling us about your own disruption story. Who knows … you may be our next influential guest!
Ep 24 Part 1. Disrupting Parenthood: A Lesbian Couple's Journey to Starting a Family
Join us for a heartfelt podcast episode that delves into the profound importance of visibility, community, and the extraordinary journey of two couples – our hosts, Michelle and Tracey, and their friends and powerhouse couple, Claudine and Kelly – as they navigate the intricate landscape of LGBTQ+ advocacy and family building. In this episode, Michelle and Tracey talk with Claudine and Kelly about: -The importance of visibility and community - The story of how Michelle and Tracey met Claudine and Kelly - How Kelly and Claudine met 15 years ago - Claudines experiences with advocacy and how Kelly supported her - Claudine and Kelly’s experience with reciprocal IVF - The legal battle to attain equal parental rights of their children Come back next week for Part 2 of this conversation with Claudine and Kelly where we will dive even deeper into their experience building a family! Connect with Michelle and Tracey: Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
1/23/2024 • 48 minutes, 7 seconds
23. Disrupting the Family "Norm": Our Journey Navigating a Blended Family as Two Moms
The transition into a blended family is never seamless, and our hosts Tracey and Michelle share their firsthand experiences of what this journey has been like for them. In this insightful podcast episode, we delve into the dynamics of blended families with a focus on the unique journey of Tracey and Michelle as two moms amidst the concept of disruption. Join us as we explore what disruption means in the context of a blended family and how it shapes the unique journey of each member involved. In this episode, Michelle and Tracey talk about: What disruption means in the context of a blended family How some of Tracey's personal family experiences shaped and prepared her for a blended family What the transition has been like for them How Tracey and Michelle have both remained in their authenticity through this process How Tracey is figuring out what her role as a step parent is Tune in for a compelling dialogue that goes beyond the surface, offering a deep dive into the disruption, authenticity, and growth within the tapestry of blended families. Connect with Michelle and Tracey: Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
1/16/2024 • 44 minutes, 27 seconds
22. 2023 Year in Review: Disruption Stories from 2023
In this reflective episode, Tracey and Michelle lead us through a whirlwind of disruptions that defined 2023. With a touch of nostalgia, they revisit their favorite episodes from the past year, each narrative a testament to diverse perspectives and impactful conversations. But it wasn't just them—listeners chose disruption too, challenging norms and reshaping the discourse. As they reflect, Tracey and Michelle distill lessons from resilience to embracing change, setting the stage for a hopeful and powerful 2024! In this episode Tracey and Michelle talk about: Their favorite episodes from 2023 How listeners disrupted in 2023 How Michelle disrupted in 2023 by stepping into her identity as an artist How Tracey disrupted in 2023 by writing a book and coaching fourth grade basketball How they’ve disrupted together over the last year And what lessons they learned in 2023 What they hope 2024 will look like Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend. Connect with Tracey and Michelle: Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
In this powerful podcast episode, we unravel Ally's complex journey, whose experiences traverse the turbulent landscape of workplace sexual harassment and systemic challenges like forced arbitration. From her former law firm's involvement in Harvey's defense during the #MeToo movement to her internship on the Hill, where she faced sexual assault, Ally's story is one of resilience and advocacy because she turned those challenges into a way to advocate for other victims as well! Ally is the founder and CEO of the Purple Method, an organization she launched to address workplace harassment in the wake of the #MeToo movement. She is also a law professor at the City University of New York School of Law, teaching administrative law and federal courts. In this episode, we talk about: How Ally bravely shared her story with The Washington Post and sparked legislative changes in Congress The transformative impact of Ally's journey as it led her to work with the Purple Method What is the core mission of the Purple Method and the tangible effects of their advocacy What is forced arbitration and how we are all impacted The detrimental implications of forced arbitration and particularly its disproportionate impact on women and marginalized groups Solutions around forced arbitration and actionable steps individuals can take to combat this pervasive issue Both Tracey and Michelle personally care deeply about advocacy around forced arbitration and have included additional resources for you to join the fight and take action: - Lift Our Voices - The National Women’s Law Center - Use the hashtags #forcedarbitration #workplacefairness Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend. Connect with Michelle and Tracey: The Purple Method Website Ally Coll LinkedIn Ally Coll Instagram Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
12/26/2023 • 1 hour, 23 minutes, 18 seconds
20. Disrupting Charitable Altruism: Why Giving One Percent Matters with Mindy Gibbins-Klein
