Melissa Jue
Episode 79

Narrator: Welcome friends to another episode of The Story & Experience Podcast. Join your host, Japhet De Oliveira, with his guest today, and discover the moments that shape us, our families, and communities.

Japhet De Oliveira: Hey friends. Welcome to another episode of The Story & Experience Podcast. I'm delighted to be able to sit across the table today with our guest who is nodding her head in affirmation that she's kind of excited about where we are today, "Mm-hmm," you heard her go.

So anybody who's brand new to this podcast, we have a 100 questions. We go from one to 100, and they become more vulnerable, more open, closer you get to a 100, the guest gets to choose between numbers 11 and 100 because the first 10 I actually ask.

So we'll dive straight in. We'll begin straight away. And I have question number one. Could you tell us your name? Does anybody ever mispronounce it?

Melissa Jue: My name is Melissa Jue. Some people look at the last name and think, "How do you say that?" Because the more obvious one, sometimes they're afraid to say. So I get Juay, Jo.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's good, Joe. I've never thought about that. That's true.

Melissa Jue: It's only three letters.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, no. Very complex.

Melissa Jue: Exactly.

Japhet De Oliveira: So do you ever correct them when they do that?

Melissa Jue: Of course.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, okay. I love this about you, Melissa. Brilliant. Melissa, what do you do for work?

Melissa Jue: I work at Adventist Health. I am a manager of communication. And so what that means for me is that I work with some great folks here. I work in IT a lot. I do IT communications, which is really very helpful for me because the IT space is a little foreign. And over the past two and a half years or three years I've been here, I've learned a lot. I also work with legal folks, which is fun too. I learned how to not say things.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's true.

Melissa Jue: Or write things. And I also work in crisis communication, so I'm actually trained to deflect questions, Japhet.

Japhet De Oliveira: I know. This is going to be fun.

Melissa Jue: Yes. So you may ask me a question, or I may pick one that I'm going to deflect.

Japhet De Oliveira: Well, we will see how it goes. We'll see how it goes because you have some amazing stories I'd love people to be able to hear about you and in your life. And so how long have you been working at Adventist Health?

Melissa Jue: Three years, I think.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's great. And what did you do before that?

Melissa Jue: Well, my first career was as a journalist, and I always was a writer when I was younger. And then in high school I got involved with the school newspaper. I really enjoyed writing journalistically. So then that led to college, which I majored in communication. Part of being a journalist, I thought to myself, "I don't really want to be a journalist, because you have to go to really small cities to start out." You're not going to start out the Wall Street Journal. So you end up in places where you maybe never heard of.

So anyway, I decided after college that I did want to be a journalist. And so I went to grad school at Northwestern and got a master's in journalism. So what was interesting about my grad school work was that I really, actually, it started when I was a senior in college. I did an internship with CNN in D.C. and I sort of caught the broadcast bug, if you will. So anyway, after grad school, I did, there's a lot... This is a long story, but I ended up-

Japhet De Oliveira: No, this is great though.

Melissa Jue: You want this story?

Japhet De Oliveira: I do. People need to hear this. This is so good.

Melissa Jue: So broadcasting, broadcast journalism, trying to be a reporter on air is apparently a lot of people want to do it. And there are very few television stations across the country, and they're rated, ranked.

So you have to start at, there's, I want to say maybe 300 different markets across the country. And so you're not starting at New York, market number one, you have to go down to the 300s, 200s, whatever. So I ended up in Cheyenne, Wyoming. This is where I started work.

Japhet De Oliveira: And how did you end up there?

Melissa Jue: So we had to do this in grad school. They told us, "It's really hard to get a job on TV." And I'm like, "Okay, great." And my professor always told me, "You need to do a road trip." He was this crotchety guy. He was a journalist for years. And he is like, "Hey, you need to do a road trip." And I'm like, "What's that?" And he's like, "You basically drive from small market to small market until you find a job."

And I'm just like, "Okay, I'm desperate." I stayed at home and I sent out resume tapes back then to all these, I sent out at least 50 resume tapes and got nothing. Crickets. And then I realizing, "I'm going to have to make a living because I spent so much money on grad school." So I ended up getting in my car, and I drove across the country.

