#1976 Founder Story: Brave One
Founder Story: Brave One
Brandi's daughter was diagnosed at three. She built a nonprofit that matches kids with type 1 to older mentors who have it too — and she is still figuring out how to run it.
Jump to a moment
- Her daughter was diagnosed at three, and the nonprofit came out of it. Brandi describes the bed-wetting she first read as acting out after a new baby arrived, the hospital photos of Bella looking skinny with bags under her eyes, and the moment it became permanent — getting home with bags of prescriptions and a stack of instructions. Brave One now serves families across the country.
- The whole idea is a kid who has already lived it. Brave One matches children with type 1 to older mentors who also have it. Mentees have to be at least five, matches start with a six-month commitment and can extend, and the pairing is deliberate — they ask mentors what kind of child they'd match well with. Brandi's point is that the conversations are mostly not about diabetes; what matters is being with someone who understands without explanation.
- Her own mother has type 1, and deliberately held back. Rather than hand down decades of her own experience, Brandi's mother recognized that a toddler's diabetes in this era would be nothing like her own and let the new information lead. Scott's follow-up about whether that was uncertainty or wisdom gets a thoughtful answer.
- The unglamorous half of running it. Background checks for mentors, liability insurance because you're introducing people to each other, welcome boxes for new mentees, grant applications in a hard funding climate, and a fiscal sponsor handling the paperwork she admits she couldn't face. Her own summary: they are building the plane while flying it, and she and her team are putting in their own money as well as their time.
- The back half turns into a long, candid conversation about reach. Scott talks at length about how little organic reach social platforms give anymore, inflated follower numbers, people who charge to coach you into becoming an influencer, and his own rules — he has never taken money from a guest to appear, and advertisers get an episode as part of their contract rather than paying for one separately.
- Brave One — Brandi's nonprofit — mentor matching for children with type 1 and their families.
- Diabetes Pro Tip series — Episodes 1000-1025 — settings, insulin timing, and food impact.
- Juicebox Podcast Facebook group — The private community, free to join.
Every word of the conversation
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My name is Brandy, and I am a t one d mom in the Houston, Texas area. And my daughter was diagnosed two years ago, tomorrow. And because of her diagnosis, I actually started a nonprofit called Brave One in honor of her, and we serve children and families all across the country now. And I'm excited to to chat more about it.
Bella's diagnosis, and starting Brave One2:47
That's awesome. Well, I'm I'm excited to learn about it. So, Brandy, you have more than one child, or is she your only?
I do. So my daughter, Bella, she is my type one warrior, and she is the middle child. She's my my wild child. She lives up to every stereotype that a middle child has. But I have, and my oldest is seven, and I have a younger one that's two.
Wow. So... And how old is Bella?
Bella will be five in October.
Seven, five, and two.
Yes.
Oh my gosh. Well, you know what? I would have told my wife. Let's hope they're stupid so they don't wanna go to college because I don't know I don't know how we're gonna pay for that. Meanwhile, by age, you don't have to go to college.
You can be smart and not go to college. I I understand. Seven, five, and two, and she was diagnosed two years ago. So she was three. Your oldest was five.
And were you pregnant or had
So she was four weeks old at the time. So I have pictures of her in her hospital bed looking so sick, so skinny, bags under her eyes, and I have bags under my eyes because I'm trying to take care of her. But then I have this three, four week old baby that I'm nursing and trying to care for too.
So Oh.
That time period was... It's just a blur. Like, I cannot remember that time at all.
Yeah. Your husband stayed? That's brave of him. I... They've been like, if I abandon him at a hospital, I think someone will take care of them.
I I have to go. Jeez. You Oh my god. You probably felt the same way for half a second. Like, can't...
Like, I can't really do this. Right?
I... The thought immediately crossed my mind because you're in the hospital. They're throwing this information at you. And it's weird because you're in a daze, and it didn't really hit our family that this is our forever until we got home with the bags and bags of prescriptions and all these instructions. Because I thought, like, oh, okay.
We... We're discharged. We should go home. And immediately, I go back to how our old life was, and we could just go back to doing what we what we used to do. But then you get home and, like, reality hits you all at once.
Like, oh, our lives are actually going to be different forever. So we went through a grieving process for for a while.
Yeah. I remember the, like, leaving the hospital, getting back to the to the house. We were on vacation, so it wasn't yet... Like, nothing was normal yet. Mhmm.
And then a couple of days later, we get back to our house, and, our family, like, showed up at the house to... Like, they they did every stitch of laundry. They cleaned the place down to, like... You know, they they toothbrushed the... They tried to make the house, like, not need anything.
You know? And so you get there and you settle, and then that's when I remember it, like, hitting me. Mhmm. Like like, we were still and quiet, and then I realized, like, everything I was thinking of doing felt like it changed or was impossible or needed something that I didn't understand. Like, every moment felt different after that.
Exactly. And it's it's crazy because I remember talking to families and just going online and doing all this research. Like, how do people do it? And I was like, this this is impossible. I'm never gonna be able to adjust.
I got angry at families that were saying, oh, it's okay. Like, I was in your shoes. It actually does get better. And I'm like, how does it get better? These people are insane.
Like, this is crazy. And two years later, I can honestly say that it does get better.
Yeah. But it's interesting that when somebody says it to you, you're like, I can't process how that could be.
Exactly. I could not even think about the next day, the next hour, and they're telling me, oh, it gets easier. And I'm just like, these people are crazy. It does not get easier.
And if it does, maybe we could speed up the next two years and get to that and then Exactly. Slow back down again?
Well Exactly.
Really is something. So how does the division of, like, care get split up? She's obviously too little to take care of herself.
Yes. Yes. It's so tough at this age. So she... She's getting a lot...
So we're finally at the point where she's not ripping off her devices. So we've... In the three years that... The the two years that she's had it, I can count on two hands how many... How long her Dexcom has lasted the full ten days and her Omnipod the full three days.
Like, it's it's constantly pulling off her devices. So we're finally at a point where she keeps her devices on. So that's that's all I expect from her is just, hey, Make sure you put your devices on. Keep them on. And, also, let me know if you're gonna get a snack.
So she's constantly sneaking snacks. And I let her know, like, we don't restrict. We do not restrict. We we have the same diet we had before diagnosis. And I tell her all the time, you can eat whatever you want to eat.
You just have to let me know first so that we can dose you. So I try to keep it, minimal responsibility because she's so young, but that thought crosses my mind all the time as she gets older. Like, how much am I gonna give her when she's in elementary school, when she goes to middle school, high school? I hear horror stories all the time about how scary it is with teenagers, and I'm just like, oh gosh. I'm not ready for that time.
How, how did the devices end up coming off? Did did they get knocked off, fall off? Does she pull them off physically?
She pulls them off physically. So lately, she has just been complaining that they're itchy. And, of course, I can't say, like, oh, you're lying because I don't wear the devices. And I hear from a lot of adults that are diagnosed that they say yes. Like, honestly, they're very itchy.
And so she says they're itchy. It's uncomfortable. She is very active. So a lot of the time, like this morning, she was running around the house and they got knocked off by the, coffee table. Mhmm.
So... And then she swims, so it's just they're always
falling off. But but as she's getting older, she's more tolerant of them or able...
As she's getting older, like, even today when she knocked off her device on the coffee table, she said, oh, man. I didn't... I forgot this was the leg my pump was on. And so when she said that, I'm like, oh, wow. She's actually starting to be more aware of where her devices are, and she's being more careful.
That's the first time she's ever said something like that. So, I'm thinking she's becoming more aware in that, hey. I need to keep this on so that it can last the full three days, and I'm not getting poked.
Yeah. This thing doesn't get knocked off. I don't have to put another
one on. You know? Exactly.
That's awesome. I used to hate ordering my daughter's diabetes supplies. I never had a good experience, and it was frustrating. But it hasn't been that way for a while, actually, for a number of years now because that's how long we've been using US Med. Usmed.com/juicebox or call (888) 721-1514.
US Med is the number one distributor for Freestyle Libre systems nationwide. They are the number one specialty distributor for Omnipod Dash, the number one fastest growing tandem distributor nationwide, the number one rated distributor in Dexcom customer satisfaction surveys. They have served over one million people with diabetes since 1996, and they always provide ninety days worth of supplies and fast and free shipping. US Med carries everything from insulin pumps and diabetes testing supplies to the latest CGMs. Other autoimmune in your life, does anybody else have something going on?
Does she have more than one thing?
She doesn't. So she's just type one. Fingers crossed it stays that way. My mom is actually a type one, so, it is genetic. She had...
She was diagnosed as an adult, and she had the typical story of misdiagnosis where she was diagnosed as type two first, and then eventually, it became a type one diagnosis. So when Bella was diagnosed, I was like, oh gosh. She's showing signs of diabetes, but I was in such denial. But it it is genetic.
You saw it coming, but you you tried not to think about it?
I made every excuse, and I I still kick myself for that. Like, when she was, she was so, so skinny. Like, I... I'm getting memories on, like, Facebook. You know how they send you memories Yeah.
When you hit a year or two years? I'm getting memories of her pictures, and she is so, so skinny. And I said, oh, okay. Well, she's getting a little taller. She's...
It's a growth spurt. This is normal. We live in Texas. It's super hot. Okay.
If it's hot, you're gonna drink water. And if you're drinking a lot of water, you're gonna go to the restroom. She was wetting the bed again, and I thought it was just her acting out because we had a new baby at the house, and she wanted to
Bed-wetting, and a new baby in the house11:16
Mhmm.
