Carleena Angwin
Host of The Carleena Show
Carleena Angwin is a public health and emergency management professional with experience spanning emergency preparedness, risk communication, community resilience, and international service. She currently serves as an Emergency Management Planner at a public health department in Tennessee, where she supports preparedness planning and response efforts designed to strengthen community resilience and protect public health.
Carleena has completed training through the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Respiratory Protection and Administration and the Hospital Emergency Response Train-the-Trainer program. She is also a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor and a Spanish/English interpreter.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Carleena served as Communications Chief for her health department, playing a key role in coordinating public health announcements, press conferences, and media events with government officials. Her work required translating complex and rapidly changing public health information into clear, accessible communication for the community.
Her career reflects a longstanding commitment to service, education, and cross-cultural communication. Before joining the health department, Carleena served as Program Director with Court Appointed Special Advocates, Trek Instructor in Mexico, English Instructor at a public university in Oaxaca, Mexico, and Peace Corps Volunteer in Panama.
Carleena holds an MFA in Nonfiction from Goucher College, where she developed expertise in long-form journalism, research, and narrative storytelling. Her passion for storytelling also led her to create The Carleena Show, a podcast featuring conversations with people from around the world and stories of resilience, transformation, and overcoming adversity.
Carleena Angwin has hosted 31 Episodes.
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Police Social Worker with Bloomington Indiana Police Department: Melissa Stone
March 1st, 2020 | 56 mins 34 secs
bloomington indiana, bloomington police department, hostage negotiations, indiana, melissa stone, mental health, police social worker, social worker
Melissa Stone is a Police Social Worker with Bloomington Indiana's Police Department. Melissa and I discuss: why her department created this new program, the types of calls she responds to, how she interacts with people in crisis, law enforcement mental health, hostage negotiations, her unique role growing up in a working-class home, her decision to become a social worker, and advice she gives other police departments considering a police social worker program.
If you enjoy this episode, you may like previous episodes where I interviewed a first responder, funeral director, forest ranger, working dog trainer, and many other guests with hands-on or misunderstood professions that help shed light on the human experience.
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ProjectCiv: Promoting Civil Political Discourse In High School with Librarian Amanda Smithfield
February 7th, 2020 | 49 mins 13 secs
amanda smithfield, better angels, civility movement, hume-fogg academic magnet school, nashville, projectciv, tennessee
How do you engage teens in civil political discourse? One librarian in Nashville created a program called ProjectCiv, which seeks to promote monthly discussions between high school Republicans and Democrats. Amanda Williams Smithfield joins me on the podcast to discuss her work.
The Carleena Show is hosted by Carleena Angwin--a writer, public health professional, and former Peace Corps Volunteer based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Visit the website and connect https://carleena.fireside.fm/.
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Mindfulness Intervention in the Criminal Justice System with Dr. Tamiko Webb
February 2nd, 2020 | 51 mins 16 secs
cognitive distortions, counseling psychology, davidson county sheriff’s office, depression, dr. tamiko webb, mindfulness, nashville day reporting center, self-esteem, tamiko webb, trevecca nazarene university
Dr. Tamiko Webb discusses mindfulness interventions in the criminal justice system, counseling inmates in a maximum-security prison, the de-institutionalized movement of the mid-century, and reentry programs. Dr. Webb received her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Clinical Counseling, Teaching, and Supervision at Trevecca Nazarene University.
Visit The Carleena Show website and connect https://carleena.fireside.fm/
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Svitlana Zavialova: Wu Woman & Kung Fu Visionary
December 10th, 2019 | 30 mins 37 secs
china, kung fu, martial arts, martial movement, svitlana zavialova, the carleena show, ukraine, wu woman
My guest today is Kung Fu Visionary, Svitlana Zavialova. Born in Post Soviet Crimea, Svitlana moved to China in her early twenties to pursue Chinese traditional martial arts. She later transcended her performance style into a new form of movement storytelling. Svitlana is the founder of the Wu Woman Martial Movement style (the fusion of traditional Kung Fu and Futuristic Dance), an Actor and Entrepreneur. Discover Svitlana’s martial movement and Cognitive Kung Fu Experience from her website: http://www.svitlanazavialova.com/
The Carleena Show features in-depth conversations with guests from around the world. Host Carleena Angwin is a writer, public health professional, and former Peace Corps Volunteer based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. https://carleena.fireside.fm/
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Corbin Cabrera: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) Legacy Mentor
September 21st, 2019 | 45 mins 36 secs
afghanistan, army, carleena angwin, corbin cabrera, gold star, good grief camp, grief, mentor, military, taps, texas a&m, the carleena show, tragedy assistance program for survivors
When Corbin Cabrera was 13 years old, his father--Army Lt. Col. David E. Cabrera--was killed by a Taliban suicide bomber in Afghanistan in 2011. Two years later, Corbin discovered a program that connected other children who lost a parent in combat or the war at home. The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) Good Grief Camp meets in DC each Memorial Day weekend and helps kids of the fallen connect, process their grief, and have fun together. A couple years later, Corbin would became a legacy mentor with TAPS and start mentoring a little girl and her sister. Corbin is a senior at Texas A&M University.