I made it to Nebraska, Carney, Nebraska. And basically what I would do is I would call ahead. So I'd be in Reno and I'd be like, "Hey, I'm heading up to the next town, and I'd like to meet you with you, News Director." And then usually there's nothing to do in these small markets so it's probably entertaining to interview these folks. So they'd be like, "Okay, you can come by, swing by the station."

And so I did that all the way from, I think I started in Nevada, went all the way out to Iowa, then turned around. And on my way, I crossed through Nebraska. And I had a moment then because I was pretty discouraged. I had visited multiple stations, and they all said no. And so I get to Carney, Nebraska, and it's one of those things where you're not planning your travel, you're just kind of going where your station might be.

So by the time I got to Carney, I was really bummed out, and there happened to be some educational conference. So every hotel room was booked. So I'm like, except I went to this one hotel, some Best Western, and they're like, "Well, we do have here the honeymoon suite available." And I'm like, "That is awesome." So it was the only room available. I booked the room and I get to the room and it's pink and red. It's the honeymoon suite.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. That's nice.

Melissa Jue: The bed is shaped like a heart.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, no.

Melissa Jue: And I can't even tell you some of the things that were in the room.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, dear.

Melissa Jue: Anyway, so I got upset. I was crying. I'm like, "What am I doing with my life?"

Japhet De Oliveira: Absolutely.

Melissa Jue: But I will say the next day I drove to, I can't remember the name of the town in Nebraska. They didn't have an opening there for a reporter, but they're like, "Hey, our sister station in Cheyenne, Wyoming does. You should go there."

Japhet De Oliveira: Wow.

Melissa Jue: And I'm like, "Okay." So I did. I went down there and I met the news director, and he actually knew my professor in college. The guy that told me to take the road trip. And so he is like, "Oh, you know so and so?" And I go, "Yes." And he goes, "Oh, well, if you know him, I'm just going to hire you."

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh my.

Melissa Jue: So he hired me. I didn't know what to do. I was in Wyoming, all my stuff's in California, but I ended up just going home, packing, and going back up there. So that's how I started my journalistic career.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yes. That's fantastic. Look, to our listeners, I've heard this story before and I thought it was fantastic. You need to all hear it. So it was great. Thank you, Melissa, for sharing a great story of resiliency, persevering. Well done. Hard though, but well done. Well done.

Melissa Jue: Thank you.

Japhet De Oliveira: All right. So in the morning, when you get up in the morning, what's your drink of choice of the day? Do you start off with water, tea, coffee, green liquid smoothie?

Melissa Jue: It depends on the day.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, yeah?

Melissa Jue: So if I'm going to the gym, it's water. If I'm not going to the gym, then it could be chai tea at Starbucks. Or it could be green tea at the office.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's good. Hey, I like the variation. That's really good. Where were you born?

Melissa Jue: I was born in San Francisco.

Japhet De Oliveira: San Francisco. Good. And when you were a child in San Francisco, what did you imagine you would grow up to be?

Melissa Jue: My memory, my childhood memories, I don't remember. I'm going to have to say, just being a journalist. I knew that I liked to write. Even then I wrote in journals, my school assignments. I love the writing. So I knew that probably I would be doing something like that.

Japhet De Oliveira: Well, and you are a great writer. I really appreciate the attention to detail, your thoughtfulness. It's something to be really careful about and great. And so I love what you do. So it's great that you get to do that all the time. Personality. Would people describe you as an introvert? An extrovert? And would you agree?

Melissa Jue: I'm an introvert.

Japhet De Oliveira: Introvert?

Melissa Jue: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: And would you agree with that?

Melissa Jue: Yeah, I agree. People say, "I can't believe you did what you did, and you are an introvert." But I am.

Japhet De Oliveira: In front of the camera?

Melissa Jue: Yeah. In front of the camera I was animated. But the truth is, I prefer to keep to myself.

Japhet De Oliveira: You're hilarious. All right. That's great. All right. Are you, little bit of a habits, are you an early riser or late night owl?

Melissa Jue: Oh, early riser.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah? And what's early for you?

Melissa Jue: I usually wake up at about five.

Japhet De Oliveira: All right. That's great. That's great. So this morning when you woke up at five, first thought that went through your mind?

