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Elizabeth Esser interviews Santisha Walker, a registered nurse, author, entrepreneur and speaker based in Durham. They discuss her fitness apparel and wellness brand, The I AM Experience.
Eye on the Triangle is WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2’s weekly public affairs programming with news, interviews, opinion, weather, sports, arts, music, events and issues that matter to NC State, Raleigh and the Triangle.
00:00
Eoin Trainor
The views and opinions expressed in I on the Triangle do not represent WKNC or student media. Good evening Raleigh and welcome to this week's Eye on The Triangle, an NC State student produced news show on WKNC 88.1 FM HD1, Raleigh. I'm Eoin Trainor. On tonight's episode, Elizabeth Esther interviews Santisha Walker, a registered nurse, entrepreneur, author and speaker based in Durham. They talk about her fitness apparel and wellness brand, the I Am Experience. But first, we have some stories from the North Carolina News Service. Enjoy.
01:12
Nadia Ramlagan
A state environmental committee is considering a proposal to set in process a motion to reduce carbon emissions from power plants. It involves North Carolina joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or reggie, a collaborative effort to shrink emissions by a group of east coast states. REGGIE requires companies to purchase an allowance for each ton of carbon dioxide pollution they produce. The petition now heads to a second commission for a vote. Joel Porter with Clean Air Carolina says environmental groups are pleased the state is taking the impact of carbon pollution seriously.
01:44
Joel Porter
So that was a big step forward for us on a long journey through the regulatory process. But we are encouraged that they approve of our petition and regulating greenhouse gases in North Carolina.
01:57
Nadia Ramlagan
He says states already part of REGGIE have seen carbon dioxide emissions from power plants drop 47% over the last decade. With that dip in fossil fuel generation came cleaner air, fewer hospital visits and fewer lost work or school days from asthma and other respiratory illnesses. But an energy bill being debated by state lawmakers could complicate the effort to join Reggie. Porter says House Bill 951 would enshrine natural gas and fossil fuel use in the state for the next decade and limit the amount of renewable energy that can be used.
02:30
Joel Porter
All in all, it's we're glad that we're supporting a petition to get the state in Reggie because this bill closes the state's energy market to clean energy.
02:41
Nadia Ramlagan
Derb Carter with the Southern Environmental Law center says joining REGI would put North Carolina on a path to reduce carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 70% before 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050.
02:55
Derb Carter
Which generally aligns with what the scientists are telling us we really need to do to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
03:04
Nadia Ramlagan
Carter notes North Carolinians already feel the effects of climate change from extreme weather. He says unless the course is shifted, the state's residents and economy will see more consequences. For North Carolina News Service, I'm Nadia Ramlagon. New survey data offer a clear picture of how North Carolina kids and families are faring both before and after the pandemic The Tar heel State ranks 34th in the nation for overall child well being in the 2021 Kids Count data book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Vicki Kraus with NC Child says before the pandemic, one in five kids lived in households with incomes below the poverty line and then massive job losses meant thousands of parents suddenly had no or reduced income and few options for child care.
03:53
Vicki Kraus
So we know that the pandemic took a toll on everyone, but especially parents and caregivers.
03:59
Nadia Ramlagan
According to the report, the percentage of adults in households with kids experiencing symptoms of depression from 19% last year to 22% in March of this year. The data also reveal in 2020, 22% of households with children experienced housing insecurity, reporting little or no confidence in their ability to pay their next rent or mortgage payment. In March 2021, that figure has dipped to 17%. However, Kraus says affordable housing continues to be a pressing issue and that is.
04:30
Vicki Kraus
Really concerning because certainly families and kids don't fare well. They don't have a stable position to live.
04:36
Nadia Ramlagan
But she notes the expanded child tax credit will likely lift more than 140,000 North Carolina children out of poverty. Leslie Bosier with the Casey foundation explains both state and federal child tax credit programs are critical to eliminating structural inequities in the tax code.
04:53
Vicki Kraus
We are excited and grateful that lawmakers passed the expansion and we're calling on them to make that expansion permanent. We'd like to ensure that we don't have the largest ever one year reduction in the number of children who live in poverty, followed immediately by the largest. Ever one year increase.
05:10
Nadia Ramlagan
She adds more than half of black children have historically been ineligible for the full child tax credit because their household incomes are too low compared with 25% of white children. For North Carolina News Service, I'm Nadia Ramlagan.