In this compelling podcast episode, we unravel the profound impact of empathy in Mindy's work, exploring how this essential quality has shaped her decisions and initiatives. Mindy Gibbins-Klein is an international speaker and coach who teaches people to be thought leaders and, more importantly, thoughtful leaders. The former head of a notable UK publishing company, Mindy has authored and co-authored 14 books, and her clients have written and published over 1000 books. A native New Yorker, Mindy splits her time between New York and the UK, running The Book Midwife® book coaching brand and The Thoughtful Leader consultancy business. Over the past 25 years, she has presented to and coached over 50,000 business executives and entrepreneurs in 18 countries. Her content has been licensed and syndicated across the globe and her TEDx talk “Sometimes You Need to Change Yourself to Be Yourself” has nearly one million views! In this episode, Tracey, Michelle, and Mindy talk about: - The role empathy plays in Mindy's work - Why working with authors of historically marginalized groups was and is important to Mindy - The steps Mindy took to take action on amplifying marginalized group's voices - The story behind her new initiative, "Giving 1%" - What Giving 1% is and how it works - How to start examining your finances to give 1% - Why giving your 1% is important - Why charities need our money to help create change Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend. Connect with Tracey, Michelle, and Mindy: Mindy Website Giving 1% Website Mindy LinkedIn Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
12/12/2023 • 46 minutes, 32 seconds
Ep 19 Part 2: Disrupting Your Assumptions About Witches: Using Witchcraft to Facilitate Authenticity with Suzanne Elise Stewart
Welcome back to the second part of Suzanne's captivating journey on The Disruption Podcast. In this episode, we further explore the profound experiences that have shaped Suzanne's path in witchcraft and self-discovery. In this illuminating continuation, Suzanne's story unfolds, offering listeners a profound glimpse into the transformative power of self-discovery, nature's wisdom, and the boundless potential found in embracing the unknown. Tune in as we embark on the next chapter of Suzanne's extraordinary journey, filled with wisdom, inspiration, and the magic of personal growth. In this episode, Tracey, Michelle, and Suzanne talk about: The car accident that changed everything for Suzanne How Suzanne has incorporated different teachings and learnings into crafting her form of witchcraft What Suzanne has learned from leaning into what makes her uncomfortable Suzanne’s favorite things about being a witch Suzanne's journey when leaving Arizona and how being in nature in Washington reignited her creativity Suzanne's experience navigating family relationships with those who aren't supportive of her life choices and what we can all learn from her experience Check out part two of our conversation with Suzanne to further understand her journey into witchcraft. Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, we'd be so appreciative if you'd leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend. Connect with Michelle, Tracey, and Suzanne on Socials: Suzanne Instagram Suzanne Facebook Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
11/28/2023 • 43 minutes, 8 seconds
19. Disrupting Your Assumptions About Witches: An Exploration of Elemental Witchcraft with Suzanne Elise Stewart
In this illuminating podcast episode, we delve into the mystical realms of Elemental Witchcraft with Suzanne Elise Stewart, unraveling the essence of the practice and exploring the profound connection witches share with the earth and its cycles. Suzanne is an artist, tarot reader, healer, and psychic medium. She has called Arizona home for 53 years, minus the 6 years she resided in Portland, Oregon. Suzanne had an out-of-body experience during a car accident when she was 14 years old that led her to explore the paranormal, her psychic abilities, astral projection and travel, and different healing modalities such as reiki, hypnosis, and meditation. Through her travels and exploring the West Coast, she realized her deep connection to nature and its importance to her wellness. When she made her way back to Arizona in 2016, she was introduced to a community of healers, witches, psychics, and artists through her new and old friendships. This is when she realized she had been a witch as long as she could remember, but she never knew it had a name. She is a student of many local spiritual teachers in Phoenix, AZ, and enjoyed connecting with communities with different belief systems and spiritual practices. She studied tarot and has been reading cards professionally for over 20 years. Suzanne is still in Phoenix, living with family and she reads tarot cards for clients when she isn't at her day job. She is hoping to find more time to create another body of artwork shortly. Meteor showers, live concerts, art shows, and connecting with people are some of her favorite things. In this episode, Michelle, Tracey, and Suzanne talk about: - The practice of Elemental Witchcraft - Solitary witchcraft versus coven work and hierarchy - How witches are connected to the earth and its cycles - Debunking many misconceptions about witchcraft and witches - The history of witches … some of which seems to repeat itself even today Check out this week's episode to get to know what it truly means to be a witch! Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, we'd appreciate if you'd leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend. Connect with Michelle, Tracey, and Suzanne on Socials: Suzanne Instagram Suzanne Facebook Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
11/14/2023 • 40 minutes, 57 seconds
18. Disrupting Your Limiting Beliefs: A Guide to Manifesting Your Dream Life
