tonight on studio 12.

Healing in the great outdoors.

We learn how women living with breast cancer are finding healing through fly fishing and friendship.

Then Colorado entrepreneurs take center stage celebrating small business and big ideas at the Colorado for all event in five Points.

Plus, we head to the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keansburg, Colorado to learn about the Lions, Tigers, and bears who have found a second chance at life.

All that, plus a live performance from Heavy Diamond Ring right here on studio 12.

From the Five Points Media Center in the heart of Denver, Colorado.

This is studio 12.

Hello, I'm Ryan Hare, filling in for Busy Kanani and your new co-host of studio 12.

Fly fishing might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about healing.

But for some women in Colorado, it's become an unforgettable part of their breast cancer journey.

In tonight's viewfinder segment, our PBS 12 photojournalist Rico Romero takes us inside casting for recovery, a program that combines nature, connection and fly fishing to support women in treatment or recovery from breast cancer.

Take a look.

I think we should start here.

Guys, let's meet your nature guide.

I think I need to find out what we're fishing with.

I am learning to fly fish.

All right, all the guides.

Come on over.

Hi.

My name is Maddie Brennaman, and I'm a fly fishing guide for casting for recovery.

This is my mother in law, Amy.

Hi.

This is Shannon Charnas.

If you do full time guiding here.

Yeah.

My name is Stacy Benham.

I am the volunteer program coordinator for casting for Recovery Colorado.

Front Range casting for recovery is a retreat put on for breast cancer survivors is a wonderful group.

Really able, capable, ready to, like, take this by the horns and get after that.

So, it's going to be a really great day right here.

We're on the Front Range of Colorado.

We have 14 women this weekend.

One, two, three, one that are all in different stages of breast cancer.

I really want to be out on the water.

We take them out and it's all about fly fishing.

And on the final day we take them on the river and they have a blast and catch fish.

Well, we're having a great time.

I got a bit, so jump in and then it's just we're going to try and not move it.

Why fly fishing?

You know, it's a really great story of how casting for recovery started.

30 years ago.

Doctor Benita Walton, who's a breast reconstructive surgeon, was invited by her friend Gwen Perkins Bogart, who was a fly fishing guide to go spend the day on the water and go fishing.

This happened 30 years ago in Vermont.

While casting Doctor Walt Walton thought, you know, this could be really amazing physical therapy for my patients who have undergone, radiation and reconstructive.

And so it's really great for the scar tissue, and to be in nature, you know, it's it's really paired together.

Is is amazing that medicine.

Great.

Perfect job.

Good job.

So from there, casting for recovery was born.

And 30 years later, here we are in Colorado.

See if I can get it out past that rock a little bit.

So when I got the news, I was one of the people who got to come.

I was just like, this is awesome.

I go, I'm helping out with the casting for recovery today.

I'm helping these wonderful women.

On this beautiful Sunday day, guide for some cool fish.

That is something you, when.

We got her.

We got her.

It's an opportunity for healing and community and connection.

It's big in the company of other, breast cancer survivors who, are all here to experience nature, learn something new, have a lot of fun.

And it's, for me, I'm, three and a half years out, from my what I call no evidence of disease.

My, that's my the day I count.

So two years since I finished chemo this month.

So I have here is I did not know.

No hair, no eyebrows, no eyelashes.

Yeah.

You know, I think this weekend away offers so much more than in a clinical setting and in a waiting room.

The isolation of cancer treatment is real.

The women come here and they're with a peer support group so they can finally share, you know what?

What they've really been feeling in a safe space and be vulnerable.

Then what was your dad's name?

He.

He he Stover.

Come on, give me some.

Give me something to do.

Diane's an incredible woman.

She is one of our participants this this weekend.

And he, is fishing with her dad's fly rod and her dad's fishing bass.

Her dad has passed away, and it was a promise she made to him that she would fly fish with his staff.

He was really my, role model for how to deal with cancer.

He was already gone when I was diagnosed.

I feel like this is a full circle connection with him and with, how to be a good human being.

He would have been really happy, to see me doing this.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, but my dad was also a, cancer, patient for many, many years.

He was, a great fly fisherman.