05:30
Lily Boelke
Groups advocating for clean energy say Governor Roy Cooper's recent commitment to expanding North Carolina's offshore wind capacity will bring economic benefits to the state. North Carolina has among the highest offshore wind energy potential in the nation with its long coastline and shallow outer continental shelf. Jamie Simmons with the Southeastern Wind Coalition says in addition to being a carbon free source of power, expanding offshore wind could create tens of thousands of new jobs.
06:00
Elizabeth Esther
Some of these major location decisions are.
06:02
Santisha Walker
Being driven in large part by the.
06:04
Elizabeth Esther
States or regions with anticipated projects.
06:07
Santisha Walker
So these development goals set by Governor Cooper make a much stronger case for these manufacturers to locate and invest in. North Carolina.
06:16
Lily Boelke
North Carolina is facing a 10 year moratorium on all offshore energy leasing starting in July of 2022. Simmons says pending legislation would exempt offshore wind from the ban. In the meantime, she says, there's work do to get existing wind energy areas ready for leasing Wilmington east and west in the southern part of the state and prepare for development of new projects to start immediately when the moratorium ends. Simmons says offshore wind will be an essential part of the move toward a carbon free grid and that it marries well with solar energy. When solar starts to produce less in the day around early evening, offshore wind usually is blowing the strongest. She adds that the high generation capacity of individual offshore wind projects is key.
07:04
Santisha Walker
You're really talking about rethinking what baseload power means. Offshore wind is really the only renewable energy that could replace the capacity from a coal facility or natural gas facility.
07:19
Lily Boelke
Cooper's proclamation outlines targets for offshore wind Energy of 2,800 megawatts by 2030 and 8,000 megawatts by 2040. His administration notes 8,000 megawatts could power more than 2 million homes. The order also aligns with the state's Clean Energy plan, signed in 2018, which aims to reduce power sector greenhouse gases 70% by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. For North Carolina News Service, I'm Lily Boelke.
07:54
Elizabeth Esther
I'm Elizabeth Esther with WKNC 88.1's eye on the Triangle. Joining us today is Santisha Walker, a certified nurse, entrepreneur, speaker and author based in Durham, North Carolina. We discuss her fitness apparel and wellness brand, the I Am Experience. Santisha, thank you so much for joining us on Eye on the Triangle.
08:13
Santisha Walker
You're welcome. Thank you for having me, Elizabeth. I'm excited to be here.
08:18
Elizabeth Esther
So you wear many hats. You're a certified nurse, an entrepreneur, an author, speaker. Would you mind telling our listeners a bit about your professional background and how you got to where you are today?
08:29
Santisha Walker
Sure. So yes, I am a registered nurse. I've been a nurse for seven years. I actually received my nursing degree from Wake Technical Community College here in Raleigh and then I went on to get my master's in nursing from Gardner Webb University. And so as far as my nursing background, I have worked at WakeMed. I was a cardiac nurse on intermediate step down unit. I worked at a private practice in Raleigh for neurology. I've done home care, supervisory visits. I've worked in assisted living, long term care and rehab. So I have a really broad knowledge of nursing. And as you know, I'm not your typical traditional conventional nurse. I believe stepping outside of the box and using my nursing knowledge to help Others outside of the bedside setting.
09:15
Santisha Walker
I'm also a wellness coach and so I thought it would be great to pair wellness knowledge with my nursing healthcare information that I have and then make the best of that and be able to help others outside of that setting. I am here from the Raleigh Durham area and I reside here at rtp and so I try to reach out to the community and partner with others who are making a difference in the lives of others as well in the healthcare wellness setting. So I have a broad range of knowledge.
09:43
Elizabeth Esther
So what is the IAM experience and what inspired you to create it?
09:48
Santisha Walker
Sure. So the IAM experience. So my mission with that is to basically offer individuals a fitness and wellness experience that's going to empower them to intentionally cultivate the best version of themselves and reflect it out to the world. And so my vision was to offer a fitness apparel from a quality brand that everyone can trust and then also tag onto that wellness products that they can use while they are actually working on their physical body. And so where this idea came from, actually it came to me during the pandemic, right? Everyone was home, were all going through a lot. Myself as a nurse, I was still actually helping in the bedside setting, doing what we call prn, helping in different Covid units in the area.
