Friends from Wild Places

Hosted by Shireen Botha

Business Education

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Episodes

117

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Business Owner Professionals and entrepreneurs from all over the world come to speak to me and tell me why they do what they do and their vision. I feature a Non-profit Org to spread awareness. I share bookkeeping tips and stories from my life as a business owner. Inspiring other business owners by showing the wild hearts of entrepreneurs and how they cannot be tamed. And just to chat, laugh, and enjoy one another. Shireen approaches business and life, in general, through the lens of wanting to multiply the light in the world. Whether client, colleague, or friend, she has a special understanding of people. Separate from bookkeeping, her Friends From Wild Places podcast serves as a platform for connection where business owners can share their work and life experiences and even their wild hearts and passions in a safe space. The podcast also allows entrepreneurs to share about nonprofits that have special meaning for them.

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60 recent

June 13, 2026Episode 1730 min

What Drives People To Commit Crime

People love to ask the million-dollar question: what causes someone to commit a crime? We go deeper than a single motive and talk through the messy truth that criminal behavior is multifactorial. Greed, jealousy, revenge, ideology, and plain old stress can all play a role, but the most useful framework is what protects people when temptation or pressure hits. We break down self-control alongside protective factors like family, community, faith, and work and what happens when those anchors disappear and risk factors take over.Nancy AlleyneLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-a-aa244848/Then we get practical for students and career-changers: what the criminal justice field actually looks like beyond the TV version. We talk expectations versus reality, the CSI effect, and what mainstream true crime often gets wrong about the scope and pace of real investigations. Finally, we share a concrete tool for planning your next step, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, plus real examples of career paths that do not start with a badge but still lead to meaningful work.Join us as we support Feeding South Florida this month!Subscribe so you do not miss part three, share this with a friend who loves true crime, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.Send us Fan MailBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEShireen's Bookkeeping Services LLCOutsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showStay Wild!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplacesWebsite: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcastLeave a review!

June 6, 2026Episode 1630 min

Can A Jury Stay Unbiased?

A CEO is killed on a New York sidewalk, a suspect is arrested after a multi-day manhunt, and the public reaction splits in a way that should worry anyone who cares about justice. Some people see a cold-blooded murder. Others see payback for a broken, for-profit healthcare system. We sit with that discomfort and ask the question that would hang over any courtroom: if you were on the jury, could you separate your own insurance anger from the facts of a violent crime?Nancy AlleyneLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-a-aa244848/Then the conversation shifts from courts to character. Using the quote “Treat others as you would like to be treated,” we explore small, daily choices that reveal how rushed and angry society has become, from holding the door to how people drive and speak to strangers. Dr Alleyne also shares her path from New York to probation work and into teaching, and why curiosity about crime can become a lifelong call to serve the public.Join us as we support Feeding South Florida this month!Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a true crime fan who loves the messy questions, and leave a review so more listeners can find Friends from Wild Places.Send us Fan MailBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEShireen's Bookkeeping Services LLCOutsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showStay Wild!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplacesWebsite: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcastLeave a review!

May 23, 2026Episode 1524 min

Albanian Culture In Five Big Flavors

Albania isn’t just a place on a map, it’s a feeling, and once you hear how Albanians treat guests, you understand why travelers come back changed. We sit down with Anila Nicklos to unpack Albanian culture in a way that’s practical and vivid: what hospitality looks like in real life, why the food matters so much, what makes the Albanian language unique, and how a small country can hold mountains, rivers, lakes, and sea views within minutes of each other. If you’ve been searching for Albania travel tips, Albanian culture facts, or a fresh perspective on identity and belonging, this conversation is a warm starting point. Anila NicklosTel: +1 216-870-1054Email: anila@icaremm.comLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/anila-nicklosThen the focus shifts inward: legacy. Anila shares her word for the year, patience, and how it connects to long-term dedication, sacrifice, and showing up for the work even when results take decades. The line that sticks with us is simple and challenging: do the right thing when no one is looking, for the greater good, so we leave the world better than we found it. From there, we spotlight our monthly nonprofit, OUR Rescue (ourrescue.org), and why stopping human trafficking requires attention, funding, and community support. Join us as we support Our Rescue Organization this month!If you like honest conversations that mix heart, curiosity, and a little laughter, you’ll love the word association game that closes the show. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find Friends From Wild Places. What word would you start the game with?Send us Fan MailBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEShireen's Bookkeeping Services LLCOutsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showStay Wild!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplacesWebsite: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcastLeave a review!