Visit The Carleena Show website for a full list of episodes. https://carleena.fireside.fm/
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Remi Adeleke: TRANSFORMED: A Navy SEAL's Unlikely Journey from the Throne of Africa, to the Streets of the Bronx, to Defying All Odds
August 6th, 2019 | 52 mins 46 secs
bronx, carleena angwin, chicago, compton, human intelligence, mentor, navy, navy seals, nigeria, remi adeleke, the carleena show, transformed, veteran, writing
Remi Adeleke is the author of TRANSFORMED: A Navy SEAL's Unlikely Journey from the Throne of Africa, to the Streets of the Bronx, to Defying All Odds. Today on the show, Remi shares who he wrote the book for and why he decided to write the book himself and not use a ghostwriter. We talk about his time as a Navy SEAL, working in human intelligence and how he learned to listen and find common ground with informants. I ask him what it’s like to be a lead consultant on the forthcoming Netflix film, 6 Underground and if he could offer youth insight on ways to find meaning and purpose in their lives.
The Carleena Show features in-depth conversations with guests from around the world. Host Carleena Angwin is a writer, public health professional, and former Peace Corps Volunteer based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. https://carleena.fireside.fm/Connect with Remi Adeleke and purchase his book TRANSFORMED: https://www.thomasnelson.com/p/transformed/
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Making A Living at the World Series of Poker: Bret Atiyeh
July 25th, 2019 | 1 hr 1 min
black friday, bret atiyeh, human behavior, online poker, poker, regulation, tracking software, world series of poker
Bret Atiyeh left his corporate job with a 401K and benefits to pursue his dream as a professional poker player. Bret shares that journey with us and sheds light on many poker-related misconceptions. We discuss online poker regulation, tracking software, competing in the World Series of Poker, amateurs who give up too much information at the poker table, women’s only poker tournaments (and the men who insist on entering). Bret answers listener questions about human behavior and gives advice to those thinking about leaving their day job to pursue poker full time.
This episode is a part of a series of hands-on professions that shed light on human behavior. Other guests on this podcast include a military dog trainer, an outdoor survivalist leader, a spiritual counselor, first responder, and a funeral director, among others. Visit The Carleena Show website for a full list of episodes. https://carleena.fireside.fm/
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From Communist Hungary to Practical Spirituality in Canada: Jaya Friesen
July 9th, 2019 | 1 hr 22 mins
baba muktananda, budapest, carleena angwin, communism, communist, eckhart tolle, gypsy, hungarian revolution, hungarian uprising, hungary, jaya friesen, siddha yoga, spiritual counselor, spiritual healing center, the carleena show, ussr, vancouver, warsaw
Jaya was six years old when she sat on her father's shoulders and watched Soviet tanks invade her city. After World War Two, Hungary became a satellite state of the Soviet Union and a Communist government was established. Soon after the 1956 uprising, Jaya's father put on a packsack and walked away from the family, destined for Canada. He hoped the family would follow. Ten years later, Jaya signed away her Hungarian citizenship and traveled alone to Canada, in search of the man she loved and missed so dearly. Moments after reuniting with her father, she knew she regretted her decision. But she couldn't go back.
Flash forward many years, Jaya would encounter guides and healers, Eckhart Tolle among them, who helped her find peace and healing. They all made the same prediction. "They will come, Jaya." And they did. People started arriving at her home and asked for help in changing their lives. Jaya planned to counsel people for a few months, but as more and more people arrived, her unique spiritual counseling business has flourished for over twenty years now. Connect with Jaya: http://jaiapracticalspirituality.com/home/.
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At Ease, Soldier: A Vietnam Veteran uses Death with Dignity: Juanita Ramsey-Jevne
June 19th, 2019 | 1 hr 14 mins
carleena angwin, death with dignity, hospice, juanita ramsey-jevne, marine corps, marines, prostate cancer, raising arizona, the carleena show, vietnam veteran, vietnam war
When Juanita Ramsey met her future husband in 1986, the Vietnam War was to her long over. She soon learned that to marry a soldier was to marry his war. Bill Jevne served as a Marine Corps platoon commander in Vietnam. The memories were burned in his mind. The poison of Agent Orange had colonized his cells.
When his prostate cancer became terminal, he used the Death with Dignity option. "Our first date began with a story of these young men getting killed. And our last hours ended with him, still a platoon commander, calling his remaining members and telling them: 'I'm going to be dying in about an hour, and I want to say goodbye to you.'"
Juanita Ramsey-Jevne now gives workshops on end-of-life options, embracing death to enhance life, grieving, and writing.
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Luke Smithwick: Himalaya Alpine Guides
May 7th, 2019 | 52 mins 40 secs
alaska, carleena angwin, expeditions, first ascents, free ski, himalaya, himalaya alpine guides, himalayas, india, luke smithwick, mountain guide, mountaineering, nepal, pakistan, rocky mountains, skiing, the carleena show
Luke Smithwick has been a mountain guide for over twenty years, leading people on exploratory expeditions in Nepal, Alaska and the Rocky Mountains. In 2012, Luke founded Himalaya Alpine Guides (himalaya-alpine.com), a brand focused on the unexplored, unclimbed and unskied terrain globally. In November 2018 Luke completed his 68th Himalayan expedition. Today on the show, I ask Luke how he has changed as a person over the course of his career.