Just because it's too early for us to fall.

Yes.

Nobody wants to fall now.

So often, you know, they're taking care of families.

They're taking care of careers.

They're taking care of aging parents.

They're taking care of their kids.

And they have to show up for everybody else.

And this is a weekend that they can show up for themselves.

Just drag that worm right over that fish's face.

Marguerite, I found out, November of 2022.

I went through surgery two rounds of chemo and a month of radiation.

But when they told me what chemo they were going to be giving me.

I've been a pharmacist for 30 years.

They were giving me meds that I started when I first started out in the 90s was making them.

And I'm like, there's nothing new.

So and I knew how hard it was going to be because we're kind of clear right here.

So over the top like Sylvester Stallone.

Yeah.

Okay.

Let go of that line.

Yep.

Rod tip up on the yay super rainbow.

Yes.

At the bottom.

Thanks.

There we go.

We're on to yes.

Let's get a bigger getting out here and hit it.

Dealing that strike and being able to actually set the hook was like super.

Just the joy of that.

Being able to bring it in without losing it was just the best fun.

And I'm hoping for number two and three and four.

Yeah.

Do you have a new hobby now?

I am not sure.

Possibly if I can get the casting down every day.

Every day I've done this, I haven't left this ranch without having some tears.

Being on a river, whether you catch any fish or not, just remind you that you're part of this world.

And it's not about clinics and surgeries and all the things that go with cancer treatment.

Unless you've really been through it or walk with someone to go through it, it's hard to understand.

So to get out here on the water with these incredible women who all have had a different journey, that connection is super special.

And then to actually catch a fish on top of it is just like icing on the cake.

And now I got another support group, which is wonderful.

Maddie.

Maddie's the vest.

Not only has she been with us all weekend, but come over here.

She's taught us, like, so much.

We're.

And like, look at that smile, right?

That's like my dad's smile.

And, like, people who really love life, I don't miss a weekend.

So I plan my summers around casting for Recovery Weekend, for sure.

You're just getting so many, people who care and you know what they're talking about, and that is so special.

So I got the best guide I got, I did I got the very best guide.

Sorry, everybody else, but I got the best guy.

I'm just feel very blessed to be out in the nature and meeting all these amazing people.

Perfect.

These life changing experiences are offered at no cost to women living with breast cancer.

To learn more, go to casting for recovery.

Talk.

Colorado's small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and recently they were highlighted at the Colorado for all Business Showcase and Resource Fair in Denver.

The event brought together entrepreneurs and state leaders for a full day of celebration, connection and opportunity.

The event, hosted by the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, to highlight just how many different resources and industries Colorado has to offer.

So today we have a showcase called Colorado for all and every single division from the Office of Economic Development.

International Trade is participating, and we are showcasing the impact that the state has in conjunction with our partners, to help support small businesses at every stage of growth across Colorado.

Small businesses are the backbone of Colorado.

They represent 99% of all businesses in Colorado.

Half of employees across Colorado are part of a small business, and that's in every sector, from quantum to aerospace, all the way to tourism and the creative industries and outdoor recreation.

Small businesses help support our growing economy, and they are really the lifeblood of Colorado.

How do we think ahead and like, build these opportunities where, you know, micro concepts, multi-use concepts can be built.

And yeah, so it's a new model and kind of the Denver on the map for, you know, being progressive and supporting their small businesses.

We offer a really a variety of programs and support for small businesses because they're so integral to our economy.

So we provide, no cost consulting and training for businesses, everything from, you know, how to get a license to your business plan and marketing plan all the way to access to capital programs from equity to debt.

We have a venture capital authority.

We have angel investing.

We have many startup loan funds.

We have many different resources that we're really here to showcase how the state is really catalytic in supporting and helping companies in Colorado start, grow and thrive.

I think what's next is, is really getting into the small business community in a much more comprehensive way, and being there just not just for, hey, here's how you start your business, but after that, what's next?

How do I overcome these challenges?

How do I do whatever is next for any small business?

Because as small business owners, you know, there's there's always something, right?

You wake up in you earlier, you open your phone and you're like, What's today?

You know, sort of thing.

But to be there and to feel like you have some thing there, some sort of support, some tangible support.

