Shows
The Life Lessons CollectiveEpisode 13 - Jodi O'Donnell-AmesIn this episode, Michael is joined by Jodi O'Donnell-Ames, a passionate author, speaker, and founder of the nonprofit Hope Loves Company. Their conversation dives into Jodi’s deeply personal journey—losing her husband Kevin to ALS, raising their daughter, and turning unimaginable grief into a mission to support kids and families affected by ALS. Along the way, Jodi shares mini-lessons on presence, resilience, and the importance of simply starting—whether that’s launching a nonprofit with $1,200, going back to school at nearly 60, or just sending that brave email. It’s a conversation full of warmth, wisdom, and some seriously inspiring...2025-04-071h 09
The Janice Dean PodcastHope Loves CompanyIn 2001, Jodi O'Donnell-Ames lost her husband to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 36. However, she turned tragedy into purpose, and now works to help others navigating similar circumstances. Founder of Hope Loves Company Jodi O'Donnell-Ames shares how she found hope through caregiving, loss, and grief as detailed in her new book, Hope Givers: Conversations and Stories Of Hope. Jodi discusses how her family was impacted by terminal illness, and why she hopes to be an inspiring advocate for others today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices2024-07-0739 min
The Whole Care NetworkSoul Sisters: Sara Cooper and Jodi O'Donnell-AmesMultitalented Sara Cooper has been a commercial real estate lender, an event planner and a marketing guru in her professional career. The founder of Cooper Creative Group has even mastered the culinary arts.
Mary Oliver quote: "Watch now how I start the day: in happiness, in kindness."
Icebucket challenge video:
Jodi and Sara talk ALS: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1431811063660783
https://www.facebook.com/jodi.odonnellames/videos/7487975451800042024-05-0726 min
The Whole Care NetworkTwo Kevin's, One Journey of HopeHost Jodi O'Donnell-Ames sits down with Laurice Duffy, a new friend with many connections. In this episode, Jodi and Laurice remember their late husbands, who were both named Kevin and who also died of ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease, and checking the widow box for the very first time.2024-02-2128 min
The Whole Care NetworkA Care Giving Life Featuring Deb HalliseyHost Jodi O'Donnell-Ames sits down with Debra Hallisey to talk about losing her job and finding her passion as an advocate and caregiver.
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-hallisey/
https://advocateformomanddad.com/
https://www.facebook.com/advocateformomdad/
IG: debrahallisey
Book: Your Caregiver Relationship Contract
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Caregiver-Relationship-Contract-expectations/dp/05785438342024-02-1433 min
Book Talk @ Book PlaceHope Givers - Jodi O'Donnell AmesJoy Givers book is the story of the author’s journey through caregiving, terminal illness, grief, and those hardest ubiquitous lessons of adult life. It is a work of profound sincerity, for a society wrestling to process the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the biological necessity of deeper peace. Reckoning with the long-standing themes self-help, mental health, chronic grief, trauma, and self-empowerment, the author dances between the roles of guide, mentor, friend, and confidante.
For more, go to https://www.joaspeakson.com/2023-06-0930 min
Spirituality Now!150 - Hope Givers with Jodi O'Donnell“Helping is healing” ~Jodi O'Donnell This is a true hope-giving episode with a true professional HOPE GIVER Jodi O’Donnell.In this episode, Jodi & I speak about: Appreciating Simplicity “Too much” overloadThe Phone Book Soul connections -Leading with ServitudeThe gift of being an observer -Initiation into consciousness through lightning and tragedy?The Mystery of an Aura Reading?Awakening to the ability to help others and create an impactThe Support of Women who believed in JodiThe stepping stones of spirit -Losing her husband to ALS.The honor of BEING a caregiverBeing a HOPE GIVER is a mission fo...2023-05-1047 min
Gratitude to LatitudeAn Educated GuestJodi sits down with Dr. Lawrence Nespoli about the importance and accessibility of education, failing at retirement and winning at positivity.
