Putting Around for a Purpose: Golf, Heart Warriors, and Small-Town Magic

A broken wrist serves as an unexpected metaphor for the heart warrior's journey in this illuminating conversation with fundraiser and podcaster Amy Earhart. When Anna's recent accident left her with a titanium plate and a new perspective on recovery, it highlighted the resilience that characterizes the CHD community—adapting when our bodies say "enough" and finding creative ways forward.

Amy Erhart brings this resilience to life through her remarkable story. Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome in 1983, she's channeled her experience into creating meaningful change. Her "Putt Around Kalida" fundraiser transforms her small hometown into a mini-golf adventure where local businesses design elaborate putting greens—from a smoking firehouse to a church model that's been preserved for generations. What makes this event special goes beyond the $20,000 raised; it's the photos of local CHD children displayed at the town park, creating powerful moments of recognition for families still processing their diagnosis.

The conversation shifts to Amy's podcast journey with "Diaries of a Heart Warrior," where she's published over 30 episodes—far surpassing the six-episode mark where most podcasters abandon their shows. Through these conversations, Amy found the connection she'd been missing: "I didn't know a lot of people with CHD until these last couple years. This is how I'm finally meeting people." These exchanges have brought validation that she's not alone in her complex feelings about life with a congenital heart defect.

Perhaps most meaningful is Amy's approach to fundraising, focusing on direct support for families rather than solely research: heart camps for children, gas money for hospital trips, hotel accommodations during treatments. It's a philosophy born from understanding that while research is crucial, the day-to-day needs of families navigating CHD require immediate attention.

Have you experienced the power of community support during health challenges? Listen now and discover how small towns and big hearts are creating meaningful change for CHD families everywhere.

Amy Erhart's podcast, "Diaries of a Heart Warrior": https://www.buzzsprout.com/2268461

Anna's CHD Connects Hearts link: https://chdconnectshearts.com/products-list?am_id=annajaworski3819

Sheri Turner is our newest Defender Patron and she also serves as a HUG Volunteer. Thank you so much for your generosity and all you do, Sheri!

Chapters

• 0:00 Anna's Wrist Injury Journey
• 2:23 CHD Connects Hearts Platform
• 4:43 Introducing Amy Erhart
• 6:10 Fundraising for the CHD Community
• 12:51 Putt Around Kaleida Fundraiser
• 20:58 Amy's Podcast Journey
• 27:20 The Power of Shared Stories
• 34:35 Family Support and Legacy

Transcript

[00:00:00] 

Anna Jaworski: Welcome to "Heart to Heart with Anna." I am your host, Anna Jaworski. And I want to start today by asking you a simple question. Have you ever stopped to think about how much you rely on your hands until one of them suddenly can't do its job? Well, that's exactly what happened to me last month. I had a run in with an ironing board.

Yes, an ironing board. And let's just say it didn't go well for my wrist. After surgery, one titanium plate and seven screws later. I am officially part cyborg . Recovery has been tougher than I expected as a podcaster and author, I use both hands all day long and don't even get me started on my gardens' demands. But my body has been very clear.

Sometimes it just says, "Enough! You need a nap" and I have to listen. The good news: I am making progress. This week I finally got my fiberglass cast off and started physical therapy. My [00:01:00] surgeon is happy with how my wrist is healing, though given my age, he wants me in a removable cast for a few more weeks.

My arm is looking a little like a snake shedding its skin, but massaging with vitamin E lotion and time are helping with the bruising, swelling, and shedding. Thank you all so much for your prayers, your positive vibes, and your patience while I've been a bit slower than usual this year. 

CHD News

Anna Jaworski: Let's switch gears and dive into heart news. I want to share something brand new and truly game changing for our community: CHD Connects Hearts. If you haven't heard of it yet, this is the first ever online platform designed to bring together the entire CHD community, families, heart warriors, advocates, nonprofits, researchers, and medical professionals all in one safe, supportive space. For over 30 years, I've seen our communities spread across Listservs, Yahoo Groups, [00:02:00] Facebook, Reddit, you name it.

But none of those places were built just for us. They're often cluttered with ads, politics, and distractions that make it hard to find the support and information we need. CHD Connects Hearts is different. It was created by a grandmother Christy Pace. She's also known as Momma C in the community. The platform is built on a philosophy of connection without competition. It offers curated directories, live events, strategic campaigns, and even an affiliate program that supports nonprofits like Heart Unite the Globe, which backs this podcast.

