PODCAST · society
And Then Suddenly
by Angela Santillo
Join writer Angela Santillo as she asks one question: What's a moment that turned your life upside down? Never knowing what her guests will say, the conversation takes twists and turns that go beyond our ordinary stories about big life moments. Impromptu, funny, and always honest, this show explores what really happens after everything changes in an instant.
Episodes
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74: Brenden Kumarasamy on competition and communication
When Brenden Kumarasamy was 19, his life goal was to get a lucrative corporate job. When he learned about case competitions, which provided the opportunity to present to business executives, everything shifted. We talk about competition culture and how the experience led him to become an expert...
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73: Maynard Okereke on finding his lane
Maynard Okereke was keeping his artistic pursuits away from his engineering job when one day he went into work and found his colleagues listening to his music. That moment sparked his pivot into entertainment and eventually led him to create the Hip Hop Science Show. We get into all things…
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72: Kate White on seriously listening to her body
In 2016, Kate White was having a lot of pain but at the time she didn't think it was a lot. What happened a few months later made her realize she needed to take her pain seriously and that's when everything shifted. In the presence of her purring cat Penny, we talk about women's health, women's...
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71: Leilani De Nieva on everything supernatural in Pittsburg
In July 2016, Leilani was celebrating her sister's wedding in Pittsburg when she saw God- as in the actor who plays "God" in the television show Supernatural. A superfan of the show, running into the cast leaving a Supernatural convention ended up being an important sign. We talk family…
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70: Kwazar Martin on his grandmother and art
Growing up in a rough area in Indianapolis, Kwazar Martin's grandmother kept him focused. But after she passed, he strayed from what she taught him. We talk about his journey from prison to art, life and light, and the never ending energy of his grandmother.
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69: Brandon Saiz on getting validation
On episode 36, Brandon Saiz shared a moment about achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He's back to share a new moment that has altered his outlook and how he views his time in the Coast Guard: a recent diagnosis of ADHD. We talk about changing perspectives, new understandings, and finally...
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68: Lorna Rose on her unexpected pregnancy
After genetic testing early in her second pregnancy, Lorna Rose learned her baby screened positive for a serious genetic disorder. When told she didn't have to carry the baby, Lorna's reaction to that statement changed her outlook and beliefs. We talk about guilt, high risk pregnancy, and the...
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67: Jaimie Sherling on getting a late night message
One Friday night, Jaimie Sherling was in bed when she got an Instagram message from a stranger that changed her marriage and home. We talk about all the brutal and beautiful aspects of her moment, from her battle with cancer to her journey becoming a drag queen aficionado.
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66: Marinke van Riet on leading and belonging
Seeing the phrase "nothing about us without us" in action made Marinke van Riet question her actions as a person and as a leader. We talk about her subsequent resignation as director of Voice, why representation matters, the future of international development, and what it means to belong.
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65: Big D on being a biker who empowers the abused
As a Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.) volunteer, Big D was working with a child and realized he was where he belonged when he saw the light come back to her eyes. We talk about epiphanies, giving back to the community, and what bikers at B.A.C.A. to help empower abused children.
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64: Melissa Panszi Riebe on the dinner that launched a business
Melissa Panszi Riebe was at a crossroads in her career when she shared her jewelry making dreams with an acquaintance over dinner. The conversation that followed inspired her to launch A D'Zine. We talk about her transition from social worker to maker, the power of jewelry, and running a small...
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63: Susan Myhr Fritz on that time in the Berkshires
Susan was a high school junior in Great Falls, Montana when she was accepted into a vocal performance program at Tanglewood in Massachusetts. Being in a new place with fellow creatives changed what she thought was possible. We talk about broadening horizons, the road to writing, and why a teenage...
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62: Welcome to Season Three, let's chat shall we?
Welcome to Season Three! It's been a while since I've released an episode and there's a reason for that. So let's catch up and kick off the season with where I've been. It's a story about mental health, long recoveries, and a bit about my audio destroying cat.