About our guest:
Dr. Lawrence A. Nespoli is the former President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC), the statewide coordinating organization for New Jersey’s community colleges. New Jersey’s community colleges presented him with the inaugural New JerseyCommunity College Legacy Award in 2018, in recognition of the many contributions he made to New Jersey’s community colleges and its students while serving as president for 27 years. Dr. Nespoli is now a faculty...2022-07-0633 min
Respect Circles - The PodcastHope Loves Company: A Powerful Journey of Grief, Healing, and Helping Families Facing ALSToday we are joined by a very special guest, Jodi O’Donnell-Ames, as we learn about her journey and the amazing work she is doing to make a difference in the world and the lives of others. Jodi is a speaker, coach, author, and founder of Hope Loves Company - a non-profit organization with the mission of supporting children and young adults who love someone with ALS. Jodi’s story of caring for her husband as he lived with, and eventually passed away from, ALS is a powerful one. In this episode, she helps us open up a di...2022-05-2644 min
I'm Dying to Tell YouHope Loves Company - Supporting Children in ALS FamiliesIn this episode, I chat with three amazing women who are all involved with Hope Loves Company, a non-profit that provides support to children who have had or have a loved one battling ALS. Hope Loves Company is the result of raising three children who had to learn about ALS (or Lou Gehrig's Disease) as young children. Hope Loves Company's (HLC) founder, Jodi O'Donnell-Ames, lost her husband, Kevin, to ALS in 2001. Their daughter, Alina, was almost three when Kevin was diagnosed. Years after Jodi lost her husband to ALS, Jodi married Warren Benton Ames and became the mother of his t...2022-03-1140 min
Gratitude to LatitudeCare for Caregiving ChildrenJodi sits down with Dr. Connie Siskowski, Founder and President of American Association of Caregiving Youth to talk about her childhood caregiving experience, why she started AACY and becoming a CNN Hero.
Links:
American Associate of Caregiving Youth
AACUY News & Videos2022-02-2027 min
Gratitude to LatitudeThe Path TakenJodi sits down with Rob Matthews to talk about healthy eating, fitness and fatherhood.2022-01-3041 min
Gratitude to LatitudeMaking Waves and the Ripple EffectJodi sits down with Tom Prather to talk about dreaming big, meeting his idol Eddie Van Halen and the creative thinking that has fueled his entrepreneurial journey.
Website: https://www.thebluewave.net/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-waves-with-tom-prather/id12919393962022-01-2344 min
Gratitude to LatitudeA Care Giving LifeJodi sits down with Debra Hallisey to talk about losing her job and finding her passion as an advocate and caregiver.
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-hallisey/
https://advocateformomanddad.com/
https://www.facebook.com/advocateformomdad/
IG: debrahallisey
Book: Your Caregiver Relationship Contract
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Caregiver-Relationship-Contract-expectations/dp/05785438342022-01-0233 min
Gratitude to LatitudeCancer ClimberJodi sits down with Sean to chat about his love for adventure, his enormous determination, and the hardest climb of his life. https://www.seanswarner.com/2021-12-2636 min
Gratitude to LatitudeBeauty, Grace and GritJodi sits down with Isabella to discuss adventure, building resilience, nurturing effortless effort and battling stage 4 lung cancer.
You can find out more about Isabella at https://bikebreathebelieve.org/about-isabella/2021-12-1936 min
Gratitude to LatitudeGrounded Illumination - With Felice Nussbaun DiMartinoJodi sits down with Felice about the moment that changed her life forever and how she continues to honor her body, mind and spirit.
Books:
Life With a Traumatic Brain Injury by Amy Zellmer
Proof of Heaven--A Neurosurgeon's Journey Into the Afterlife by Eben Alexander, M.D.2021-12-0538 min
Gratitude to LatitudeAn Engineered VisionNeil and Jodi sit down and talk about the power of the American dream and how he achieved success.2021-11-2830 min
Gratitude to LatitudeStanding HER GroundJodi sits down with Maureen Pierce to talk about the unthinkable-her childhood abduction and her recovery through self defense and empowerment.2021-11-0835 min