What I love most is that it gives us a way to work together without losing our independence. It's a digital town square where we can share, learn, and support each other without the noise and division found elsewhere.

I have a link to join CHD Connects Hearts in the show notes, and I really hope you'll check it out and become part of this exciting new chapter in our community. [00:03:00] And now I'm thrilled to introduce today's guest. Amy Earhart, a true CHD Warrior and passionate advocate, along with her sisters, has done incredible work raising funds and spreading hope for the CHD community. You're going to love her story.

Segment 2: The Interview

Amy Erhart: You don't ever really sit down and have that real raw, authentic conversation. That's just not what we do. We don't sit around a table and have that conversation all the time. So a podcast is that opportunity to do it. 

HUG Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The opinions expressed in the podcast are not those of Heart Unite the Globe, but of the hosts and guests, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to congenital heart disease or bereavement.

Anna Jaworski: Today's guest is Amy Erhart. Amy Erhart is a heart warrior who was born with [00:04:00] hypoplastic left heart syndrome or HLHS in 1983. She has had two surgeries, and she has struggled with arrhythmias, which so many of you with the Fontan heart have had to do. She has been very active in the CHD community. Prior to the pandemic, she raised over $20,000 for the One in a Hundred Heart Walk. From 2020 to 2023, her fundraising efforts slowed down.

Of course, everybody slowed down during the pandemic. However, in 2023, she created, Putt Around Kalida with her sister and friend raising $20,000 in the first year to donate to multiple nonprofits and services for children with CHD.

But Amy's work for the CHD community didn't end there. In 2024, she started her podcast, "Diaries of a Heart Warrior." Amy, welcome to "Heart to Heart with Anna." 

Amy Erhart: Hi. Thank you so much for having me today. I'm so excited to finally be here. [00:05:00] 

Anna Jaworski: I'm so excited, too. You have done a lot for the CHD community, which is so fantastic and I think some people might be surprised at how much you and your sister worked to fundraise for the CHD community. How did having a major CHD affect your decision to raise money for CHD nonprofits? 

Amy Erhart: I feel like as I've gotten older, it's affected me in a more profound way. I've realized as you get older, your heart just bursts and you want to do all the things for the community versus when you're younger. it's understanding and realizing that we are the first generation and we should be fundraising for both ourselves and the younger generation.

And I think that's where we focus on when we do our fundraising efforts and what we've done throughout the years. Our fundraiser focuses on the whole family and the community. So I think throughout the years, I realize how blessed I am to still be here and be able to [00:06:00] share my story with others in the community and around the world really.

Anna Jaworski: I know. Really around the world, which is so amazing. 

Amy Erhart: Mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: So how did you select what nonprofits you wanted to donate to? 

Amy Erhart: What was really important was to focus on the kids. I think research is so important, but to find that perfect place to send research, I don't know that yet, so focusing on getting kids into heart camp or, the nonprofits that help the patients and families if they can't afford gas or a hotel room, things like that. Those are what we decided to focus on when we started our fundraising efforts in more recent years, just so we could give back to the community in that way.

Because so many people aren't privileged and they do struggle. 

Anna Jaworski: They do. 

Amy Erhart: So, yes... 

Anna Jaworski: it's so true. Yeah. $20,000 sounds like a whole lot of money, and I know it's tremendous to be able to [00:07:00] raise that kind of money, but as far as research. It's just a drop in the bucket. Research is so expensive. 

Amy Erhart: It really is. And we felt like giving back, both myself and another girl that does the big fundraiser that we started, we split that money between Nationwide Children's in Columbus and Cincinnati Children's, and both of us have decided to put some of that money towards the heart camp for the kids because it costs money.

We do feel it's so important for these kids to be around other children like them. 

Anna Jaworski: Yeah. 

Amy Erhart: Because it's something I didn't have and it's something I talk about...

Anna Jaworski: right 

Amy Erhart: ...all the time. 

Anna Jaworski: Yeah. 

Amy Erhart: So that's a big piece of what we do. We just really feel it's so important. Research is insanely important, but yes, like you said, it's so expensive. We just feel like our money is utilized in a much better way for how we feel about the family aspect of it. 