Melissa Jue: Oh, I've got this podcast to do.

Japhet De Oliveira: No, it was not.

Melissa Jue: What am I going to talk about?

Japhet De Oliveira: Well, we'll see. You seem to be rather well right now, so it's great. Hey, a leadership question, because I know you're a leader as well. You've led, you've mentored people. How do you see yourself as a backseat driver? Do you see yourself as a backseat driver?

Melissa Jue: No, I don't see myself as a backseat driver. When you're mentoring people, you kind of want them to sort of go the way that they want to with a little guidance. So that's sort of what I do.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's good. Yeah. All right. First 10 questions are done. Brilliant. The floor is yours between 11 and 100. Where would you like to go first?

Melissa Jue: 11.

Japhet De Oliveira: 11? All right. Tell us about the most adventurous food or meal you've ever eaten?

Melissa Jue: Okay. You know I'm Chinese?

Japhet De Oliveira: Well, maybe for our listeners.

Melissa Jue: Now, they know.

Japhet De Oliveira: Now they know. That's great.

Melissa Jue: So when I grew up, my grandmother would make all kinds of interesting dishes. And so you don't know, you're a child, you don't know any better. So some of the weird things that I've probably eaten are pig stomachs soup.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay.

Melissa Jue: It's a little on the chewier side. One of my favorite dim sum dishes, and dim sum is for folks who don't know, it's a lunch. And in the old days, they used to push carts of food, and you would pick, "Oh, I want this, this, and this, and this." So sort of a little tapas thing. So my favorite dim sum is chicken feet.

Japhet De Oliveira: Chicken feet.

Melissa Jue: So people might think that's kind of adventurous, but I have grown up with it, so it's delicious.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. I don't know. I'll take your word for that.

Melissa Jue: You're going to take, yeah. And also pigs feet.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, my goodness.

Melissa Jue: That's not as, a lot people eat that.

Japhet De Oliveira: All right. Good luck. All right. So, Melissa, tell me, where after 11 then?

Melissa Jue: Oh, okay.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, number?

Melissa Jue: 16. I have a daughter who's 16.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, that's great. All right. Tell us about one of the places you've traveled to and why you want to go back to it.

Melissa Jue: Probably China.

Japhet De Oliveira: Where in China?

Melissa Jue: I've been there before with my mom. And I liked some of the bigger cities, Beijing. I loved Xi'an Because that's where all those soldiers are that are got dug out.

Japhet De Oliveira: Beautiful, yes.

Melissa Jue: Yeah. It's really pretty there. And I would say I'd like to go back to Shanghai too.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's awesome. Now, just a side note, do you speak Chinese?

Melissa Jue: No. So I came from a family where both my grandmothers were born in the United States, but my grandpas were not. And my grandpa was very adamant when we were younger, he spoke perfect English, so it really wasn't. And then my mom, she's bilingual, but yeah we lived in an area where we weren't really talk, there's no one else to speak to.

Japhet De Oliveira: Fair enough.

Melissa Jue: So for whatever reason. I know some words and some I can distinguish what the difference between Cantonese and Mandarin.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, that's fantastic. All right. Where next, what number next?

Melissa Jue: Oh, right. 19.

Japhet De Oliveira: 19. All right. And this is great for you. What is your exercise routine?

Melissa Jue: Oh, okay. So I always try to go to the gym, but most recently, about six months ago, I actually hired a personal trainer because I had always wanted to do all those weird machines in the gym, but I was afraid that I would actually hurt myself.

Japhet De Oliveira: Good for you.

Melissa Jue: So finally, my doctor's like, "Well, you need to put some muscle mass on you. You're too skinny, blah, blah, blah." So I'm just like, "Okay, I'll do that."

Japhet De Oliveira: Does your doctor sound like that?

Melissa Jue: Yeah. This was the doctor who said first because years ago I had a pre, pre, pre-diabetes. It wasn't an issue because it was pre, pre, pre. But it freaked me out when she said, "Oh, you're kind of borderline pre pre, pre-diabetes." And I'm like, "Okay, how's that possible?" And she's like, "Hey, listen, you need to stop eating rice." And I said, "I'm Asian, I can't do that." So I did, obviously. And then she's like, "Oh, now you're too skinny." So I'm just like, "Okay." So she's like, "You need muscle mass."