There are so many small businesses across Colorado that have such historical and cultural significance.

And so I'm so proud that some of our programs are supporting those businesses, helping them grow and thrive.

And part of that is supporting our creative industries.

So our creative industries is growing.

We have about 120,000 workers in Colorado that are part of the creative economy, and it's growing to $20 billion in economic impact for our state.

We find people who has a legacy to tell a story.

We create stories and then tell them with the community, for the community and the most important part, what happens is that people come together and they say, yes, this is how it needs to be done.

And we're proud of our work.

There are so many small businesses that we've been able to support through our programs and our resources.

And I think one business that stands out specifically because we are kind of in the five Points area is the Welton Street Cafe.

They are such an important historical and cultural institution, not only in Colorado, but for the whole region.

And they have such a legacy that is worth preserving.

And we are so proud to play a role in helping them reopen, and serve their food and create more of a community space and help them expand in Colorado.

We were lucky enough to go to one of the openings of the Welton Street Cafe and visit with this family owned business with Flynn and Mona, and see the incredible food that they make and the community space that they drive, the jobs that they're creating.

And the investment that they're giving back into the community.

So it's just so thrilling to be a part of their story.

to stay in the know about innovation and entrepreneurship across our state.

Don't miss The Business of Colorado, a regular segment we will be airing here on Studio 12, where we spotlight the people and the passion driving business forward in every corner of Colorado.

Tucked away on the eastern plains of Colorado is a place where wild animals get a fresh start.

From lions to tigers to wolves and bears.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keansburg gives rescued carnivores a chance to roam free and heal.

PBS 12 producers Erica McLarty took her kids to experience this extraordinary sanctuary firsthand and learn more about this nonprofit's mission and education efforts.

The entire goal of the wild animal sanctuary is to be the next best thing to the wild for the animals here, since the wild was completely taken from them, it was never an option for them.

So we're trying to basically restore what they've never had.

Oh, there's something walking over there.

I can't tell what though.

So we specialize in rescuing at this location.

Specializes in rescuing captive bred large carnivores.

There are about 450 at this location in Keansburg, Colorado.

The other big thing is that we have no breeding.

We don't want to add to the number of animals that cannot go back to the wild.

So the sanctuary was founded, by a gentleman named Pat Craig, who is still our executive director.

45 years later.

He basically went on to visit a zoo, where a friend of his was working, and he saw all these animals kind of tucked back behind the scenes.

This is where he learned of zoo's surplus animals.

It was a country wide issues, zoos having more animals, and they were able to take care of, really want to get a lot of babies out front.

And then they have these adults kind of back behind the scenes and and they're kind of dot, dot, dot.

That happened after that.

They weren't really traded out front or anything.

They just kind of stay in the back.

And again, this was over, you know, 45 years ago, we learned of this at a family farm in Boulder, Colorado, at 20 acres.

And he basically showed up a USDA.

And I'm paraphrasing here, but he said, what's the option for carnivores where what's what's the plan for them when they need rescuing?

And he was basically told that unless he does, it is again paraphrasing what happened.

So he got everything license.

He got everything fixed up the way he was supposed to, got, everything.

Proper working order and rescue the first animal.

That was a beautiful young jaguar named freckles in 1980 when he was just, 19 years old.

So then when he, was in Boulder, Colorado, and then Lyons, Colorado.

Now, just because the name was perfect, but then moved here to Keansburg, Colorado in 94.

Kind of like a big retirement home for all ages, if that makes sense.

We're huge about talking about empathy here at the Sanctuary Secondary to rescue the animals.

Our goal is, is education really?

So first and foremost, we're a home for them.

But we also want to talk about why we have to do these rescues and, and their world and what it look like.

Animals are coming from apartments, garages, backyards, basements, horse trailers, gas stations, shopping malls, roadside zoos, the Tiger King saga, that whole thing.

Imagine your bedroom right now.

You're born in that room.

You don't go anywhere.

That's where you use the restroom.

That's where you eat.

That's where you sleep.

That is your entire world.

You don't imagine grandma's house.

You don't imagine the library.

You imagine that room and that's it.

