Mahara Wayman [00:00:05]:
Welcome to the art of badassery where I explore what it takes to live life on your own terms, break free from the status quo, and unleash your inner badass. Whether you're a rebel at heart or simply seeking inspiration to step outside your comfort zone, this podcast is for you. I'm your host Mahara Wayman and each week I dive into the stories, insights, and strategies of those who've mastered the art of badassery and are living life to the fullest. They smile when no one is lucky.
Mahara Wayman [00:00:41]:
Welcome to the art of badassery where we celebrate amazing stories of success and resilience. I'm your host, Mahara Wayman. And today, I have got a really incredible guest. She's originally from Indianapolis and now lives in Birmingham, Alabama. She is the CEO of Jenkin Public Health Consulting. Her company helps public health and health care agencies achieve health equity, focusing on chronic disease and injury prevention. She also mentors aspiring public health professionals, guiding them toward success. Her journey is really inspiring.
Mahara Wayman [00:01:15]:
She once dreamed of becoming a pediatric surgeon, but her passion for helping others led her to public health. When she's not working, she loves traveling, beach days, picnics, swimming, and barbecues. She is a gala from my own heart. Britney's gonna share her story, the challenges that she's faced, and, of course, her keys to living a bad life. Get ready to be inspired by her incredible journey on today's episode, the art badassery. Britney, welcome.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:01:43]:
Thank you for having me. I'm so excited to be here. I've been looking forward to this conversation.
Mahara Wayman [00:01:48]:
Thank you. So first of all, we you know, public health, I'm in Canada. You're in the states. It's a hot topic, and it feels like it's been a hot topic for years. We are absolutely looking for better service, better, you know, cheaper cheaper services, and it's it's a tough grind. What do you think is has been the biggest challenge that you face today in your world?
Brittaney Jenkins [00:02:14]:
In my world or the states, when it comes to health care and public health access, it's access. We are seeing a lot of people don't have the transportation or the money that they need to get to get the care that they need, even the jobs to then get the health care and then the transportation that they need. You know? So really focusing on the social determinants of health to identify what the needs are of those individuals within that specific community, because it changes by community even within the state. And so that's really been the biggest issue. And me as a health educator, really working with these organizations to talk to them about how can we identify the need from, like, the grassroots level versus, hey. This is the service that we provide and come to us versus the organizations, these even these hospitals going out in the community and tell them that that these resources are available and seeing how we can get them access to those resources.
Mahara Wayman [00:03:05]:
Yeah. I I hear you. Access is everything. I do wanna talk about this more, but I I I would miss if I didn't go back a little further. As a little girl, did you ever picture yourself knocking on doors going, Hey people, we gotta make a change in our healthcare. Hey, Hey, are you listening? I got something to tell you.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:03:25]:
No, I didn't. I did not. And, you know, with the brief introduction saying that I want to be a pediatric surgeon, that's where I really thought I was gonna be. I mean, all the way up until college, I I was so gung ho onto becoming a pediatric surgeon. When I went to college, I was very active, and I was making sure I was a part of these health care organizations, like the American Red Cross and volunteering in other areas of my life. But also I ended up working at a hospital where I realized that patients were there for preventable diseases and dying from things that were also preventable. And that really changed my mind. That changed that rocked my world.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:04:01]:
It it led me to try to find a degree path that I could achieve that was more so helping people, you know, on the other side of that, which is prevention. So I ended up changing my degree from healthcare or, you know, nursing to public health and have not looked back and have been working in prevention for about 10 years now. 3 of those years. So I've been in the industry for about 13 years, 3 of those years was healthcare, but the rest has been prevention and I have not looked back yet.
Mahara Wayman [00:04:28]:
So, so cool. As a, as, as a young girl, being a pediatric surgeon, what was it about that that appealed to you so much?