So that's why I hired the personal trainer. And it was just great. It was so not my comfort level, but it was great that I did it and got used to following a guy around the gym and using all these machines. So now I'm doing it on my own.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, good.

Melissa Jue: And so I have a really cool routine.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. Oh, that's great. Fantastic. All right. That was number 19. Where'd you want to go? Up or down?

Melissa Jue: 21.

Japhet De Oliveira: 21. All right. Share with us the best compliment you've received?

Melissa Jue: Oh, okay. So I would have to say from a professional standpoint there are a couple of moments where I felt I was being complimented. And my friends in communication last night, I said, "Oh, I got to do this podcast." They're like "You have to share this story." And I'm like, "I don't know how I can get there." Here I am.

Japhet De Oliveira: And here you are. There you go.

Melissa Jue: So I moved to Atlanta, Georgia because I wanted to cover an Olympic games. So anyway, I moved there 1996. So during those Olympic games, I don't know if you know, but there was a Olympic Park bombing at the time. So I was there for that. And I was also there for sort of the whole aftermath of that. And there was a guy who was a security guard at the Olympic Park where the explosion happened, and he actually found the backpack and evacuated people. And he was hailed as a hero.

Then it took an ugly turn. And he was being implicated that he was a person of interest. He was never arrested. His name was Richard Jewell. He was never arrested, but it was awful for him. And I remember, because we used to stake out his apartment, and this poor guy, all along, was innocent.

So anyway, the compliment came when I believe, and it's been a long time, I believe, when he was ruled out as a suspect, and they had announced that everyone was clamoring to get that story. And he really didn't like the media. So anyway, so he said he would only talk to me.

Japhet De Oliveira: Wow.

Melissa Jue: So all the stations, national correspondent had all wanted this interview. And he's like, "No, I'll only talk to Melissa Jue." So I'm thinking that's a compliment because of the-

Japhet De Oliveira: The trust.

Melissa Jue: ... the type of reporter I was, very accurate, very fair. And so I did the interview, and it was great because all these people were at Olympic Park because it was a big story back then. And I got so many compliments from my colleagues, and I'm like, "I didn't do a thing. Seriously. But be myself."

So that was really kind of a cool thing. And so I interviewed the guy, and a couple years later, he got a job as a police officer. So I went down to the small Georgia town and interviewed him then. He was actually a nice guy. And I feel sorry for what happened to him.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. Well, Melissa, that actually speaks volumes into your character, which is something that I appreciate so much about who you are, is that a person of integrity, and you understand the tensions that exist and the pressure under media all the time. And to be able to balance that out to be, we really like to be proactive with them, but it's a complex place. So thank you for doing that. That's great.

Melissa Jue: Oh, you're welcome.

Japhet De Oliveira: All right. That was 21. Where next?

Melissa Jue: Wow, okay. 35.

Japhet De Oliveira: 35. All right. Here we go. Share with us a unique talent or special interest that you have.

Melissa Jue: Okay. So let's see. Let's think about this. Talent? So over my lifetime I have been, I don't want to say accomplished, but I actually am artistic. And so I used to be a ceramicist. So the ball of clay on the wheel. And then you make all these pots, fire them, and the whole bit.

So I started in high school, and then when I was a reporter every market that I moved to, it's hard to make friends at first. And so I always found a class or a studio where I could practice my art. When I decided to get out of the business, I actually took six months off. I said, "I don't want to do TV anymore. I'm tired of it." So I took six months off, and I really went to the studio and produced all this pottery, and I started selling them at craft fairs and art shows.

Japhet De Oliveira: Really?

Melissa Jue: Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, my.

Melissa Jue: So I will have to say, when I lived in Atlanta, all my neighbors in this neighborhood in Atlanta all have a piece of me, a piece of my art in their homes. And I think when we moved to California, and I went ahead, came here to California to find a job. I know my husband had to pack up the whole house and move us eventually. I know he unloaded a bunch of my pottery. So I don't know who's using my pottery in Atlanta.

But yeah, it was a great stress reliever. And I used the raku firing, which is an old way of firing.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, really?