On one day, somebody opens that door.

Now, what do you do now?

You can go out there.

Now, you can go down hall, but it's going to be scary, right?

Your whole world was a box.

It was his room.

So that's what all of our animals are going through when they get here.

That that the door was opened.

So we just have to go gradually.

Some animals take to a habitat immediately and it's a beautiful thing.

We're so happy.

Some animals, it takes a minute.

It's just like people, we all kind of heal and go through things differently, you know, because we're animals are coming from.

I'd say the average sized space was maybe a garage, give or take, but there's often concrete under their feet for the most part, many of our animals have never really experienced grass before coming here being under open sky.

Some animals are meeting their own species for the first time.

So it's like you walked in today on the first human you met.

It's.

What do I do?

I have no sense of structure.

I've no sense of society how this is going to work.

So we have to go slow to big, if that makes sense.

It's not too dissimilar from rescuing a dog or cat at home that's been through some some trauma in their past life.

So we usually start off small, more of an apartment sized, enclosure for them and work their way out as they feel more comfortable giving them the time and opportunity, never forcing anybody.

But then eventually they graduate to a large acreage habitat.

They can go from one end to the other.

They can actually run for the first time in their life.

They can get tired, they can pant, and they can also have enrichment with their own species for the first time in their life, our animal care team, they're all amazing.

I, my my phrasing for them is champions of humanity because they're out there in the rain, sleet or shine.

Out here in Colorado.

The wind is a big thing as well.

The roads get muddy.

They figure out a way to drive through them or go on foot or whatever.

They have to do very, very long days.

And sometimes it's sunup to sundown.

Oh my goodness, look at that.

It's very hard sometimes having to, especially when you see when they first get here, seeing everything that they've been through.

It could be a little bit more difficult.

But I always remind myself that we're here to take care of them.

And even though it's hard, you know, you still have to be here just to provide them the best life that you possibly can.

Kind of helps keep you focused on the goal at hand, and it gives you some time to, not think so much about where they came from and focus more on how to take care of them.

From this point, my job is to kind of assess their well-being and kind of see how they're doing on a day to day basis.

We provide medications to the different animals.

So if we notice that one might be a little sore, we can coordinate with the med staff to get them everything that they need.

So one of the most powerful rescue stories that really affected me personally was the story of, Mary Jane was a tiger that was kept at a truck stop for many, many years.

And unfortunately, the truck stop tiger concept was not isolated to just her.

It did happen across the country, but she was living at this at the pump station and she was breathing the fumes all day.

She was also being bred to where her cubs, were being sold to motorists.

Even so, it's a picture that, again, in perspective, she's sitting in this truck, stops breathing the scent, the commotion, the sounds, and then watching her babies drive away.

When she was rescued, she had this beautiful habitat further down, huge habitat.

And, live with other tigers for the first time in her life.

Got to just be with other tigers I did some animal care shifts and was helping with feeding her over the fence.

And we're on the other side.

And she came up right between two tigers.

And here I am thinking, this is the animal I'm putting in my own thing.

I, I would want to be in a whole.

I would want to be in the corner.

I would be you'd want to be away from everything for the rest of your life.

She could not have been more sweet and pumped to see them.

She walked up and she nuzzled with them, went on our own and just was.

It was a normal day for she was pumped to eat.

She was pumped to be with those boys.

These guys are resilient to a way we can't even articulate what they've been through and the heartbreak they've been, the pain they've been through.

And here she's just thriving.

One of my favorite animals here is a little jaguar named Arcas.

He came to us a few years ago.

He was actually rescued from a bar.

Someone brought him into the bar, and then authorities were called afterwards.

He was brought to us at the Texas facility.

When he was.

We were estimating he was about 4 or 5 months old.

So it was a whole new place.

He was very adventurous for his young age and everything that's happened at that point.

So he was very playful.

He loved kind of seeing everybody.

And since he was so young, I got to work really closely with him.

And I've got to watch him grow over the years.

So I've got to see him go from a very curious, at times very confident, kind of timid baby to a very confident, very interested in his surroundings at all times, kind of jaguar.

So he he is my baby.

He's the Bax.

He's the back of my phone, my screensaver.

