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b'Cynthia Murphy was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, and her husband Thane is a disabled U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Both of them have become successful entrepreneurs and philanthropists in spite of their respective adversities, creating Assuaged, a website and app that points health-conscious users toward organic and vegan food choices. As well, they advocate and run online resources for those affected by craniofacial disorders.
\\nIn this conversation, Thane and Cynthia discuss how a plant-based diet helped the two of them overcome their own physical challenges, how they give back to those suffering from similar disabilities, and give advice to those looking to create similar apps.
\\nShow Notes:
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\\nWhat was it like for Cynthia to grow up with Treacher Collins syndrome, and how did these experiences shape who she is today?
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\\nFaced discrimination for her physical appearance both in her personal life and at work.
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\\nWhat steps can people suffering from significant physical disabilities take to bolster their self-image and drive?
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\\nCynthia poured all of her resources into working so she could earn something, be it money, education or respect.
\\nNever undervalue education and how it can enrich your life experience and how you interact with others.
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\\nHow did Thane treat and ultimately heal his physical condition?
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\\nCut out convenient junk food and snacks, researched how one\\u2019s diet affects and health and longevity of their organs and systems. That\\u2019s how he came to settle on a plant-based diet.
\\nThrough a vegan, organic, plant-based diet, Thane went from obesity to being in the top percentile of healthy veterans.
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\\nHow difficult was it for the two of them to make such a massive lifestyle change?
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\\nActually not that difficult. The real challenge was consistently reading labels and being mindful of ingredients.
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\\nHow did the Assuaged app come to be?
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\\nRealized that guidance was the trickiest part to making healthy diet a habit. Assuaged is designed as a guide to the best ingredients and dishes.
\\nThey got the name from the movie Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.
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\\nWhat was the most challenging part of making Assauged a reality?
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\\nLetting go of their financial fears, accepting that the app might be a loss and just going forward with it.
\\nFocusing on helping at least one person or family.
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\\nWhat\\u2019s their advice for someone who has an idea for an app but aren\\u2019t sure how to start?
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\\nJust get started. Actually take tangible steps.
\\nIf you don\\u2019t know how to develop on your own, find a solid development team to outsource it to.
\\nMake sure that your code is copyrightable.
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\\nDo they have plans for selling the Assuaged app?
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\\nNo. They\\u2019re interested in keeping it their own.
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\\nWhat was the entrepreneurship learning curve like for the two of them?
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\\nThane and Cynthia have been personally limited by their own disabilities.
\\nNeeding to stay on top of the work while also feeling satisfied.
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\\nHow have mentorships impacted their professional journey?
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\\nBestselling author Bonnie Hearn Hill; Cynthia contacted her when wanting to write a memoir. Bonnie was honest with Cynthia about the importance of becoming self-reliant and gaining control over her anxieties.
\\nBonnie also introduced them to Craig and Jenny D (see episode 4).
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\\nWhen did Cynthia realize she wanted to become an activist for the craniofacial community?
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\\nAfter having a negative experience auditioning for America\\u2019s Next Top Model.
\\nWhile she didn\\u2019t get the part,'