You know, just revert back to being a baby so that she could be the... Still be the baby of the house. So I made all these excuses, and it wasn't until she wet the bed again. We were using puppy pads. It was so bad, like a diaper and a puppy pad.
Oh my gosh.
And it wasn't until, like, the third time I'm changing the sheets. I'm like, Barry, that's my husband. I think she has diabetes. And he's like, oh, no. Don't put that out in the air.
Like, don't say that. And it was that week that we ended up taking her to the hospital because it got so bad.
I thought you were gonna say, Barry, we have to buy a baby pool for this kid to sleep. Puppy pads. It... Well, the puppy pads are expensive is what I wanted to say.
Yes. They... And not even the pup... Like, the pull ups are super expensive too. Like, pull ups and puppy pads, it was it was getting a lot, and I was getting so frustrated.
And I look back, and I'm like, oh my gosh. How did I... Why did I just ignore the sign? I just didn't want to accept that this could be what it is.
So you... Did you grow... You didn't grow up with your mom having type one. You were out of the house before that happened?
I was older, so I was, like, teenager, almost out of the house. So I I I remember taking, like, the the classes, like, the nutrition classes and how to count carbs and how to read nutrition labels, but I don't remember seeing her managing her diabetes every single day.
Okay. Yes. It's... It wasn't present. Now is there any autoimmune stuff on Barry's side?
No. Nothing. He does not have anything on his side.
Celiac, thyroid, people running to the bathroom after they eat, like, anything undiagnosed, stuff people don't talk about, vidolata. No.
They haven't... Not to my knowledge, they haven't said anything. It's just the type one on my
With your mom?
Of my mom. Mhmm.
Yeah. Okay. Now... Oh, I guess what do I wanna ask you right here? I I was gonna pivot to this, but I'll stay here for one more second.
Her mother has it too13:08
When she's that young and you have new knowledge coming in, but you've got your mom who now has, like, a lifetime of experience, do you go to your mom, or do you stick with what the doctor says? Do you go online? How do you kind of pull together what it is, like, your plan's going to be?
It's so funny you asked that because I... When she was first diagnosed, I did go to my mom, and I was like, what do I do? Like, how... What do you suggest? And she was just so nervous about Bella being so tiny and being so young in her diagnosis.
She didn't wanna tell me anything. She told me, like, hey. She needs to get on the Omnipod. It's going to help out a lot. The Dexcom is going to be amazing.
But as far as, like, any type of medical advice, anytime I called her, she's like, call the doctor. Call the doctor. Call the doctor. So they they pretty much... The after hours line, they they knew us by name because I was constantly calling them almost every night when I couldn't get her sugars under control.
Yeah. Do you think your mom didn't wanna offer advice because she was afraid it was wrong or that it wouldn't be applicable, or do you think she didn't know what the hell she was doing? She's like, look. I don't wanna... I don't know how to I don't know how to tell you this, but I don't know what the hell I'm doing either.
You know what? It could be a combination of both because it's so... Diabetes is just such a roller coaster, and it's so unpredictable. Like, you think that you've got it down, and then something happens, and then you have to start over from scratch. And so I think that she realized that and she said my experience is going to be completely different than what Bella is going through.
And so I'd rather her just trust the experts because it's just... It's it's literally a roller coaster. Like, that's the only way that I can describe it is because it's just so unpredictable and some days... Like, recently, we haven't had any lows. Like, the past four weeks, we haven't had any lows at night.
She's been in range most of the day at school, and then all of a sudden, I cannot get her to come down. And so I'm like, dang it. We're gonna have to change her ratios again. So once you think you have it down, then it's like you have to change it and start over from square one.
Just when you think you have it down15:11
Yeah. Something changes all the time, especially when they're growing and gaining Mhmm. Gaining weight and all that stuff when they're little like that. How does she seem to deal with it? I mean, she's got siblings, obviously.
Everyone's aware. So does she feel different? Does she talk about that ever with you?
Yeah. She does. So when she was first diagnosed is when she was really asking a lot of questions. And, especially when she started the Omnipod, and we were having to do the site changes. And now she's used to it.
She'll she'll she'll sit on the counter and let me do it. But before, it was why me? Why am I the only one that has to get shots before I eat? This isn't fair. I hate diabetes.
And she would say that quite often, and I'm like, oh my gosh. This is a two year old, almost three year old saying the word I hate, and I hate diabetes. And we went through a really rough time the first, I would say, six... Really the first year. But now she has just taken it with so much grace, and she is just positive.
And she'll tell me, hey. I made my Omnipod last three days. Can we celebrate? So we try to make it fun. Yeah.
I mean, you can't really make it fun, but we try to celebrate her even in the small moments like, hey. You kept your Dexcom on for a a extra day. Let's let's let's celebrate with something. So... But she has such a positive attitude about it, and I'm super, super proud of her.
You just made me think of something I don't think I've ever said out loud on the podcast. Like, you said, you can't really make it fun, and I thought, oh, no. You just wanna make it suck less.
And then Exactly.
And then I realized that when... Oh gosh. This will come out wrong. There's no way I'm gonna get this out correctly. But when...
Yeah. I mean, my son played baseball his whole life. And, like, I was very supportive. But, like, when I would joke with him, I'd be I'd be like, you know what you should probably do here? Suck a little less.
And... Because this isn't going well. But it was... Anyway, I'll probably get chastised for that. But I...
Suckle s is is my, like, very loving way of saying, you know, just get a little better. Like, we'll just try to get a little better. Make it a little better here.
I love
that. Yeah. So... Well, that's nice. I'm glad you do that.
I'm glad she sees it. How do the devices work for her? Are you having outcomes like you hoped for?
I am. So I've read stories of some families not leaving the hospital without a Dexcom, and that is just crazy to me. So we were fortunate enough to leave the hospital with the Dexcom on and with a prescription for the for the month. Mhmm. So I I I cannot imagine life without our Dexcom.
It's a lifesaver. And then Omnipod, she didn't start the Omnipod until maybe six months after she was diagnosed. And it was a learning curve. It took us a while to, for it to figure out her blood sugars and her algorithm, but but now it's it's amazing. I I I tell her all the time, like, Bella, I I hope you know how...
I know you're only almost five, but I hope she knows how how grateful and how fortunate she is to be able to have an Omnipod because there's so many others that get poked 10 times a day, and we don't have to do that. And I'm forever grateful for that.
Yeah. Okay. Well, me too. I'm, happy that you found something that's working. So I'm gonna pivot here because I...
Peep... There's no way for people to know this, but the only reason that my blog and this podcast aren't, you know, a nonprofit is because I looked at the paperwork to form a nonprofit, and I was like, oh, that's so much reading. And that is
You're not joking. It's... You're so right.
A long time ago... I mean, a long time ago, I had an idea about how to help people with type one, and I thought, oh, I could do it as a nonprofit. And then I quite literally, like, looked at the the paperwork, and I was like, I can't do this. I... My brain does not work this way.
“I can't do this” — the paperwork18:58
I was like I was like, I I looked... I said to my wife, I was like, can you... And she goes, do not put this on me. And I was like, okay. I like, alright.
So I said, I guess I won't do that. Or, honestly, this podcast could be a nonprofit today if I only had the ability to read and and remember things. So what made you want to do it? What gets you to actually jump through all the hoops, and is it going the way you expected?
So it's funny you say you didn't wanna read all the paperwork for a nonprofit because I'm the exact same way. I did not want to do any of that. So Brave One is fiscally sponsored by a nonprofit. So, essentially, we reap the benefits of a nonprofit, but our fiscal sponsor does all the work for us.
Oh.
So that might be an option for you.
Oh, please. It's too late now. I'm in the game now. You know what I mean? So, today's episode is sponsored by a long term CGM that's going to help you to stay on top of your glucose readings, the Eversense three sixty five.
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Visit .twist.com/juicebox. That's visit.twist.com/juicebox. Twist has two i's. Well, tell me... So tell me what your first thought was.
Like, I want to provide, do, have. What what was that
first thought? So it it really was just a combination of events. And so it it didn't come to me immediately, but I remember Bella being in the hospital. And I'm looking at her, and I'm already thinking fast forward to high school and college. I'm like, what if she wants to go to prom and she doesn't want her her devices to show?
What if she doesn't want it to show at prom?22:10
Or what if when she's getting married, she doesn't want her devices to show? Or what if she's in college and she wants to have fun? Like, everyone had fun in college. What if she wants to go out and drink and do all the crazy things college students do? Like, is this going to stop her?
And so that was always in the back of my mind. And then it was one night where we had a really tough paw change. We're, like, holding each other. We're crying. And she looks at me, and this is when she said, I hate diabetes.
And I said, oh my gosh. I wish there was someone here that could tell her it's going to be okay, and she would actually believe them because they've lived it. Mhmm. And and that's when I was like, oh my gosh. We should have a mentorship program for kids with type one so that they can see adults living and thriving with this disease, and they can see that it doesn't have to limit who they become.
Okay. Alright. That's cool. Now how do you do that? Do they, FaceTime each other?
They meet in person?
Yes. They meet in person. So, our mentors, they commit to at least six months of mentorship. And mentorship is really kind of too much of a fancy term. It's it's really casual.
It's more of a friendship. So they take their mentees out at least once a month, and they just do things that they enjoy doing together. Like, if they play soccer, they'll go play soccer. They'll... They might go out for coffee.
