In our first story, From a childhood crush to a series of unexpected turns, Aunvada Being shares her story following her lifelong journey of self-discovery and the difficult choices she made along the way. Listen to Aunvada as she navigates societal expectations, personal struggles, and ultimately, finds her true self amidst unforeseen losses. Aunvada calls her story “Skittles”.

Aunvada Being. Aunvada was blessed with a creative Western spirit. She was born in and has lived in Montana for 35 of her 37 years. She is keenly aware of the vast history of all the lands we walk and is deeply grateful to walk them. She picked magical Missoula as her home after spending a year living off grid near the Garden of the Gods in Colorado.

In our next story, Jilnar Mansour, a Lebanese American volunteer in the volatile heart of a Palestinian refugee camp, confronts the harrowing realities of a strict curfew set by the Israeli Defense Forces. Amidst chaos and desperation, she recounts an extraordinary act of quick thinking and unexpected alliance, leading to a moment where vulnerability became a powerful tool for survival. Listen to Jilnar share the difficult choices that she made, and the blurred lines of impact versus intention in a story that she calls “Who Made Your Breakfast?”

Jilnar Mansour is a person who creates spaces for all to be loved and heard in order to stop generational violence. Jilnar is the daughter of an immigrant. She is a survivor. Jilnar stands for love.

Steve Schmidt is a rookie police officer in Kansas City in 1997. Steve responds to a seemingly routine recovered property call that quickly escalates into a tense and dangerous encounter of a burglary in progress. What unfolds is a story of split-second decisions, unexpected revelations, and a profound moment that would forever shape his understanding of duty, perception, and the weight of a single choice. Steve calls his story “Get Down On The Ground. Do It Now!”

Steve Schmidt, also known as Schmidty was born in the small-town of Malta, Montana. Schmidty is dedicated to positive change. With eight years’ experience as a police officer in Kansas City, Schmidty has developed strong skills in law enforcement and community engagement, all while connecting with thousands of fans as a professional mascot. Now based here in Missoula, Schmidty leads Drive Safe Missoula, a traffic safety initiative within Missoula Public Health that’s focused on saving lives through education. His expertise extends nationally, where he speaks on influencing behavior and leveraging AI for road safety and public health.

What begins as an unlikely friendship for Lauren Tobias with a free-spirited dog on The Fort Peck Reservation in northeastern Montana takes a heartbreaking turn when the dog mysteriously disappears. Days of agonizing searching lead to a devastating discovery, a poignant makeshift funeral, and an outpouring of community support. But just as grief settles in, a shocking revelation sends everything spiraling into an unbelievable twist. Lauren calls her story “Off Leash”.

In our first story, Hammy shares his tale about family, faith, and finding yourself. What starts as a journey of self-discovery after a life-altering decision takes an unexpected turn, leading to a hilarious and surprisingly public health crisis on the very first day of a new job. Sometimes, life’s most challenging moments can also be the most liberating. Hammy calls his story “Hammy’s First Day at the Health Department”.

Hammy works in occupational safety, health and risk management, and he’s the founder and creative director of Queer Butte Arts and Culture, a new group celebrating local queer art, queer culture and local queer history. Last year, he was named one of Southwest Montana’s 20 Under 40, and this year he was honored as the Young Professional of the Year by the Butte Local Development Corporation. He is a homosexual, and lives in Butte with his partner Clayton—also a homosexual.

He’s passionate about harm reduction, ending stigma, and walking on his hands. Above all, Hammy believes storytelling can save lives—and he’s thrilled to be here tonight to share his story!

In our next story, Katie Van Dorn recounts a childhood marked by an unexpected physical challenge to a life defined by adventure and a relentless pursuit of wellness. Katie’s journey is filled with extraordinary feats, unexpected setbacks, and profound self-discovery. Katie calls her story “The Cracks are How the Light Gets In”.

