Episode 72

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Published on:

5th Dec 2023

Unleashing Hidden Talents: Jason's Hyperlexia Abilities & the Path to NASA -72

Do you connect with stories of individuals who dare to dream and reach for opportunities? If so, today's episode of The Grit Show is one that will inspire you. Jason's challenges may have tripped him up, but they didn't hold him back and he takes a moment to help us better understand hyperlexia and some of the challenges he faced in the traditional education system. He also takes us on the adventure of transitioning from a public school teacher to embracing creativity and outside-the-box thinking to find his dream job at NASA. Prepare to reach for your own stars. This conversation will challenge your perceptions of education and allow you to learn how STEM may be leading us beyond standardized testing to dive into deeper learning. Discover how VASFA is not just about engineering but also fostering imagination, teamwork, and hands-on learning through their space adventure camp and online STEM Academy. Jason also shares his personal journey of transforming challenges into opportunities at VASFA and NASA. His insights on faith, compassion, and self-discovery will inspire you to pursue your own dreams with unwavering determination. If you're curious about the dynamic intersection of STEM, creativity, and personal growth, this episode is a captivating glimpse into the world of innovation and self-belief.

Jason Dietrich is a highly motivated, certified educator who is interested in increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM. He is experienced in training and professional development, global education policy and methods, statistical analysis, curriculum development, and assessment strategies. In addition, he has been mentored by a current Virginia Space Flight Academy (VASFA) STEM Engagement Specialist and have authored a NASA application design to identify hidden barriers to STEM engagement.

Learn more about VASFA

Website: https://www.vasfa.org/

Instagram: @vaspaceflightacademy

Facebook: Virginia Space Flight Academy

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/virginia-space-flight-academy

YouTube: Virginia Space Flight Academy

Twitter/X: @VaSpaceAcademy

Connect with Jason

Instagram: @clarinetman114

Facebook: Jason Dietrich

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Transcript

We feel it is important to make our podcast transcripts available for accessibility. We use quality artificial intelligence tools to make it possible for us to provide this resource to our audience. We do have human eyes reviewing this, but they will rarely be 100% accurate. We appreciate your patience with the occasional errors you will find in our transcriptions. If you find an error in our transcription, or if you would like to use a quote, or verify what was said, please feel free to reach out to us at connect@37by27.com.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

Are you inspired by stories of breaking barriers and defying expectations? I know I certainly am. I also love learning, and today's conversation is a great opportunity for that. Are you familiar with hyperlexia? It was something I had never heard of before I connected to today's guest, and it's something he can share from lived experience. Our guest today is a STEM educator who hasn't let things stand in his way and has been able to embrace his unique talents and perspective about opportunities to really let them shine. Spoiler alert, he's now living the dream and working for NASA. Jason's story is nothing short of remarkable. So, get comfortable because on today's conversation, we're going to inspire you to embrace your unique gifts and find your own stars to reach for.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

Welcome to The Grit Show, where our focus is growth on purpose. I'm your host, Shawna Rodrigues, and I'm honored to be part of this community as we journey together with our grit intact to learn more about how to thrive and how to get the most out of life. It means a lot that you are here today. As you listen, I encourage you to think of who may appreciate the tidbits of knowledge we are sharing and to take a moment to pass this along to them. Everyone appreciates a friend that thinks of them and these conversations are meant to be shared and to spark even more connections.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

Today's guest is Jason Dietrich. He's from the state of Pennsylvania and is a highly motivated certified STEM educator with more than 4 years of experience teaching in STEM. He also has hyperlexia, which is a form of autism and something you will learn a bit more about today. He started out as a public-school STEM teacher and decided it wasn't the right fit. Last year, he made a pivot and got a job at NASA. He'll be the first to tell you that it wasn't simple, but it's certainly worth it as he is now at his dream job at the Virginia Space Flight Academy. VASFA is associated with NASA. He never once thought he'd be working at NASA, and now he's ready to dream even bigger. Welcome, Jason. I'm so glad you're here to chat with us today.