They'll go to the library and play games, or they can go to an arcade. There's Yeah. So many things that they can do together. It's just having that connection. Connection.
It's It's really really not not about about what they do together. It's just how they spend their time together, how they connect.
Do they have to be adults and adults, kids and kids, adults and kids? How does
that work? So all of our mentees have to be at least five years old, so Bella's gonna be old enough to be matched soon. I'm super excited. So they're between five to 17 years old, and all of our adult mentors are 18 and up.
How a match actually works23:51
That's amazing. And is this local in the Houston area?
So that was the plan originally. So when I first started grade one, I said, let's just do a pilot. Let's keep it small. We'll start here in the Houston area. And pretty immediately, we saw nationwide interest.
And so what started off in Texas, we're in 19 states now. My goodness. Grown so fast.
How many pairs of... Is pairing the way you think of it? But how many Matches. Matches? How many matches have you guys facilitated?
We have 51 matches right now.
Look at that. Oh, lovely. Mhmm. And do people re up? Do they do six months and then do it again, or do they stay friends and then go to other people?
The initial commitment's six months, but we always give our matches a chance to extend their their match. And I want to... We're we're just hitting six months for a lot of our first matches.
Mhmm.
And about 75% have said yes to extension. The others that have not extended, it's not for any reason for the program. It's because they're moving or time doesn't allow them to continue. Mhmm. But the feedback we've gotten is just phenomenal from from all sides, the mentees, the the mentors, and the families.
So is this is this a a setup where one person has more experience, knowledge, or... And is maybe more of a learned, you know, person in the pairing, or is it just for people to get together? Is it almost like a personal diabetes camp?
So it's it's funny because when I first started, it's... I thought it would be more of, like, a personal diabetes camp where they can talk to someone and ask questions about about diabetes related things that me... That we as parents can't answer. But I've learned through our matches that these... Our kids don't even want to talk about diabetes.
Like, they talk about so many other things other than diabetes because if you think about it, they live with it twenty four seven. They don't want to be reminded that they have it.
Yeah.
And this is the chance for them to connect with someone that already understands. Like, if an alarm goes off in the middle of their conversation, they don't have to stop and explain. They can just keep on with their conversation. And so a lot of our matches don't even talk about diabetes. It's just being in presence with someone who truly understands what they're going through that makes all the difference.
It's a pen pal in real life.
Yes. Exactly.
Yeah. Well, that's awesome. And have you... But you don't have diabetes, but I was wondering, have you thought of doing it for parents or caregivers too?
You know, I've had a couple of parents ask me this if they could... If we could have, like, some... Like, a community for the parents and the families. And I thought about it. I just did not realize, and I'm sure you can relate with the juice box.
I did not realize how much work this would be. This... I'm like, you can definitely relate. I... This has become...
And I'm not complaining because I love it, and I did this myself. It's become another full time job. Mhmm. And I did not realize that it was going to be so much work. It's...
I I love what I do, but I was like, I cannot add anymore.
Last night at 03:30, I'm under a blanket hiding from my wife's fan because I'll... It's gonna kill me. And and and a a hand comes through the blanket and, like, shakes my arm and goes, are you awake? And I said, yeah. And she goes, why?
A hand through the blanket27:25
And I was like, I mean, there's stuff to do. Mhmm. Mhmm. So...
Yes. Yes.
I I I hear what you're saying, and I'm also not complaining. But, I mean, when my alarm went off at eight, I was like, oh, what was I thinking? Yep. I'm a little too old for all this. So so what is your...
I mean, obviously, you're you're probably a one woman show. Right? You're doing it on your own.
I actually have a... An amazing team of six volunteers that I tell them every day. I said, I could not continue to build this out without you. So I have an amazing team that's helping me keep this going every single day.
Who's facilitate... You said there's, like, a, like, a benefactor. Who is the benefactor?
Well, what do you mean?
Like, there's a person fund... Foot... Like, you said there was, like, an organization above you helping you with paperwork
and stuff. Who's that? They... There is Players Philanthropy Fund. They're here...
They're... I believe they're based in Texas, but they pretty much handle all of the things that nonprofits have to do as far as, like, filing paperwork and they handle, like, all of our donations so that our donations can be tax deductible. So we reap the benefits of a nonprofit, but we don't have to do all of the admin and and the dirty work. They do that for us.
Are they a nonprofit, or are they
They are a nonprofit. Yes.
I... You gotta love business people. Like, somebody was like, you know, there's nonprofits. We could probably start a nonprofit to help the nonprofits.
Exact... Yes. Yes. And they they have so many projects that they sponsor, and they are essentially a bank. So they have to handle all of these donations, all of these money.
So, yeah, they're they're making a profit.
How are you... Yeah. I was gonna say they're like, you know what? What if we just took a couple of pennies off the top here? Exactly.
What, how do you get... Like, when you when you say you're gonna do this out loud, how do you get, like, that initial support, and how do you find the process of having to chase more money?
Yeah. That's the tough part is is the is the fundraising and the raising money because we have families that relate to our mission and they agree that this is much needed, but, hey. We're all hurting for money right now. Like, it's it's hard to to ask for money when... I mean, just to be honest, a lot of people don't have it.
And this... And honestly, like, for just the funding landscape right now for most nonprofits, I've I've been applying for grants too. It's just really, really competitive out there.
Mhmm.
But what I've been focusing on is just really spending time with families that truly resonate with our mission. And we've gotten a few personal donations, and luckily Brave One can run without a lot of funding. A lot of our funding goes towards insurance, background checks for our mentors, and we send warrior boxes to our mentees to welcome them to the family. So those are our really big three expenses. And so we'll have families, and we're starting to look at corporate sponsors that can help us fund those.
Where the money goes30:21
But it's it's it's hard.
My god. Hold on. I'm gonna die. I'm not sure what just happened. I apologize.
I'm sorry for everybody else. I'm probably not editing that out. My question was gonna be, though, when when people are look... When you're looking for sponsorship, I mean, there must be that fear side of it of, like, well, we're gonna put two people in a room together. No one's there to watch them.
And what if one of them, you know, loses their mind and strangles the other one? Like, did we
You're so you're so right. And that's what's so hard about having a youth mentorship program. And so this is my background. So for my full time work, I help build and scale youth programs. And so I'm very familiar with the operations and the systems that go behind it, and safety is going to be our number one priority.
And so what's great about Brave One is our families are responsible for bringing their child to and from these outings. We call them outings, so it's pretty much an activity. Mhmm. And so because parents are responsible for transportation, they're gonna be in the area. So they always meet in family friendly public locations.
They will never be alone with the child. We talk about boundaries and, safety very extensively in our mentor trainings. They complete the training. There's an onboarding process and then background checks. But what what keeps us safe is we really...
The family stay for for the outing. So the child is is really never alone with their mentee, their go... Or their mentor. They're they're going to be in a a public setting, but they still get that one on one time.
It's like a playdate with a background check.
Exactly.
Probably the safest place in the world is at this thing. But I take your point. Like, you have to have you have to have insurance because you're introducing the people to each other. Right? Yeah.
And there's... So there's liability insurance. There's probably Yes. Other stuff in case somebody decides they they wanna come after you for some reason or... Oh my god.
Exactly. Yeah. We have to have all those in in place.
How far into... Like, once you have the excited idea and you're like, this is great. I'm gonna do this thing. Like, how... What's...
How many road bumps until you go, what was I thinking?
Oh my gosh. That is such a good question. And I honestly... We're we're a year and a half in, maybe, not even two years in. I have not
Have that feeling?
Hit that yet.
Good for you.
But I can tell you it's it's coming. Because right now, I was just talking to my team yesterday, and they're like, Brandy, you need to slow down and calm down and focus on one thing because I have... Like you, I'm up at... Up in the middle of the night. Like, oh my gosh.
I should be asleep right now, but I have such a good idea. And I'm I'm just throwing ideas at the team, and I'm so sorry guys if y'all are listening. But we... It's it's so hard to focus on one area when you're so passionate about it. So I have not hit that moment yet, but I'm telling you it's close.
Well, you're probably... I'll... I don't wanna speak for you. I'm asking you through the statement, but you're probably getting feedback back from people who really makes you feel like, oh my gosh. This works.
It really valuable.
Yes. I get text messages from parents telling me... Or I'll get emails late at night like, this has been such a blessing to my family, and they'll share stories. And they're sending me pictures of their child and their mentor drinking coffee or playing soccer or Yeah. At a arcade, and it's just so rewarding.
And that just... That's honestly the fuel that keeps me going is just hearing, the stories from our families.
It's pretty great. Well, I I... Listen. Don't let me, like, you know, tell you what to do, but I hope you keep going because I think that's really fantastic. I...
You will get frustrated along the way and, you know, have to reset here and there. But, where's the where's the bulk of your effort from? Is it trying to do the business stuff? Is it trying to reach the people? Is it trying to get donations?
Like, when you say, like, you know, it's a second full time job, like, there's gotta be... Bulk of it's gotta sit in some... One of those buckets. Right?
It's really a mix of everything. So, I would say a lot of our time is admin. So we don't just match and say, okay. Good. You're good to go.
You can do whatever you want. We are constantly following up with our matches. So we send out surveys. We ask for their feedback. We we have communication tools like group meetings, and we have virtual meetings just to keep the community going and so that we stay connected.
