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Why You Should Slow Down and Enjoy Life’s Seasons · Hart & Hustle Podcast

• Efrain: Welcome back to the Heart and Hustle Podcast. We got Miss Linda in the house. Miss Linda, where are you virtually visiting from? Linda Huntspon: I am virtually visiting you from St. Louis, Missouri. Efrain: Saint Louis in the house, born and raised? Linda Huntspon: Yes. Efrain: Never wanted to leave, huh? It was that good. Linda Huntspon: Well no, we you know, we visited other places, but no nobody's ever invited me to move any place else. Efrain: What what's been a place that you've visited and actually enjoyed and and thought maybe this could be a place. I mean, it still could be a place. Linda Huntspon: I really enjoyed Florida because, you know, the weather was great, I thought, but then I was like, those natural disasters, you know? It's a little different. Efrain: From someone that lives in Florida, you're not missing anything. I just want you to know. Okay. There's nothing Linda Huntspon: Okay, okay. Efrain: in Florida. I know people think Disney and the tropical and all that, but you are right. When hurricane comes, ain't nothing tropical about it. Okay. Linda Huntspon: Right. Efrain: now I actually do enjoy. I actually went to this year, I went to Phoenix. I don't know if you've ever been to Phoenix in the summertime, but it is dry and hot. Okay. I don't know why Linda Huntspon: Mm. Efrain: anybody even moves out there. but then I came back. I was there for about a week and I came back and thought to myself, like, wow, I'm in Orlando. and I was like, Wow, you know what? It looks really green here. Like the trees, it was just beautiful, the grass, cause not every place has that type of, you know, look, to be quite frank. So I think sometimes we don't know Linda Huntspon: That's true. That's true. Mm-hmm. Efrain: what we have until we leave and come back and realize, like, actually, this is good. There's no need for me to leave. Would your Linda Huntspon: Yeah, that's true. Efrain: your parents all also born and raised in St. Louis? So y'all, you you keep in met in high school? High school sweethearts? Linda Huntspon: Yes, they are both native St. Louisons. They actually met in high school. Yes, they were high school sweethearts. Yes. Yes. Efrain: Your parents? Wow, look at that. I've always wondered about those high school suit hearts. Like I just can't even imagine. Like straight leaving school and Linda Huntspon: No. Well you can't are, but yeah, I couldn't imagine to choose my person at seventeen because most of the choices you make at that age you you live to regret. Efrain: Yeah, for sure. I am not who I am at seventeen. While I appreciate the seventy O D frame, but yeah, ho completely different. Learned so much. And Linda, you've also I could imagine learned so much from the time you leave high school to where you're at today. What do you feel like has been the biggest lesson in life? Linda Huntspon: Cash Yes. Efrain: No, there's been a lot of them, but what do you think that big lesson was from seventeen year old Linda, 'cause you mentioned seventeen to where you're at today? Linda Huntspon: think sometimes we're always rushing to get to that next best thing. Like when you're in high school, Efrain: Mm-hmm. Linda Huntspon: you're looking forward to graduation. When you graduate, you're looking forward to going to work. I think the now would tell me to just slow down and enjoy the good time of every season in your life. Cause we're even your weight, you're like, man, if I can lose this or gain this or whatever, but looking back on it, you like, man, I trade and get that body in a heartbeat if it walked by, right? Efrain: Yeah. Linda Huntspon: So I think I've just come to that point where I'm like, just Efrain: Yeah. Linda Huntspon: enjoy that moment 'cause there is so much to enjoy in real time. So just just live in the moment. Efrain: Yeah. And we talked about even with our kids, right? Like really live in the moment. I've been really trying to focus on that, Linda. Like sometimes when I realize I'm scrolling or I'm at work and it's like I will take the time to just look at my kids. when I wake up in the morning and there's sleep with mom, I'm sitting here just kinda like just taking it all in because we talked about how fast it could go. And I think our our kids sometimes make that time go faster because you start to see them really grow. You talked about being a grandparent. Linda Huntspon: Do Efrain: I got a question Linda Huntspon: yes. Efrain: for you because I heard that being a grandparent is so much better than being a parent. Is that actually facts? Linda Huntspon: It is. That's one of the few things about parenthood that people tell you. They tell you that it's a different kind of love. And I tell you, it really is. She's four years old, and and this is a funny story that I tell people. One day we're sitting up and she's gazing into my eyes, and which she does that a lot. And I'm like, stop trying to steal my soul, and then that's her name. Efrain: Ha ha ha. Linda Huntspon: But she says, Granny, you are the most of all. Now know what that means. I don't think she knows what it means, but it was like the most amazing thing 'cause she should and she said and she smiled and so I've been telling people that, you know, I even came to work and told them, you know what she says? She says I'm the most of all and I tell them I'd like to be addressed