Josh Dietrich [:

Hi, Shawna. Thank you so much for having me. It's a huge honor to be here. I really appreciate it.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

Yes. So, start with the story of what led you to reach beyond your position as a STEM teacher and to reach for your position you have now with VASFA.

Josh Dietrich [:

Yeah. That's always an interesting and, you know, motivational story that, I like to share. So, what happened was and I'll definitely, you know, share more about my background a little bit further on. But I remember as a teacher, I started teaching STEM. A few years ago, I've had more than 4 years of STEM teaching experience. And I first started teaching in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, which, as I'm sure we can all agree, that was very challenging to say the least. So, there were a lot of, you know, schedule changes, and, you know, we couldn't keep consistent on anything because, you know, we either had to be in person and then all of a sudden go virtual. I mean, it was just a constant back and forth.

Josh Dietrich [:

But despite the COVID-19 pandemic and all the stress that everybody has been through over these last couple years or so, I like to look at it through a positive lens. And, you know, what I discovered with the COVID-19 pandemic was this. As we were getting out of that, I noticed that the overall creativity in school districts was lacking today, unfortunately. And the COVID-19 pandemic really taught all of us teachers, including myself, to think outside of the box, you know, to try some new things and to really, you know, try to step outside of your comfort zone. But then after, you know, COVID, we went back to the status quo where we went back to, you know, just teaching to a standardized test, you know, really just trying to teach to a PSSA. Since I'm from Pennsylvania, we have PSSA tests that occur over the course of a year, and, you know, I just, I didn't agree with that. You know? I thought that there would have been a little bit more innovation and creativity that would have been ignited, or as we like to say at NASA, blasted off for all of us teachers, you know, to do and to pursue. So, as a result of not agreeing with, you know, teaching to a standardized test, I decided to step outside of my comfort zone, and I discovered the Virginia Space Flight Academy, or VASFA for short, which is a nonprofit organization which is based in Wallops Flight facility in Virginia, and we do STEM engagement outreach initiatives.

Josh Dietrich [:

So, we did a space adventure camp this past summer, which was awesome. And I'm also, you know, working in our year-round online STEM Academy with our other NASA STEM engagement specialist on a video game, game on module. And in relation to my current job, I realized that, you know, with VASFA, I was able to use my creativity in ways that I never even knew I possessed. You know? And, what I did was I stepped outside of my comfort zone. I saw the contact information of my executive director. I sent her my resume and my cover letter. And what do you know? I actually got an email response saying that she wanted to talk with me and through our personal connections, she hired me, which was an absolute unbelievable accomplishment, and it was a huge honor.

Josh Dietrich [:

I was employed in January of:

Shawna Rodrigues [:

That is so exciting. And it's kind of refreshing and interesting to learn that NASA, when people think of that as being some of our smartest, most talented, most accomplished Americans who are part of, you know, learning about space and the last frontier and all those types of stuff, that that's a place telling us that it's not tests. It's not grades. It's not this place or this little box that this is all about outside of the box thinking and that STEM, that science, technology, engineering, math, it's more than that. The creativity is part of this. So, it's really exciting to hear that that's kind of the philosophy you're approaching things and that you've found your connection there.

Josh Dietrich [:

Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. And I was going to say, you know, Shawna too, something else I wanted say, you know, as well is anybody can work at NASA. That is definitely a message that I wanted to emphasize and spread awareness on. You know, NASA is not just made up of, you know, engineers, such as, like, aerospace engineers or electrical engineers, but there are educators. There are astronauts. There are, you know, secretaries, even, you know, human resources as well.

Josh Dietrich [:

We have people who work in, you know, human resources that work within NASA. So, there is an opportunity for you. As long as you like to dream big, that is something that I like to envision and, you know, spread awareness on. And as long as, like, you are creative, then NASA's for you. And, you know, the 4 c's that I typically value that have enabled me to get towards my dream job were this. Number 1, you have to be caring. You have to like what you do, and, you know, you have to, you know, care for the subject matter. You also have to be compassionate because when you're working with students, you know, I'm working with students in K-12, but I'm also, you know, going to be working with, you know, other educators and other of our aerospace adult partners as well.