We have events that we're hosting that our families wanna host for us. And like you said, trying to find funding so that we can continue to keep this free for families. And we get applications from mentees and mentors, pretty much every day. And I tell my team all the time, like, we're gonna cap it at 50. We're gonna stop.
Like, yeah. Yeah, Brandy. Yeah. Whatever. So they don't even believe me when I say that because we get applications on a daily basis.
And if I find a mentee, mentor match, and I'm like, oh my gosh. This is a match made in heaven. I'm just gonna go for it. And so whenever we do find a match, it's setting them up with training, getting their background check set up, sending them all their documents for onboarding. So it's just...
It's a it's a mix of operations and funding and organizing events. It's a little bit of everything.
My gosh. Husband involved in this, or is it a thing you're doing by yourself?
It is a thing. He'll... He has a brave one dad shirt if that counts, but it's pretty much...
I mean, when you're doing the the paperwork, I don't I don't think that counts, though.
Yeah. He'll he'll wear his brave one dad shirts if we have a spirit night and we're we're... We have an event. He'll he'll happily show up. But other than, like, the admin pieces, he's like, oh, Brady, that's all you.
How how about Bella? Does she getting any value from it, do you think? Even though she's
it She is. So she's not matched yet, but I'll show her pictures, of the matches and them having fun. And it's so cute because they'll all send me some pictures and and they're posing in their Dexcom or their Omnipods. And I'll just be like, Bella, look. They have an Omnipod like you or they they have type one diabetes like you, and she just completely lights up.
She completely lights up36:37
So, she'll point at them like, oh, look. They're brave one. And it's just it's just so cute. I can't wait for her to be matched.
Do you... Are you finding it to be mostly newer diagnosed people, or is there a mix?
It's a mix, but it's mostly going to be newer diagnosed. I will say most of our mentees have been diagnosed for less than two years.
Did they tell you what what their motivation is to be a mentee?
Yes. So we're very, very intentional when it comes to matching. And so on the application, we always ask, like, hey. What do you look for in a mentor? We'll ask the mentor, like, what type of child would you match well with?
Because we want them to be able to bond on other things besides type one. And so we ask for their hobbies and their interests and even down to, like, hey. Would you like a older mentor or a younger mentor? Like, what are your preferences? So Mhmm.
We ask all of that in the applications, the interest forms that we have, so that we can be very intentional when we match them with the mentor.
Do they... Do the mentors indicate why they want to give their time?
Yes. And it's... Reading those responses is just, like, so heartwarming, and it's crazy because they all essentially say the same thing. I'll say... Like, we have four...
Over 400 mentor applications. And I would say probably 90% of those, maybe even more than that, they all say the same thing that they want to be who they needed when they were growing up. And they said, I wish this type of program was allowed when I was a child. Like, this could have meant all the difference. Like, I'm...
I probably wouldn't have gone through my burnout phase. Like, I would have had somebody I could talk to. Like, they all say that this program is allowing them to be who they needed, and it's so special for them.
Have you had to say no to anybody?
You know what? So I have, but I haven't had to tell them in their face. They're just on the waiting list still. So if I... So all of my mentors that are out there and listening to this, if you are in the program, you have been selected from a highly competitive pool of mentors.
And so, me and the team, we go through applications pretty... Almost every day. And so we're looking at their, their answers, and we're seeing how how their thoughts come together. Like, hey. Are they are they doing this because they're genuine about it?
Or or, like, are are they just doing this just to do it, just to check the box? And so we're very, very selective when it comes to choosing who's going to be a part of the program as a mentor.
Sounds like this hasn't happened, but I'm gonna put you in a hypothetical. You're going through one of the applications, and it's clear this person is cuckoo for Coco Puffs. Okay? They're just... They're really out of their mind.
And do you just sit... Like, how do you... I don't... Like, but they still are like, I really wanna help. But there's something that comes off as unstable about them.
It doesn't matter what it is, really. I mean, how do you how do you imagine handling that? Or... Mean...
That's actually happened before. And luckily, like, when we... On our application, we let them know, like, hey. We are a very, very small organization. We're still very new.
When you fill out this application, this does not mean that you're going to be matched in the... Like, not even in the near future. Like, there's no timeline. There's no deadline. We will reach out to you if somebody is
A good one.
Identified near you.
Okay. Well, that's very, adult. I got it. I... Listen.
As a person who receives a lot of correspondence, I can just tell you once you get into the third paragraph, I start going, uh-oh.
The... Oh, yeah. I've I've seen those applications, and I'm just like, delete. Like, let's just put a red line across that one because I don't think this is gonna work.
I like that writing this has made you feel better, but, I mean, is there a question
in here?
You know? Like... Meanwhile, I really do like the correspondence. I shouldn't say otherwise. I've actually...
I think I've I think I've trained people not to correspond with me by... Because it it... As the listenership goes up, the correspondence doesn't go with it. And and I think it's because I spent so much time on the podcast going, I get a lot of email. I hate answering my email.
Please don't send me email. I think people started listening. So I feel bad about that. You guys can send email. It's cool.
And if you're crazy, whatever. I mean, it's... I'm crazy.
Let it out. Yeah. Vince.
I... Listen. I went to... She'll never hear this. Right?
There's no way she'll ever... So I had to, I... If you're not thinking, oh, they'll never hear this at least 20 times, you're not making a good podcast. And so, I'm... I had to go to the the pet store last night.
Right? I had to pick up some crickets to feed one of my lizards. That's what I had to do. I'm just gonna be clear about that. I get into the pet store, and this woman is helping me.
She's older, but she's got, like, a old hippie vibe. Like, you know what I mean? Like... Right? And she's real cool and everything.
And she goes, she's... What are you feeding with this? And I said, oh, I'm gonna give these to, emerald tree skinks. And she lit up and started telling stories and everything. And she's like, are these the ones like that?
I said, I... You know what? I have a picture. Hold on. I'll open up.
I'll get the picture for you. Now I'm showing a lady, I don't know, a picture of my tree skink in a in a pet store. And she's like, oh, let me show you something I've been keeping. I was like, okay. Right on.
So then she opens up her phone and shows me that she has a pet cockroach.
Oh my gosh.
A a Madagascar hissing cockroach. And I have to tell you that I judged that. So I was like, oh
my god.
But I didn't out loud. I was like, oh my god. That's amazing. What made you keep that? What I thought was, that's a bug in a box.
I'm not sure what we're doing right now. But...
It's disgusting. And it's always it's always the pet stores. It is always the
pet stores. Like, I have Look how pretty it is. Isn't it gorgeous? And I was like, yeah. Like, I...
Listen. I talked to her the same way I would talk to you if you were showing me pictures of your kid in the mall. You know what I mean? I was like, oh my god. It's beautiful.
Oh my.
And and she... But but here's my point about her. She was awesome. She she really was lovely, and I had a very nice conversation with her. It's...
Is she a little left to center? She is. But you can make the argument that I was there buying crickets to give to a skink that's from, like, some island off of, like, Mazul.
So, like, yeah. Whatever. True.
Yeah. Yeah. So, any... Anyway, I just don't know. I...
It... That's how it occurs to me when I'm thinking about your job. Like, oh, one day, she's gonna have to say to somebody, yo. This ain't for you.
Oh, yeah. And it's it's it's gonna be someone that's like, hey. I've been waiting. I've been waiting. Any update?
And I'm just not gonna be able to sugarcoat it any longer. And just
be Because I deal with people online in mass, and I want... I I wanna say overwhelmingly, everyone is fantastic, and I genuinely mean that. But every once in a while, you're like, oh, I am being, like like, accosted through typing by a person who's going through something. Yeah. You know?
And you're like, well, the first thing you try try to do, like, the, oh, your cockroach is beautiful. Like, that works in that setting where I can walk out of the pet store. Right? And then... But when you when you do that online, it doesn't work the same way.
When you do it in writing, like, they'll they'll persist. And then eventually, you have to you have to be honest, and then that honesty is not very frequently met with understanding. Exactly. No matter how kind
you are.
So it's it's an interesting pro... Like, I'm just saying you've given yourself a lot of problems by starting this nonprofit up.
You are not wrong about that.
Are you drawing a salary from it?
No. I am not.
Oh my god. You just have a hobby?
Literally. I have never referred to it as a hobby, but you know what? That's exactly what it is.
But but but I I don't mean that in a bad way. Like, I mean, like, listen. If you do something for whatever reason and somebody's not paying you, it's the thing you're doing because you enjoy it. Mhmm.
Yeah. So Exactly.
Well, that's... And so what are you getting from doing it?
As cheesy as it sounds, just the impact that it's made on on families across the country. So we're in 19 states, and I will go... I'll stay up late at night. And if I just need to pick me up on why did I decide to do this, I'll I'll look at the survey responses, and I see the impact that the families are saying that it's that it's done for them, not even just the families, but the mentors. And they'll tell me all the time, like, Brandy, this has just been so amazing, and they'll send...
Our mentors even get together on their own, and they have their own little community nights, and they set up their own things. So we pretty much have just, this brave one community, and they'll they'll send me pictures, and they'll send me texts just thanking me for starting this. And that's honestly what makes it what makes it worth it.
Lovely. I actually think the reason I was up late working last night is when I was going to bed, I was just going through all my messages at the end of the day and and trying to answer people. It's just somebody just said the loveliest thing to me, like, in a YouTube comment. Aw. And and I think it really, like, must have it must have reenergized me because I I Yeah.