10:35
Santisha Walker
But when I was home, I actually decided to focus more on my actual fitness physical fit as far as my physical body. And so I began working out more before the pandemic. I would go to the boxing gym and try to work on my body. But I got very lazy with it. So I decided to incorporate more physical activity for myself. But also I wanted to center myself emotionally, spiritually and mentally, right? And so with every, like at every news station, every time we turned around, there was something negative being mentioned or new breaking news, I should say, about coronavirus and about the number of deaths. And so it was taking a toll on everyone, including myself. And so what I wanted to do was become very still very centered. And so I began positive self talk. I began to incorporate heavily.
11:24
Santisha Walker
I was doing it before, but I really want to focus on positive affirmations. And so during my workout sessions, which I would work out early in the morning, go ahead and get it done for the day. I began playing affirmations in the background. So while I was doing my HIIT workout, I had affirmations going. And that helped me during that vulnerable time when I was working out to center my mind and to speak to myself and my body. And I just took it from there. So I thought you know what, if this is helping me, who else could this actually help? You know, because when we're working out, that's a very, it's empowering, but it's also very vulnerable, right? Because you're questioning yourself, can I do this? I have to reach this goal. I have to feel better.
12:09
Santisha Walker
So you're vulnerable, but you're also empowering yourself to keep going and push past that threshold. That's when it came to me. It would be really cool to come up with an apparel that people could actually put on. When they see themselves in that apparel, they will be empowered, but then also add products or add something to that would allow them to continue with the empowerment. Mind, body, soul and spirit. That's where it came from. My husband's nonprofit organization, Carolina United Flag Football Club, they actually had access Nike apparel. And so I tapped into his resource and I was able to get great, you know, quality apparel and use, you know, use the IM brand to go ahead and put something great out there for individuals.
13:02
Elizabeth Esther
And so I understand that the brand is not just a fitness apparel brand. What all does it offer?
13:10
Santisha Walker
Yeah, great. Okay, so this is the fun part, right? Because there are several fitness apparel, you know, you can Athleticure is everywhere. But the thing that sets the I am apart is we offer an IM fitness wellness kit, right? So the IM exclusive wellness kit is basically 10 subjects that those who purchase the apparel can choose from is complimentary. And so you choose one of those subjects with your apparel purchase. And I'm actually sending you information based on my nursing and wellness knowledge that will help you to incorporate that into your life. So there are daily practical guides, there are valuable resources that are reputable that you can believe and trust in. There's evidence based information that's provided on that particular topic. So each time you purchase an apparel, you can choose a new topic to go along with your apparel.
14:02
Santisha Walker
So that I am exclusive wellness kit will be included with your package with your actual apparel that you receive at your doorstep. Okay. So another product that I included was the IM Energy Workout Mix. This was a really fun project. And again, like I mentioned before, I was working out, right? But what I wanted to do was put I am affirmations on top of energizing beats. So when we work out, we want something that's just going to keep us going, especially when we reach that peak, right? We have to push to that threshold. And so what I wanted to do was incorporate I am affirmations with energizing beats so that you can Actually listen to it while you're working out. So it is a 30 minute audio. And so these are professionally engineered beats that are done by the professionals.
14:50
Santisha Walker
I know nothing about studio work. So I reached out to hats and brand and company and they were able to reach out to their resources, their team and put together the I am energy workout mix. And so again, that is complimentary. It comes with your apparel. You can only get it once you purchase your apparel. That's actually to help your mind stay in that positive mindset while you're working out. And I actually had someone reach out to me and she said, you know what, I actually listened to it after I finished my workout and so that you can carry it into your everyday activities. And the other, this is not really a product, but the other thing that I offer is I am empowered private group. And so that is a private Facebook group.
15:29
Santisha Walker
You have to have an entry code, you have to answer questions to be able to get in. But once you purchase your apparel, then you actually get access to that group to be held accountable and to be empowered on a daily and weekly basis. And so it's not just me posting information as a healthcare professional, but it's those that are in the group. We're asking questions, hey, what are you guys doing about this? How are you guys being empowered this week? This is what I'm doing, right? One of the things I posted yesterday was, hey guys, I had a little bit too much sugar last week and I didn't really take in as much water. This week I am being held accountable to drinking more water and so they hold me accountable to that. So yeah, I wanted to definitely partner wellness products.