Brittaney Jenkins [00:04:39]:
Well, I had opportunities to job shadow the pastor's wife at my church who was a pediatrician, And there was just a lot of unique opportunities to see different patients of all ages and dealing with different challenges. There was babies who were adopted, who needed new, you know, hearts and things like that. So I knew that that's something that I wanted to work in to save these babies, because that was just all I saw. That's all I was, immersed in at a very young age. And people used to tell me like, why are you so dedicated to this at such a young age? I was like 13, 14, trying to be a part of this nursing program at the hospital. And they're like, ma'am, you're a little too young, but that's what I wanted to do because of how I was introduced to it. And just all the things that I saw around me that these these families needed help. So I definitely wanted to play a role in helping people in some capacity.
Mahara Wayman [00:05:30]:
So, so beautiful. It's not often that we have that we, as young women, that focus at such a young age. Yeah. No. So I really take my hats off to you. Out of curiosity, is this common in your family? Do you all I don't know how big a family your your come from, but is this common, this this determination and and and fight?
Brittaney Jenkins [00:05:52]:
I will say the determination is there for us all. I am my little my I have 5 sisters 4 sisters and 5 brothers. I have a big family, but only one other sister, is working in healthcare. So, you know, for the healthcare piece of it, it's only us 2. But yeah, the fight and the drive is all of us. I think it might be the family dynamic that caused that. We, you know, we had to fight over our food and fight over our toys. There were so many of us and just try to make it through the day in the in the best way possible, you know.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:06:23]:
But all you know, really too, we had to put ourselves through college, the ones who did go. And that was where that determination was built up in me to say, hey. If you wanna do this, you gotta make it through it and you have to figure it out. You can't make your past an excuse for where you are today. And so I had to make it happen. I was that college student who actually was able to get about 13 scholarships to support my college funds, but then that still was a lot of money left out for that I had to figure out on my own. So, yeah. Yeah.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:06:52]:
The determination started super young as well.
Mahara Wayman [00:06:57]:
I would be remiss if I didn't call out as this is the art of badassery. And often can play a very huge big part in feeling badass. But when you think about it, did do you think your determination came from being one of many and, as you said, having to fight for everything, or did it go a little bit deeper than that, all joking aside?
Brittaney Jenkins [00:07:19]:
Yeah. Yeah. You know, to be fully transparent, it did come from deeper than that because we were raised by our grandparents. Mom, dad, not around. And so the, the rule of determination was like, how do I make it out of here with good mental health? And though I really didn't understand what that meant at that young age, I knew that I wanted to stay happy and stay healthy and be, you know, successful. And that wasn't around me at all. And I don't see a lot of that in my, my circle of influence within my family. And so I knew I wanted to be outside of that and do everything I could so that one day I could get back to, you know, if my family needs things in any capacity, I could get back to that.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:07:59]:
So that's really where the determination came from, just the separation from my family and just knowing that there was a lot of struggle in that and I didn't want to struggle forever.
Mahara Wayman [00:08:09]:
Thank you for sharing that. Yeah. It's so powerful when we can, number 1, recognize that we are all 1. We Mhmm. One part of 1 community. And the other thing I wanna I wanna call out is it sounds like you recognize whether you realized it or not that you have a choice.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:08:28]:
Mhmm.
Mahara Wayman [00:08:28]:
Choicing everything.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:08:30]:
Yeah.
Mahara Wayman [00:08:31]:
I do think that's another component of being of being badass is when we recognize our worth, along with that comes the recognition that we have a choice Yeah. To that to everything we have.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:08:43]:
The good decision or the bad decision. And, you know, I have older siblings, so I was able to see their mistakes and say, hey, do you want that whoopin? Or do you want that punishment in whatever capacity he comes in? So I learned a lot, but I still had my troubles and I still had to choose which way I was gonna go and stay determined or make an excuse. Because there was too many times I could have used an excuse on why I didn't do something or chose not to do something because of my past excuse. And, I want to be better than that and still fighting that to this day, but how can I continue to be determined to know that, hey, it the excuses take you nowhere, only determination?