I had a thought about something that I wanted to do. And then I was like, I'm tired. I'm just gonna go through and do all my messages and everything. And I did messages and everything, and then I got this one thing. And I think it just lit me back up again.
I was like, oh, this really meant something to this person today. You you know?
Yeah. It's those moments. Yeah. They... And they definitely come at the right time when you feel like, oh gosh.
I can't do this anymore. And then you get a little pick me up like that. It's it's exactly what you need.
Yeah. Oh, if you're listening, if I ever respond to you online that you made my day, what I really meant was you saved me today. So thank you because I I found the end of my rope today. And and this was this was really helpful. And it...
You're right. They do always come... Kinda come at the right time, which is which is nice. Mhmm. Do you think this is a long term thing?
Do you think it's a thing you build up to hand off to somebody else? How long
I hope it's a long term thing. I have... Like, we have so many plans for brave one. We're actually piloting chapters now. So my my dream is for brave one to have a chapter in every state so that if a family wants to sign up their kid, they can wait thirty days versus waiting for...
A chapter in every state46:46
I don't know how long some of our children have been waiting. But they have a chapter that they can go to for direct support. Yeah. And so I... We have we have so many plans for brave one.
So this is definitely going to be, we're in it forever.
How, that's awesome. How do you see it working when it gets big enough that you're not enough and your six, you know, people who are volunteering aren't enough. So I I mean, it's coming through. I I have a real place of interest on this because there are probably... I think I've lost count at this point, but 13 or 14 people that helped me just to manage the Facebook group.
Oh my gosh. Yeah. Yeah. I think about that question every day, and I have... I don't I don't have an answer for it.
And I definitely need to start thinking about it because I've already told, our team, we have monthly meetings, and we've already talked about, okay. So what comes after this? So we've already proven the demand. Like, what... We're pretty much at capacity now.
Like, what's next?
Yeah.
And so that's that's definitely something that that we need to talk through more. It's just I'd never imagined that it would grow this big. So we were... We only had four matches in February, and I kinda thought it would stay around no more than 10.
Mhmm.
And then we hit 50 pretty fast, like, in less than six months. And I was just, oh, wow. This this is growing a lot faster than I than I thought it would. So we're... I told, I told one of my volunteers yesterday, we are building the plane as we're flying it.
Building the plane while flying it48:15
That's just
Oh, no kidding.
What we're doing.
And I assume too as you have more capacity, you'll be able to match more people. And
Exactly.
Then the... If you're if you're lucky and successful, then that means there's no end to it. So there's no end to the need for more resources to make it happen. And it's interesting. A lot of your cost is back end stuff.
Mhmm. Yeah. It's not... Like, the actual fit... Because I bet you on the day one when you thought about this, you're like, great.
I'll just match people up together. That'll be awesome for them.
They're like, oh, it's not easy. And you know what? A lot of our... A lot of people that aren't, like, familiar with the brave one, like, oh, okay. You match you match family.
You match kids and adults, and that's it. And there's there's so much behind the scenes that people don't see that we're doing on a daily basis. I don't think they realize not just the time that we invest, but also the money that we're personally investing in this. It's it's definitely... I tell people all the time, it's it's free to families, but it's definitely not free to operate.
Yeah. I know. I I was... I I feel that way sometimes with... I'm like, I tried to...
It's a weird balance to say to somebody Yeah. Hey. Look. I am not asking you for anything here. Like...
Because I... In my position, like, I don't want anything from you guys. Like, I I don't want your money. I don't want you to... Like, I I...
But if you don't subscribe, if you don't listen, the whole thing will literally fall apart. And and it's weird to live in an ecosystem that dictates how you do things that isn't money based. Like Yeah. Because if it was simpler for you... If you could...
Transactional, I should say. Like, so if if it was easy enough to you to go to those people and go, look. If you wanna be matched with somebody, it costs $50. Like, you know what mean? And then that covers the the, you know, the back end stuff that happens, but that's not what you're trying to do.
And Yep. And then, yeah, and then if you can't get somebody to help, it's... It really is a... It's a hell of a catch 22, actually.
It is. It's it's so... It's such a tricky situation because I never wanna be in that situation where I'm telling families like, hey. Like, I mean, can you at least put a little bit of something towards your match to alleviate some of the burden that we're that we're personally investing? But I I tell myself, they say never say never, but I will say, like, I never want to charge families that are looking for support.
Like, I just Yeah. I I just can't.
I'm so adamantly against the idea. Like, if you ever hear me say to you, the podcast costs money or I'm coaching, you know, would you like to have the proper... Like, just know that something really terrible happened to me because I I I... I'm not mad at people who do it. Yeah.
I certainly don't wanna tell people how to live their lives, but I am... I... I'm very uncomfortable with the idea of health coaching in general. I'm very I'm very uncomfortable with the idea of, like, taking money from somebody to tell them something that is, like, pretty simple and reasonably available, like, that kind of thing. Like, I don't wanna be a part of it.
I don't know that if I met you and you were doing it, I'd be like, oh, that's bad. I don't think that at all.
It's just not my cup of tea. Just not for me. I get
it. Yeah. I would prefer to do it this way. And Yeah. And then the other side of this thing too is, like, getting to people and making them aware of what you have to offer.
That becomes... I really know that I'm talking about this too much, but I I hope that people listening realize it's because it's becoming more and more of a factor every day. Yeah. Social media has stopped being a tool for the users. And so you can't really reach people through social media anymore unless you unless you pay for it.
On reach, influence, and paying to be heard51:44
And then I don't
Exactly. That... It's so so so... Yeah. It's wild.
It's upsetting.
I'm getting messages, oh, you should pay for the little verified check mark. I'm like, no. I'm not paying $15 a month. You get a little blue check mark by my name. Like...
No. Or or or to... Like, you know, everything you post at this point, people who have personal accounts don't know. But, like, you post on Facebook, you post on Instagram, TikTok, the next sheet that comes in front of you is telling you, if you just pay us money, we'll
make Exactly.
We'll make sure somebody see... Yeah. We'll
boost it.
We'll we'll let somebody say it. Yeah. Yeah. If you'd... If you put...
If you give us money, which means that it's not... It's it's just no longer what it used to be. And that was... You know, like, I don't wanna sound old, but, you know, there was a time where if you started a business or an organization like yours, you would have bought an ad at the back of a penny saver or put yourself in the yellow pages so that somebody who was like, oh, I wonder if I can find a diabetes mentor. Now that...
And then it was, well, I'll get a website. But now that now Google... Like, you can't just Google something anymore. Like, people's Google reserve... Results are paid.
You can pay. You can pay to be the first Google search.
Yep. Right. Google results are paid for. And then you think
You can't even you can't even trust the reviews now either.
No. Of course not. Oh, please. There's I... There's some...
I will not... I would definitely not say who, but I am... And I could be wrong. I wanna say that, but I'm a connoisseur of the space. There is someone paying for downloads on a diabetes podcast right now.
Oh. I I'm sure.
I can just... I smell it. I can see it happening. And, like... And so I've never done anything like that.
I never I never would. I wouldn't pay for a follower, but you can. Like, you could send money somewhere and some will come and pretend to follow you, and you'll look like you have more people following you or it'll download your podcast or your YouTube video or whatever. And it is an incredibly common practice to bolster those numbers and then go out in the world and try to sell ads based on those numbers. If you don't if you don't know that, you...
You're not in this space. That is an incredibly common thing to do. So if you're following somebody who seems to have a ton of likes and hearts but not a lot of comments
Exact... That not... No engagement? Yep. That's a red flag.
Yeah. Wonder what's going on there a little bit. And, and, nevertheless, like, I even under... Look. I I genuinely wouldn't do it.
I guess this is a thing I'm judging. But, like, but I also understand if somebody's stuck and they really need... They need a life or money or something, like, I understand the idea of feeling like, oh gosh. Maybe I could just, you know, buy buy a couple 10,000 of these downloads and then tell somebody somebody's listening. You know?
Anyway, like, it's... Anyway, the whole ecosystem is like that now. And when you're trying to do what you're trying to do, you know, like, how do you even... Because even if you come into my group and try to tell people, I'm gonna stop you. Yeah.
Right? Like, so there... Because if not because I don't like what you're... Obviously, I'm having you on the podcast. Right?
But if I let you come in and make a big post about it, everyone else in the world is
gonna be like, oh, what about mine? What about... Why why did you delete mine?
And it's gutter thing. I'm trying to help kids get teddy bears in Okinawa. Oh, I I I didn't know that was a problem for the Japanese kids.
Like children's I have a children's book that
I used to use. Children's book. I had a lady on that wrote a children's book recently. That was my good deed children's book for five years. I don't wanna hear from anybody else.
Okay? Also, with this org thing, don't reach out to me and tell me you had Brandy on. Brandy was the one. She's Jose Altuve. She's the four foot tall second baseman that gets to play professional baseball.
The rest of you are not playing. Okay?
I can't I cannot imagine that, yeah, the the comments that you get.
It won't... Or just... It's the asks. And then, like... And nobody understands that the podcast does what it does because of the balance it has.
If I have every one of you on that wants to do this, then nobody will listen to the podcast. If I if I if I, let every post in the Facebook group be about a thing you need or a walk you're going on or a thing you're trying to raise money, then
Oh, yeah.
It it just falls That
would be the whole podcast if you allowed everyone to do it.
If the if the group started that, nobody would go to the group anymore. And the podcast, would... It would... Would wanna listen to that. Yeah.