So I just I love getting to see where he started and where he's at now.

And I'm loving that.

I'm going to get the opportunity to see him continue to grow while I'm here.

You know, so many of our rescues in my mind are confusing human want for animal need, if that makes sense.

So they see the photo op thing.

They see the whole the tiger cub or pet the thing and it whether we it's on a conscious thought, but it's putting a human want ahead of it.

And what does the animal really need this.

Well it's fed well but does it need that or do we just want that?

So I think that's a common misconception is confusing is what's best for the animals.

Are they going to go again?

Oh, one's hiding under the bridge.

It's we're ensuring that folks understand this is not in the entertainment industry is a home first.

And we want people to come here to learn.

We're open for education.

And it's, it can be incredibly a beautiful thing to see them living with the way they are.

And that's kind of things we want to talk about it and hopefully work toward, toward a world where sanctuaries don't have to exist, to where there's, there's animals.

Not in these places anymore.

And I think the tide is turning very slowly.

I think one of the biggest challenges while Animal Sanctuary faces, I think any kind of nonprofit, especially in the animal world, will probably face, is just ensuring we're meeting our annual budget.

You know, we have a pretty high budget for operating three facilities.

It's all donation based land as well.

As the world grows and changes, you know, things around us get closer and closer.

So trying to make sure that the animals way of life doesn't feel interrupted or impacted by neighboring, construction or something like that.

So make sure they feel the quiet and they can see the stars at night and be like, doesn't we change that?

So those are probably the two big things.

Oh, look at the blackbird.

Dad, dad, look at the block.

There we are.

Just we're so blessed to have so many wonderful people that believe in us that, that we're able to just keep saving animals.

So the whole goal is that the animals just get to be alike, to be a bear, and they just get to enjoy the good, the the good stuff.

If you would like to visit the sanctuary, they want you to know the elevated walkway is a three mile round trip by foot, so come prepared for that.

It is also Ada accessible and open seven days a week.

For more information, go to Wild Animal Sanctuary.

Walk.

on Colorado inside out, Kyle Dyer and her dynamic lineup of panelists bring to the table real issues that impact Colorado and our lives.

Here's Kyle with more of this week's stories making headlines.

Hi Ryan, great to see you on studio 12 this week.

Welcome to the PBS 12 family.

You'll need to come visit us here on Colorado Inside Out.

You know, Denver was the last city to finish off a big month of pride celebrations in Colorado.

And the weekend party went on strong with a massive turnout.

But diminishing corporate sponsorships and money is also apparently a problem for a crisis hotline that serve the LGBTQ plus population.

And yes, federal funding is being rerouted.

But Colorado is raising money and the service will continue.

Anyhow, we have lots of perspectives on this topic.

Let's listen in.

It was ten years ago yesterday, June the 26th, when the Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage in this country and the and guaranteeing the same protections and the benefits of heterosexual couples.

And this weekend caps off a month long a month of celebrations across Colorado with Denver Pride happening in downtown Denver.

Now, while we look back at the acceptance of gay rights ten years ago, Denver Pride is reporting a drop in corporate sponsorship.

And this week, concerns were raised about whether A988 crisis line specifically to help LGBTQ plus callers could continue amidst cuts in federal funding.

You know, Christi, I think back to the jubilation of the LGBTQ plus community.

You know, ten years ago, and challenges still remain.

Sure.

I think I think two points for me, Kyle.

First, I think the whole transgender effort is damaging the rest of that community.

I think specifically when you look at the push to allow men in women's sports and the repudiation of that, both in public polls at the Supreme Court, I think that is really put a damper on things that other people in that community try to do, because that the transgender aspect of it has gotten so much focus right now and remains almost the centerpiece, I think.

But secondly, I would like to draw more attention to the 988 suicide guideline.

I think it's really important for people to know that that the line is still continuing.

It was actually Senator Cory Gardner from here in Colorado who sponsored that in federal legislation and got federal funding to create the 988 mental health suicide line national line.

That is going to continue.

I think the piece that's getting pulled away is that you can press.

I don't if it's three or some specific number to get help for LGBTQ issues in particular.