Mahara Wayman [00:09:22]:
Yeah. Such a good such a good call. Excuses, they take you're right. They take you out of nowhere. And in fact, some may argue that they take you further back. Right? Mhmm. Because it's not one step forward, one step back. It's one step forward and steps back depending on what you've actually chosen to do.
Mahara Wayman [00:09:40]:
What do you think is one of the biggest things that you learned about yourself as a young woman is when you changed your mind? Like, what did you I I I find it very interesting that you'd have the courage to go, wow. I think I'm gonna switch gears slightly. What did you learn about you during that time?
Brittaney Jenkins [00:09:56]:
I learned that I love people and from like the deep part, like, you know, empathetic versus sympathetic, even beyond that. Because I wanted to really save people's lives. Like I was like, okay, I might not wanna save their lives through surgery. They were becoming a surgeon like I thought, but I wanna make sure that people can live a long, healthy life. And how can I do that? So I knew that I wanted to serve people. I really do know that. And I can talk to anyone. I can walk up to anyone and not be nervous.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:10:23]:
I still have some stage fright now. I can't talk in front of like 500 people without stage fright, but I still love people. And for me, that is like a big trait that a lot of people don't have and that's okay. But I think that's what makes me unique because I don't mind talking to strangers to get them into these resources and programs that are available and to sparkle these conversations that catch their attention. Yeah. So that's that.
Mahara Wayman [00:10:47]:
You're not watching the video guys. I just wanna share with you that her face is absolutely lit up. It's like she put a little
Brittaney Jenkins [00:10:52]:
bit of
Mahara Wayman [00:10:52]:
color on her. So I can, I can see it in your face? The energy's just gone through the roof. Such a, such an, a fortunate thing because not everybody lives a life where they know their passion.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:11:05]:
Mhmm.
Mahara Wayman [00:11:06]:
I can take that space. I'm living my passion by doing what I do, and so it's really fun to talk to people. Yes. Time on the show that are living their passion. Is it what you thought it was going to be when you finally made the decision to move into public health and and you started to sort of formulate what you wanted that to look like? Is it what you thought it was gonna be?
Brittaney Jenkins [00:11:28]:
No. Not I wouldn't say not at all, but one thing that I didn't realize public health was that it was in all aspects of our lives. The places that we walk, you know, the air that we breathe, the food that we eat, the water that we drink, you know, the places that we go in. Like, public health is everywhere around us. And I didn't know there were so many areas of opportunity for me to work in, which I've been blessed to work in so many areas within public health, and that is not something I expected. And, you know, we talked about, briefly the people that I mentor who are pursuing public health as a career, they don't even realize how big public health is and how so many opportunities can bleed into your passion, your unique passion. So that was such an eye opening, moment for me when I was, working for a health department and was so blessed to work in many different areas within the health department that really has stuck with me for forever and has helped me to see how I can, you know, support agencies in different ways within, health care and public health as well.
Mahara Wayman [00:12:29]:
So I can't help but wonder and, of course, I do live in Canada, but, you know, we're Yeah. I can't help but wonder, though, if these different agencies view themselves that way, or if that's part of the education that you bring to the world that, hey, environmental environmental scientist. It's great that you're figuring this out, but did you realize that you're a part of what I do?
Brittaney Jenkins [00:12:53]:
Yeah. Yeah. And I think it just depends on, like, are they at the local, state, or federal level of, you know, environmental health? Because the language does change a little bit. So, like, public health like, environmental health at a public health department, like, they understand they are a part of this public health industry. But I think at a federal level or a huge, you know, fortune 500 environmental health agency, I don't they might not consider themselves public health professionals, but it just it depends on what they're doing. Are they educating people about what's happening to our environment and things like that? Because then you really typically you are a public health, professional, but it just depends on the level that they are, the sector.