Josh Dietrich [:

So, but everybody learns in different ways and at different rates. So, you have to be considerate of that approach. So, that's why being compassionate is key. And you also have to be a great communicator because you have to advocate for yourself. You have to go for it. You know? If you get something inside of your head and your imagination, you need to take advantage of that. So, as long as you have those 3 things, which then leads into the final thing of being creative, that NASA is the place for you. So, for any of your viewers that are listening, don't get discouraged if you think that, number 1, someone tells you that, no. You can't work at NASA or the job that you currently do is not suited for NASA. Of course, it is. In relation to whatever skill set or talent that you bring, we are made up of world class, you know, scientists, teachers, and, like, educators that really want to dare the mighty things and explore the unknown, and we want you to do it with us.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

That is so exciting. And help me understand because you don't live in Virginia. So, can you tell us more about how that works?

Josh Dietrich [:

Yeah. So, I am currently based in Pennsylvania, and I'm about 45 minutes, northwest of Philadelphia for those of you that know, where Philadelphia is. So, what happened was as I got hired at the Virginia Space Flight Academy in this past January, what happened was I started working remotely. And what happened was in collaboration with my executive director, I started based on my job as getting hired as the assistant camp director, and then later, I got promoted to camp director and operations manager, I was responsible for coordinating our space adventure camp. So, what I did was I collaborated with many of our different aerospace partners, and I coordinated tours that we went on over the course of the summer. And I also coordinated meals with all of our different vendors that was associated with breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well to make sure that it would all fit in relation to our schedule for the summer. Now our space adventure camp is 6 weeks. So, there are 6 different weeks that students can attend, and weeks 1 through 4 are our base camp where we teach students the overall concepts of rocketry, coding, robotics, and then also even drones, and many other STEM subjects as well.

Josh Dietrich [:

But, again, it's all hands-on learning. We, again, don't focus on the grades. We focus on the learning growth, and we focus on student opportunities to build collaboration and work as a team. So, in relation to that, what later went on was through collaboration with our local vendors, all of our campers also got to see all the different cool aerospace agencies that exist on Wallops Island. That's where the Virginia Space Flight Academy is. It's located at Wallops Flight Facility, and it's probably 15 minutes away from Chincoteague Island. And for those of you viewers that are listening and like the horses, Chincoteague is definitely a place to go because every single summer, they host a horse event where the horses get to swim in the water, and it's really cool. I would highly check it out, if you're really into horses.

Josh Dietrich [:

But it was you know, through that work, all of our students, you know, got exposed to what STEM means, but they also got to see that this is an area that they could pursue. So, and, you know, with COVID, with being isolated for as long as we were, it was nice to bring them back in because that's what enabled friendships to continue. And with STEM, you've got to be in person. It's a little bit difficult to work remotely. So, because collaboration and teamwork are essential to achieve some of the biggest challenges, that we have for today. But thanks to that, you know, work, a lot of students were thrilled that they went to the space adventure camp. We even got to see a rocket launch during our final week of camp, which was beyond amazing. Thanks to that. This is what brings them back over the course of every year. They get to ask all the time, why do you come back to camp? You're taught the same exact curriculum. You go on the same exact tours, and the response is very common. They say it's the community, and the community makes all the difference.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

Yes. And so, then you go to Virginia then for 6 weeks in the summer, but the rest of the time, you're able to work from home.

Josh Dietrich [:

Yes. Yeah. I actually went down there early June, this past June, and then we wrapped up our final week of our space adventure camp in early August. And our last 2 weeks of our camp are the advanced camps. So, we do, like, much deeper dive in our week 5 camp on concepts associated with rocketry. And in our final week of camp, we take a deeper dive into coding and robotics. So, weeks 1 through 4 is our base camp where you get exposed to all of the different STEM concepts. But our final 2 weeks of camp, those students have had, you know, more experience in relation to rocketry or coding and robotics, it's so much fun.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

Oh, that's wonderful. So, we mentioned the fact that you have hyperlexia, which is not something I'm as familiar with, and so people have heard of autism. Can you tell us more about that and your diagnosis and how that's contributed to your skills and what you're offering, and how that's been useful for you and the work you've done.