accordingly as most of all, right? But yes, because you don't have the stress of the day to day. But I also think you have come to realize by the time you're a grandparent that it goes so fast and to really enjoy those moments. I wish your body could physically do the things that your mind tells you you can do as a grandparent, 'cause it can. I need a nap when she leaves. But yes, it is amazing. Efrain: That's my mother in law. We tell her to take care of the kids and for an hour or two, she comes back and say, I need to go to bed. This this is exhausting. It ain't listen, shout out to those mothers as well. Cause I think as a mother, they Linda Huntspon: Yes. Efrain: endure us just so much more. because as much as I want to be dad, my kids is is mom. Like that's just where they want to be at this point in their time, their lives. So I definitely try to just be do the best I could, but What organization are you representing today, Ms. Linda? Linda Huntspon: So I represent the community action agency of St. Louis County, or our friends call us Castle. The Yakimeon does not spell out Castle, but that is what we're known in the community as Castle. So I represent a wonderful organization that serves the community members that are often overlooked, misunderstood, or just underserved. Efrain: And CEO today, is that what you are? Linda Huntspon: I am the CEO. Efrain: What does that journey look like? Like you talk with going back to 17. Is this who she wanted to be? What was she doing? And then fast forward to where you're at today. What does that actual timeline look like? Linda Huntspon: It's so funny because 17-year-old me wanted to be a journalist. I wanted to write. I I thought that I would be a great writer. I had this image of sitting on a beach with glasses on because I wore glasses and sipping wine Efrain: Ha ha. Linda Huntspon: and I'd be so inspired, right? Efrain: Yeah. Linda Huntspon: so this was not on my bingo card in terms of my career, where I would land. I I love people. But I'm also I I I guess I am probably an introvert with really some extrovert tendencies. I can get up for those social occasions that require public speaking, Efrain: Mm-hmm. Linda Huntspon: but they're not my favorite. I prefer to be behind the scenes. so to land in this role totally was unexpected. I you probably can't tell, but really I I'm really a shy person and I get these knots in my stomach and I hope to say the right thing or to make people feel like I'm truly present when I am listening or talking to them. So none of those were on my it none of this on my journey. I had plans. I I worked in a kitchen, became a supervisor in dietary, went on to fell into nonprofit work about thirty years ago at a hospital. That's that's where it started. And even then I never needed to be the leader. I could just, you know, come to work, do eight hours and go home. And it it just kinda has progressed. I've had leadership roles or sometimes you didn't have the title, but people tended to follow you probably because if you come, I'll talk to you. Always got an opinion. I've always had that. but Efrain: Mm-hmm. Linda Huntspon: yeah, this this wasn't something that I imagined myself ever doing, honestly. Efrain: How long you've been with the organization now? Linda Huntspon: I've been with the organization three and a half years. Efrain: How does that come about? Just apply, someone forced you to apply, you were already working internally. What does that look like? Linda Huntspon: I was a previous boss that I had, I was working for the local county government. our supervisor was in an appointed position. So when the administration changed, she left. and she came back and told me about this position and that she thought that I would be a good person for the recruiter to talk to, would it be okay? Said, okay, I don't, you know, I had nothing to lose. I have a job and I I've shared with you before. Here we have a rule of 80. When your age and your years of service equal 80, you can retire. So I'm like, yeah, I'm walking down 80, right? Whatever that looks like. so when I went to the interview, again, I I I have nothing to lose because I'm just flattered that somebody considered me. I'm flattered that he's entertaining me. And honestly, my work was in human service. So I looked online to see who were the board members, and I thought, well, Even if I don't get the job, I'll meet these board members and potentially be able to connect with them later when I need some support on something that I'm doing with my day job, right? So I came, you know, the interview went fine. Again, I I'm not feeling the usual nerves because I've nothing to lose. So when they call me back for a second, I'm like, okay, they must have a shortage of applicants because I'm surely I didn't get to make the cut, right? and this time they tell me to pick a program that they currently have and how would I expand it? So I rode by the building because it wasn't far from my current position and I looked at their website and I saw they had a mobile office. So what I chose to focus on was outreach because we had a mobile office and I said that we could take the services to the community because we're fresh behind the pandemic and you know, one thing the pandemic taught us was that people often aren't able to come to the places either for health reasons, transportation, any number of reasons. Efrain: Yeah. Linda Huntspon: so that was the project that I presented to the