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Season Two: Ending with a thank you
Thirty episodes with guests from around the country and the world, Season Two has been quite the ride. A quick look back at the unexpected moments and a big thank you to the people who shared their stories, the listeners who tuned in, and to the incredible leadership at Voice for partnering with...
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60: Elizabeth Howard Phillips & Kenneth Phillips on their bright light
After learning the fifth round of IVF didn't work out, Elizabeth Howard Phillips realized she couldn't keep putting her body through treatments. Less than two years later, Kenneth Phillips found himself nervously driving Elizabeth and their adopted baby away from the hospital. From their hotel…
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59: Ashley Lauren Rogers on taking a stand
Ashley Lauren Rogers was working in the steampunk scene when she learned a friend and colleague was accused of nonconsensual relations with someone else in the community. Seeing how willing people were able to dismiss the claims, her decision to immediately step away from the scene changed...
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58: Katherine Cooper on the slow burn of 2020
From her grandfather's passing on January 2nd to a friend's death in February to a global pandemic in March, the year 2020 has been a slow moving fire for Katherine Cooper. We talk about how she is navigating this collection of sudden moments during an unprecedented time and what it means to…
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57: Jad Mahmoud Halabi on his Dad's advice
On May 23, 2015, scientist Jad Mahmoud Halabi was at a mall when he learned his Dad passed away. As his constant support system, his Dad taught him to embrace failure, see the world, and take advantage of every opportunity. Something switched after his passing and Jad decided to live this advice....
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56: Paola Irun on turning points
When theater artist Paola Irun's father became ill, she made the choice to end her visa, her time in New York City, and return home to Paraguay. His eventual passing changed everything and sent Paola on a journey to find that "something" that had always been missing. We talk about how grief led…
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55: Carmel Fauci on meeting her second husband
Carmel Fauci was working in insurance when she met her second husband. He was a charismatic, brilliant underwriter and she learned he was a violent alcoholic right before the wedding. We talk about their relationship, her experience with men as a successful businesswoman, and what happened when…
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54: Jennifer Tan on the journey to Shine
Jennifer Tan was working a demanding job at a management consultancy firm when she had the idea to create a business empowerment program for women. Through a series of events her idea developed into a financial literacy program for domestic abuse survivors. Now the Founder of the Shine…
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53: Jack Ridl on the most important word in the world
Jack Ridl was walking with his 7-year-old daughter when she said "with" was the most important word because people always have to be with something, someone, or themselves. When she added that it meant everyone has to makes sure they have a good "with," Jack's perception of the world changed. We...
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52: Stacy Walsh on finding the good
In May 2017, Stacy Walsh (& then write podcast) was home sick on the couch when her Dad called to say her Mom felt like her legs weren't working in the shower. Later that day her Mom was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor and things rapidly changed. We talk about how her Mom became a...
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51: Hellen Beyioku-Alase on using her voice to help Deaf women in Nigeria
As a Deaf woman in Nigeria, Hellen Beyioku-Alase heard stories about the discrimination in hospitals towards the Deaf community but it wasn't until her first pregnancy that she experienced how bad the problem was. After being ignored in the waiting room and a difficult birth, she decided to...
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50: Neema Tembele of Tanzania on her unexpected wake up call
Neema Tembele was bartending when she had her first panic attack. The painful physical sensations went away once she got to the hospital but the event set her on a new path. Now the Co-Founder and Data Analytics Director TEWWY, we talk about the challenges and unexpected benefits of her moment…
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49: Bwiite Lydia on fighting for justice in Uganda
When Bwiite Lydia was a young girl, she witnessed her widowed grandmother have her land taken by a family member. The event sparked her desire to support people facing injustice, especially women. Now a human rights lawyer, we talk about what it takes to fight for her clients and her current role...