Mahara Wayman [00:13:34]:
Fair enough. Do you have you yourself have to adjust your language based on where you're at, who you're talking to, and what bridge you're trying to gap, or have you found a median
Brittaney Jenkins [00:13:45]:
I I have, noticed that I have to change my language, on if I'm talking to a nonprofit public health agency versus a for profit healthcare company, because that's a little different and they talk more business. Like, they really talk more like they're operating as a, you know, a full blown business. And even though nonprofits are businesses, they still don't talk in that language. Right. And we talk about patients and community based organizations and they say clients and, you know, agency and, you know, there's just a little bit different language. But what I've noticed because I work with pharmacists and physicians as clients that they appreciate that public health connection that we have because they don't speak in that language and they want to be more they want to speak more in that language because they're able to break down their language to talk to the community about what's happening with the pharmacies or with the healthcare agencies so that people can understand it and understand what services are available to them, which increases, you know, recruitment rates and participation rates.
Mahara Wayman [00:14:47]:
Language is so powerful, and we I talk about it a lot on this show. Not only the language, you know, our our first language that we speak, but Yeah. Sort of the the automatic slang, shall we say, that we often use to bring ourselves down. Mhmm. Internal voice. Right? I I may be educated and and use this these words when I'm pretending to be someone. They don't see me as this. Mhmm.
Mahara Wayman [00:15:16]:
Lousy about myself. You can bet that ain't those are the words I'm using. I'm using a different often, it's slang, and it's quite negative. Have you found for yourself that you succumb to some of these, these stories or narratives that really don't serve you as you go on your she'll get you guys. She's nodding. Yes.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:15:37]:
Yes. I'm sorry. I forgot to the podcast. I was like doing that so deeply. Yes. Imposter syndrome. Absolutely. And that's part of our public health mentorship program.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:15:46]:
But at the same time, I still struggle with that. Right? I teach people how to overcome imposter syndrome. It's self sabotage, but it hits you at every area of your life. It doesn't matter how successful you are, how whatever success means to you, it still hits me. And I recently have, I'm working with a health commissioner in a different state with 1 on 1, their private client, and I'm just like, wow. They chose me. I was feeling some type of way and thought it like, I'm this great. You know? And that's what we're talking about.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:16:14]:
Even if you say I'm really that great, that's kind of like putting yourself down. Like, why of course you are. Of course. That's why you're doing the work that you're doing. Right? And so how do we flip those words to build ourselves up? Because what we put into ourselves is what we're going to thrive on and survive on. So why would I put something negative inside of me? Right. That's what's gonna tear me down and eat me up and tire me out. So kids.
Mahara Wayman [00:16:39]:
I love that you're that you're chucking in about this because really, when we can just sort of take a breath and realize the things that we've said about ourselves Yeah. And the judgments that we hold on others. You know, I tell a story about my kid catching calling me out on on a judgment that I had about someone. And I didn't even realize that that's That's
Brittaney Jenkins [00:17:01]:
what I mean.
Mahara Wayman [00:17:01]:
I didn't even realize. And I I I'll tell you. I was so I was first of all, the first thing I felt was shock. Are they shocked? And they're like, yes, mom. You said I'm not.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:17:15]:
Say that.
Mahara Wayman [00:17:15]:
And I'm like, well, I didn't mean anything by it. I just I just and they caught they totally spanked me. And Yeah. Guys, this was only a few years ago. But it highlighted how insidious judgments Yes. Yes. The next thing I thought was, I'm so glad you're my children. I must have done a great job raising you because neither of you had an issue calling me out.
Mahara Wayman [00:17:37]:
Like and I wouldn't have. But it really you know, it sat with me for a while, this idea that, wow. How can I be how is it that I'm a life coach and I'm, you know, I'm so I I'm so together and I'm so articulate, and yet I still have so many crazy judgments that serve no purpose except to make me feel bad, badly?