organization. But again, I'm just Spitballing for lack of a better word, because I have nothing to lose. I'm going back to work on Monday, right? so when they called and offered me the job, still I'm like, okay, this is different. I can try it. And I get pep talks from my family members and commute I was like, can you believe this is me? And my aunt says, You can do anything. I know you can. And just remember, the only thing you can't do is go in there and mess up those people's money. And I was like, So Efrain: That'd be the hard part, right? You'd be I just had an event and my best friend like running an organization, right? You gotta sometimes just make sure you could try to get as much donors or vendors that could do it in condonation or whatever, because you you gotta worry about the bottom line at the end of the day, right? Linda Huntspon: That's right. Efrain: Your board is gonna ask for the bottom line. So I was nickel and dime and everything. And she says, Efraine, you making money off of this or something? I said no, Linda Huntspon: Okay. Efrain: but I just gotta make sure I'm not spending people's money at the end of the day too. Like, so I I can definitely hear you on. We got to do the best that we can. especially when you're so fresh at something. What was that like? So you get the call, you become, you know, now the CEO. Could imagine you're probably like pinching yourself like me? You really think I have the ability to do this? What does that look like as Linda Huntspon: Yes. Efrain: you get into the seat though? Linda Huntspon: So when I get to the seat, the good news is because fundraising the good news is because the way that we're funded, we're written into legislation to receive our federal allocation every year. So borrowing them cutting it off completely, there is no gap. So that's the good news. I can get my seat legs around fundraising. It's Efrain: Mm-hmm. Linda Huntspon: my least favorite thing to do, and even when I've asked other people about that part of it, because that's the part I'm most unfamiliar with, he says, Well Linda The worst thing people can tell you is no. And I said, I know, but society prepares men for no, because I think no, you don't want to dance with them. No, you can't buy me a drink. No, you can't have my phone number. Women, I'm like, I might start crying the first time they say they not gonna sponsor me, right? Efrain: You're too buddy. Linda Huntspon: so that's been the the thing. but at my core, I I care about the people. And so what I brought to this role was I try to think of every boss I've ever had and take the good from those that you really liked. to get the lesson from the ones that you didn't care as much for because they're a l a lesson in that as well. They go into your toolbox. And one of the things I told them in my interview that I've tried to remain true to is I believe if you take care of the people, then the work gets done and also because they are truly the heart of the work that we do. So not to make a play on your name, but they are. They they are the face, they're the front facing people who do it. I I will, you know, appear in the media or do have the honor of meeting people like you, but They really are the folks who do it. And so that's my first duty is to do they have good benefits? Are they happy with them? So I came in and I met with the leaders each to ask them what do you want to see from me? What's good, what's bad, what's working, what's not. And then I I communicated to the staff. I have an open door. So come see me, come talk to me, tell me what you think. And then I leave the door open every day. So unless I close it for something like this, the door is always open for you to come in and tell me and and I don't put up any pretense that I've done this before. 'cause they even laughed and said, We tried to find a picture of you on social media and we couldn't find you before we met you. The only thing we could find you was so I'm have a similar hairstyle, but I've got this big blue hat on because I'm out doing the the count, the Efrain: Yeah. Linda Huntspon: the census for the unhoused in our community. So the Efrain: Mm. Linda Huntspon: first impression they had of me was Mark Simpson. So it was up from there 'cause Efrain: That is funny. Linda, I asked this to the last leader, but I I would love to hear from you is why do you think you win? Like along this journey, I could imagine you start to see success that you never were looking for. Why do you think what what makes you special to receive those those honors? Linda Huntspon: I don't think that I am special, but I think it's the heart. It's the heart paired with the hustle because Efrain: Mm-hmm. Linda Huntspon: I do work hard. I will show up and I I'm gonna give you 110%. I try to be honest, transparent about what I know or what I don't know. and just be continue to be your authentic self. I try not to let my relationships be transactional. I try to be sincere in what I do, just like when we talked about the fundraising. and I told you in our prior conversation that we were gonna have our gala. You know, sometimes with fundraising events, you you can choose people to honor based on them writing your organization a big check, or you can to choose to honor people that align with your mission and your core values. So I choose to honor folks that maybe are often overlooked, but whose work matters to the community or their partnership has mattered for us. And I think in