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48: Maureen Ava Mata on finding power in disability in the Philippines
This episode is part of a special series: And Then Suddenly; Rising Voice(s) Maureen Ava Mata was eighteen when she was diagnosed with bone cancer and had to have her leg amputated. Her new life as a disabled woman changed her outlook, her family, and the views of her community. Now a cancer...
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47: Anna Xwexx Morena on asylum and being a Ugandan transgender activist
This episode is part of a special series: And Then Suddenly; Rising Voice(s) About four years ago, Anna Xwexx Morena sought asylum in Denmark for her safety and the chance to freely express herself. But the experience was not what she expected and feeling unsafe and used as a transgender woman…
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46: Mohamed Magassa on representing
Mohamed Magassa was in 7th grade when he got a STEM magazine that showed a picture of a white surgeon. Without a second thought, he closed the page. Years later, when he was considering a career in medicine, he thought back to that moment. Now studying to be a surgeon, we talk about why...
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45: Amelia Kent on talking about the hard road
At twenty-three weeks, Amelia Kent had a miscarriage and she was faced with an experience and grief people don't know how to talk about. Wanting to bring a common experience into the open, she shares how the event impacted her relationships, her farm, and why it's important in today's economy to…
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44: Nancy Allen on falling in love with spiritual psychology
Nancy Allen was the mother of two small children attending a talk at the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture when out of nowhere she fell in love with Robert Sardello and spiritual psychology. A study of the soul, perception, and presence, she went on to become a student and teacher of…
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43: Derek on leaving the friend zone
Derek was at church in his small hometown in Virginia when a girl he'd never seen walked through the door. Thinking she was the one, they stayed friends for a year and a half until one New Years Eve kiss. We talk about how two people from different worlds connected, how their relationship…
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42: Mike Wanjeng'u of Kenya on the words of his father
This episode is part of a special series: And Then Suddenly; Rising Voice(s) Years into his addiction, Mike Wanjeng'u was having an argument with his parents when his father said something that cut him to the core. Months later, he went rehab and is now three years sober. We talk about his…
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41: Ou Vanda & Rizal Balatbat on helping older people in Cambodia and the Philippines
This episode is part of a special series: And Then Suddenly; Rising Voice(s) In celebration of International Day of Older Persons, I talk with two guests who are using their retirement to help fellow senior citizens. After a career working in Cambodian hospitals, Ou Vanda was painfully aware of…
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40: Olivia LaBarre on intuition and an unexpected business
When Olivia LaBarre started doing Reiki, things began to change. Wanting to get control of new feelings and visions, she enrolled herself in a psychic development class. But when she complained about her misbehaving dog Milo and her teacher told her she could talk to him, things really shifted.…
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39: Mary Jo McConnell on finding her voice
In October 2014, Mary Jo McConnell was walking across the street when she was hit by a car. After having surgery on her broken leg, she was left to navigate New York City on crutches and had to figure how to manage her professional acting career during her recovery. An army veteran and former...
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38: Anan Bouapha on becoming an LGBTI activist in Laos
This episode is part of a special series: And Then Suddenly; Rising Voice(s) When a friend invited Anan Bouapha to attend a HIV prevention volunteer workshop, he went because he thought it would be a social event. But the moment the training started, he was suddenly motivated to help his…
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37: Molika Gupta on rewriting her immigrant spouse story
Molika Gupta was preparing a presentation when her immigration attorney emailed to say her sponsored work visa application was not selected in the random lottery process. A career professional who came to the US on a spousal visa, suddenly not being able to work was a jarring reality. We talk…
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36: Brandon Saiz on becoming Chief Petty Officer
After sixteen years in the Coast Guard, on October 1, 2013 Brandon Saiz achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Hating the tradition of initiation, he decided not to go through the voluntary indoctrination process and was ostracized by other chiefs. We talk about the military's history of…
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35: Goldie Peacock on meeting the hottie walking down the stairs
On the night of their 30th birthday, Goldie Peacock was definitely not looking for love. They were at the Branded Saloon in Brooklyn, getting ready to perform an epic drag king number that transformed them from an English gentleman into a unicorn when a stranger appeared on the basement stairs.…
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34: Winston Shaw on the missed call that led to law
Winston Shaw was a freelance sound recordist filming on location in the Catskills. Spending days without reception, when he finally got service his cell exploded with texts about a job offer from HBO but because he had been unreachable, the position was already filled. Missing a rare creative...