Brittaney Jenkins [00:17:57]:
You wanna talk about that for a second? Because one of the things that I talk to health care and public health agencies about is biases and stereotypes. I'm not this, like, DEI coach, but this is part of the work that I do for us to build trust with communities. And we have over a there's over a 170 different biases that we have, and that's an unconscious and, conscious bias. Right? And a lot of the times we don't realize it. And in those simple things that we do and say that we think is normal to say because of whatever, that does affect how we build relationship or interfere with other people who could be offended by those things. So just know if we if there's over 170 biases, nearly everyone has a bias, whether they admit it or not, know that they do or not, we do. So how can we address those things privately, right, behind closed doors so that we can better serve those people that we're aiming to serve with, you know, even with our podcast. Right? So I love that you kind of mentioned that because it's super important to really identify your biases.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:18:54]:
One of them that I was, working with, the homeless shelter on was beauty bias. Right? Assuming that what someone looks like, how they show up is, oh, they're they're smart, they're intelligent, they got it together. You know, they don't need any resources. But one of the things in the Black community that I can share is that a lot of times we talk about we have to be in our best outfit, have our hair and our makeup together before going to a doctor's visit. So we're not, you know, stereotyped about what we can or cannot do for ourselves or our children. So that's a fear within the healthcare system of among different, you know, communities of people, but it's, it stems from a lot of that bias and stereotypes too.
Mahara Wayman [00:19:34]:
Can I just say that it breaks my heart that in 2024, we are still talking about this? I mean, it is just unacceptable that we have to behave like this. You know, this isn't a political podcast. I'm not going down that road.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:19:48]:
Absolutely not. I wanna
Mahara Wayman [00:19:49]:
acknowledge what you've just said and and just say that, you know what? I feel you. I I get it. I told you that I grew up. I'm Jamaican. I live in Canada. I immigrated here when I was 10. And, you know, I remember thinking, I have to dress like the white girl at
Brittaney Jenkins [00:20:07]:
the time
Mahara Wayman [00:20:08]:
of school. I gotta wear the bootlegger jean. Yeah. I gotta wear the you know, I can't I can't be wearing my hair in dreads and and, you know, talk like, nobody listens to reggae here. I gotta just my phone and listen to the Bee Gees. Of course, I love the Bee Gees, and I love writing. You know? That is that is the reality of growing up different looking different either than your neighbor or the entire, you know, community that you live in. But we're here to break that.
Mahara Wayman [00:20:37]:
We're here to do conversation that that really highlight that we are all 1, whether we look like a or b or c or d or not. So thank you. Thank you for sharing that. Yeah. Oh, gosh. Such a good where am I gonna take this conversation now? What do we have to go next? What's been the biggest challenge for you as a woman in your industry?
Brittaney Jenkins [00:20:59]:
A challenge for me as a woman in my industry. Honestly, I don't think as any outside factors, it's me. It's just keep going, even though it's challenging, it's confusing. You don't know everything, even though you're so intelligent, you're always learning every single day, something new or a new way to do something. So it's like that, that dedication, the consistency, that's the challenge. I'm also a mom, a wife. We live in different states from our family of friends. Like we're 100, thousands of miles from our family of friends.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:21:33]:
So, you know, you have, I have to stay determined if this is what I wanna do. I have to get up every day and be dedicated to that. And like, one of my tips is like, I have to get out here and network because if I'm not out here and network, I, that's a lot of where your business are gonna come from. And that's how you're going to see what's going on in your community and hear about what's going on in your community. Even though I have, I work with companies outside of my state, I still want to make sure that I'm, I'm providing resources to those who live in my state. So I'm everywhere all the time.
Mahara Wayman [00:22:04]:
You know what I what I think is so powerful about what you shared is some people may hear hear the term networking and think, oh, that's a business term. They've seen
Brittaney Jenkins [00:22:12]:
No.