exchange for that, I I that is how your blessings come. And I also try to leave a seat at the table for somebody else who's either the next me. somebody like me or somebody else that maybe hasn't identified in themselves what somebody else was able to see in them, which is what I feel like happened to me. We're all where we are because somebody else helped us. Efrain: I love that. And just I love your your response to it. And if I could just add on to it, and you kind of touched on it was authentically you. Like that's what wins is that you show up authentically you. This is who you get. I love the comedy that you throw in there. Like you could tell that this is just I also probably feel that you're you're probably a little too humble. You know what I mean? You're like, well, you know, I'm just here it's like, no, come on, you deserve every single bit of it. Cause you sh you are right. You just show up and it's like you can't turn it off. Sometimes, and I don't know if you feel like this, but sometimes I want to turn it off. I'm like, why can't I just be a couch potato? But my mind doesn't allow me to get there. You know, my my body won't allow me to just sit down because it is. How do we continue to just move the needle, allow people the opportunity to feel seen and loved and heard and and building tables not just for us to sit at, but for others to, you know, join us. and we always talk about representation. It doesn't always have to be the color of our skins, but the stories that we tell, allowing people to know that. Linda Huntspon: That's right. Efrain: No matter where you're at today, there's a there's the the end of the tunnel. But you sometimes people get stuck in that tunnel because they don't have people like Ephraim or a Linda that can walk them through that allows them to know that it it is okay today to, you know, feel the way that you feel, but you don't have to live like that. You don't have to continue Linda Huntspon: It's right. Efrain: that. and I think that's pretty cool. We can kind of talk a little bit more about the organizational piece. What does it look like at the organization? What are you guys providing for the community? How are you guys serving others? Linda Huntspon: So we have twenty-two programs or services that we offer to the community. The more well-known one is the low-income housing energy assistance program, commonly referred to as LAHEAP. We also have a weatherization program, and the beauty of both of those is they're the kind of the draw. That's what brings people in. They're in crisis because they don't know how they're gonna afford their utilities or how they're gonna maintain the gas for their home. And so they're able to come in and we can offer them the assistance. And if it's a one-off situation that has landed you here, then you can get this assistance and move on. If it's something more systemic or something that you maybe you need a job or is there education, where what else can I provide you to help you move to the next level in your life? and so that is the beauty of our work. It it's founded on the pillar of of fighting poverty. We have the flexibility of doing it the way that is suitable to for that individual. So there's no cookie cutter path. You don't have to go from A to Z. You can jump in our programs at G and go to P, just whatever is gonna suit your needs. we also have a reentry program that gives people a second chance because often whether we like it or not, sometimes the difference in people that end up incarcerated in us is just getting caught. Or just having enough money to be able to pay a lawyer to fight this charge. And maybe I'm guilty of it, but Efrain: Okay. Linda Huntspon: again, I made a mistake. My frontal love wasn't fully developed at that time, right? Wrong Efrain: Yeah. Linda Huntspon: place, wrong time. So and then along the way we have employment opportunities that we're able to assist people with. we're able to provide case management, home. there is also assistance if you want to purchase a home, credit repair, financial classes. But again, very often everybody wants to help you budget, but what happens if there's not enough for us to budget? That that's simple math. And so we just try to meet you where you are and then get you to your highest level of self-sufficiency. no matter where that lands for you, is is our biggest goal. there are 17 community action agencies in Missouri, a thousand over across the United States. So I just happen to be fortunate in it that I am in the one that gets to serve the region of St. Louis. Efrain: That's so good, Linda. I I'd share a story with you that for the listeners is it don't matter what your age is, right? Sometimes you just never felt seen. And I listen I spoke to this gentleman the other day, probably a few months back, and I can't forget his story because I asked him his why. And I think a lot of the times when we're in this space of passion and purpose, there has to be a why. Because we're not chasing paychecks, Linda Huntspon: Yeah. Efrain: right? We just truly do it because of the kindness of our heart. We love people, we love humanity. So asked him his why and he just puts this big smile on my face. I already knew there a good story coming. And the dude, the gentleman at this time, I think he's 51 years old, he says, Efraine, 10 years ago, I was going to jail for the last time. And I had so many, you know, different records. He says, but what changed that day was not that