Anna Jaworski: Absolutely. I totally understand that. I know what [00:08:00] it's like to do fundraising. I've done fundraising as well for a variety of different nonprofit organizations, and it's exhausting. How did you do it with your condition?

Amy Erhart: It's a lot of work, but I could not have done it without the people around me, to be honest with you. My fundraising efforts started quite a while ago. We first started with a Bowl-A-Thon, and it kind of sputtered out. So we did a coin drive one year and raised a ridiculous amount of money.

But then afterwards we were like, "No one's going to be able to collect that much change in a year." So we shifted again, and at that time we were at a campground; it was around a lake, called Indian Lake in Lakeview, Ohio, and they put on a fundraiser every year called Putt Around the Lake and those funds go to the lake.

So we took that concept and brought it to the campground and created, Putt Around Campground, and that's how we raised our funds. We asked people to make the putting greens [00:09:00] and we had raffles and people had to pay per team to get in and we had to pay out at the end. But then all that money ended up after the 50:50 was drawn and all the raffles, that's when we sent the money to the different nonprofits as well.

So that's basically how it was created. But I couldn't do that by myself. My family was there 100%. They're insanely easy to talk to. So the friends that we have down there everyone was supportive in that.

So it wasn't difficult. Which was nice, but I could not have done it by myself. There's no way. It definitely took the people behind me to help for sure. 

Anna Jaworski: Absolutely. 

Amy Erhart: And then after COVID, we stopped it because we couldn't do it anymore. And then a few years later we took that concept and brought it to our community and created, Putt Around Kalida. After that fizzled out during COVID we didn't do any fundraising efforts for quite some time. 

Anna Jaworski: Sure. 

Amy Erhart: My sister's [00:10:00] classmate, a friend of ours, her daughter was born during COVID and she had a congenital heart defect.

Anna Jaworski: Oh my goodness. 

Amy Erhart: Yes. She took it upon herself in the community of Kalida to have the proclamation signed for congenital heart disease week. She did all the work. She did all the steps. It was amazing. So when my sister and I found that out, we called her and we're like, "Hey, Alicia, what's your next steps after this?"

She's like, "I really didn't think about it. I don't have a plan." And me and Amber are like, "Well, let's create a plan." So that's when we swung Alicia in and said, what do we think about this concept and do we think we can make it happen in our community? And us three literally just ran with it and it became Putt Around Kalida at that time.

And that was two years ago. So. Yeah, this year will be our third year. Mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: So you're doing it again? 

Amy Erhart: Oh, yes. Oh yes. It's not stopping anytime soon from what I can tell. Yeah. 

Anna Jaworski: That's so cool. With the Putt Around [00:11:00] Kalida, you actually had local businesses that participated in that, right? Can you paint a picture for us? Tell us exactly what it's like. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah, so our community is insanely small and we again, created the concept of we can't do this without our village. So it's, heart warriors and a village is basically what we're called around Kalida. We went around to different local businesses and asked them to either be a sponsor and create a putting green or give a donation. My younger sister who's a part of this shows pictures.

This is what we're looking for in putting greens, so the firehouse had an old makeshift house that they used, and they put a smoker in there. So when you're putting smoke's coming out of the windows and out of the chimney. I mean there's the plumbing company in our hometown, they had pipes and it would come out and you had to make it into the top of a toilet lid.

The hole was in the top [00:12:00] of a toilet lid. Our church had a makeshift church model, and that was honestly from the time the church was built, so long ago. And they've kept that model and they used the model on the putting green and you would putt through it.

I mean... 

Anna Jaworski: oh, my gosh. What fun for them!

Amy Erhart: Yeah, yeah. They had a blast. And truly that's the biggest feat of the whole project is to get people to do the putting greens.

So the first year we had about 18 to 20 putting greens, which was fantastic. We did not... 

Anna Jaworski: that's amazing. 

Amy Erhart: Think... yes... we did not think we were going to have that many. And then the second year we had 25. Even more businesses decided to join. So yes... 

Anna Jaworski: You need to have an award for the most fun putting green, or...

Amy Erhart: We do.

Anna Jaworski: Oh, you do. Got it. Okay. So do you only have one award or do you have multiples? 

Amy Erhart: We give out first, second, and third place. And then, one award to best voted putting green of that year, and the firehouse [00:13:00] won it last year. 

