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Listen "Golden Minds and Gratitude: Insight from Karen Phelps Moyer"
Episode Synopsis
Join us as we dive in with Karen Phelps Moyer about authenticity, self-care, and gratitude. Karen is an incredible philanthropist, mother of eight, and mental health advocate. She specifically works with student-athletes with her companies Golden Minds and Eluna Network, and strives to give back to her community. She has recently started a new business venture called Good Morning Gorgeous, encouraging many to reimagine love. Tune in as Karen and Brett discuss giving back, its impact on individuals and communities, and how surrounding yourself with like-minded people can help you become your authentic self.
https://youtu.be/w_5F7dEHTMo
Brett Gilliland: Welcome to the Circuit of Success. I'm your host, Brett Gilliland. Today I've got Karen Phelps Moyer with me. Karen, how you doing?
Karen Phelps Moyer: I'm great, Brett. Thanks for having me on.
Brett Gilliland: It's, uh, good to be with you and, uh, you know, by the looks, people can probably see up there. You got the Notre Dame football, you got the Notre Dame helmet and you're setting where.
Karen Phelps Moyer: I'm in my home in South Bend.
It does look like I'm a big fan, but I, I have a house here that I, I visit, um, My parents, and then I rent this house out, uh, during the season.
Brett Gilliland: Yes.
Karen Phelps Moyer: So I just happen to be right now, uh, working on a few things in, in my new business, so.
Brett Gilliland: Yes, I love it. Which we will talk about soon. You are the, uh, founder and CEO of Golden Minds and Good Morning Gorgeous. And the founder of Eluna Network, the foundation that you're involved in, do amazing work and so excited to spend time talking about all those, but.
If you can, um, Karen, let's just kinda start with what I do on every podcast of what's made you, the woman you are today. I know that's a pretty bold and, or not bold, but kind of an open question, right? That could go a million different directions. But really what's made you, the woman you are today to, to wake up and be involved in some amazing companies in the work and the impact that you're making in the world?
Karen Phelps Moyer: Well, I grew up here in South Bend. I, the family came here when I was five years old, so I was influenced by an incredible university.
Uh, For the character and personality that we develop in, in, in those youthful years. So I could walk to campus and be around some really great people. Learned to give back at a very young age. Um, was very determined in my career. I was gonna do television and, uh, married a professional baseball player at a very young age.
And then supported his journey for about the next 30 years. Along the way, did some philanthropy and created our own foundation. And so therein lies, you know, my work and what I do, uh, to this day.
Brett Gilliland: Awesome. And, uh, your dad is, uh, is a legendary basketball coach there at the University of Notre Dame. Uh, Digger Phelps. He's a hell of a guy. And how's Digger doing?
Karen Phelps Moyer: He's well, thank you. Uh, he is active in his own way. He's definitely slowed down in the sense of what's on his agenda and in his calendar. He is been doing some world traveling, uh, since Covids been over and he, um, is healthy and that's always...
Brett Gilliland: Yeah. That's good.
That's awesome. That's awesome. So what did you learn in that role? Obviously in, in the environment you grew up in, you, you grew up around sports, you grew up around competition, uh, grit, uh, you know, all the stuff you gotta do, right? I mean, to coach at that level and the success he had, obviously I would think that would sprinkle down to kids. And, and so what did you learn watching that from the front row?
Karen Phelps Moyer: Well, there was always a giving back component, and so whatever your blessings are to be able to pay that forward, to support others in the community with different organizations. Both of my parents were always demonstrating that, and obviously the university does a really good job of that as well.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah.
Karen Phelps Moyer: so, um, and, and for, for us it was, um, Not only paying it forward, but just knowing how you could make it, make things better for others. And so whatever that looked like is what we were trying to do. And so that carried on with me through life and, and to what I'm doing now.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah, yeah. So let's talk about that, what you're doing now.