Mahara Wayman [00:22:13]:
Networking is community. Whether it's business or not, whether you work at home as a stay at home mom, which believe me is work, or you work out in the community. I think one of the most important things that this is one of the things that I really struggled I didn't struggle, but I was it was important to me that my children understood this, was that they matter.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:22:35]:
Mhmm.
Mahara Wayman [00:22:36]:
And if they matter and they belong, so does everybody else. Absolutely. So growing up, just going out and talking to your neighbor, it's almost I almost feel like it's a forgotten heart. At least with a lot of the clients that I talk to, it is one of the things that we work on a lot is if you are com when, not if, when you are comfortable enough within your own skin your to reach out to someone else. Yes. Absolutely. Judge blocking you from, I shouldn't talk to that person. I'm not good enough to be in this conversation.
Mahara Wayman [00:23:09]:
Absolutely. Quite a bit. So I just wanted to call that out that there's a Yeah. Networking is great. It's bottom line.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:23:17]:
Yeah. And I think like even outside of business, networking got me so far in my career before I started my business that people were like, how did you do that? And I guarantee that it was networking. When I was an intern, I was meeting every single person that I could, who was doing something that I wanted to do. And I, that was another part of that dedication and me really not even seeing it as networking, but I'm like, I want to be better than where I am right now because I'm eating like ramen noodles and I'm tired of this. So I wasn't out there making connections with other professionals who were doing what I wanted to do. And that led me to my first opportunity as an environmental health specialist for the Marion County Public Health Department. And then it just skyrocketed from there because I was also talking to other people in different departments. My boss actually recommended me for a raise and she was like, you should go, you should go apply for this.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:24:09]:
And I'm like that I was nervous. I'm like, is she serious? Like how many times does your boss actually encourage you to go apply for a job to get out of their department and you've only been there for like 6 months? So that was a blessing for me to be dedicated to making connections with people while I was working in the field and not a business owner. I hadn't even really thought about being a business owner at that time in my life. So it can, it can carry you far beyond that. And like you mentioned in your community, I love Eventbrite. I love Facebook events. Like go out there and meet people. How can we build friendships and communities if we're staying in our house and staying in our bubble with friends? Like find these free low cost events happening in your city and it's welcome some conversation.
Mahara Wayman [00:24:52]:
I heard badass in so many things that you just shared with me. In my head was recognizing that the world changed with COVID. Mhmm. Did we did 90% of us move into, you know, our our bedrooms and get on Zoom, which is,
Brittaney Jenkins [00:25:08]:
you know, a
Mahara Wayman [00:25:09]:
whole new avenue for connection? But it also polarized communities, especially in the health care field. Mhmm. One of my recent guests talked about she's a life a lifestyle practitioner. She's a registered nurse and a life a life medicine practitioner. Excuse me. And she talked a lot about how COVID affected her and her even familial relationships because people were so polarized by by vaccinations or not vaccinations, and I'm not going down that road. But I would Yeah. How did your business were you in business during COVID? 1st first question.
Mahara Wayman [00:25:46]:
And if so, how did you navigate it?
Brittaney Jenkins [00:25:48]:
Yes. I was in business during COVID. I also had a baby during COVID, but I navigated it because I have some online coaching programs that were created prior to COVID that were still thriving, thankfully, during COVID. So that kind of took out the, the need to transition all of what I'm doing into some coaching package or online program. It was already there. And really what I did was duplicate that for the, the the health organizations that I serve. So the public health mentorship program for professionals who are pursuing career in public health, that's already been a coaching program since 2018. And then the b2b or the healthcare and public health agencies, we can provide that, online coaching program through our portal as well.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:26:31]:
So most of the time I'm working with them outside of, the online coaching program, but that's really helped me so much in during COVID, especially having a new baby. First time mom, that was a big transition. I felt like that on top of COVID was crazy. And then we moved to a different state when she was about 3 weeks old, so further away from our families. And so we we had so many things to figure out, but it worked out. It was just like being optimistic and saying yes to this new blessing in in so many different ways. And it's worked out really.
