LaShyra “Lash” Nolen is a Los Angeles native deeply passionate about the concerns of under-served and marginalized communities. She graduated with honors from Loyola Marymount University in 2017 with a B.S. in Health and Human Sciences and spent her gap years before starting medical school, as a Fulbright Scholar in Spain and AmeriCorps member in Chicago. Currently, she is a second-year student at Harvard Medical School where she is serving as the university’s student council president, the first documented black woman to hold this leadership position. She is a published author and fervent advocate for social justice whose commentary has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, NPR, Teen Vogue, and HuffPost, among others. Her worked earned her the honor of becoming the 2020 National Minority Quality Forum’s Youngest “40 under 40 Leader in Minority Health” and named a “2020 Young Futurist” by The Root Magazine. In the future she plans to pursue an MPP alongside her medical degree to advocate for humane healthcare reform as a physician activist. Listen in to this conversation to hear all about social justice in medicine, the Black Lives Matter movement, and what people under 10 have to show us about how to live and run the world. Throughout this episode, Lash and I talk about different resources regarding social justice, medicine, and racism. Check them out here: What they Eyes Don’t See by Dr. Mona Hanna-AttishaRhea Boyd, MD, MPHDiagnosis, From the New York Times: A Netflix Series. “Dr. Lisa Sanders crowdsources diagnoses for mysterious and rare medical conditions in a documentary series based on her New York Times Magazine Column.”White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo, PhDHow to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. KendiMedical Apartheid by Harriet A. WashingtonKilling the Black Body by Dorothy E. Roberts

Your Best Year Yet

Social Justice, Medicine, and Racism with LaShyra "Lash" Nolen

In this episode of Your Best Year Yet, Kristy and Ayo talk about the topic of trauma, what it is and why it is so important. Kristy discusses why seeking safe, nurturing relationships are so important and why you need to be a safe relationship in others lives as well. She also divulges many tips to help maintain and improve mental health, and what you can do to support others who are dealing with trauma in their lives.  Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @createyourbestyearyet or Facebook @ Your Best Year Yet. 

Trauma and Mental Well-being with Kristy Robinson

In this episode, we discuss self care, and what we have been doing to maintain sanity recently, as well as some good ideas for us and others to implement in the future. Follow us on social media @createyourbestyearyet on Instagram and @Your Best Year Yet on Facebook. 

Bonus! Self Care with Ayo and Jackie

In this episode, we talk about going for what you really want even if it doesn't match your family's plans, Stephen's inspirations for his compositional pieces, self care and the need for more of it, and composer's block.  I also included a sample of two of his pieces for you to hear.  If you like his music and want to hear more, find him on Sound Cloud at https://soundcloud.com/stephenryanjackson.  Follow us on IG @createyourbestyearyet and FB at Your Best Year Yet. rinse & repeat (2019)tenor saxophone - Erin Rogerscontrabass - Annick Odompercussion - Colin McCall & Emerson Wahlasphyxiating sky (2020)performed and commissioned by - Mid America Freedom Bandconductor - Lee Hartman

Music Composition with Stephen Ryan Jackson

In this episode, Ana Quiñones discusses her online master's program, staying sane while managing a busy schedule, setting priorities, and much more.  Ana is the very first parent we have hosted on this podcast so be sure and tune into this one!  If you are interested in getting better at managing your time and priorities then check out the tick tick app at https://ticktick.com/?language=en_US.  Anna is also a Gates Millennium Scholar.  The Gates Millennium Scholar Program strives to provide higher education opportunities to minority groups by removing the financial barrier.  Check out the program here: https://gmsp.org. 

Balancing priorities with Ana Quiñones

In this episode, Hawa Keita dives into her background and her experience being the Executive Director of CEED Concordia, a non profit that works to enact social justice and community empowerment by supporting youth through educational opportunities. If you enjoy this episode, please share with your friends and follow us on social media. We are on IG @createyourbestyearyet and FB @ Your Best Year Yet.

CEED with Hawa Keita

Listen in as Rachel and Mackenzie discuss community, finding resilience, and what to do with that awkward period of time between graduating college and finding a job. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @createyourbestyearyet and Facebook @ Your Best Year Yet. 

Community with Mackenzie Lawrence

All three of your hosts are back together again for a bonus episode about goals! We are not self proclaimed experts in goal setting, but we have learned a few things over the years from people who are successful.  If you struggle with goal setting or are fading on your New Year's resolution, then check this episode out!  Also follow us on Instagram @createyourbestyearyet and Facebook @ Your Best Year Yet.  

Bonus episode! Goals with Your Hosts

Join in and hear from Nicole Skinner about not just the importance, but the obligation to engage civically and get out there and vote! This is especially true for our local elections.  Also, the internet tries to sabotage our interview (to no avail!), and Rachel hits on putting ourselves out there even when we're not perfect.  Follow us on our social media platforms! Facebook @Your Best Year Yet and Instagram @createyourbestyearyet. 

Civic Engagement with Nicole Skinner

In this episode, Taylor Azizeh joins us from Denmark to discuss her experiences studying wildlife through the Fulbright scholarship, a grant for graduating college students to conduct research internationally.  She also talks about being a woman in STEM, going for her goals even when those around her doubted her, and continually trying to take advantage of opportunities, even when you may get told no.  For more content on making this year your best one yet, check us out on IG and Facebook @createyourbestyearyet!

International Research with Taylor Azizeh

In this episode, our special guest is Logan Heflin.  His passion to spread the word about climate change is inspirational. We will discuss climate walkouts, Fridays for Future, the struggles of mental illness, and knowing when the "right" path (defined by society, family, other people), isn't the right one for you.  Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

Climate Change with Logan Heflin

In this episode, you will hear from all three of us as we share our stories! We are going to be diving into our successes and challenges, as well as talk about how important we feel it is to own our narratives right now.  Waiting for the "right time" is only an excuse to procrastinate action.  So don't wait! Let's get out there and do something awesome today!

Story Time from Your Hosts

Join us in our very first episode of this Podcast! In this interview, we are featuring Annarose Qualls from Moscow, ID.  Annarose tells us all about traveling outside of her comfort zone as the strives to visit twenty countries before the age of twenty.  *Disclaimer*: In the time between the recording of this episode and our posting of it, we changed the name of our podcast.  You will hear Rachel call it "This is Your Year," but the podcast name is now "Your Best Year Yet." 

Episode 1: Travel w/ Annarose Qualls

Empowering young people to live their fullest lives right now.

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Your Best Year Yet

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