Melissa Jue: You heat up the pot and you throw it in this bin with paper and it smokes and creates crackles. It's really a cool method.

Japhet De Oliveira: Hey, that's pretty great.

Melissa Jue: And I haven't done it though in 17 years since my last daughter was born. So I'm really looking forward to getting back into it.

Japhet De Oliveira: Good.

Melissa Jue: Not necessarily selling my pottery.

Japhet De Oliveira: But just for the joy of it?

Melissa Jue: Well, yeah. And a couple years ago, one of the cabinets in our house, all my homemade plates were on there. And the shelves, they're kind of flimsy. It just completely collapsed. So my kids come home and all the dishes that I had made were crumbled on the ground.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, no.

Melissa Jue: And I was so bummed out about that.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. I would be devastated too.

Melissa Jue: Yeah. For a while, it was my mom would be like, "Ugh, another mug for Christmas. Thank you." And I'm, "Okay. You don't like my stuff?" But I'm looking forward to getting back into that and sort of replenishing what was lost.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's good. And think of all the relatives who will get mugs now.

Melissa Jue: Yes. Well, you're going to get your mug too.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's great. That's hilarious. That's fantastic. Well, nice. Great. After 35, where next?

Melissa Jue: Oh, okay. How about 68?

Japhet De Oliveira: 68. All right, here we go. If you could learn, this is great, if you could learn one new professional skill, what would it be?

Melissa Jue: All right. So you know I work with IT people?

Japhet De Oliveira: I know.

Melissa Jue: I love them. I really do.

Japhet De Oliveira: I know. And they love you as well.

Melissa Jue: Yeah. So in working lot of projects, I think what I would do is probably, I would love to take an Excel course.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, really?

Melissa Jue: Well, because all those charts they work with.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, I know.

Melissa Jue: And the project managers, one of the project managers, Brian, he's just, "I know, Melissa, you don't like charts." So he's like, "Tell me how we should use this and make this communication plan without an Excel chart." And so we were just working on a couple of minutes ago, but I was just like, for some reason, my mind does not like that. I can't grasp, when I look at a chart, I'm just like, "Oh, how do you read that?" Which is great for the executives I'm working with right now.

But honestly, I would love to take an Excel course and try to get better versed in charts.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's good.

Melissa Jue: Because that's not my wheelhouse. Mine is words. I can help you in any way with words.But when you say chart, it's just, I get stressed.

Japhet De Oliveira: I like that idea a lot. The idea of taking all the data and translating that into stories, into communication, pulling that together. Yeah. You should do that.

Melissa Jue: Right? Because sometimes as a writer, sometimes I can work well with less, and so I'm like, "Just send me a couple of bullet points." But when people send me a chart, I'm frozen. I look at my screen and go, "What am I going to do with this?" And then inevitably I call, I go, "Hey, listen, I need this translated."

Japhet De Oliveira: Totally. What's the one point? All right, that's great. Super. All right. That was 68. Where next now?

Melissa Jue: How about 31?

Japhet De Oliveira: They're great. All right. Tell us about someone you'd love to eat dinner with? The sky's the limit. So if you could have a dinner with somebody special, who would that person be? Who would you love to be able to have a meal with?

Melissa Jue: I'm going to say this, I would love to have a meal with my husband's father. I've never met him because he died before we got married. But my husband, he always talks about what his dad would say in his particular situations or the jokes he would say. And I always say, "Oh, it's unfortunate that I never got to see him."

So I think if I had dinner with him, I would ask him all kinds of questions though. I'd ask him all about my husband, Matt. I would ask... Apparently he was very funny. So I think that he would be telling jokes. I'm not sure what kind of meal we would have. I don't think he was very adventurous in terms of that.

But yeah, I think I would want to meet his dad. His dad unfortunately died of cancer when my husband was 21, but he's always telling great stories about him. So I feel like I know him. But I think that's who I'd have dinner with.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's fantastic. Now this is an extra question. It's not even on the list here, but I'd like to ask it. You are a very funny person. You're like, "Hmm?"

Melissa Jue: Really?

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, you are. Where'd you get your humor from?

Melissa Jue: Wow.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Melissa Jue: I don't know. Both my parents were funny in their ways. My mom's hilarious.

