The Stand Up Speak Up Story:  Special Edition with Founders Karla and Zach

The Stand Up Speak Up Story: Special Edition with Founders Karla and Zach

Author: Stand Up Speak Up December 27, 2017 Duration: 1:03:10
If you’ve listened to Stand Up Speak Up before, then you’ve heard the voice of host Karla Stephens-Tolstoy. Usually, she’s helping tell the story of others, but you might not have known that Karla herself has led a pretty interesting life! She’s a Canadian-born & raised entrepreneur, businesswoman, volunteer, mom… and those are just a few of her titles! Karla overcame learning disabilities, and eventually landed the title of CEO at Vodafone, one of the biggest telecom companies in the world. She’s proven that with hard work, nothing is out of reach. Also on her journey Karla has worked many interesting jobs, hosted a community TV show called “Chit Chat”, started a dating app and website called Tokii, and more. Today, we sit down with Karla to hear her story, and later her son Zach joins to talk about the mother-son team behind Stand Up Speak Up. Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Receive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: karla.tolstoy@standupspeakup.ca  Support the show: www.standupspeakup.ca/give/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stand Up Speak Up is a space for raw, honest conversations about survival and resilience. This podcast moves beyond simple inspiration, delving into the complex realities of overcoming trauma and systemic discrimination. Each episode features firsthand accounts from individuals who have faced profound challenges, offering more than fifty distinct stories of perseverance. Listeners will hear not just about the struggle, but about the active, often difficult work of healing. The narratives explore how people rebuild their lives and identities after hardship, focusing on the practical and emotional steps taken to move forward. By centering these personal journeys, the podcast creates a collective testament to human strength. It argues that listening to others can be a powerful catalyst for recognizing our own capacity for growth. The discussions naturally unfold with empathy, avoiding sensationalism while honoring the gravity of each experience. This is a podcast for anyone interested in the deeper layers of societal and personal recovery, where true crime elements intersect with profound cultural and human stories. It asserts that understanding survival in all its forms is crucial, and that everyone deserves a path to peace.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 59

Stand Up Speak Up
Podcast Episodes
Ashleigh Banfield [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:12
In this episode of the Stand Up Speak Up podcast, Karla and Ashleigh go behind the scenes of her career to talk about the highs & lows and everything in between.
Letters on Sex Trafficking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:19
Human trafficking is a hard conversation to have, in this episode we try to get into the minds of the players in the sex trade.
How does he do it?  David Bernstein: Homeless youth to Harvard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:16
Dr. David Bernstein is a well-respected, highly educated professional who has held appointments at Yale University School of Medicine, where he completed his doctoral internship, and Harvard University Medical School, wh…
Michael Alig: Club Kids to Convict & Back - Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:46
In this second part, Alig recounts his relationship with his mother, discusses what kind of person he would like to be in a relationship with, talks drug use, and also his creative plans for the future.