Josh Dietrich [:

Yeah. Absolutely, Shawna. So, in relation to hyperlexia, I was diagnosed with it when I was 5 years old. And, hyperlexia, for those of your viewers that might not be as familiar with what that is, hyperlexia is a form of autism where autism is like if I made, like, a little cloud or something structure, a hyperlexia is one of the branches associated with autism. And hyperlexia involves someone that can read at a very high level, but yet struggles with reading comprehension. So, when I was in kindergarten, I could read equivalent to a 5th grader. And, you know, my parents were just blown away.

Josh Dietrich [:

They were like, wow. He's just reading all of these, you know, big words that a kindergartner oftentimes would struggle with. But the thing was whenever they asked me if he can read the way that he does, he might be able to comprehend what he was reading. So, they later then asked me this question, you know, hey, Jason. What does this particular big word mean? And I would respond by saying, I don't know. So, even though I was able to read at such a high level, I couldn't comprehend what I was reading. And, unfortunately, over the course of my early experiences in elementary school, I had teachers who were not very supportive of my skill sets and abilities. They never showed a lot of enthusiasm or interest, and as a result, I struggled mentally, emotionally, academically, and even physically at times in the classroom.

Josh Dietrich [:

I even, Shawna, had a teacher I remember write a completely wrong evaluation about my skill sets and my abilities That, you know, when I transitioned on to middle school, my middle school teachers and even my learning support teacher, they were like, who is this kid? This isn't Jason at all. They just wrote about an entirely different kid here. We don't know who this kid is. So, as a result of, you know, my experiences in elementary school, even though I struggled, I knew I had to work twice as hard to overcome my struggle with reading comprehension. And it was in my middle school teacher, Shawna, that enabled me to walk on cloud 9 because they saw my struggles. And what they actually helped me to discover with hyperlexia was even though I struggled with reading comprehension and also, you know, making friends at first, they helped me to see it as a very tiny thing. And they actually helped me to discover that hyperlexia has many hidden talents that I never even knew I possessed, and they helped me to discover that hyperlexia is a superpower, and they helped me to see hyperlexia as me having a special ability, not a disability. And that's what we as a society need to start understanding and recognizing.

Josh Dietrich [:

Based on my current work, you know, at NASA, I'm trying to help people to see and recognize that someone doesn't have a disability. They have a special ability. So, this is negative. We got to stop judging people just because they have a disability, just like I was judged in elementary school. There's a lot more that comes with that. But, you know, thanks to my middle school teachers, they really ignited the spark inside of my head. And with me getting introduced to, like, astronomy, Earth science, and also Chemistry, that ignited me to blast off to new heights, and that's what enabled me to pursue STEM. And it allowed me to see too that STEM provides multiple different highways of opportunity.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

Definitely. And I love that you found, like, this creative avenue as well in your later life pursuits, so that you're full of discovering new ways you can see yourself and new ways that you can bring that to other kids and them being able to see their abilities and everything they have to offer too.

Josh Dietrich [:

it organizations for the year:

Shawna Rodrigues [:

That is so exciting. I'm so glad that you connected with that. And as much as, you know, COVID was a challenging time to be a teacher, it really sounds like it helped you discover that you needed to have something that connected better with students that brought out the things that are important to you, and it helped motivate you to find that.

Josh Dietrich [:

Oh, absolutely. Yeah. And, you know, Shawna, too, in relation to COVID, I think a lot of people, despite the negativity that there was with it, they saw it as an opportunity to take a risk and to, you know, step outside their comfort zone as well. And, you know, a lot of people over the course of these last few years, they resigned from their jobs. They called it the great resignation because people saw COVID as an opportunity to break from the norm and to try something new because there were some businesses that went out of business. Some lost, you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some lost millions. Some even lost billions of dollars as a result of the shutdown.