I just learned about a thing a couple of weeks ago. Blew my mind. I post... I know I shouldn't be... There's I'm smart enough and savvy enough that this shouldn't blow my mind.
But I got it into my... I I I never go on other people's podcasts. Right? It's just not a thing I do. And I thought the other day, was like, well, maybe I could go on somebody's parenting podcast or talk about, like, something like...
Like, maybe that would be interesting. So I looked around at a few of them. I found one that looked like, yeah, people seem to listen to it. I I liked what I was hearing when I was listening a little bit. I went to their website.
They were like, we are accepting applications for... And I said, oh, it's a slam dunk. I have an incredibly popular podcast. I'll reach out to them. They'll wanna have me on.
I go on. There's a little form on the website. I'm filling out the form. At the bottle of form, it didn't... It...
The form informs me that if I should be chosen... Do you know what's gonna happen, Brandy?
No. I'm gonna Don't tell me what I think.
Oh, I'm gonna pay them to be on their podcast.
Oh, wow.
And I was like, what now? So in that That
is insane.
So then, anyway, so in that box, I wrote, well, I wouldn't be doing that, but if you still wanna have me on, you can let me know.
Don't So do they have people on their their podcast? Like, I can't imagine someone
would pay. Yeah. Brandy Brandy, see this... You seem like a decent person like maybe I am. So I went online to say how...
Like, I was in the group, and I was like, you know what I just learned? And the feedback I got back is this is an incredibly common practice.
Oh my gosh.
So there are people who start podcasts just to charge you to be on the podcast so that you have content that looks like you were on a podcast. Wow. And I was like, snap. This world is out of control. So so for clarity, you have a thing that isn't reaching anybody, and you needed to reach people.
So you go to another person who has a thing that doesn't reach anybody, but it looks good. And so you get to go on and get the video or the audio and then share it back on your channels, which, by the way, is not a way to reach people because if it was, you wouldn't have needed to do this thing. And now you have this really well produced audio or video
of you being nobody's gonna see.
No one's gonna see, that nobody has seen that you paid for. And so, like Oh my gosh. So I had a person who was lovely online who was like, listen. Gotta tell you, this is a really common business thing that gets done too. Like, CEOs go on shows that they know no one's listening to.
So the
thing my gosh. So it looks like they're, like, on a TED Talk or
something. Yeah. And I was like... So the whole thing just blew me up inside. I was like, that can't be real.
And then I paused for a second. I was like, oh my god. I could I could be rich if
I did that. Wow.
Was like, yeah. I'll just sell... But I wouldn't do that. And and when I do... Listen.
I I have advertisers. And if you hear somebody from the company that is an advertiser on the show, you should know that in every one of their contracts every year, they have the the opportunity to send somebody on once a year. And... But when I do that, I put their ad on it so you know Yeah. You you...
Like, it's an ad. Like, you know what I mean? Like Yeah. Even if somebody from... I mean, I think I have, I have an episode coming up in a week or two, like, with somebody from Twist.
Now I would have had this person on whether Twist was an advertiser or not because I was interested in the content. But because they're an advertiser, then the episode goes up with their ads on it. It's clear that they work at Twist. You can listen to it if you want to. Like...
Right?
Yeah. But,
anyway, I was, like, I was flabbergasted. Like, I really... My... I don't know how to say this exactly, Brandy, but, like, I... Because I don't wanna sound like I'm telling you to get off my lawn.
You know what I mean? But I have less faith in people every day. Like...
Oh my gosh.
That was one of the things that got me.
That thought would have never crossed my mind for a way for people to to make money. Like, I just... I did not know that was a thing.
So when you are, I don't know, buying something or paying a business or something like that, because you're like, oh, I saw them on this show in this show. It is completely possible that they paid for that just so they could use the content as marketing that is subterfuge, like... Because it it makes you feel like somebody was like, oh, that's very interesting. You should come to my podcast and talk about it. I...
It would be it would be like if when you reached out to me, if I said, yeah. It's no problem, but you're gonna have to pay me.
Oh my gosh. Yeah. So I don't even know what's real anymore.
Exactly. Thank you. I'm glad to have ruined your feelings about the world. Because now you can live in the same hell I live in now that I
live my gosh.
That's very upsetting, isn't
That is so crazy.
Mhmm. Yeah. I... And by the way, I don't imagine it's... I mean, I don't imagine it's everybody.
I've never, like... I've I've never, like, taken money from somebody for them to be on the podcast. And, again, if somebody's been on the podcast, and it's been like that. It's like this episode is sponsored by the person you're listening to.
Exactly. I actually had someone reach out to me, and they were just like, hey. Are you trying to get more exposure for your organization? Like, we write these articles, and it reaches these people. And after the end of, like, a ten minute conversation, she's like, yeah.
Our our lowest package is gonna be $1,500. And I was like, oh, goodbye. Like, there's absolutely no way I'm paying for that. That's crazy.
I am featured in a New York Times article. I definitely think if I say this out loud, I will never get this opportunity again. Whatever. Okay, Brandy. Right?
I'm... A company I was doing business with a few years ago who... Okay. I won't say that part. They they asked me if I would, allow myself to be interviewed in, like, a fairly prestigious newspaper.
And I was just like, yeah. Sure. Like, you know, they're like, we'd love it if you would tell your story and everything. And I was like, okay. No problem.
So now I'm on the phone doing, like, a fairly comprehensive interview with a person. And I was like, oh my gosh. This is crazy. And it gets all done. And I just say, like, I don't ask for money to do the interview.
Like, by the way, you should know anyone else who's an influencer is asking to get paid every every time they stand up. I'm on my way to Touched one in a couple weeks. Like, I'm gonna spend my weekend flying to Florida, speaking all day at touch by by type one and coming back. I'm not asking them to pay me to do that. Exactly.
Like... And and if you did ask them to pay you, that's fine. I don't. Like, that's Yeah. Touched by Type one buys ads on this podcast.
I've had an agreement. I've... A a a business agreement with them for ten years, and I've been helping them since before that. Okay? And I...
It's a thing I like to do, and I like to do it. I go to talk at other stuff. I don't ask people for money. Even there's times when I could ask for money. I'm just like, no.
It's fine. Like
Yeah. It just feels wrong.
You're covering me to fly in and out, and you're putting me up in a hotel. Like, that's good.
Like, you know what mean?
Like, I'm fine. I don't want it to cost me anything. Like, pay for my, you know, pay for my bagel, but, like, you know, that's pretty much the end of it. Right? And having said that, I just I just threw a bunch of receipts away from something where I was like, I'm not...
This is stupid. I'm not asking them to pay for my bagel. Nevertheless, like, it is... Like, I do the interview. Right?
And I think it goes really well, and I'm proud of it. And one day, somebody sends me a link to it. I think, oh, I'll go look at it and see how it worked out. And there it is. You're in a fairly prestigious newspaper.
You're being talked to by the thing. And then I look harder and I realize, oh my god. The company paid for this. This is not a... This isn't an interview.
This is an ad that looks like an interview.
Oh, wow.
And I was like, oh my god. I was like, I didn't... Like, and I guess that's a thing I should have known, but I promise you, I did not know that was what was happening when I did it. So they paid the newspaper to write the article.
Oh, wow.
Yeah. And they told them what they wanted the article to be about, and then they used my part of it for, like, the human interest side of it to make it look like an article. And I'm gonna tell you right now, I don't know this for sure, but when a famous person's kid is diagnosed and the next thing you know, you're reading a full spread about them in People Magazine, I guarantee you somebody paid People Magazine to write that story.
Oh my gosh. You were just, like, exposing all of these things that I'd never even thought
happened. I just need you all to just subscribe and follow. I'm not I'm not asking you to do anything else, really. Just... You just listen to the podcast once in while.
That'd be awesome. No. It's it's... So, anyway, this all this, like... Because we kinda talked earlier about, like, how the, you know, how the the...
Everybody wants you to pay to be in some... Everything is like that at this point. Yeah. So I'm just here to let you know that when I have people come on the podcast, I don't ask them to pay me. I...
Do I have to put that in the thing and tell people? Because when people said that, one person responded back to me and said, Scott, you don't charge those people to be on your podcast. I was like, no. Then somebody said, well, you could. And I was like Oh my gosh.
Like, I'm not
going to. You're the minority here by not charging.
Maybe. Maybe I'm leaving money on the table. I don't know. Oh my gosh. I...
The whole thing's... I'm not gonna... I would never, I wanna say. And... But at this...
Anyway, this is the world. So good luck.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You're right. Good luck.
Because the world is crazy.
I am gonna retire and sit somewhere warm and make sure this lizard's okay and talk to my wife only when she wants to talk to me. So I'm thinking Tuesdays and Saturdays maybe. And then I just wait for the Lord to come and get me. You you know what I mean, Brady? Hey.
That sounds like the life. That sounds like the life.
I'm almost done. I... This this is really flipping me out, like, now. I I think it's just because I'm old. Like, I don't...
I didn't grow... Like, I'm in a really awkward position where, like, I I I was talking to a young person the other day, like, 23, 24 years old. And I... They... We were talking, and and I said, it must be strange for you, like, that this is, like, how I make a living.
And she said, you're, like, my freaking hero. Are you kidding me? And I'm like, I am? And she goes she goes, I can't believe you have a podcast. Like, that's a...
Like, that's like a functional business. Like, the help... Like, she's like, you help people and you pay your bills. And I was
like Yeah.