Anna Jaworski: What fun. What do you do to spread awareness of CHD while you're doing this? 'cause I have a feeling there's something that you're doing. 

Amy Erhart: Yes. Our town is super small. You can ride golf carts around our town. So basically yes, people either walk or ride golf carts that day and they're going from putting green to putting green. And we end at our park. So last year we asked the community who would like to, basically share their child's diagnosis, how old they are, where they're from.

And their parents' name. And then we put a picture of them. So as you came into the park, you saw probably 18 to 20 kids with their photos, their diagnosis, their parents, where they're from. That was a way to shout out to everyone in the community. Here we are, we've got a lot more than what we think we do in our small town and surrounding.

That's how that [00:14:00] concept goes along when you're raising the awareness part and making it more personal 

Anna Jaworski: Oh, that sounds so amazing. You go to the park and you see all these children who your... 

Amy Erhart: mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: ...funds that you raise are actually going to help. 

Amy Erhart: Yes. And their families are there and their extended families are there.

It's so family-driven, which is what we love about it, that honestly, all the families come out for it in our hometown. Now that they know which weekend it's on, it's really a matter, don't schedule a vacation around that time because everyone enjoys it so much and there's anywhere from toddler to the grandparents.

And there is something to do for every single age range.  

Anna Jaworski: So do people pay to get a ball and then they get that ball around? Do you have little score pads? 

Amy Erhart: Yep. We create all that. So registration day, you come and you pay your registration fee for two putters, and then, you [00:15:00] bring your own ball and your own putting green. Everybody around here golfs, so they all got one. So yeah, you basically just pay the registration fee and then you're off on your own from noon to four. You have four hours to putt. You have to put nine holes; you don't have to put them all. Most people do just 'cause they want to see them.

Anna Jaworski: It sounds like they're fun... 

Amy Erhart: Yes. Oh my gosh, there's so many. The pictures, it's just like, where do you guys come up with this stuff? This year we're like, "Hey, change it up just a little bit so we can have something new." So we're doing a little nudging along the way this year.

Anna Jaworski: Oh my gosh. That just sounds amazing. And you can putt around the town in a golf cart. I love it. 

Amy Erhart: I was talking about this with my old boss and she's like, "Your town sounds like a unicorn village." And I was like, "We're pretty awesome. And we're pretty rare." Yeah. Our community is bar none the best in my eyes.

Anna Jaworski: As a heart mom, if I were coming up to the park and seeing all these [00:16:00] pictures and all these families, I know I'd be crying the whole way.

Amy Erhart: I'll be honest with you, my sister had said last year, "There's family in the community. The mom is telling the dad, our child, there's something wrong. Like, this is serious and the dad doesn't want to admit it. And they were walking up along the sidewalk to get into the park, and the dad seen their child's diagnosis on a board and he kind of looked at the mom and said, "So this is really real." 

Anna Jaworski: Oh. 

Amy Erhart: And I think that's the thing. That's the awareness. 

Anna Jaworski: Yeah. 

Amy Erhart: Mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: Wow. 

Baby Hearts Press: Embark on a heartwarming odyssey with Baby Hearts Press, your gateway to uplifting stories for the CHD community. Introducing The Heart of a Heart Warrior book series. Inspiring those born with heart defects and their loved ones. Discover "The Heart of a Mother," "The Heart of a Father," and "My Brother Needs an Operation."

Books celebrating strength, love, and familial support. [00:17:00] Visit www.babyheartspress.com and be part of our loving community uplifting hearts one story at a time.

HUG Message: "Heart to Heart with Anna" is a presentation of Hearts Unite the Globe and is part of the HUG Podcast Network. 

Hearts Unite The Globe is a nonprofit organization devoted to providing resources to the congenital heart defect community, to uplift, empower, and enrich the lives of our community members. If you would like access to free resources pertaining to the CHD community, please visit our website at www.congenitalheartdefects.com for information about CHD, the hospitals that treat children with CHD summer camps for CHD survivors, and much, much more.

Rejoiner: You are listening to "Heart to Heart with Anna." If you have a question or comment that you would like addressed on our show, please send [00:18:00] an email to Anna Jaworski at Anna@Hearttoheartwithanna.com. That's Anna@hearttoheartwithanna.com. Now back to "Heart to Heart with Anna." 

Anna Jaworski: Amy, let's start by talking about "Diaries of a Heart Warrior." Tell us about why you started a podcast. 