May 16, 2026Episode 1426 min

Beyond Checkbox Leadership

Checkbox diversity is easy. Building a culture where people feel seen, trusted, and excited to do great work is the real challenge, and it starts with something surprisingly simple: getting to know each other as humans. We sit down with Anila, a diversity strategist and community advocate, to unpack what leaders can do right now to create high-performance teams rooted in shared purpose. We talk about the practical habits that make inclusion real, from curiosity about other cultures to small relationship-building moves that turn “team” into something people can feel.Anila NicklosTel: +1 216-870-1054Email: anila@icaremm.comLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/anila-nicklosThen we shift into healthcare innovation and what patient-centred care looks like when you take the phrase seriously. Anila shares how her work in strategic partnerships at iCare Mobile Medicine is guided by ethics, empathy, and the commitment to meet patients where they are. We walk through how mobile urgent care works in Florida, including what clinicians can handle on-site, how lab work and imaging like x-rays can be facilitated, and the clear line where an ER referral is the safest next step.Join us as we support Our Rescue Organization this month!We also go deeper on storytelling as a leadership skill. Anila explains how stories helped her bridge cultures, advocate for communities, and translate values like resilience and education into language organisations can rally around. If you lead people, build partnerships, or care about better healthcare access, you’ll leave with concrete ideas you can use immediately. Subscribe, share this with someone who leads a team, and leave a review so more listeners can find Friends From Wild Places.Send us Fan MailBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEShireen's Bookkeeping Services LLCOutsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showStay Wild!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplacesWebsite: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcastLeave a review!

May 9, 2026Episode 1323 min

What Stays True When Everything Changes

If you had no witnesses and only your word to offer, what would convince a jury you’re telling the truth? We start with that uncomfortable question while unpacking a high profile attempted murder trial in Hawaii, then follow the thread where it really leads: integrity, consistency, and what your life says about you when the stakes are high.Anila NicklosTel: +1 216-870-1054Email: anila@icaremm.comLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/anila-nicklosThen we welcome our special guest, Anila Nicklos, originally from Tirana, Albania. Anila brings the kind of insight that comes from living a full reinvention. She shares what it actually feels like to leave your homeland, lose your support system, and try to belong in a new culture without losing yourself. One of the most striking parts of her story is how identity can be tied to language. She was already being published as a writer in Albania, then arrived in the US and faced the reality that her work couldn’t be read. From journalism to leadership, she explains how she rebuilt her voice and eventually began writing fiction in English, one hard won sentence at a time.Join us as we support Our Rescue Organization this month!Subscribe, share this conversation with someone rebuilding their next chapter, and leave a review so more listeners can find Friends From Wild Places. What part of your identity has been the hardest to translate?Send us Fan MailBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEShireen's Bookkeeping Services LLCOutsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showStay Wild!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplacesWebsite: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcastLeave a review!

April 25, 2026Episode 1227 min

Are You Confusing Opinion With Fact

The hardest part of growth is not moving countries, changing careers, or chasing bigger goals. It’s learning how to be yourself without letting comparison steal your confidence. Franklin joins us to talk candidly about that inner fight, what it feels like to live between cultures, and how self-belief becomes a daily practice rather than a personality trait you either have or don’t. Franklin MoyaWebsite: https://jfranklin.eu/Email: j.franklin.art@hotmail.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jfranklinme/We also spotlight Toastmasters International, a worldwide nonprofit that helps people build public speaking confidence and leadership skills through structured meetings, supportive roles, and honest feedback. Then we lighten things up with a “Fact or Opinion” game that turns into a bigger conversation about how often we mistake feelings for facts and why respecting different opinions matters right now. Join us as we support Toastmasters International this month!If you enjoyed the conversation, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review. What’s one belief you used to treat as fact that you’ve since changed your mind about?Send us Fan MailBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEShireen's Bookkeeping Services LLCOutsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showStay Wild!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplacesWebsite: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcastLeave a review!

April 18, 2026Episode 1125 min

Writing Through The Storm

COVID didn’t just disrupt Franklin’s career, it cracked his life open and forced a choice: sink into the loss or finally write the book he’d been carrying since he was 19. He chose the page. What follows is a candid, human story about reinvention, rejection, and how creative work can become a lifeline when your “stable plan” disappears overnight.Franklin MoyaWebsite: https://jfranklin.eu/Email: j.franklin.art@hotmail.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jfranklinme/Then the conversation turns personal development and a question that reshaped everything: what is success, for you? Franklin’s answer isn’t flashy, it’s durable. We also explore what it means to live across borders and languages, including the surprising detail that he dreams in Spanish, French, and English. Along the way we touch on a charity children’s book he illustrated to support disabled children in Spain, plus the reality of cabin crew life as both a dream job and a practical stepping stone toward public speaking, illustration, and long-term creative independence.Join us as we support Toastmasters International this month!If you’ve been navigating burnout, a toxic workplace, or a career change after the pandemic, this one will land. Subscribe, share it with a friend who’s rebuilding, and leave us a review with your own definition of success.Send us Fan MailBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEShireen's Bookkeeping Services LLCOutsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showStay Wild!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplacesWebsite: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcastLeave a review!