someone seen me for the second time. I felt seen for the first time. He says, Efrain, I was an individual that was homeless, lost his his child. to the system because the wife let them in the in the drug house. He's like, I was I was addicted to cocaine, to heroin. And he said, when someone seen me for the first time at 47 years old, that changed my life. Today he's a vice president of Behavioral Health Center. And I think he just got a new title. But it just goes to show it doesn't matter the age either, right? A lot of times Linda Huntspon: That's right. Efrain: we could talk about the youth, but people even in their 40s Feeling for the first time that someone believed in them, someone seen them. It is so important for us to do that work. And I think as society, sometimes we look down on those folks and not realizing that is somebody's father, mother, that is somebody's child. How can we meet them at where they're at? And you mentioned that, Linda. What does that look like meeting someone at where they're at, especially today with technology, with resources? How do you meet people at where they're at? Linda Huntspon: First thing you do is just listen. Often we think we have a pr preconceived notion about what people need when sometimes they don't need you to do anything for them. They just need to do what you said. Listen, sometimes you need to put Efrain: There's one. Linda Huntspon: the pen down and let's look each other in the eye because we have the most means and we can communicate with people all around the world, but you'll have somebody right beside you sitting at the dinner table and not talk to them. So sometimes That's just all it we need to do is remember our humanity. And so that's what I try to do. I try to put my pen down and just listen. You tell me what it is that you think you need or what's what's your presenting situation that has brought you to my door and I'm just gonna listen to you. 'Cause sometimes that's all it is. You know the answer of what you need, but sometimes you need a safe space. Can I just exhale? Sometimes you need a hug. So, you know, sometimes people end up and we end up hugging 'cause that's what you need. Because, you know, so many people in our world they they haven't been seen, they haven't been heard, just based on what we look like. Efrain: Yeah. I you talked about the gala. Did you already have the gala? Linda Huntspon: I did. It was October the fifteenth, so it's over. Efrain: Okay, so you feel a little bit relieved. I'm pretty sure it's still a lot of work to kind of get done. What did that look like? How how was the gala? Tell us a little bit more about it. Linda Huntspon: So the gala was about 260 people in a room. Efrain: Yeah. Linda Huntspon: We get to introduce them and talk about our work. There is the required, there's an auction, and there's a raffle, and there's an open bar and there's food. So that's usually the right ingredient for a good time. And then there's the DJ, because I say it all the time. Once once you go to places like that, you remember two things. Was the food good? And did you get to have a good time? So I I my goal is that for you to do that. We handle the business early. the acceptance speeches are pre-recorded that way we can limit the time. You know, they don't draw on for a super long time. There's some ask in there, but then at the end there's still some party to it, and that's because again, we're enjoying the moment, right? Efrain: Yeah. Yeah. I I think I had mine a week or two weeks before you and there's definitely some things I'll take from what you just said. I think we had the right ingredients. It was our first one, so we're definitely learning from it. But one of the biggest things that people said was one, I appreciate the diversity in it. And I think that was really one of my Linda Huntspon: Yep. Efrain: goals. It's to see the diverse community. and two, everyone was smiling, having a good time. So we win. While there was a lot of things I know went wrong on the back end, it's like cool. And we raise a good amount of money. is this Do you guys do like that one big fundraiser a year or is this one of many fundraisers you guys do in a year? Linda Huntspon: Yes. No, one big fundraiser a year. We had so I inherited the gala. This was year number twelve, but they've worked already going on when I joined. so I just had to pick up the blueprint, it was there. they did some things a little different, like I for so I like the blues in full transparency. They have more of a jazz flavor, which is fine. I like jazz when we're eating and when we're mingling, but at the end I wanna do the slide and I wanna do some other things. So just incorporating a little bit. I I like you know, when people donate tables or they provide a sponsorship and they say they're not gonna attend, I try to invite people that will participate and donate, but I also invite the team because I want them to come have a good time and enjoy themselves as well. So it's little things like that that I you know, you'll find a balance so that it becomes more a reflection of your personality, from start to finish. Because if we're gonna do it, then I feel like we should have a good time. Efrain: Hundred percent. some one of my board members says if it ain't fun, it won't get done. And you know, you gotta make a fun. If you want people to do it, Linda Huntspon: That's right. That's right. That's right. Efrain: you want people to show up. It better be a little