Amy Erhart: Oh my goodness. To be honest, not my intention. 

Anna Jaworski: What? 

Amy Erhart: Honestly, a couple years ago it was right before my 40th birthday. 40 hit me different for some reason, and I thought to myself, I need to do better for me.

I wanted to get healthier and happier so I joined a couple programs personally to kind of get a push. And one day people were talking about podcasts and I thought maybe I should start a podcast. But then I was like, honestly, Anna, I didn't want to do it about CHD, I [00:19:00] wanted to do something different.

Okay. , it's not that I don't think This is fun. This is fun, don't get me wrong. But I'm a. Law and Order: SVU

Anna Jaworski: oh my gosh. 

Amy Erhart: It's, disgusting, right? So I'm like, 'If I can talk about that all day, every day, I would.' But then I thought to myself, 'Amy, really?'

Let's do something more. And CHD just kept nudging in and nudging in. And I thought, 'Well, I guess why not? I'll try it. And if it doesn't work out, then I'll quit. At least I can say, I did it.' 

Anna Jaworski: Yeah.

Amy Erhart: And then that would be that. So truly not my first intention. I wanted to do so many other things, but I landed on Diaries of a Heart Warrior and it has been such a blessing.

I have learned so much. I have been validated so much in my own feelings and in my own life. It has brought me such clarity, I think, in my own [00:20:00] journey that it was supposed to be this way, and I'm so thankful that the nudges kept coming, and that's where I landed. 

Anna Jaworski: I just love that. 

Amy Erhart: Mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: Well, you are so easy to talk to, and 

Amy Erhart: thank you.

Anna Jaworski: You're so much fun to talk to, and I've listened to several of your episodes. I'm embarrassed how long it took me to listen to my own episode, but nobody likes to listen to themselves, and I knew you did it edit as heavily as I do, and I thought, oh, I hope I don't sound like an idiot. 

Amy Erhart: I couldn't take anything out.

Your experiences are amazing and I think the world needs to know that. Honestly, there's nothing in your interview that I thought, 'Oh, I shouldn't have this in here. I'm like, no, it all needs to be in here.' 

Anna Jaworski: Okay. So friends, if you want to know what happened in Anna's life, all you have to do is listen to my episode with Amy on "Diaries of our Heart Warrior" and you'll have a snapshot of my entire life.

I told you things I've never said on any other podcast, not even my own. So... 

Amy Erhart: I love that, thank [00:21:00] you. 

Anna Jaworski: It was so cool. It was so much fun. And you have published over 30 episodes. Way to go. Amy, do you know most... 

Amy Erhart: Thank you. 

Anna Jaworski: People who start a podcast, don't make it past episode six?

Amy Erhart: No, I had no idea. 

Anna Jaworski: Yeah. I heard recently on Buzz Cast, which is the podcast made by Buzzsprout, which is the platform you and I used to... 

Amy Erhart: mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: ...distribute our episodes. Yeah. They were talking about how most podcasters don't make it past episode six. So the fact that you've made it past 30 already in your first year is really amazing.

Amy Erhart: Yeah, and honestly it shocks me, but I can totally see it. The amount of effort.

Anna Jaworski: It's a lot of work. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah. The amount of effort and work, 

Anna Jaworski: ...especially when it's an interview-based podcast. I had a friend who started a podcast when I started, almost 12 years ago.

I decided to make mine, an interview-based podcast, and he decided to make his a personal narrative [00:22:00] podcast and after a while he said, "I'm out of stuff to say." I think that's what happens to a lot of people.

Yes. He says, "How are you still doing this, Anna?" He said, "I don't have anything else to say. I never thought I would say that." I said, "I do an interview based," and when I said that, he was like, "Okay, I think maybe I'll interview some people." And he did, and... 

Amy Erhart: mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: ...He realized how much more fun it was to have another person there to share stories with 

Amy Erhart: oh, 100% I don't think I could do this just by myself. There's so often I think I should share more of my story, but then I sit down and I'm thinking to myself, 'what the heck am I going to say?' Because I'm talking with myself. It just is such a different feel.

Anna Jaworski: It's a different vibe. 

Amy Erhart: Mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: Yeah. It's a totally different vibe. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah. 

Anna Jaworski: So share with me a memorable moment or a story about your podcast with us. 