Mahara Wayman [00:27:01]:
Awesome. Well, congratulations on on your baby.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:27:04]:
Thank you. She's 2a half now.
Mahara Wayman [00:27:08]:
I'm not I don't understand. Nobody taught me or no one, when I was growing up, no one said, hey. You know what? It takes a lot of work to be a great one. Just just so you know. Because Mhmm. What you but I grew up thinking, I just wanna be a mom. I wanna have a great husband, but I just wanna I wanna have babies, and it's gonna be so much lovely. And, you know, we're given the dollies to play with, and then we were given Barbies to play with.
Mahara Wayman [00:27:33]:
Not quite sure how we went from chubby little baby dolls to, you know, poliads, Barbies, but that's another conversation. However, now that I, you know, all I wanted was to be a mom. And thankfully, I have a great marriage, and I have 2 beautiful children. But it was really and continues to be not only the most important job I have, but one of the hardest jobs I have. And sometimes I remember when when the kids were younger, I remember being really angry that the women in the United States told me about the the challenge of being there and being a, quote, good mom. And I I I wish that the the conversations were more prevalent. That's like, hey. You know what? Just because you can have kids, it may not be for you.
Mahara Wayman [00:28:17]:
Like Mhmm. Let's have a discussion around not only the responsibility, the financial responsibility Yeah. But the mental and the emotional and the physical responsibility of raising the motherhood. Yeah. Yes. Well, and it's not the faint of heart because motherhood takes courage, people.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:28:36]:
Absolutely. And I would say, like I mentioned, living in a different state away from any person who could support us, like daycare is really our support system and that's not ideal, you really, but they're, they're great. But the thing is like the work life balance for my family and my daughter, my husband, it's real because when they come home, I'm like, I try to cut everything off at that time to spend that time with them because it is challenging. It is challenging to be a mom and show up and make sure that she's learning and she's growing and all the challenging to be a mom and show up and make sure that she's learning and she's growing and all of her needs are taken care of. But, you know, a lot of that time we spend outside too, it it helps everyone. It makes everyone happy when we're outdoors, letting her run free versus being cooped up in the house and screaming and wanting snacks all day. So we we just try to spend our time outdoors and that just, that makes everyone's mental health even better.
Mahara Wayman [00:29:25]:
Another badass tip, peeps, is if you've got screaming, get outside because they don't care if they're screaming. In fact, they may be. Right? We're flooding.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:29:32]:
Yeah. Well, she'll be running out in the rain, and we're just standing right there just in the dry, like underneath the in the garage watching her run-in the rain. So
Mahara Wayman [00:29:42]:
yeah. Britney talk to us about what you're doing today. Can you give us a really, like all the things that you are interested in, what you're doing? I'd love to hear, love for you to do a deep dive on that for our audience.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:29:53]:
Yes. Right now, I've been helping some pharmacies implement diabetes education programs for individuals who are living with type 2 diabetes. And that has been extremely rewarding because we've identified an area that had a high rate of individuals living with diabetes. And I am that person who is coming in to support this agency by developing a strong recruitment and retention strategy to ensure these patients actually complete the program without having any type of limitations or barriers to getting there, right? Like we talked about transportation, looking at those social determinants of health and not just treating their diabetes, but also making sure that other needs are met. Right? When it comes to nutrition, the weight, etcetera, whatever their specific needs are for that specific patient. Also, mentoring individuals who are pursuing, careers in public health, helping them land mid to senior level jobs in public health, building on about 30 plus skills that health leaders, our directors are wanting their staff to have. We have been doing that for individuals since 2018, 2019, and so they're going out fully. But for the most part, what I'm doing is helping these health care and public health agencies spread awareness about the programs that they have available and get people into these programs by really, again, addressing those social determinants of health.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:31:08]:
So, yeah, been loving what I'm doing for the last 6 years. This is year 6 in business, and we're we're gonna keep it going.