Welcome back to another enlightening episode of The Disruption Podcast! Today, we're diving deep into the world of manifestation. We take this episode as an opportunity to discuss everything from what manifestation is to our personal experiences and tips for manifesting your dreams! In this episode, we talk about: How we define manifestation Our personal approach to manifestation The 4 steps we use to manifest our dreams and how they work The benefits of practicing gratitude daily The power of trusting the universe Tips and tricks for manifesting your dreams Listening to your intuition Thank you for joining us on this insightful journey into the world of manifestation. We hope you gain valuable insights and practical tips to apply in your own life. Don't forget to subscribe and share this podcast with your friends on their own mindful journey. Stay tuned for our next episode, where we'll continue exploring ways to live a more intentional and fulfilling life. Connect with Michelle and Tracey: Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
10/31/2023 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 37 seconds
Ep 13 Part 1: The First Disruptors: The Generation That Ignited Movement
In this episode of "The Disruption Podcast," hosts Michelle and Tracey sit down with two remarkable guests, Carolyn and Kathay, to delve into what it was like to be part of their generation of pioneering change. Join us as we discuss their disruptive journeys, the evolution of human rights, women's rights then and now, and the power of community. Carolyn Blair Brandis is 77 years young, born in 1945. She graduated from college in 1968 when the world was transforming as anyone knew it. She taught school for 42 years, with a focus on kindergarten-age kids for a large part of her career. She started her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in Ono, California. Carolyn now lives in Napa, California, and has been a fixture of the Napa community for over 50 years. While raising two wonderful kids, she embarked on a second career in the hospitality and restaurant industry. Currently, Carolyn owns and runs Boogaloos in the Mission District and Prada 22 in the Haight, both in San Francisco, California. Kathay Smith is 71 years young, born in 1952. She was raised as a self-described air force brat and lived in Europe during her teen years. She will tell you that she lived in 23 different countries, states, and cities over the course of 18 years. She graduated from college in 1973 and began her first career in retail as a buyer for sporting goods stores. She and her husband moved to Napa in 1977 and raised their family of 3 girls. Kathay has also been in Napa for a significant part of her life - over 46 years. Kathay describes her and her husband as the first house flippers, having purchased, lived in, and updated 9 houses in Napa over the time she’s lived there. Kathay also had a career as a schoolteacher starting in the early 90s, teaching middle school PE and third and fourth grade over her more than 20-year career. A significant impact on her life has been her experience with health concerns regarding her family - her youngest daughter was diagnosed at 2 ½ with leukemia and is now the longest-living survivor of one of the first mismatched bone marrow transplants ever done. Kathay also spent several difficult years caring for her late husband through his experience with Parkinson’s. She now spends her time traveling the world and enjoying live music. Carolyn and Kathay share their perspectives on disruption, emphasizing how they challenged societal norms and pushed boundaries. They recount their personal experiences as disruptors throughout their lives, from activism to nurturing creativity as educators. In this episode, we chat about: - What Gen Z and younger generations can learn from the older generation's experiences. - Carolyn and Kathay highlight the resilience and the power of collective action - Why Boomers were the original disruptors, being deeply involved in civil rights, anti-war protests, and environmental activism during the '60s and '70s - The differences in human rights from the '70s to the present day - Kathay opens up about her personal journey protesting the Vietnam War - The challenges around uncovering the truth amidst misinformation - The parallels between the women's rights movements of the '60s and '70s and the current state of women's rights Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, we'd be so appreciative if you'd leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend. Connect with Tracey and Michelle: Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube
8/8/2023 • 43 minutes, 52 seconds
Ep 12 Part 3: Disrupting Your Trans Understanding: Trans 101 with TNET
Disruptors, we have come to the last episode in our three-part series with Stacy and Charlie. In the first two episodes of this series, we covered both Stacy's and Charlie's personal disruption stories, and in this last part, we have both lovely humans together! In this episode, both founders of TNET give us a crash course in the trans experience. TNET (Transgender/Nonbinary Education & Trainings) is an education-focused agency owned, founded, and staffed by trans educators Stacy Fatemi (they/them) and Charlie Alexander (they/them). TNET offers trainings, workshops, and print materials designed to help all people understand and interact with trans and nonbinary people more compassionately and effectively. In this episode, we talk about: - TNET + TNET’s origin story - A history of transness - Defining the Big 4: Sex, Gender, Gender Expression, and Sexual Orientation - Breaking down gender stereotypes and norms - Teaching children about gender - Defining transgender, cisgender, and nonbinary - Pronouns and how to use them - 3 things to do when you mess up someone's pronouns - Techniques to practice using proper pronouns - What transitioning means - And so much more! Check out this week's episode to learn the ins and outs of what it means to be trans. Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, we'd be so appreciative if you'd leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend. Connect with Tracey, Michelle, Stacy and Charlie: TNET Website TNET Instagram Tracey Instagram Tracey LinkedIn Michelle Instagram Michelle LinkedIn The Disruption Podcast TikTok The Disruption Podcast Youtube Sexual Education Resources