Amy Erhart: Oh, my gosh. 

Anna Jaworski: I'm sure you have a million. 

Amy Erhart: I do, and honestly, the best thing that has come out of this, [00:23:00] is the true validation that I have felt growing up, that I felt and still sometimes feel as an adult. Up until these last couple years, didn't know a lot of people with CHD. I'm just now with these interviews and going to the single ventricle day and things like that, this is how I'm finally meeting people. So all these experiences for me are brand new and I never thought I would ever see the day.

So here's the one thing I can honestly say. I was talking with a guest and we were talking about having children. That seems to be a hot topic for women. 

Anna Jaworski: Yes. 

Amy Erhart: Whether you can have children or not. We sat there and we talked about it and I said, "I'm very happy with my life and I feel like sometimes the things I say makes it seem otherwise, but that's not true."

I said, "but you still always have it in the back of your mind and you have those feelings." And she said to me, I. I think you can have both those feelings and it be okay and then be valid." She said, "You're allowed to feel those feelings [00:24:00] together every day." And I thought, 'I needed to hear that.' 

Anna Jaworski: Yeah, 

Amy Erhart: ...because in your own self, you feel very confused.

Anna Jaworski: Yeah. 

Amy Erhart: And that's, yeah, and that's what I get a lot out of it. It's other people telling me it's okay when we have conversations like this that our feelings are fine. They feel the same thing, and they've had to learn, just like I am, to look at it in a new perspective and in a new light. That has brought me the most calming peace about having CHD and knowing that truly I am not going through this alone. 

Anna Jaworski: I love that so much. Yeah. I kind of feel like my podcast is my therapy session. 

Amy Erhart: Mm-hmm. And you know, it's funny, so many people say that to me. They're like, "This was a little therapy session."

And I'm like, "I love that." I love that people are excited to share their story when someone wants to listen. That's what I [00:25:00] love too. 

Anna Jaworski: Mm-hmm. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah. 

Anna Jaworski: Yeah. Oh, absolutely. A hundred percent. That's so funny that you say that about the conflicted feelings. I think we all feel that way. When I was a little girl, I read "Cheaper by the Dozen."

Amy Erhart: Mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: And I was so touched by that book that I remember telling my mother, "Someday I want to adopt a child." 

Amy Erhart: Oh. 

Anna Jaworski: Then when I was teaching, my fourth year , I had a student whose mother was sent to jail on drug charges and all of her children were put into foster care.

Well, this student lived at the school for the deaf, which is where I was teaching, and he was going to have to go into foster care during the Christmas holiday. And I said "No." And the counselor said, "No, we are not going to let that happen." This kid had no speech to speak of. He was profoundly deaf and he was dependent on sign language and there was no way, with such short notice, they were going [00:26:00] to find a family that would sign that would be able to take this child.

The counselor and I petitioned the state to ask for us to share custody of him during the Christmas break so he would be with people who knew sign language. While I had him for my week, Frank and I just fell in love with him, and we said, "We cannot let this child go to the foster care system. He's such a sweet child and it will not be a good fit for him." Well, unbeknownst to me, the counselor felt exactly the same way. We had decided that we were going to adopt this 13-year-old boy and, I got sick so I went to the doctor and it was not the flu, I was pregnant. 

Amy Erhart: Oh. 

Anna Jaworski: We had been trying and trying and I couldn't get pregnant and here when I decided to adopt a child, that's when I got pregnant, which happens to so many people. I hear that happening so often. And the counselor said, that's okay, he's mine. [00:27:00] And she ended up adopting him. I do feel a little conflicted not about that child. He ended up in a very loving home and I'm sure everything worked out just the way it was supposed to be. But I have thought about, 'What about that dream that little Anna Daigneault had when she was a little girl?' 

Amy Erhart: Mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: Of adopting a child. I never did, but in a way I feel like I've adopted the entire heart community. 

Amy Erhart: Right. And maybe that's it. 

Anna Jaworski: Yeah. 

Amy Erhart: I mean, you have such a loving, aura about you for this community. You just want to help and be there for people. You're probably right. That is probably your way of being that surrogate mom to everyone. 

Anna Jaworski: Yeah. It's funny because I've had some heart warriors on the program who are older than I am. 

Amy Erhart: Mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: But I still feel like they're mom.