16:15
Elizabeth Esther
And you have a background in healthcare and business and you've been able to successfully merge these two passions in your career. Was creating a brand like the I am experience always a goal of yours or is that something that just happened along the way?
16:31
Santisha Walker
Great question. So it happened along the way. You know, if you do a little bit of research and background on me, I am a true like nurse entrepreneur, what we call nursepreneur. And so I consider myself a serial entrepreneur because I love taking ideas, I love taking things and my creativities and bringing them to a full finished work and bringing them into fruition. And so no, it's so funny. I had never envisioned myself even launching a fitness line. Right? But I have a business degree and I always tell this story. I have a business degree, I concentrated in marketing, but I never envisioned that I would be an entrepreneur. And I know that's like an oxymoron. It's contradictory. But when I went to College back in 2001, I didn't know what I wanted to do, wanted to major in.
17:21
Santisha Walker
So I said, hey, if I get a business degree, I could always use it at some point in life. And then after graduating in college, I kind of had an idea. I wanted to be a nurse, but I was close to graduating, so I graduated. But becoming a nurse. I didn't become a nurse to even partner the two worlds. It wasn't until later I realized, oh, my God, I have all of this knowledge. I have a business degree. And my husband actually brought the idea of going into consulting and starting my own business. And so eventually I merged the two. So I did not set out to be a serial nursepreneur. I did not set out to launch a fitness line. I do believe in submitting my mind, my body, and my will to the will of God, my creator.
18:05
Santisha Walker
And I do believe in allowing him to order my steps. And so throughout life is very secure, very, you know, it's a windy road. And so I just believe in just following him and doing what he's telling me to do. And it's been a success so far. Success meaning I have empowered a lot of people along the way. That's how I measure my level of success. So, you know, no, I didn't set out to do it, but I. I do believe in not being boxed in and just, you know, submitting myself to God and letting him use me in that way.
18:37
Elizabeth Esther
And as a registered nurse yourself, you have a specific passion of empowering nurses professionally and in life. How have nurses and other healthcare professionals responded to the IM experience?
18:51
Santisha Walker
Yeah, so they responded great. I actually had a giveaway. I launched, actually, the day, like Nurses Week was my first inaugural launch of the brand. And so I had nurses, like, reach out to me. There was actually a giveaway that I offered, and one of my. One of the nurses won, but they responded positively. I will say, just in general, nurses are amazing. We're the powerhouse of healthcare. And I'm happy to see that we are moving along in becoming used to nurses operating outside of that traditional setting. But it is still a pool every once in a while to get nurses to see another nurse operating outside of just having on scrubs and starting IVs and running to codes. And so I have had a positive response.
19:38
Santisha Walker
But I think as nurses hear more about this and realize, hey, this is something you guys can tap into as well, I think there would be even more better response but so far it's been good. I actually have a nurse who was a part of our inaugural launch and so she has actually been putting it, she's an ER nurse at WakeMed and she's actually been, she's an ambassador and she's been putting help me get the brand out to other nurses as well.
20:05
Elizabeth Esther
When is your next release?
20:07
Santisha Walker
Yeah, so my next release is actually this Friday, June 25th. I'm not sure when this will air, but it is June 25th and so I release the fourth Friday of every month. And so if you missed the first release or the most previous release, you can also always subscribe and then you'll get a heads up with that next release is coming. So the 25th of June is my next release and the releases are available only for one week. And so you have to almost get in there while you can, you know, while the getting is good. And then once that's that seventh day is over, then the next release is not until another three or four weeks.
20:44
Elizabeth Esther
And and finally, where can listeners find your merchandise?
20:47
Santisha Walker
Yeah, so they can find it at www.theiamexperience shop. So that is the I Am Experience shop. And then once they go there they can see all of the amazing information and yeah, all the good stuff.
21:04
Elizabeth Esther
Santisha, thank you so much for joining us.
21:07
Santisha Walker
You're welcome, Elizabeth. Thank you so much for having me.
21:11
Eoin Trainor
And that is it for this episode of Eye on the Triangle. Thanks for tuning in. If you have any questions, comments, ideas or would like to get involved, shoot us an email at wknc-publicaffairs@ncsu.edu we love to hear from you. Stay tuned for your usual programming. We'll see you next time.