But the Trump administration has emphasized the hotline is going to continue and just everyone is going to get an equal amount, an equal type of mental health and suicide help.

So I think that's really essential for people to know this hotline is staying.

It's crucial our nation needs it.

And I'm really happy to see that that in and of itself is staying here.

All right Eric.

Well, I think Christie's analysis from a political point of view of the impact of the transgender issue is on the markets had a dampening effect.

It's created some degree of backlash on those issues really need to be pulled apart.

As the father of a gay son, now a gay adult.

Hooray for that Supreme Court decision ten years ago.

A momentous decision, in my lifetime.

And they're now some years to that lifetime.

I've never seen an issue move as quickly as the gay rights, gay and lesbian rights issue moved in terms of not just legal from a legal point, but in terms of public opinion and public acceptance.

It really moved at warp speed.

And we could, if we had a longer show, delve into why that is.

I even sometimes question these days, you know, the efficacy of a gay rights parade.

I mean, hooray for that community.

But maybe we should get all the sponsors and all the money and everyone present and have one more parade and call it a victory parade.

Because this country is such a different place than it was ten or 20 or 30 years ago related to those issues.

Well, you know, I want to really zero in on the corporate sponsor, issue.

So my colleague John Frank recently looked into this.

He wrote a story about, how Denver Pride's sponsors, were changing this year.

He found that donors decreased from 16 to 11.

We saw Nissan, target, Verizon and Walmart.

Their names are no longer appearing on the sponsor website.

Other big names that decreased their level of giving was Starbucks, JPMorgan Chase and Cupcake Wines.

Interestingly, on the other side, one top level sponsor that is standing firm is the beverage company Molson Coors, which is, you know, there is a bunch of I think it was in 2023 when other beverage companies were really pulling back.

And even at that time, Coors was holding strong.

You know, big picture is that this is part of a national movement of corporate America really reining in, their promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion, events.

And it matters because it puts at risk critical services and efforts for LGBTQ individuals that are funded through these sponsorships.

Okay.

And look, there may be a political or a corporate case for, adjusting, but I think at the end of the day, on a human level, Colorado, Denver specifically, we are a magnet for and an innovator when it came to when it comes to LGBTQ issues.

And to start to dial things back, to start to peel off from marginalized folks who are part of this community, at a human level is just not the right move.

We need to stand united.

We need to stand in support.

The political or corporate wins are sort of fleeting and tenuous.

They will change.

But if we stand united and stand together, we'll get through it.

Okay.

All right.

We'll end with that.

We are already gearing up for this week's episode, and yes, it will premiere on Friday the fourth.

If you're out enjoying fireworks, no worries.

You can watch Colorado Inside Out any time at PBS 12.org on the PBS passport app or on our YouTube channel.

And our show is also a podcast and can be found on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

So tune in and hear some great perspective and context to all that is happening around us.

as part of our Humanize Women in the workforce series.

We introduce you to Sarah Kelly, an Excel Energy employee balancing a growing career with new motherhood, from work life balance to workplace bias.

Sarah shares her candid insight into what it means to lead with vulnerability.

Her story helps shape a more supportive culture for women in the workforce.

Here's more from Sarah.

My name is Sarah Kelly and I am a community relations and social investments employee at, Xcel Energy.

So I work with the community in a different a variety of different ways.

I work with our nonprofit partners and, with our grant applications and a lot of employee engagement to get us out in the community.

I think work life balance is something we are trying to master every day.

And I don't know if anyone has done it yet, but it's it's really hard, I think.

You know, I was trying to to do better at work life balance before I had a kid.

And now that I'm a new mom, it definitely adds a lot to the mix.

I'm never going to get it perfect, but I'm trying to set priorities.

I think, you know, for everyone, our priority is home first.

I want to be there for most bedtimes, if I can.

And, that's not always going to happen, but trying to set that expectation for myself because no one else is going to the work never ends.

I want to be a working mom.

I had that example for me growing up, and, I know I can do it, but it's definitely something new in the mix of how do I navigate this new, this new world I'm living in.

I think it's been super helpful to have coworkers and supervisor who are supportive of me and are allowing me to navigate this with flexibility and trust.