Amy Erhart: Hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: I still feel like the heart mom to everybody, which has been so much fun. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah. 

Anna Jaworski: So, one question that people ask me is, "Where do [00:28:00] you find your guest and what advice do you have for people who would like to be a guest on your show?" So I'm going to ask you that. Where do you find your guest and what advice do you have for people who want to be on "Diaries of a Heart Warrior"?

Amy Erhart: I honestly find my guests through the platforms on Facebook that I'm a part of. 

Anna Jaworski: Mm-hmm. 

Amy Erhart: I literally make a post and hope like heck, people see it. Earlier this year I had made a post Who Wants To Be On? And the amount of responses I had was just unbelievable. It was more than I had last year. I really doubted myself going into year two because I thought, 'I could barely find enough people for year one. What am I going to do?' So I think it's just getting out there and putting, 'Hey, would anybody be interested? If you want to know what it's about, reach out to me' and if they respond , I take the time to DM them personally.

Anna Jaworski: Mm-hmm. 

Amy Erhart: I'm not asking them to DM me. Just let me know on this post and I will get to you personally and we can set something up. To [00:29:00] be a guest on the show? I always put it in my show notes, 'Contact me here' or 'Contact me in these three locations.'

And has it happened? No, unfortunately it hasn't. So I'm still probably the big driving force of getting it on the platforms and asking if people want to be on the show. I wish I had an answer to get better responses. I don't, maybe you do.

Anna Jaworski: I think you're right. I think first of all, more people in our community are listening to podcasts than ever before, which is really cool. I'm the executive producer of three other podcasts, so I produce "Heart to Heart with Anna," of course, and I'm the executive producer of three other podcasts.

Amy Erhart: Mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: And honestly, this is the first year where we have consistently had people reaching out to us, which is really exciting. But I'm going on my 12th year. "Bereaved But Still Me," our bereavement podcast, is in its ninth season.

Amy Erhart: Mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: It's amazing to me how many people have been [00:30:00] reaching out to us to be guests on the show, because before we started with our friends... 

Amy Erhart: mm-hmm 

Anna Jaworski: friends and family, I could always turn to Frank, or Hope , or Joey. They've all been on my podcast, which has been amazing. But at the beginning it was mostly me personally asking people or friends of mine saying, "Oh my gosh, Anna, you have to have this person or that person

Amy Erhart: mm-hmm 

Anna Jaworski: on my podcast." So that really helped. But yes, Facebook groups, that has been a huge source. I'll see what's going on in those groups. I don't visit every single group every day. I just don't have enough time to do that. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah. 

Anna Jaworski: But when things pop up in my feed that look interesting, I'll go check it out. If it's a topic that I think, 'Wow, I haven't talked about that yet,' or ' This is really timely, I need to talk about that,' then I'll reach out to people. But, 

Amy Erhart: mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: Right now, I have like 17 people who want to be on the show that I haven't had a chance to work on a script for them yet. Which is just [00:31:00] amazing.

Amy Erhart: That's wonderful. 

Anna Jaworski: Yes. It's more than I can handle. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah. You just made a really good point too about I had someone just reach out to me. He was on my podcast and he reached out to me, "Thank you. It sounds great." And he said, "I've been getting feedback. Here it is." And that's the one thing I love too. He's like, "Have you ever thought about doing these things with a panel?" And one of the topics was Social Security. Honestly, no, because I'm not at that stage in my life yet, but fantastic topic and if that's what people are wondering about and how that process is, yes, I have to reach out and find those people. I think the feedback is important. I get a lot of that from my older sister as well. She listens to my episodes and she'll say, "Hey, this was great." Or "Hey, this could have been better." 

Anna Jaworski: Oh wow. 

Amy Erhart: Which I love. 

Anna Jaworski: Great. 

Amy Erhart: And I love that because 

Anna Jaworski: that positive feedback makes it... 

Amy Erhart: yes

Anna Jaworski: different. How are we going to grow and change if we don't get feedback? 

Amy Erhart: Yes. 

Anna Jaworski: I'm in [00:32:00] Toastmasters and I run speeches by my Toastmasters club before I ever go out and give a speech in public. The feedback I get from them helps me tremendously... 

Amy Erhart: mm-hmm 

Anna Jaworski: ...to be a better speaker. So that's awesome. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah. There is zero ounce of me that's offended because honestly I think it's all fantastic. 'cause clearly I haven't done it 'cause I haven't thought of it. So I need the feedback. 