bit of fun in it. that is Linda Huntspon: That's right, that's right. Efrain: so cool. How big is the organization? Linda Huntspon: So in terms of the employees, the budget, what what are you wanting to know? How many people? Efrain: Mm-hmm. I mean, how big is t talk about the team? How big is the team? Linda Huntspon: So the team is fifty three folks. At our max we've had fifty five, but right now they're fifty three. I told you about the number of programs. We serve about forty thousand people a year. so yeah. Efrain: You and and are you still like in shock all these years later that you're sitting at seat? Do you still get shocked that you're the the woman at the table, head of the table? Linda Huntspon: Yes. Yes. And honestly, every morning I in it when I'm saying my prayers, 'cause I do pray, and one of the things that I always ask for is wisdom and humility because not only the people that are coming through the doors, they don't belong to me and neither do the people that are on this team. And I Efrain: Mm-hmm. Linda Huntspon: Always want to make sure that I don't lose sight of that because sometimes you can get really full of yourself or you can think I did this or we, you know, I was the chosen one because somebody saw me. But no, you just happen to the the opportunity aligned at the right place. And this too is a test again. I can't tear it up so that somebody else gets a chance, but I also am supposed to carry it further than where I found it so that it'll be better. But somebody will come along and they'll raise more money and they'll be more popular and they'll have they'll do it all better than I did. But am I just happy that I gave it my best? And and that's all I ask of me. Efrain: If you were having to pass the baton, what are some insight you give to the next leader? Linda Huntspon: Tell her or him the very same thing. Show up as your authentic self. Don't be afraid to say when you don't know something, because again, that that's being authentic and and I think that transparency will will take you further. Because there'll be members of the team that will they'll have expertise around things that you will never know. But so don't be afraid to ask them. And use your tools. 'cause I think very often, you know, you can pretend, but people know when you don't know, and sometimes that makes you more likely to fail than if you go ahead and own needing some help from somebody else and truly embrace that whole team concept. Efrain: Speaking to your your colleagues, I think we're all in the space, if you run a nonprofit, if you're in the space of healthcare or things like that, that it is a very tough time to kind of keep going. how do you w what is your advice for those that may feel that they're losing their why or that they're kind of stuck and they're just probably panicking in this time? Linda Huntspon: You just have to go ahead and understand to your point, it is a tough time. It's not personal. you will notice that a lot of philanthropic groups have kind of closed inward and they are only supporting what they've always supported without doing the research. And but I do think that if you continue to be authentic, continue to embrace the opportunities that are around you, because sometimes I think we and you want to because it's less work, you cultivate those big donors, but there's a whole group of folks. that are maybe middle income or they may not have a lot of money, but if you can connect them with your mission or connect them with your passion, they will make donations of both their resources and their time and they'll help build be ambassadors for your organization organization and give you things that money can't buy. so that is something that I think that I've been working on cultivating because I think that as a regular person in the community, a lot of times people didn't reach out to me and ask me, Well, I I may not give you five thousand dollars, but I'll give you fifty. I'll give you twenty five or I'll show up one day and weed a garden or whatever you're asking me to do. Or I may give you that fifty instead of weeding the garden, but but I will tell other Efrain: Ha ha ha. Linda Huntspon: people about the work that you're doing. And so I think it's those little things that sometimes we overlook. You you can chase, you know, big dollars and and they're often good, but it's those everyday working people that it's important if you bring them along with you, then I think they'll be loyal to you too. Efrain: You talked about your daughter being thirty four? Is that correct? Thirty Linda Huntspon: Thirty five. Efrain: two? Thirty five. okay. So yeah, she almost she almost at my age. I feel a little old. I could imagine your daughter feels a little old too. Linda Huntspon: Hehehehehe. Efrain: but what do you want her to know about mom and the work that she does? Linda Huntspon: I just want her to be proud. I want her to always know that your mom was the same at home and at work because sometimes you can get so busy taking care of other people that you forget to take care and I and I always say it amongst my friends and family is you forget to take care of the people that are gonna go home with the peace lily. 