Coming back, I was surprised with how many moms reached out to me and even before I left and kind of giving their experiences and, you know, advice and, and and, well, wanted advice I, ask for because it's, a new, a new thing to me.

I don't know what I'm doing yet of, balancing both of these new roles.

It Takes a Village is so true when it comes to, raising a family and being a mom.

Childcare is a huge thing that you don't really think about until you get pregnant.

And then you realize there's a, you know, a year long waiting list to get in for childcare.

And I know so many people have struggled with that in Denver.

My mom was definitely my role model growing up and still is.

We are we talk, like, every day.

So I think having that example of my mom, working and, juggling a lot of things, she was taking care of, two kids at home and had her small business that she owned.

People my age, I think we, are waiting to have kids because we're focusing on our careers.

We want to get to a certain spot, where we feel comfortable, you know, where we're at in our career, but also, you know, financially, it's very expensive to have kids.

Now, something that I pride myself on is trying new things.

And I think it's sometimes easy to stick to what you know.

And if that's what you love, that's that's awesome.

But if there's something else, you have to go try something new to go do it.

I do think we hold ourselves back whenever we're wanting to try new things.

I, I think that a lot of times that we don't want to look inferior.

You know, we're fighting that every day in the workplace of trying to prove ourselves.

And so if we look like we don't know what we're doing, then maybe we're going to take a step back.

Maybe we won't be taken seriously in a meeting or in, in our roles, but, you know, it's okay if we don't know everything.

As long as we're trying to seek out those answers and learn from others, that's actually very normal.

And everyone is in that position.

I think that, you know, sometimes in our society, it feels like there's only maybe one spot for a woman.

And so there can be that natural competition in there without even realizing it.

But I do think that in my experience, women are trying to elevate other women, that we are trying to help each other and find allies in each other because we've been there.

Especially if you see a woman that maybe is, you know, less experienced than you, and you want to really help out, be a mentor.

I've had a lot of women do that for me.

I think for leadership in in our company.

I see a lot of women stepping up and taking on roles, whether that be in our employee resource groups, you know, things that are maybe outside of their, you know, duties of employment.

But they are the ones stepping up in leadership roles in, in different ways.

And we've also had female leadership and, people of color that are in leadership.

And so I think that has really set the tone of, you know, this is possible.

You know, maybe it's switching my hours a little bit.

And accommodating in that way.

Those little tiny changes and adjustments really help.

And it may not seem like a big deal to most people, but, you know, it allows moms to come back and feel more confident and able to be there for me.

Something that's always been interesting is, you know, talking about pay and negotiations and, equality there that has been something that's been always on my mind, and I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate that and how to, really addresses issues.

We're afraid to, to ask for more money.

It's a very vulnerable thing to do.

You feel like I don't want to come off as ungrateful or, you know, demanding, and, our counter male counterparts probably don't feel that way, and nor should they, because we need to know our worth when reverse ageism happens, it kind of feels like, oh, that's, you know, reinforcing my inner thoughts sometimes.

So, you know, I think oftentimes it's little microaggressions that are, you know, hey, Sarah, can you, can you do the admin work on this?

And, you know, that feels like, well, maybe I was asked that because, I am a young female in the room, not because of my skill set or my role.

One man that used to come into our office, early on in my career would always call me beautiful and sunshine and, you know, it was something that he meant nothing by it.

That was, you know, bad.

But at the same time, I'm like, you don't call, you know, my colleague right here who's a male.

Any sweet names like that?

I have witnessed other things in the workplace as well where I needed to stand up.

One example was, you know, having a conversation and, someone speaking bad about a neighborhood and saying it's unsafe because of the population of people that work there.

And this was early on in my career, and I heard my boss say in front of the entire meeting, you know, that's really not appropriate, and nor is that accurate.

And, you know, I think we need to focus on the facts and not the perceptions.

And moved on.

And so that taught me a really good example of speaking up as a woman in front of other women and as a leader makes a really big difference, because that stuck with me of saying standing up for other people or for myself can really empower others to do the same.

We all have something to bring to the table.

So, you know, don't be afraid to step up to make that move.

And, and work together.

And we can create a better working place for women in our society.