Anna Jaworski: Exactly. Exactly. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah. 

Anna Jaworski: Well that's why I changed the format of my program this year, because I attend Podcast Movement every year. That's my continuing education for podcasting because this field... 

Amy Erhart: mm-hmm 

Anna Jaworski: ...is ever growing and changing. Every time you think, 'Oh, I've got a handle on this.' Nope. Something changes. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah. 

Anna Jaworski: It's always changing, but that's what keeps you sharp. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah. 

Anna Jaworski: I'm in my sixties now. I want to still be mentally sharp. My grandmother was mentally sharp until she passed away. I want to be like her. I want to be like my grandma. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah. 

Anna Jaworski: That means I have to constantly push myself [00:33:00] and learn new things and challenge myself. So the podcast definitely gives me opportunities to do all of that. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah, 

Anna Jaworski: But I love it that you started by reaching out to people. Frank and I, when we decided that this was something that I should do, he said, " Anna, if you only help one other person, it'll be worth it because they're going to really need it." and to know at this point, I've helped over a quarter of a million listeners. 

Amy Erhart: Mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: It just means the world to me that... 

Amy Erhart: yeah, 

Anna Jaworski: ...my shows have been listened to all over the world. People in Africa, people in Australia, New Zealand, Romania, I mean... 

Amy Erhart: mm-hmm 

Anna Jaworski: ...it's so touching to see. 

Amy Erhart: It's pretty incredible.

Anna Jaworski: It is. It is. And to know the power of our stories. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah, a hundred percent. And I think that, the power of our stories, also empowers other people to share. 

Anna Jaworski: Oh, absolutely. 

Amy Erhart: Mm-hmm. 

Anna Jaworski: Absolutely. I can't believe it's already time. 

Amy Erhart: I know, [00:34:00] I know. 

Anna Jaworski: That's okay. You're going to be a repeat guest, but before we conclude the episode, we started the interview by talking about you and your sister, and I didn't realize you have an older sister and a younger sister, so now I know there are sisters. 

Amy Erhart: Yes. 

Anna Jaworski: Are your sisters also involved with your podcast, aside from being your evaluators and giving you feedback?

Amy Erhart: No, they are not. I have often thought about having my family on the podcast. My sisters are really busy raising their children, so finding them at the exact same time to all three of us get together for an hour is insanely difficult. But I would love to interview them and I would love to interview my parents. 

They're all supportive of me doing the podcast. They think I'm doing a fantastic job. So that's where they land in my podcast world, which is fantastic. I will definitely get them interviewed someday, hopefully soon, but we'll see. 

Anna Jaworski: I was going to say, "There's four episodes right there." 

Amy Erhart: Yeah. I actually did [00:35:00] tell my mom the other day, I said, "Hey, since I'm in town this week, I think I might have to steal you and Dad for an hour in the afternoon." And she looked at me, I said, " I need a podcast episode with you guys."

And she said, "I don't know. I don't think I can do that." And I said, "Uh, buckle up, Sally. Like, it's going to happen." 

Anna Jaworski: I so wish I had done that. I did not interview my mother, and now she's passed away and I'm so sad. She and I talked about it, but I think the technology scared her. Please record your mom. Please record your dad. I really wish I had done that. Yeah, and I have people who have lost their loved ones and their loved ones were on my podcast and they have written to me and asked me to send them the episodes. This is part of their legacy. 

Amy Erhart: Yeah. I feel like I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't, because I know a lot of the story, right? That's how I'm learning about myself in general. But you [00:36:00] don't ever really sit down and have that real, raw, authentic conversation. That's just not what we do. We don't sit around a table and have that conversation all the time. So a podcast is that opportunity to do it. 

Anna Jaworski: Absolutely. Amy, this has been utterly delightful. Thank you so much for coming on the program today. 

Amy Erhart: Oh my gosh, you're so welcome. I had a ton of fun. Thanks for inviting me. 

Anna Jaworski: Oh, me too. This was so much fun. Well, friends, that's all for this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna". I hope you'll check out Amy's podcast, "Diaries of a Heart Warrior." I will put the link to her show in my show notes, which is the description of the show. Go check out Amy's show. Until next week, my friends, remember you are not alone. [00:37:00]