Japhet De Oliveira: Is she?

Melissa Jue: But she doesn't know that she's hilarious. She's funny. And now that she's older, she's saying very unfiltered things, but that's just the way she was, I should say. I'm hoping she'll never hear this, but she just says these funny things.

Japhet De Oliveira: We'll find a way to get it to her.

Melissa Jue: And a lot of people do comment on... So people used to say, "I wouldn't be a good poker player." Because I react with facial expressions to what people say. And so people are like, "You're so funny. Your face is just like," everywhere I go, whatever job.

Japhet De Oliveira: It's true.

Melissa Jue: It's like, "You could see your reaction on your face." And I'm like, "Really?"

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, no, it's true.

Melissa Jue: I don't think it's happening.

Japhet De Oliveira: It's true. It's very true. All right, unfortunately, we've got time for just two more numbers. So what are the last two? Do you want to tell us the last two numbers or pick one at a time?

Melissa Jue: Oh, okay. All right. I'll pick one at a time.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay, go on.

Melissa Jue: So I'll do 28.

Japhet De Oliveira: 28. Yeah. All right. Let's have a look here. If you had to give an impromptu 30 minute presentation, what would the topic be?

Melissa Jue: Well, obviously something I know about.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay. All right. What would be that thing that you know about?

Melissa Jue: I think people, lately, everyone's been telling me, "Oh, this podcast is going to be easy because you have so many stories."

Japhet De Oliveira: Yes, you do.

Melissa Jue: And I'm like, "I do? What are you talking about?" So I think I probably would talk about my time as a reporter, because I do have a lot of stories about that time and some great memories. So I think I would just do that. And basically that would be based upon people's reactions to the stories that I tell.

Last night everyone's like, "You got to tell the Richard Jewell story." And I'm like, "Really? Was that interesting?" And they're like, "Yeah, it was." And people are like, "Oh, you're the most famous person I know." And I go, "Oh, that's sad."

Japhet De Oliveira: You're too funny.

Melissa Jue: So yeah, that's probably what I would do. I've often talked about, I should write a book about my road trip.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. You should.

Melissa Jue: That we talked about earlier. The road trip one is pretty popular if people like that one. I'm trying to think of any other stories off the top of my head that would be memorable. But the Olympic one was really memorable.

Japhet De Oliveira:

All right, so time for that last one. Which number would you like?

Melissa Jue: I was hoping that we could skip the last one.

Japhet De Oliveira: No. I think it's worth it

Melissa Jue: Okay. Yeah, let's do 37.

Japhet De Oliveira: 37? All right. Oh, you know what? I don't know how you pick this one, but it's the best one for you. What do you like most about your family?

Melissa Jue: Oh, I just love the personalities in my family. And my kids are getting older and I appreciate everything about them. Even though they're teenagers, I still love them. And what I love about my family too is that we spend so much time together. It's great and it's just learning to appreciate the time that you have with your family, as you mentioned this morning in intermission. Just enjoying the moment and knowing that none of us know when those moments might end.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's true.

Melissa Jue: Just enjoying the moment.

Japhet De Oliveira: Melissa, it's been a delight to be able to have this moment to talk to you and to record you and to hear so many these amazing stories. You are a delight to work with. And for everybody else, I just want you to know that Melissa's my right hand. We work so well on so many complex things, and she helps me with, when it comes to crisis communication and some PR staff. She's brilliant. So it's a delight to work with you on that.

Melissa Jue: Thank you.

Japhet De Oliveira: Thank you so much. Thank you for being part of this.

Melissa Jue: Feel free to edit if you want to.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, no, no, no. There's no editing. There's no editing. This is one take. So it's great. And listen, I just want to encourage everybody else who's listening right now to do the same thing. Sit down with a friend, talk to them, ask them great questions. Listen, you both will learn. You both will discover something new about each other and you will grow. So I encourage you to do that and God bless everybody and we'll connect another time. Thanks so much.

Narrator: Thank you for joining us for The Story & Experience Podcast, we invite you to read, watch, and submit your story and experience at AdventistHealth.org/story. The Story & Experience Podcast was bought to you by Adventist Health through the Office of Culture.