Josh Dietrich [:

So, as a result of a business closing, they needed to do something else. Well, what they did was COVID really helped all of us to recognize that, you know, it's okay to slow down. We definitely need to slow down and spend time by yourself, which is something I often did when I had hyperlexia in elementary school. And it allowed us to, you know, get to know who we are and what our skill sets are, and that's what made people take the leap of faith just like what I did. And look at where I am now, and as a result, I'm dreaming even bigger now.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

Yes. Find the right fit. Find the thing that's going to bring you joy and make you best contribute with the skills that you do have, so that's so exciting. I love that. I definitely want to hear; I know that you have some ways for us to better connect and some links and stuff like that. The one thing we do talk about each of our episodes because we definitely want folks to figure out, we call it self-maintenance because self-care can sometimes sound a little bit like pampering versus, like, maintenance of a car, something we all require. But what do you do on a regular basis that really takes care of yourself and nurtures you and makes it so you can show up and be your best self? What are some things you do?

Josh Dietrich [:

Yeah. That's a wonderful question, Shawna. And, I do these couple of things that really help me to, you know, relax and unwind and then get back towards my passion for space and space exploration, one of the things I like to do is I like to meditate. So, what I do is I usually go into my bedroom. And usually for, like, 20 to 30 minutes a day, what I like to do is I just like to zone out. I just like to close my eyes. That really helps my mind to slow down, and that also, you know, encourages me to just take a break from everything that might have happened, you know, during the day. And it doesn't matter whether it's a good day or a bad day.

Josh Dietrich [:

I do it every single day, every which way. So, that is definitely something that I encourage, for anybody who might have anxiety or still battling mental health issues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to start doing. So, I found that to be very helpful. I also like to listen to music as well in my bedroom as well. I like to put on, you know, some great tunes to just to take my mind in a totally different direction. I'm a big jazz guy, so I like listening to artists like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. I know those are old musicians, but those are some of my favorite voices. So, that is something that I like to do. And, also, another thing that I like to help myself to relax even further is to golf.

Josh Dietrich [:

I've golfed since I was 5 years old, and I love being outside. And it's a nice way to be outside in nature. And even though golf can be frustrating sometimes, it's a big mental game, I hit some good shots, but then I also hit some bad shots. Couple times, my father, my brother, and I would, like, hit a snack stand at a golf course and, you know, those poor people had to duck. But despite all of that, golf is a nice way to get into the groove. You have to swing a smooth swing, and it just enables you to enjoy nature and to see wildlife at its finest.

Josh Dietrich [:

So, those are definitely, you know, some things that I like to do, and that's what helps me to get my mind back on track so that way I can continue to motivate, inspire, and engage the next generation in STEM.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

That's awesome. And golf is one of those sports activities that you have to be fully present to be able to do, and that's really good for you to have that opportunity to be fully present. And it takes a while to play a game of golf, so you get that time away from everything else. So, definitely, those are all great things.

Josh Dietrich [:

Yeah. And I was going to say, you know, with golf, it's nice if you play by yourself or if you play with a group too. That definitely helps. It doesn't matter which. I know some people who don't have the patience for it, which is, you know, totally fine. I get it at times. If you get behind someone or a group that is very, very slow, I can understand that at times, but it's just nice to get outside, and you definitely should. Whether it's, like, cold out or whether it's, you know, warm out, it’s just nice to get that breath of fresh air because that really helps you to, like, refocus and, like, take a break.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

Yes. Definitely. And so, for folks who are interested in learning more about you and about what you do, like, talk to us about how to connect better to you and to VASFA and those pieces.

Josh Dietrich [:

Absolutely. Well, and, Shawna, what I'll definitely do, I'll make sure to, you know, provide those links to you and your viewers or your show notes. So, for any, viewers that are listening and want to explore more about VASFA, what you can do is you can go to this following website. It's www.VASFA.org. Again, it is www.VASFA.org, and you will actually get to see Virginia Space Flight Academy's website. It's a beautiful website, by the way. And what you can do is you can check out these following programs. So, if you go to a programs tab, you'll be able to see there is a space adventure camp tab where you'll be able to see, like, some pictures and even get a description in terms of, you know, what happens at our space adventure camp including how each week of camp works. You know? What's the kind of instruction or the featured academics that are taking place if you attend a particular week of camp.