April 11, 2026Episode 1026 min

Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway

Then we shift from crime to courage. Our guest, Franklin Moyle, known artistically as Jay Franklin, joins us for his first-ever podcast and does it in his second language. He opens up about the quote that shaped his life: “Feel the fear and do it anyway” from Susan Jeffers. We talk about self-confidence, imposter syndrome, and the uncomfortable truth that many people who look fearless are simply better at hiding their fear. If you’re building a business, changing careers, or trying to speak up in public, this conversation is a grounded reminder that bravery is a practice, not a personality type. Franklin MoyaWebsite: https://jfranklin.eu/Email: j.franklin.art@hotmail.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jfranklinme/We also get into Franklin’s immigrant journey and reinvention story: leaving Venezuela as the economy collapsed, arriving in France on a student visa, working through demanding hospitality jobs while studying, and earning the right to stay by staying consistent, paying his dues, and keeping his long game in view. It’s a powerful lens on entrepreneurship, resilience, and building a future one choice at a time. Join us as we support Toastmasters International this month!If you like honest stories, practical lessons, and a little true crime curiosity, subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a push, and leave us a review. What’s one fear you’re ready to act through this week?Send us Fan MailBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEShireen's Bookkeeping Services LLCOutsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showStay Wild!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplacesWebsite: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcastLeave a review!

March 28, 2026Episode 926 min

Waiting For The Right Door To Open

What if the closed doors in your life are actually signposts? We sit down with Michael Perie—mortuary educator, industry pro, and calming presence—to unpack how faith, timing, and real rest can shape a career that serves people at their most tender moments. Michael shares why he waits for clarity before moving, how doing “nothing” on purpose refills his tank, and why a steady voice can change the temperature of a room, a graveside, or a classroom.Michael PerieWebsite: http://www.mp-educates.com/Email: mike_perie@yahoo.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-perie-0902025a/From there, we zoom into the future of funeral service. Cremation is steadily becoming the norm in regions once defined by burial, and that shift demands new training. Michael outlines what students need now: practical cremation workflows, chain-of-custody precision, transparent communication with families, and ethical decision-making that honors budget, ritual, and belief. We also explore alkaline hydrolysis—water cremation—where student enthusiasm outpaces business adoption, and discuss the regulatory, financial, and cultural hurdles that keep innovative options on the edge in many mid-southern states.Join us as we support In His Grace Ministries this month!Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of purpose and practice, share this episode with someone who could use a green light, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your feedback guides our next guests and topics—what should we explore next?Send us Fan MailBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEShireen's Bookkeeping Services LLCOutsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showStay Wild!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplacesWebsite: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcastLeave a review!

March 21, 2026Episode 822 min

Listening First, Leading Better

What if the fastest way to lead better is to talk less and listen more? Michael of MP Educates joins us to share how intentional listening, humble feedback, and clear boundaries helped him grow as a father, pastor, mortuary professional, and educator—without burning out. His story begins with a hard truth: answering before someone finishes speaking isn’t leadership, it’s fear. By slowing down and watching for nonverbal cues, he built trust, learned what actually works, and made smarter choices under pressure.Michael PerieWebsite: http://www.mp-educates.com/Email: mike_perie@yahoo.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-perie-0902025a/For entrepreneurs ready to launch, Michael offers simple, decisive guidance: gather information first and keep learning as you grow. Know the true costs, prepare for the surprises, and let research shape your roadmap. That discipline pays off when you step into ownership; you’ll be solving problems with a reservoir of hard-won knowledge rather than guesswork. We also spotlight IHG Missions, the nonprofit he and his wife lead in Memphis. Their essentials bags—socks, toiletries, warm gear, encouragement notes, and even cash—center dignity and choice. Michael’s take on giving is refreshingly direct: give from a generous heart and trust the act to do good.Join us as we support In His Grace Ministries this month!We close with what’s next: a home studio to improve livestream quality and presentation, plus expanded MP Educates seminars and online CEUs that make professional growth more accessible. If you’re navigating multiple callings or just starting out, this conversation offers an honest blueprint—listen first, set boundaries you’ll honor, prepare like it matters, and serve people by name. If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find stories like this.Send us Fan MailBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEShireen's Bookkeeping Services LLCOutsourcing your bookkeeping to Shireen’s Bookkeeping Services can save you time and money.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showStay Wild!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplacesWebsite: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcastLeave a review!