Golden Minds and Good Morning Gorgeous. Uh, the two companies, um, that you are, uh, a part of and founded and run and, uh, making a, a, a huge impact. But let's start with Golden Minds that's on the t-shirt there, so we'll, we'll talk with that. Uh, first cause I love what you're doing with that. That's how we were introduced and, uh, just excited to spend some time talking about it. Let's, let's, let's do that.
Karen Phelps Moyer: Well, thank you. So really the story goes, I got very involved in grief and creating a grief camp for kids in the year 2000. Uh, kids ages six to 17 get to attend our camp. We partner with hospice type organizations. These are kids who've lost a loved one and then they're surrounded by others, um, grieving and, uh, don't feel so isolated and lonely.
It's a beautiful camp called Camp Erin then founded another camp called Camp Mariposa, that's a camp for kids who live with family addiction. These kids are ages nine to 12, who actually, um, were breaking the cycle of addiction. It's been around long enough to be proud to. That, uh, the Department of Justice sees it as a, uh, a camp for, um, prevention and so grief in the addiction and the crossover for me was suicide prevention. And I've worked in, in that area for, um, a long time on a national level. Um, and so being a mom of many and having college athletes, I pay attention to this world.
And about this time last year, we had too many deaths by suicide that were national stories. And I saw this idea of taking what we have now in name, image, and likeness, and having that be access to student athletes and launching a platform at the same time, uh, called Golden Minds.
And this is the mental health support for our student athletes. So I am directly working with student athletes from Notre Dame St. Mary's. Which is the girls' school across the street. And then the other school here in South Bend is, um, Holy Cross College. And so, you know, we're looking at about a thousand athletes, um, that have access to Golden Minds and to Golden TouchNIL
But, um, really in development. Um, thought I would build a resource center and that is not where this generation is. They're not clicking on links. They need to communicate through their phone and, um, feel safe. And so just building that, um, I'm in town right now to host what I started, um, a few months ago, and that's called We Hear You and I just wanna hear them.
I wanna meet them where they are. I bring in experts, they go home with some tools about, um, how to deal with what's going on in, in their world. You know, it's a, it is a crazy world as we know.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah.
Karen Phelps Moyer: And to maintain the, the academics and the athletics and the social life, um, along with social media and other things, um, it's a lot for these kids ages 18 to 24.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah.
Karen Phelps Moyer: So Golden Minds is that, um, outside support that, uh, Is gonna do some big things.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah. And it is, you are seeing it more and more often and it's, you know, I wonder, is it, are we seeing it more often? Cuz there's news on all the time, but I don't, I don't think that's the case. I truly think it is happening more and more and, and whether it's our, our phone, it's the world we live in today.
I mean, what are your. What advice would you have for those listeners right now that, you know, we have kids and, and maybe we don't have college athletes yet. My kids are still in high school, junior high and in grade school. And, and you're the mother of eight children. Uh, which is, I I have four kids and I think that's crazy.
I can't imagine having eight. Uh, so I digress. But anyway. What, what are you seeing, what advice would you have for those that, that are out there trying to make an impact in the world with kids and our mental health? What advice would you have for us?
Karen Phelps Moyer: You have to start the conversation. There can't be stigma around it. And so it has to be dinner conversation. You have to do check-ins with your kids. You can also surround your kids with other safe people that they can talk to. They're not always comfortable coming home and talking about it. So who are the coaches? Who are the other adults in the room?
Brett Gilliland: Yeah.
Karen Phelps Moyer: That they can do.
Um, empower them if they think that one of their friends isn't well, that they should. Should tell somebody, um, it, it's a crisis. Absolutely. And Covid didn't help, but we can do better. And so starting the conversation, breaking the stigma is the first thing for sure. And then surrounding them with safe people to, to go to, to talk about it. Um, and then doing the check-ins.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah. And that's whether it's, you know, we're talking about, you know, suicide, terrible. Um, But, but also then on the flip side of that, if we look at it even from the business side, right? I mean that, that's important. Whether it's mental health, if it's business, I mean, we gotta have check-ins, we gotta check in with our employees, we gotta check in with our teammates, check in at home, right?