Josh Dietrich [:

k in this upcoming January of:

Shawna Rodrigues [:

That's exciting. Yes. Do you have an exact date in January when it opens?

Josh Dietrich [:

I don't actually know off the top of my head what the exact date is right now, but I know it's, like, early January. It's like the, I want to say, the 1st or 2nd week of January.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

Okay. So, folks, right after Christmas, start paying attention to that as soon as the new year gets here.

Josh Dietrich [:

Oh, absolutely. You guys can do as well is you can sign up for our newsletter. We have well over 2,000 subscribers where you'll be able to see all of the cool STEM activities that we are doing as well as learn about opportunities to get involved. We also have our year-round online STEM Academy as well, where, again, I am teaching currently with our other NASA STEM engagement specialists, our video game, game on module. And as we like to say with video game design, don’t just play games. Make them. So, it's a very cool way through our year-round STEM Academy to, you know, again, not only take a break from school, but, again, we focus on the learning growth, not grades, and we have shown that that really helps to build even more relationships. So, please definitely check out our STEM Academy and read more about our video game, game on module, including other modules that are being offered.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

What age group is that for?

Josh Dietrich [:

Oh, that's a good question. So, our year-round online STEM Academy, that is for students in grades 2nd through 8th grade. And then our space adventure camp is offered for students in ages 11 through 16, and they're primarily grades 5th through 10th. So, we definitely have, you know, a wide variety of age groups, that can, you know, certainly sign up. And even if you exceed the age limit for our Space Adventure Camp, please come back as the camp counselor because I was the camp operations manager this past summer, and it was just a truly incredible experience to get exposed to a NASA base. And finally, too, what you can also do is we do ask for donations. Since it's our 25th year anniversary, we are looking to raise, close to $25,000, if not more, as a result of our 25th year anniversary, and we're looking for partners as well.

Josh Dietrich [:

We want to look for like-minded STEM corporations, businesses, and other nonprofits, even schools as well that want to partner with us to help promote STEM engagement. Because, again, there's an opportunity for everyone. So, there are many different ways that you can check out the Virginia Space Flight Academy and get involved even further. And I will continue my work remotely over the course of this year and into next year, but our organization is growing, and it will continue to, but we definitely need your help and your support.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

That's exciting. It's really exciting the way that you're able to get the word out about all of this and get people excited, especially through your journey that you've had to even come to this program and to this work, that's fabulous. So, as we wrap up the episode, we usually offer folks what we call our grit wit, which is something that they can kind of take from this. And I think that your experience of kind of reexamining and taking your step away from teaching at the school that wasn't working for you and taking this leap to work for NASA and for VASFA to have this adventure. Like, what do you think folks should be doing if they are in this place where they're not satisfied with their current work? Like, what were the thoughts that you had in your way of kind of looking at things before you made that change? What can people do to kind of make this kind of shift if they're looking for it?

Josh Dietrich [:

Yeah. That's a wonderful question, Shawna. And I would say, you know, for anybody who is having, like, any doubts with themselves, one of the big things that I have learned over the course of my lifetime, and I've actually learned from TV producer and, you know, presenter and motivational speaker Steve Harvey, was this. Your imagination is everything. And, you know, as Albert Einstein said, your imagination is the preview to life's coming attractions. And, you know, if you think about that, that's a really true statement. And the person who's putting in your thoughts inside of your head and inside your imagination, that is God.