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33: Kate Wallinga on being one in four million
In 2010, Kate Wallinga (Ignorance Was Bliss podcast) gave birth to her third child and didn't feel right. After being dismissed by her doctors, she learned she had a serious infection from being exposed to strep in the delivery room. Out of the four million women who give birth every year, only…
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32: Amanda Frankel on running for Congress
The morning after the 2016 election, Amanda Frankel was in her bathroom when she learned that Hillary Clinton lost. Feeling paralyzed, she decided to fight. For the first time, she felt her day-to-day life had to be part of a growing movement. We talk about her decision to run for Congress…
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31: Shoshana Swell on going to the moon
During a fashion show that included her space inspired designs, Shoshana Swell realized she could create things that could bring people to alternative universes. When the Cornell University senior heard that NASA cancelled the first all-women spacewalk due to a lack of appropriately sized...
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30: Brian Baker on fighting for love
When he was a student at West Point, Brian Baker had a mystical experience. During a sermon on Maundy Thursday, he found God. Experiencing an intense feeling of love, the moment began his journey into the priesthood. Now ordained as an Episcopal priest for almost 30 years, we talk about how...
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29: Season One- That's a wrap!
Twenty-eight episodes and so many topics later, Season One is complete! Listen to the highlights and if you want to be a guest on Season Two, submit your information here. Thanks so much for listening!
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28: Steven Pacheco on the bus ride to Boston
One week before our interview, Steven Pacheco was on a bus ride to Boston when the driver called the police on a young black passenger for being on his phone. While recording the event, Steven realized he was observing the policing of black and brown bodies in a new way. We talk about race…
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27: Uyen Trinh on stopping an autopilot life
Two years ago, Uyen Trinh was diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes and it forced her to reconsider her relationship with her body and every relationship in her life. As a refugee from Vietnam and growing up in foster care, she realized she had become the ultimate caregiver at the sacrifice of herself.…
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26: Paul Griffin on instant change
In 1993, Paul Griffin unexpectedly lost his father and instantly everything changed. While dealing with grief for the first time, he began to do the work that would later become his theater organization, The Possibility Project. We talk about fathers, love and loss, and what it takes to be wise....
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25: Julie Dombo on surviving
Julie Dombo was at an AT&T store in Derby, Kansas when she was shot during a robbery. That event on August 11, 2015 led to an extensive hospitalization and left Julie as a quadruple amputee. We talk about her totally changed life, the optimism needed to carry on, her mission to share her story…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join writer Angela Santillo as she asks one question: What's a moment that turned your life upside down? Never knowing what her guests will say, the conversation takes twists and turns that go beyond our ordinary stories about big life moments. Impromptu, funny, and always honest, this show explores what really happens after everything changes in an instant.
HOSTED BY
Angela Santillo
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does And Then Suddenly have?
And Then Suddenly currently has 74 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is And Then Suddenly about?
Join writer Angela Santillo as she asks one question: What's a moment that turned your life upside down? Never knowing what her guests will say, the conversation takes twists and turns that go beyond our ordinary stories about big life moments. Impromptu, funny, and always honest, this show...
How often does And Then Suddenly release new episodes?
And Then Suddenly has 74 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to And Then Suddenly?
You can listen to And Then Suddenly on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts And Then Suddenly?
And Then Suddenly is created and hosted by Angela Santillo.
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