I mean, all the things that you're saying are, are such a big deal and all facets of life. But I think this, this mental side is important and I think it's okay. In today's world, too, what I'm seeing is it's okay more for men especially to have those conversations and be okay and be transparent and be vulnerable.
You know, I've been very transparent on this podcast,
https://youtu.be/w_5F7dEHTMo
Brett Gilliland: Welcome to the Circuit of Success. I'm your host, Brett Gilliland. Today I've got Karen Phelps Moyer with me. Karen, how you doing?
Karen Phelps Moyer: I'm great, Brett. Thanks for having me on.
Brett Gilliland: It's, uh, good to be with you and, uh, you know, by the looks, people can probably see up there. You got the Notre Dame football, you got the Notre Dame helmet and you're setting where.
Karen Phelps Moyer: I'm in my home in South Bend.
It does look like I'm a big fan, but I, I have a house here that I, I visit, um, My parents, and then I rent this house out, uh, during the season.
Brett Gilliland: Yes.
Karen Phelps Moyer: So I just happen to be right now, uh, working on a few things in, in my new business, so.
Brett Gilliland: Yes, I love it. Which we will talk about soon. You are the, uh, founder and CEO of Golden Minds and Good Morning Gorgeous. And the founder of Eluna Network, the foundation that you're involved in, do amazing work and so excited to spend time talking about all those, but.
If you can, um, Karen, let's just kinda start with what I do on every podcast of what's made you, the woman you are today. I know that's a pretty bold and, or not bold, but kind of an open question, right? That could go a million different directions. But really what's made you, the woman you are today to, to wake up and be involved in some amazing companies in the work and the impact that you're making in the world?
Karen Phelps Moyer: Well, I grew up here in South Bend. I, the family came here when I was five years old, so I was influenced by an incredible university.
Uh, For the character and personality that we develop in, in, in those youthful years. So I could walk to campus and be around some really great people. Learned to give back at a very young age. Um, was very determined in my career. I was gonna do television and, uh, married a professional baseball player at a very young age.
And then supported his journey for about the next 30 years. Along the way, did some philanthropy and created our own foundation. And so therein lies, you know, my work and what I do, uh, to this day.
Brett Gilliland: Awesome. And, uh, your dad is, uh, is a legendary basketball coach there at the University of Notre Dame. Uh, Digger Phelps. He's a hell of a guy. And how's Digger doing?
Karen Phelps Moyer: He's well, thank you. Uh, he is active in his own way. He's definitely slowed down in the sense of what's on his agenda and in his calendar. He is been doing some world traveling, uh, since Covids been over and he, um, is healthy and that's always...
Brett Gilliland: Yeah. That's good.
That's awesome. That's awesome. So what did you learn in that role? Obviously in, in the environment you grew up in, you, you grew up around sports, you grew up around competition, uh, grit, uh, you know, all the stuff you gotta do, right? I mean, to coach at that level and the success he had, obviously I would think that would sprinkle down to kids. And, and so what did you learn watching that from the front row?
Karen Phelps Moyer: Well, there was always a giving back component, and so whatever your blessings are to be able to pay that forward, to support others in the community with different organizations. Both of my parents were always demonstrating that, and obviously the university does a really good job of that as well.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah.
Karen Phelps Moyer: so, um, and, and for, for us it was, um, Not only paying it forward, but just knowing how you could make it, make things better for others. And so whatever that looked like is what we were trying to do. And so that carried on with me through life and, and to what I'm doing now.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah, yeah. So let's talk about that, what you're doing now.
Golden Minds and Good Morning Gorgeous. Uh, the two companies, um, that you are, uh, a part of and founded and run and, uh, making a, a, a huge impact. But let's start with Golden Minds that's on the t-shirt there, so we'll, we'll talk with that. Uh, first cause I love what you're doing with that. That's how we were introduced and, uh, just excited to spend some time talking about it. Let's, let's, let's do that.