'Cause the people in the world can think that you're rah rah rah and you and think that you're magnificent. But what do the people every day at home think of you? Did I show up to PTOs and did I show up at school functions when I could? I I may not meet make all of them. she played soccer and she was a cheerleader. So what I committed to doing during those times was I would always go to the home games because that was easier. Sometimes the away ones were a little bit further, but I was gonna always be at the home games. and we we talked about that in advance because I do think that while you're building a career, it's it's important to remember those other roles that we have and which ones are gonna really be important because If I die tomorrow, they they may or may not close. If my funeral's on a Saturday, then the staff may or may not attend. But there's some other people whose lives are gonna be changed forever. And so it's important not to lose sight of them. So you mentioned those little ones, they won't be four and five forever. You know, someday they're gonna grow up and and they may never know about your podcast, but they'll know you as dad or they'll know you as whatever they're at home calling you to your face, right? There'll be some other names they call us, but Efrain: Yeah. My my my daughter's just calling me Ephraim, my my government name. That's what she's doing. Hey Ephraim. And I'm like, sure, whatever whatever you want. Now she's talking to spell. She'll be like, yo, D A D. Yeah. You Linda Huntspon: she real fancy, huh? Efrain: don't even know. You don't even know. It's just the person. No, I I I truly just enjoy that as well. Cause it it is true. sometimes Linda Huntspon: Yeah. Efrain: we do the work for outside for others and and the Things around us are just burning down or crumbling down. My wife will tell me that all the time. She's like, I want you to talk to me the way that you talk to people out in the world, Ephraim. Linda Huntspon: Ha ha ha. Efrain: And I was I thought I'd talk to you better. She says, I wish. Like, Linda Huntspon: Okay. Efrain: you know, so it is true. They see it, you know. And we got to going back to listening, listening to what people say that Linda Huntspon: Yeah. Efrain: ideally as well. I appreciate this combo. And I I would actually want to be that countability partner because next time we talk, I gotta kind of hold you accountable. What is that thing, Linda, that you have plans to do, that you're in works to get done? Linda Huntspon: I think most of the work that I have plans to do or get done, they involve just making sure that I'm my best self. Cause I think all those other things will come or go. But if I'm my best self, even on those good days I'll be better. And on those really bad days, I'll get through them okay. Cause I showed up as my best self. So I I'm always trying to make sure that I'm a good work in progress and and doing those self-checks to make sure that that I'm I'm showing up and doing what I'm supposed to do. Efrain: Love it. And you have a question for the next leader? I know we talked about that in the frame that Linda Huntspon: do. and it's kind of that's a perfect segue to it because I want to ask them as you're navigating the the the road of leadership, what are you doing to make sure that you're building a life that you love and not just a career? Efrain: Okay, I love that. Let's go, Linda, thick and deep. You you spent some time on that one? Linda Huntspon: you know, it's been overused to talk about self-care, all those other things or but I'm like, but at the end of the day, what are they doing to make sure that you're putting your oxygen mask on first? And what are you doing to make sure that, you know, Efrain: Yeah. Linda Huntspon: at the end of the day you're okay? 'Cause we're still those little people inside with all those healed wounds and all those unresolved issues and so just make what are you doing to take care of you? Efrain: What what would be the answer to your own question? What is that? Linda Huntspon: What what would I answer to my own question? Efrain: Yeah, yeah. Linda Huntspon: It's that I I'm practicing still work life balance, so I may still have those moments in in my car when I'm thinking about work, but I'm on the other half of my life. I know I don't have unless I'm on the green mile, I'm more than halfway done. so I I'm just focusing on when I look back, am I gonna be happy with what I did with the time that I had? Am I gonna be happy for how I showed up for the people that I loved and if I love them, did I tell you I love you? And didn't wait until the next time because we don't know. You know, I told you I'm a breast cancer survivor. I'm pretty sure there was something I was worried about the day before. But I here I am almost fifteen years later and I can't remember. Cause it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of when you're facing your own mortality. And so I remind myself on those hard days. Girl, you you survived cancer. You you got this. It's gonna be okay. That that would show be anticlimatic if God spared you for this to take you out, right? So I Efrain: Yeah. Linda Huntspon: I just wanna make sure that that I'm showing up for the people I I love, I'm telling you so that you don't have to ever wonder and and you know, it's gonna be okay. Efrain: we didn't even get to that, the breast cancer part because that just sh goes back to show the fight that you have. Did you have purpose before that, you think, or you found purpose after the breast cancer? Linda Huntspon: purpose before that, but I think it gave me a level of clarity that I I say it only to a few people because it sounds catamorbid, but I say that I wish that everybody would have