Thank you to Sarah for sharing her personal story.

And to view all of our Humanize Women in the Work Force series.

You can go to our YouTube channel or to our website at PBS 12.org.

And that wraps up this episode of studio 12.

We leave you now with our sounds on 29th segment.

Here's heavy Diamond Ring performing place at the table, recorded live at Globe Hall in Denver.

Be sure to follow us on social media and on YouTube.

We'll see you next time.

Until then.

Have a great week!

I'm Ryan here.

You see inside the desert, say what it does to the live.

You made your bed.

And I've made my life.

Do we just dream of.

It ain't worth all the for this fire burns.

Since you.

Fanned flame the feeds on me I'm scared.

Face that she said.

There is light is rising in the east.

Only wants to let it.

But door is open.

Why don't you come on me?

There's a place.

At the table.

I'm holding on to what is true.

I truly, truly.

Seem to drop crooked.

But can you say the thing that shines in.

Want to lose?

I don't wanna be your enemy.

We can share the pain.

See she's looking for you.

Burning up the bridge.

No, I'm on the other side of it.

Trying.

To.

But there is.

Mine is rising in the east.

I want to let it is.

My door is open.

Why don't you come on, make it.

There's a place at the table.

As far back as we go.

What kind of led to yours?

Musical awakening.

As have you.

Diamond ring.

What was like a kind of catalyst to get you all to where you are now?

Because I know you from earlier projects and other things such as heavy diamond ring.

What feels like the catalyst?

Yeah, well, I mean, just our our relationship and our, our friendship, our musical bond.

It's been like, that's been almost 20 years of us playing together.

And when our last project, Paper Bird was, was, calling it quits, it never even occurred to the two of us to stop playing music together.

Was it like, oh, no.

Are we done?

Like, it's like, okay, what are we going to do next?

And that was so I mean that like that's like the catalyst.

Just or the, the through line, the wick, the wake of the candle that has kept burning this whole time.

Yeah.

And I think making that first record, we kind of were finding the members of the band as we were making the record.

And so we all really got like, we fell in love with each other in the studio during the process.

So it was just really magical.

Yeah, it's kind of we the day that we met Mike, first time I'd ever met Mike, our keyboard player, he came into the studio.

Mike.

Sorry.

Blake, the bass player had, invited Mike to just come see the studio, but tour.

Yeah, but turns out Blake was, like, trying to get him into the band, and he.

He showed up, and he's a piano player, and he's, like, so good.

He's just, like, starts playing along and we're like, that's what is missing.

That's what we needed.

And, and then we stayed at have haven't spent more than a few weeks apart from him in the last five years.

Yeah.

What songs you are playing tonight.

Which ones like which, which ones that you're going to be recording for us tonight?

A lot of angels.

So which what is that?

All out of angels.

All out of angels.

And what is that one like?

What would you say the vibe of that song is.

It's probably like the most, I don't know, pop pop.

I feel like it's like the most popular probably has been.

Yeah.

It's it's like power pop.

Awesome.

Like I had like the outro was like Crimson and clover, like, can I do anything.

Yeah.

I'm hyped.

It's like that.

Like.

I'm breaking this.

To keep up the no shit.

They're running through the waves.

That it crashed in the ocean.

And we'll get to a place where maybe I can trust you.

I'm looking for a way to make my heart new.

I need a helping hand.

I'm out of Angel's.

Other Angel's.

We're all in a race.

And no one's ever winning.

It's $1 million pay.

And it starts the beginning.

So you can, stay.

Why?

I am Mary.

Why?

Wanted everyone someone to stay with me.

I need a helping hand.

Other angel.

I need a helping hand.

I love angel, I need a helping hand.

My angel.

So I need a helping hand.

I'm an angel.

So when it comes to you, I'm not a baby.

When it comes to.

I'm more than a baby.

I'm more of a maintenance.

I need a helping hand.

You what?

I want you what I need you, what I want you, what I see you, what I want you, what I feel you when I want you.

When I need you.

I love you too.

What I want, what I need.

But I love you too I want what I feel like I need you I want what I need.

Oh, then you want.

Love.

I need anything.

I need a helping hand.

But.

You.