Josh Dietrich [:

Because whatever your imaginations you are currently thinking about right now, if you're thinking about running a business, if you are thinking about buying a 2nd home or a summer home, if you're thinking about, you know, working at NASA like what I'm doing, that’s what he has planned for you, and that is something that you should do and you should go for it. And if you're a little bit concerned with money or you're a little hesitant, you know, with money, sometimes you have to take that leap of faith. You have to go for it. Steve Harvey, one of my, you know, favorite idols, he said that over the course of getting to his career of being a comedian, he was homeless. But once he got that paycheck from one of his speaking or comedian gigs, he knew this was the opportunity for him. And then what he did was he actually quit his job. And even though it was a tough battle to get there, he's hung on to that thought, and that is also what's very important.

Josh Dietrich [:

If you have a dream or a profession that you want to pursue, it's not going to be easy to get there. My overall journey in terms of getting to NASA was not a straight path. It was many different zigzags. But what you have to do is you have to remain on faith straight. If God has put in your imagination that you are going to do this, then you have to not only go for it, but you also have to rely on him because he will guide you towards that opportunity. And he'll put you up to challenges so that way you can be ready for it. But then again, you do just have to make sure that you don't go off of faith straight all because it doesn't happen. I know sometimes I've gotten impatient with saying, you know, why haven't I gotten this NASA job yet? I should have had it by now.

Josh Dietrich [:

Well, that's not necessarily the case. The dream job or opportunity comes on his timetable, not yours. So, that is definitely something that, you know, you need to consider. But, again, if you are someone who is creative and wants to step outside of their comfort zone and take that leap of faith, now is the time because you do not want to leave this world with any regrets. And I also got inside my head, Shawna, that I want to be an astronaut. The next dream that I have is going to space, going to moon, going to the moon, and even to Mars. So, I'm going to pursue that. So, you just have to trust the process and trust God's instincts and, you know, his willingness for guidance, and then you will get there.

Josh Dietrich [:

And because I trusted his faith and guidance and took that leap of faith, look at where I am now. And every single time he wakes you up in the morning, he still has a plan for you that you should pursue. So, don't be afraid to just knock it out of the park. Take that leap of faith. Dare the mighty things as we say at NASA and explore the unknown.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

Yes. So, if you got that, use your imagination to make that happen. So, if you've got something needling you, use your imagination. Start imagining what it is and how you might get there, and that's how you're going to make it happen. That's wonderful. Thank you so much for being here, Jason. I appreciate you.

Josh Dietrich [:

Thank you, Shawna. Again, it was a huge honor to be on your podcast and to share my story. I really appreciate it.

Shawna Rodrigues [:

Thank you for joining us today. I hope you enjoyed this episode. Be sure to jump on over to Instagram and follow us at The.Grit.Show. And if you aren't already following Authentic Connections Podcast Network at 37by27, you should definitely be doing that as well. Don't forget. You are the only one of you that this world has got, and that means something. I'll be here next Tuesday. I hope you are too.

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About the Podcast

THE GRIT SHOW
Growth on Purpose
Are you a giver and a doer? Are you someone who has shown your grit and powered through, and now you're ready for the other side? Now you re looking for the conversations that remind you about self care, that bring to mind grace and understanding, and give you space to reflect on purpose. Do you want more room to breathe and to live life with a little more ease? Each week, we discover tools and ways of thinking that support alignment, build stronger connections, help us find better questions, and live our best life. Most weeks we laugh, some weeks the topics touch close to home, but ultimately; this is where we grow together as seekers and thrivers. The Grit Show - growth on purpose. https://podcast.TheGritShow.com

About your host

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Shawna Rodrigues

Shawna Rodrigues, Podcast Strategist and Founder of Authentic Connections Podcast Network, leads the Solopreneur Sisterhood and hosts Authenticity Amplified (https://bit.ly/AUAMP). She helps purpose-driven solopreneurs connect with their ideal clients through podcasting and is passionate about increasing the number of podcasts hosted by women. Shawna believes the first step to having the podcast you are meant for is podcast guesting (https://bit.ly/5TipsGuest).
She knows that community is the key to success (solopreneurs don't have to do it alone) and that authenticity is your superpower. A sought-after speaker & consultant, Shawna savors perfectly steeped London Fogs and walking beside the roaring ocean with the love of her life. Find her on Instagram @ShawnaPodcasts.