just that moment of facing your own mortality because it makes you more reflective and it's a reminder of what's really important. you know, 'cause you want to think about even in relationships, sometimes, you know, you get mad as as a couple, but would it matter if I never saw my husband again where he left his socks? No. That he didn't throw so or that I threw away something that he wanted, you know, it it wouldn't matter because that would be so small in our life together. And and with the same with most relationships. Why are we which is not to say you don't hold people accountable for things that go wrong, but it's say it and be done with it. Very often that pit in your stomach, you you keep rehearsing and rehashing and got a whole script. I'ma say this, then they can say this, and this is how that's gonna go. When that doesn't matter. and my big takeaway from that is I thought I was a nice person, but If there's a lesson in everything, I had made a promise. I was like, man, God, if you let me live, I'm gonna put my pen down and listen to people because there were times when I know that medical professionals were just at work, but they were answering questions to me matter-of-factly and and not even looking me in my eye. Or there were times even people would give me a hug because it, you know, it was breast cancer, and I was like, I want to tell them, hey, it's not gonna jump out of my breast and go on yours. I still can get a hug, and this doesn't hurt me. so I just have tried to be more intentional with my interactions with people is to just put my pen down and listen. 'Cause and so when people come into my office, sometimes they want a vent. They don't want a solution. They just want to get that off their chest or get that off because maybe they're unhappy with something. Okay. And then I I'm listening 'cause I'm listening for the intent of this conversation. And then sometimes I'll repeat back, Did I hear you say? And are you wanting me to? Or sometimes when I'm not sure, I'll say, What do you want me to do? With this information, would you like me to address it? Or are you just making me aware? And so I think that Efrain: Where's the one? Linda Huntspon: that has been my biggest takeaway is to just try to just be intentional with your movements. Think about it. Put your pen down. same as my husband. I I he's not a big talker, and that's okay. because I'll do enough talking for the both of us. But Efrain: Yeah. Linda Huntspon: I still ask Efrain: that's too bad. Linda Huntspon: him, you know, certain things, and I I try to remember even though he'll be like, Girl, that is so mushy. To just be in the middle of the day, send him the same text message I would have sent to my boyfriend, right? even if I have Efrain: That's funny. Linda Huntspon: no intention of carrying out what I promise to do, it sound good. Efrain: I thought about it. Linda Huntspon: Ha ha ha Efrain: Linda, I I know we could definitely continue this conversation. We're both talkers, as you mentioned. I truly appreciate just how going back to what we talked about, how authentic you are. In a place of leadership, it matters more than ever that people are authentically themselves. Because people do see when someone is fake, when someone's wearing this mask. and I'm just so glad that you could be you. I can sense it through the conversation and we've only d done this now but for thirty five minutes, but just the comedy aspect, their life aspect, the authentic aspect of it. and and just never trying to show boat on it any of it. Right. Like you said, none of all this right here, it wasn't just me. Like God has given me these talents. People have poured into me through through different chapters of my life. And I just took the good and and threw away the bad. And this is what comes out of that. Right. Someone's seen me. So I had to see myself more than ever. shots out to you, you know, for the work that you continue to do in your community to uplift people, to meet people where they're at. Where can people find this information? What's the socials? What is the website? So if somebody wants to tap in, volunteer, donate, or anything like that. Linda Huntspon: So the website is ca stlc.org. and that's gonna be short for community action agency of St. Louis County.org, or they can look that up and it'll take them to the website. on our website is gonna be a way to contact me or any of the services. They're all listed. You can apply for most of them online. my phone number, 314-446-4402. my OnlyFans hasn't taken off, so there's no OnlyFans for to look me up on. Depending on how Efrain: Ha ha ha. Linda Huntspon: this podcast goes, no. Efrain: You is a clown. You is a clown. I love it. Well, Miss Linda. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you. Please never lose your yourself. and you know that's one of the things I always tell my wife. I know that there is so much that God has in store for me. And one thing I always pray for is that I never lose myself in this work. That I always continue to stay who I am because that's what allowed us to get here. And we're just enjoying Linda Huntspon: Yes, right. Efrain: it, truly having fun. So Linda, thank Linda Huntspon: Yeah. Efrain: you so much. If you guys are still watching, make sure you guys like, subscribe, and comment. This has been Linda. I'm Euphrame. We'll catch you next one. Linda Huntspon: Thank you so much for having me. It's been a pleasure. Take care. Efrain: You wakum.