Karen Phelps Moyer: Well, thank you. So really the story goes, I got very involved in grief and creating a grief camp for kids in the year 2000. Uh, kids ages six to 17 get to attend our camp. We partner with hospice type organizations. These are kids who've lost a loved one and then they're surrounded by others, um, grieving and, uh, don't feel so isolated and lonely.
It's a beautiful camp called Camp Erin then founded another camp called Camp Mariposa, that's a camp for kids who live with family addiction. These kids are ages nine to 12, who actually, um, were breaking the cycle of addiction. It's been around long enough to be proud to. That, uh, the Department of Justice sees it as a, uh, a camp for, um, prevention and so grief in the addiction and the crossover for me was suicide prevention. And I've worked in, in that area for, um, a long time on a national level. Um, and so being a mom of many and having college athletes, I pay attention to this world.
And about this time last year, we had too many deaths by suicide that were national stories. And I saw this idea of taking what we have now in name, image, and likeness, and having that be access to student athletes and launching a platform at the same time, uh, called Golden Minds.
And this is the mental health support for our student athletes. So I am directly working with student athletes from Notre Dame St. Mary's. Which is the girls' school across the street. And then the other school here in South Bend is, um, Holy Cross College. And so, you know, we're looking at about a thousand athletes, um, that have access to Golden Minds and to Golden TouchNIL
But, um, really in development. Um, thought I would build a resource center and that is not where this generation is. They're not clicking on links. They need to communicate through their phone and, um, feel safe. And so just building that, um, I'm in town right now to host what I started, um, a few months ago, and that's called We Hear You and I just wanna hear them.
I wanna meet them where they are. I bring in experts, they go home with some tools about, um, how to deal with what's going on in, in their world. You know, it's a, it is a crazy world as we know.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah.
Karen Phelps Moyer: And to maintain the, the academics and the athletics and the social life, um, along with social media and other things, um, it's a lot for these kids ages 18 to 24.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah.
Karen Phelps Moyer: So Golden Minds is that, um, outside support that, uh, Is gonna do some big things.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah. And it is, you are seeing it more and more often and it's, you know, I wonder, is it, are we seeing it more often? Cuz there's news on all the time, but I don't, I don't think that's the case. I truly think it is happening more and more and, and whether it's our, our phone, it's the world we live in today.
I mean, what are your. What advice would you have for those listeners right now that, you know, we have kids and, and maybe we don't have college athletes yet. My kids are still in high school, junior high and in grade school. And, and you're the mother of eight children. Uh, which is, I I have four kids and I think that's crazy.
I can't imagine having eight. Uh, so I digress. But anyway. What, what are you seeing, what advice would you have for those that, that are out there trying to make an impact in the world with kids and our mental health? What advice would you have for us?
Karen Phelps Moyer: You have to start the conversation. There can't be stigma around it. And so it has to be dinner conversation. You have to do check-ins with your kids. You can also surround your kids with other safe people that they can talk to. They're not always comfortable coming home and talking about it. So who are the coaches? Who are the other adults in the room?
Brett Gilliland: Yeah.
Karen Phelps Moyer: That they can do.
Um, empower them if they think that one of their friends isn't well, that they should. Should tell somebody, um, it, it's a crisis. Absolutely. And Covid didn't help, but we can do better. And so starting the conversation, breaking the stigma is the first thing for sure. And then surrounding them with safe people to, to go to, to talk about it. Um, and then doing the check-ins.
Brett Gilliland: Yeah. And that's whether it's, you know, we're talking about, you know, suicide, terrible. Um, But, but also then on the flip side of that, if we look at it even from the business side, right? I mean that, that's important. Whether it's mental health, if it's business, I mean, we gotta have check-ins, we gotta check in with our employees, we gotta check in with our teammates, check in at home, right?
I mean, all the things that you're saying are, are such a big deal and all facets of life. But I think this, this mental side is important and I think it's okay. In today's world, too, what I'm seeing is it's okay more for men especially to have those conversations and be okay and be transparent and be vulnerable.
You know, I've been very transparent on this podcast,
In God we trust