I was like, great. She goes, yeah. Everyone I know is trying to do that.
Oh, yeah. And I was
like, oh, I wasn't trying to do it at all. I just... I don't... I can't believe it happened, actually.
Yeah. She's so right. If you ask any kid right now what they want to be when they grow up, they're probably going to say, like, an influencer. Like, that's what all these kids wanna be.
I said to her, just get a job. I mean, seriously. I also said, like, the same thing is, like, I'm like, I already got this job. Like... And she's, by the way, not involved in diabetes at all.
Like, I was like, there are very few people who do this successfully enough Oh, yeah. Such that it, like, warrants somebody saying, hey. Here's some money. Read my ad for me. And so, I was like, it's not gonna work.
It's just... It's... It just isn't. And then I and then I thought, maybe I'm wrong. Like, maybe the whole world has become so transactional that it is possible to start up an Instagram and make $20,000 a year off of it or something like that.
Like, maybe I'm maybe I'm naive. Like, I
Well, the only way for you to find out is if you find yourself a coach and pay 15... What... How much are their their subscriptions? And they can coach
you on how to do it. Oh, you... Oh, sure. Yeah. Well, I I know I say this too much on here.
By the way, Brandy, I'm sorry. But anyway, what... Guys, go help Brandy with her with her org. But I I know I said this on here too much, but my son and I were just talking about it again the other day because I think I've talked about it on the podcast. I've never talked about it in my real life.
I said one of the most despicable things that I see now is that everybody wants to be an influencer. Oh, yeah. But what is it you're going to influence? Exactly. And and so there's...
What's the biggest group of people who need influencing are people who want to be influencers. So someone just gets popular telling other people that they can be successful too. Yep. And then it's it's it's a pyramid scheme. I don't know that I know the exact...
It is a pyramid scheme. You are so right.
Of course it is. Like... So I have a YouTube video where I tell you, oh my god. Like, I'm such a... I'm so successful.
I'm very, very successful, and you can be successful. Here are all the things I've done to be successful. But my success is in getting you to listen to me tell you that you could be successful too. That's not an actual thing. Yeah.
Because then that means you have to go sell the toilet brushes to somebody else.
Exactly. And and
I don't know if that's a reference. Younger people understand, but I harnessed hope in this scenario, sold the hope to you, and all you can do is go sell the hope to someone else.
Yeah. You're
just stealing money from desperate people.
Yep.
Yeah.
That is exactly it, and it's... You really can't escape it anymore. Like, that's that's really why I'm not on social media. I'll post for our organization, and then I get off because, like, scrolling and seeing all of the, like, hey. You can you can be a stay at home mom and make money like me too.
And I'm like, oh my gosh. I just can... I cannot. And it's every... Literally everywhere you go
Yeah.
Because post like that.
Because that scenario... That post, right, is you can do it too either buy my PDF for $30. Yeah. By the way, I just... Last night, I was talking about a rabbit hole last night.
I... I've never clicked... I'm just gonna come right out and tell you. If you're in a diabetes influencer, you have, like, I've never I don't know who you are. I don't care.
I don't I don't look. I don't know. I mean, it's lovely. I... Sometimes I see your face go by me.
You seem pleasant. You know, whatever. I... Last night, started clicking on people's profiles because everybody's got, like, a little link in their profile. Inside of my link takes you to, like, the free pro tip series, the free bowl beginning series.
This this thing that does this for you for nothing and that, you know... Or, you know, you can support the sponsors if you want, but everything I'm giving you content wise is free. Yeah. I look in the thing. Everyone has their half assed thoughts written down on a PDF, and they're charging you $30 for them.
Oh, yeah. Yep. Holy hell. I've seen it I've seen it too.
I didn't know... I I swear, hand to god, I had no idea. By the way, I've now said wait for the lord to take me and hand to god. I'm not religious at all. I only spent a weekend in the South, and look at me already.
And so so I was down in Tennessee this weekend. So so I'm looking, and I'm like, oh my god. Like, this is ridiculous. Like, for... I am not lying to you.
The PDF that I saw, you could have just gone to any... And now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not sure that this isn't what they did. You could just go to any chat model and say, please explain to me how to do this in my life, and you would have gotten that PDF back.
And I'm like,
it's just $30. You can start... Would you like to be part of my Zoom call? It's weekly. Just 15 just $1,500 to be in our Zoom call.
And I'm like Yep. I'm like, is anyone doing this?
You know what? I... That's my that's my big question is I see these ads all the time, these posts all the time, and I'm like, I wonder if anybody is actually doing this. Like, they'll post testimonials and, like, client photos. And I'm like, is this real, though?
Like, there's no way to know.
Because I think they're just trying to trick, like, five people into doing it to pay for their boba tea.
And that's all they need. Yeah. Maybe. All they need is five people.
Listen, Brandy, let me just say right now for everybody listening. For just a $150,000 a year, you can call me whenever you want. I will get I will get I will get a phone number with a... That only you have, and 247, you call me with anything you want. You you have a pimple on your ass.
I'll help you look up how to get it off. Okay? You don't know how to do something? I'm happy to tell you. I don't know either, but we can chat about it like friends.
You wanna plan a murder? I'm not coming along, but I might tell you where to buy a shovel for a $150. Whatever you wanna do. I'm I'm starting a business right now. It's called Scott's Your Best Friend.
Okay? It's $12,000, a little bit a month. Call it $5 a week. Let's round up a little bit. You get your own private phone number to me, and it's paid paid yearly.
And weekends, nights, three in the morning, Christmas day. I don't care. Having sex with my wife, I'll stop. Okay? Swear to god.
Like All you need is just one person, though.
You people are whores is what I'm saying. Like, go get a god job. Are there not jobs anymore? I've been a podcaster a
long time. Apparently not.
I love that I'm complaining about this, and I have one of those jobs where I don't have to do anything. I'm like, you all go to work. I don't want to.
Oh, yeah. Anyway That's that's... I work from home, and so it's like whenever I go out in the middle of the day, I'm like, who are all these people, and why are they out? And why are they not at work? I'm like, oh gosh.
That's Brandy,
you're Brandy, you're getting old quick if that's what you're doing. Whenever I drive somebody during the day, I go, do these people not have somewhere to be?
Exactly. Yep.
My wife's like, where are you at? I'm like, that's a fair question, but I make a podcast that helps people. So... And I... It's also not lost on me, by the way.
I will... I... I'll back up a little bit. I know that some of these service, like, they help people. And if you have $1,500 and it helps you, then god bless you.
I think that's fantastic. And and I've said this so many times. I'm probably sick of saying it myself, but there's just gotta be a way to make a living without reaching into other people's pockets constantly.
Especially. Yeah. And it's... And the people that they're reaching into their pockets, they they don't have it themselves. Like, they are probably in such a desperate situation that they're willing to try any and everything to get out of it, and they're just getting deeper and deeper into it.
Yeah. Your PDF is no different than telling me I can put a $5 parlay on three things that happen in the NBA tomorrow. Maybe I'll get out of my problem. And may... And maybe you're in the same situation and you feel desperate.
But if that's the case, like, not putting it on one person, boy, what a sad state of affairs if we're all just trying... Know what it feels like to me? I know that I'm old, and so some of these things don't make sense to you. But, like, I was alive before there were things that you paid $10 a month for. Like, recurring charges didn't used to be a thing.
You didn't you didn't give someone a credit card and tell them, hey. You can take $12.50 a week from me or $10 a month or whatever. Like, that did... That's not how things used to work. And the minute people got okay with that, everybody started doing it.
It's Netflix. It's... You can rent
Everything is a everything is a subscription now.
You're renting your... Some people rent their cell phones. Like like
Oh, yeah.
I don't... I didn't know that was real. Like, I'm an adult. If I buy a cell phone, I go pay for the cell phone. It's expensive.
It's a one time cost. I I budget for it. And then that's not apparently how anything happens.
And have you seen, people can rent their... Like, a part of their driveway if someone needs a parking spot.
Please tell me that you made that up just now.
No. I promise you that you can... People are, like, renting out one side of their driveway for, like, $5 a month.
I wanna just tell you. My driveway is now for rent. Okay? I'm I'm just gonna get a a shirt that just says whore on it. And whatever you need...
You want pictures of my feet? God... Let's do it. Okay. I mean, I saw a girl the other day.
Like, she was on, like, a major show talking about how her OnlyFans work. And I was like, what is going
on? My gosh.
Oh, I'm like, what is happening? And and I... Again, I know people are in a situation. I understand the world's working the way it's working. People are trying to get by.
When I say what's going on, I don't think I'm talking about her. I think I'm talking about the system. Like Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
What what is happening? Like, you should be able to get up in the morning, go to a job, do a reasonable amount of work, come home, and live, and that's apparently not a thing anymore. So now
It's not. Yeah. We're all just You're right.
Stealing from each other. Like, I I mean, am I wrong? Like, you you send me $10. You send me 20. I'll get 5 from this one.
I'll do this over here. All you have to do is get. Do you know... Do you have any idea how many people I have on an email list?
And I can even guess. I'm sure it's
Don't even send them an email.
Yeah.
And every time I get into a business situation, they say to me, would we be able to send an email to your email list? And I go, I don't think so. I I think I've said yes one time to, like, to a small company whose thing I really like, and I wanna see it get some traction. So I was like, yeah. Sure.
You can send an email. And and I I was like, but I don't do that. And that person on that call said to me, you don't utilize your email list? And she... And I said, no.