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Anthony Kane: Eulogizing a Career in Death Care
April 16th, 2019 | 1 hr 4 secs
anthony kane, carleena angwin, death care, embalming, funeral, funeral director, mortality, ptsd, the carleena show
Anthony Kane is a licensed funeral director and death expert based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today on the show, Anthony discusses the changing funeral industry, the families and funerals he thinks about years later, PTSD in the funeral business, and his evolving perspectives on embalming. This is a fascinating discussion and we decided to record a Part Two soon. Stay tuned and send me any questions you have for Anthony. Visit the Contact page on my website https://carleena.net/ .
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Robyn Udemans: Aswat: Voices of Arabia
April 10th, 2019 | 40 mins 28 secs
aswat voices of arabia, carleena angwin, robyn udemans, saudi arabia, south africa, the carleena show
Robyn Udemans is a South African woman who has been living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for 17 years. Knowing very little about life outside her compound’s walls, Robyn decided it was time to change that. The result is a podcast called Aswat: Voices of Arabia, which serves as a platform for the women of Saudi Arabia to share the stories of their lives, aspirations, and achievements at a time when restrictions on women have been easing.
Connect with Robyn https://voicesofarabia.xyz/
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Tiffiany Portacio: Leaving for the Peace Corps
March 22nd, 2019 | 20 mins 55 secs
chicago, colombia, community health, miami, paraguay, peace corps, usf
Tiffiany Portacio is leaving the United States soon and moving to Paraguay, where she will begin a two year commitment as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Tiffiany reached out to me a year ago when she was deciding if she should she apply to the Peace Corps or not. Today on the show, I ask Tiffiany to bring us back to that moment of uncertainty and walk us through her decision to apply.
/// The Carleena Show Podcast https://carleena.fireside.fm/ /// Ordinary People Share Their Hero’s Journey /// Hosted and Produced by Carleena Angwin /// Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/2AzCFib /// Editing and Graphic Design by http://stevenllorca.com/ ///
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Dr. Kurt Michael: School Mental Health Partnerships in Rural Appalachia
March 7th, 2019 | 50 mins 44 secs
13 reasons why, american association of suicidology, anxiety, appalachia, appalachian state university, behavioral activation, carleena angwin, cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive restructuring, crisis text line, depression, handbook of rural school mental health, kurt michael, national suicide prevention lifeline, north carolina, teens, the carleena show, therapy
Dr. Kurt Michael is a professor of psychology at Appalachian State University, a practicing Licensed Psychologist, and a crisis intervention and suicide prevention consultant on the national level. Today, Kurt discusses the research connecting Netflix’s television series "13 Reasons Why" with a significant increase in the use of the crisis text line: 741741. We also discuss an initiative to bring mental health services to thousands of rural North Carolina public school students.
The Carleena Show Podcast https://carleena.fireside.fm/ /// Ordinary People Share Their Hero’s Journey /// Hosted and Produced by Carleena Angwin /// Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/2AzCFib /// Editing and Graphic Design by http://stevenllorca.com/ /// Connect with Dr. Kurt Michael https://psych.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/kurt-d-michael /// Handbook of Rural School Mental Health, available here: https://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319647333 ///
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK [8255]) is a United States-based suicide prevention network of 161 crisis centers that provides a 24/7, toll-free hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
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Steve Kaplan: The Comic Hero's Journey
March 2nd, 2019 | 1 hr 12 secs
carleena angwin, chris vogler, comedy, comic hero's journey, disney, hbo, hero's journey, joseph campbell, mental health, screenwriting, sony, stand up, steve kaplan, the carleena show, writing
Steve Kaplan is a comedy consultant for HBO, Disney, DreamWorks, Sony, and many other media companies. He teaches his signature Comedy Intensive Workshops around the world, and is the author of The Hidden Tools of Comedy and The Comic Hero's Journey. Today on the show, Kaplan explains how the Comic Hero's Journey differs from the classic Hero's Journey. “Characters in comedies don’t want to change. They want to stay the same,” Kaplan says. We also discuss drawing from personal experiences to create comedy.
Connect with Steve Kaplan https://www.kaplancomedy.com/
The Carleena Show features in-depth conversations with guests from around the world. Host Carleena Angwin is a writer, public health professional, and former Peace Corps Volunteer based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. https://carleena.fireside.fm/
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Andrea Layne: Journey of a First Responder
January 29th, 2019 | 40 mins 24 secs
ada county, andrea layne, carleena angwin, first responder, hero's journey, idaho, mental health, paramedic, the carleena show
“This job will change you. You won’t look at life the same. We see people at their worst. But we also see people at their best.” Andrea Layne is a battalion chief with Ada County Paramedics in Idaho. After 30 years as a first responder, Andrea is retiring in April.