Mahara Wayman [00:31:15]:
I love it. My goodness. Britney, so much so much juiciness in your story. And really, I just wanna say, first of all, thank you for the work that you do. It's so Absolutely. We that we that we find a way to bridge the gap
Brittaney Jenkins [00:31:28]:
because Yes.
Mahara Wayman [00:31:29]:
Easy to get caught up in the, oh, I'm doing such a great thing. This corporation or this, you know, this this huge conglomerate is we're we're making strides in the world. But if it's not what people need, then it's actually not doing its job. So I really thank you for for stepping up and being one of many, I think, that actually are like, wait a second.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:31:51]:
Right.
Mahara Wayman [00:31:52]:
In here, and I'm gonna fill that gap. Thank you for doing that. Absolutely. And thank you.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:31:57]:
Yes. Thank you for having me.
Mahara Wayman [00:31:59]:
This has been a great conversation. Is there anything else that you wanna share about what you do on a daily basis maybe, or let's say a regular basis, to remind you of your break Mhmm. And face the day Yes. The best version of you?
Brittaney Jenkins [00:32:18]:
I really am big on positive affirmations. I know these cliche things, like you mentioned networking, but really I dove into positive affirmations when I was pregnant because I just had those so those really bad thoughts, but that carried me even now. Positive affirmations helped to energize me every day. When I'm telling myself in the mirror, even when I'm doing jumping jacks to energize myself, I am strong. I got this. I was chosen for this opportunity. I feel like that gives me so much energy for the day. And that helps me walk with more confidence.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:32:51]:
I speak a lot about walking in your purpose, even when I'm talking to agencies about, race and bias and how they can build trust with communities, it's like, if this is what you're doing to walk in your purpose, how can we walk into it better? And I just really do feel like those positive affirmations fire me up so deeply, and I'm always trying to spread that message to individuals and people that I touch around me as well.
Mahara Wayman [00:33:11]:
So beautiful. I one of the first books that I ever read, oh my gosh, almost 40 years ago was Louise Hay's, you can heal your life, and it Mhmm. Affirmations there. So I'm with you. I I've had I've loved them and Yeah. Them fairly regularly because sometimes I'm I'm you know, I just wanna jazz up the language a little bit. But, really, it is part of being a badass is, as I've said earlier, it's recognizing that you matter and Mhmm. Reminding yourself of that.
Mahara Wayman [00:33:38]:
And if if looking at yourself in the mirror going, you go, girl. You got this. That's gonna Yeah. Raise your energy. Even just one little percent or one little tiny bit, fantastic. Go for it. But plans are a great way to just remind yourself that Yes. For a reason.
Mahara Wayman [00:33:57]:
And Absolutely. That your thoughts matter, your feelings matter.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:34:00]:
And Yes.
Mahara Wayman [00:34:01]:
Help figuring that out and reach out. Right? This is what I do. Yes. This is what you do for living in a way. You're also a coach, very specific coach and
Brittaney Jenkins [00:34:11]:
Yes.
Mahara Wayman [00:34:12]:
A big niche, which is brilliant. Thank you so much for taking time Absolutely.
Brittaney Jenkins [00:34:17]:
Thank you. Thank you for having me.
Mahara Wayman [00:34:19]:
My pleasure. Folks, this has been the art of badassery. I want a special thanks to my my guest, Britney, today, and I'll see you next week when I chat with someone new. Take care.
Mahara Wayman [00:34:31]:
Thanks for tuning in to another badass episode. Your support means the world to me. So if you enjoyed what you heard today, don't forget to like, share, and rate the episode on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback keeps the badassery flowing. And, hey, if you're ready to unleash your inner badass and conquer whatever life throws your way, why not book a complimentary badass breakthrough session? Just click the link in the show notes to schedule your session, and let's kick some serious butt together. Until next time, stay fearless, stay fabulous, and of course, stay badass. This is Mahara signing off.