She was... You... You're leaving so much money on the table. You have no idea.
There's people that that sell their email list.
Oh, I... Apparently, that's true too. I would also never sell your email to anybody. And so, like, I one time, I'm gonna send you an email. It's like, hey.
Look. There's this new thing out. I hope... You know, go check it out if you want to. It's an advertiser, and I'm trying to get it to you like that.
I guess what I just said probably sounds backwards. But, like, at the same time, like, I wouldn't... Like, if you came along and said just sell me those email addresses and we'll go do what we want with them, I'm like, no. Like, I'll send the email for the company. But I'm not I'm not letting them have your email address or access to it.
I lost business last year. I lost a significant amount of money last year by not letting them track you guys in my ads. Wow. So there's a thing I would never... Like, it's not a thing I would normally say out loud, but let me just start with, you're welcome, and then and then go on from there.
Okay? One of my... I mean, you'll do the math on who's not here anymore. But one of my advertisers said we need to put a pixel in the link so that we can track the people. And I was like, I won't let you do that.
Yeah. And
and and they were like, well, then we can't do business anymore. And I was like, well, I'm sorry then. We just can't do business anymore. I'm not letting you do that. So, again, you're all welcome because I needed that money.
But, like, it's it's gone now. And it's... And if other people ask me, I'm gonna say... By the way, in case they're all listening, don't ask me again or you're not... Like like like, I'm okay with the advertiser I lost this time.
But if the rest of you ask, you're gonna get the same answer. So nobody's asked, I just wanna say. But, like, at some point, somebody's going to. And I'm I'm like, no....
They don't because I completely agree with you. I don't... It's not right.
Whole world's upside down. And you're out there trying to... Even, like... By the way, I'm... If you wanna know where my irritation comes from, you're trying to help two people meet each other and and and add a little bit of friendship or camaraderie to their life.
And you're so hamstrung by laws and insurance and probably things that half of them... You probably think this is ridiculous. We do not need to be doing this. But, like, okay. There's regulations.
I gotta do the thing. Right? And it takes up time and effort and resources. And what it really does is limits people from meeting each other and doing the thing you're trying to do.
Mhmm.
And and that's that's gotta be done that way. But the rest
of this is okay? Yeah.
I I... Oh, okay. I I don't know. I'm sorry. You're my second interview today.
I was I was already heated up before we started in case you're wondering.
No. Nope. I... It's backwards.
Yeah. I don't know. I'd be... I like that you're out there trying to do something good. Please keep going.
It's fantastic. I am gonna keep... I don't know what it is I do anymore, to be perfectly honest with you. I'm so sick of social media. It's making my it's making my god hurt behind my head.
I can't I can't do it.
Yeah. I really just... It... It's it's it's so meaningless that I believe if we all just stopped, no one would notice. Like...
Yeah. I I don't think I don't think that boy. Remember when I said earlier, if you're not really making a good podcast, if you don't stop and wonder once in a while, like, what... I don't Oh, yeah. I don't know that my social media is for the listeners.
I think it's so that people who do business with me can see that I'm popular.
Yeah.
I think that's what it's for. So then I don't I don't understand what the point is. Like, I have all I have all this, like, survey data about people who listen to the show and all the great outcomes they have, and I share it with everybody that I that I, you know, am in business with so they can see it. And they're... Everyone's like, oh, wow.
That's really amazing. That's great. That's great. But what they... But when push comes to shove, it's more about, like, if I collaborate on this video with you, is it gonna get more views or not?
And then I don't know what those views mean because, yeah, YouTube just announced that a view is now one second long.
Oh, man. I'm not familiar with YouTube at all.
I Can you imagine? And and I think the average is three to six seconds on Instagram and TikTok. So I'm not sure what you can really relay to somebody in three to six seconds, but I don't think it's much. So Mm-mm. Anyway, alright.
I'm, I I give up. I'm done. What's the website? I'll put it in the beginning too, but what's
the website? It's brave1.org.
Brave1.org. Okay. And and after I've bemoaned social media, what... Do you have... Are you on Instagram or any of those places they can find?
So Facebook and Instagram and TikTok. It's all at join brave one.
At join brave one. I saw, I'll put the link in the show so people can find it too. And on the website, there'll be a a page where they can listen to you. I'm sure they'll listen more to the beginning of the conversation than the end. But, but there'll be a link there as well.
I saw yesterday... Brandy, I'm gonna let you go after I tell you about this, but I'd love to hear what you think. Mhmm. I saw this, like, long interview about, like, some of the more concerning parts about AI use. Right?
Yeah. And in the middle of the conversation, the interview stops abruptly to serve a DraftKings commercial. And I and then in the comments, somebody said, there is something incredibly odd about the person making this podcast talking about the concerns for the world they have. And then there's a short pause and then a DraftKings commercial. Like, the Wow.
The entire thing... The the commenter said this all feels so dystopian.
Yeah. That's exact... Yep. That's exactly the word. Yeah.
That was that was it. Like, this is the Hunger Games. Like, what are we... What times are we living in? I completely agree with you.
Yeah. I'm worried about what's gonna happen with AI comes. By the way, you know, sure, marital strife, divorce, suicide, depression, all, like, I think all proven to go up with gambling. And Yeah. And yet, like, in the middle of, like, hey.
Be worried about the world. The machines might take over. But you know what? You know, you get a $5 bonus bet right down the bottom. I'm like, wait.
What the hell just... I I I thought the same thing when it popped up. Said, what the hell just happened? And then all of a sudden, like, I I looked at the comments and, you know, the people were just like, this is crazy. Yeah.
And I don't know. Like, it's it's a really... And I can't... You can't even blame the person making the podcast because I get where they're coming from. Like, I'm...
I think I'm pretty lucky. Like, at least my advertisers are making devices that you need
that Exactly. You were gonna It's... Yeah.
In fairness, you were gonna buy anyway. Like, you know,
you're not trying to convince them to get something that they don't need.
Yeah. I'm not trying to get you to... Yeah. I don't know. Get essential oils or or something.
Like Yeah. This is the second time that's come out today for some reason. But, like, yeah, I mean, DraftKings, like, in the middle of, like, that, I was like, what is going on? Yeah. I...
And I I I... The other day, it was, I'm like, oh, the guy from Jumanji is trying to sell me a a betting app. And I was like, this is all very weird. So... Alright.
I'm I'm done. I I give up. I'm I'm gonna... My next episode is gonna be about something happy. It won't be with you, Brandy.
And I'm so disappointed that we can't tell your last name story to people because we're, you know Oh
gosh. Yeah.
Keeping a little private.
Sorry everyone missed it.
Alright. Hold on one second for me. Seriously, I think what you're doing is awesome. I'm sorry that I went on this tangent with you.
But No. No. You're fine. I... Thank you so much for the conversation.
I was nervous going into it, but I've read other people like, oh, I was so nervous, but Scott made it seem like a really natural conversation, and it was. It was. It was a lot of fun.
Oh, you a good time? Oh, thank you for saying that before the recording stopped because people will be like, oh my god. He railroaded her at the end and wanted to talk about his thing that he was upset about. I I I I see you all out there. I don't care what you think.
Start your own podcast. Have your own opinions. Alright. Goodbye. Hold on.
I'm ready. To learn more and see if you might be able to get Twist from the pharmacy and try it for free, head to visit.twist.com/juicebox. That's visit.twist.com/juicebox, or give them a call at 18774. That's +1 (877) 489-4478, and tell them Scott sent you. TWIST requires prescription and is indicated for people with type one diabetes six and older.
Arden has been getting her diabetes supplies from US Med for years. You can as well. Usmed.com/juicebox or call (888) 721-1514. Many thanks to US Med for sponsoring this episode and for being and for being longtime sponsors of the juice box podcast. There are links in the show notes and links at juiceboxpodcast.com to US Med, Twist, and today's other awesome sponsor, the Eversense CGM.
They make, of course, the Eversense three sixty five, and that thing lasts an entire year. One insertion every year. Come on. You probably feel like I'm messing with you, but I'm not. Ever since cgm.com/juicebox.
Check it out. Let's face it. Diabetes is tough, but it's easier when you have a community around you. So if you're looking for a great community around type one diabetes, check out the juice box podcast private Facebook group. Juice box podcast type one diabetes, but everyone's welcome.
Type one, type two, gestational, loved ones, it doesn't matter to me. If you're impacted by diabetes and you're looking for support, comfort, or community, check out the Juice Box Podcast private Facebook group. Juice Box Podcast, type one diabetes on Facebook. I promise you it is the most unfacebook like experience that you'll ever, ever find. What a great group of people.
I don't like saying this usually because it dates the ad, but right now, there are 86,000 active members. 86,000 people in there who might have your experience, know what to say, just be a great shoulder to lean on. Don't be too proud to find a community. It really does help. And it's completely free.
Juicebox podcast, type one diabetes on Facebook. I just wanna say thank you so much for listening. I'll be back very soon with another episode of the juice box podcast. If you're not subscribed, please subscribe in a podcast app. It really helps Apple Podcast, Spotify, or whatever your favorite audio app is.
Like and subscribe. You know what the kids say on the YouTube. Like and subscribe. It really does help. And if you're already subscribed, please tell a friend or your endo or somebody you think might enjoy the podcast as well.
Word-of-mouth is the only way that it grows. Once again, I've been Scott. You've been fantastic, and we'll be right back with another episode of the juice box podcast.
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