Originally from La Jolla, California, Katie Van Dorn studied Exercise Physiology at The University of Montana and earned her B.S & M.S in Exercise Physiology/Preventive Health. Katie is a professional chef and is a Certified International Tour Director as well as a Certified Culinary and Wellness Coach. She is passionate about the outdoors and is a compassionate real estate agent who has been caring for homebuyers and sellers alike in Missoula for over 20 years. Katie loves hiking, XC skiing, swimming, gardening and cooking. You may have heard her Freeforms show on Montana Public Radio where she is a rotating host and producer of Thursday Freeforms.

Karna Sundby goes on a blind date in Seattle leads to a whirlwind romance and a life that feels like a dream. But when an unimaginable tragedy strikes, one woman’s world shatters, forcing her to confront the deepest despair. Follow her incredible journey through loss, unexpected healing, and the profound discovery of purpose amidst the pain. Karna calls her story “Finding the Gift”.

With 30 years involvement in the field of human transformation, Karna Sundby is passionate about helping people make measurable transformations in themselves and their ways of thinking. Working with clients in person and on the phone, she helps clientele overcome their obstacles and manifest their dreams. As a Master NLP Practitioner (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), along with other modalities, Karna specializes in helping clients heal from all kinds of trauma. Karna currently has an office at Peak Health and Wellness on Blue Mountain Road in Missoula, MT. You can reach her via phone or email: karna@inneraccess.org | 406-880-2555.

Kara Adolphson is a college freshman grappling with a secret grief. Kara vows to herself that she will navigate her new life and grief silently. But on the anniversary of a profound loss, an unexpected invitation leads to an art exhibit, a surprising discovery, and a breakthrough moment of joy and healing. Kara calls her story “Finding Humor After Loss”.

Kara Adolphson. Kara is a Montanan, community member, therapist, and storyteller who finds joy in the arts, the outdoors, and bluebird days in Missoula. She believes in the power of vulnerability, humor, and shared experience to bring people together. A lover of language and listening, Kara is committed to fostering connection, whether it’s in the counseling room, on a trail, or around the dinner table. Tonight, she’s honored to be on the Tell Us Something stage, where storytelling becomes a bridge for connection.

Our first story comes to us from Nita Maddox. A determined single mom navigates the challenges of working four jobs and trying to buy her dream business, a local video store. Amidst this chaotic life, a quirky encounter with an unexpected suitor leads to a surprising turn of events. Just as everything seems to fall into place, a sudden, life-altering incident challenges her newfound stability and reshapes her entire world. Nita calls her story Perfect Blue House. Thanks for listening.

Nita Maddox is a multi-generational Montanan, born and raised in Whitefish. She has a passion for adventure, even if it is finding something exciting in the produce area at the grocery store. Nita is here on this planet to be seriously playful on the journey.

Next up is Joyce Gibbs. As a third grader in Montana, Joyce convinces her parents to get pet rabbits, only to discover their true intention is to breed them for food. Despite an early mishap with the first litter, she learns the harsh realities of farm life. This unique upbringing shapes her understanding of where food comes from, leading to a memorable, albeit somewhat grisly, childhood experience. Joyce calls her story, Stew and Pot. Thanks for listening.

Joyce Gibbs was raised in Missoula, Montana, tramping through the woods. She grew up to become an artist, builder, and tiler. She is a resilient, creative, and adventurous woman. After a brief stint in New York City and then in New Orleans, she bought a dilapidated railroad house on Missoula’s Historic Northside and spent the next 15 years remodeling it and making it her own. When she is not busy building beautiful spaces with her tile installations at Joyce of Tile, you can find her riding her motorcycle, gardening and playing.

Amanda Taylor was raised in a devout Christian community, and was committed to purity, vowing to save herself for marriage. This conviction was challenged when she moved to Switzerland and met a captivating man. A spontaneous trip to a luxurious hot spring with him leads to a pivotal moment of self-discovery, forcing her to confront her deeply held beliefs. Amanda calls her story Hallelujah. Thanks for listening.

Amanda Taylor resides in Missoula with her cat Ted. As a child, she spent summers visiting her grandparents in Alder, Montana. Her earliest memory of Butte is her grandma taking her to the Butte Walmart and buying her a Reba McIntyre poster. She no longer has the poster, but she still loves Reba.