Need to be CPR-certified? Let’s Go!

I love teaching First Aid/CPR/AED classes! Pretty much everyone leaves on a mission. And it’s great. So why not get one more class in before the holidays?

Let’s do it.

Read “I’ve Worked in Media 35 Years: This Is Why I Now Teach CPR”

On Saturday, Nov. 15 in the Metro Area of St. Louis, Missouri get CPR Certified before the holidays! You may register on this form.

The $85 OSHA compliant class is now discounted to $65 per person through Dec 31. Sign up now and get $5 off when you bring a friend (that’s $60 for you and your friend/friend group). There are limited seats. 

For those who live outside of the St. Louis area and who are unable to attend, your referrals of five or more students who register earn a referral reward of a $30 gift certificate (the registrant must mention you’re a Before You Go newsletter free subscriber)!

Take our in-person and affordable First Aid/CPR/AED certification class (American Red Cross) before your next job interview or shift. 

This month’s class takes place at 9am on Saturday, Nov. 15.

The two-hour blended course costs $65 per person (or $60/person if it’s you and a friend—families count too!). Register and receive the address of the class location in South City (1.5 miles from Tower Grove Park!).

We’ve got manikins, free CPR supplies and a confidence-building skills session.

Classes fill fast. All are certified within 48 hours. Sign up now on this form.

Let’s go!



Sign up with a friend or group and we’’ll discount the course by $5 per person in the group! Referrals of five or more students earns a referral reward of a $30 gift certificate!



Register with Nicole and get First Aid/CPR/AED certified. Let’s go!




My Birthday with Ella

It’s my birthday month, and I like to celebrate by sharing!

As you may have heard, my Mom and I wrote a children’s picture book titled Ella’s Sunday Song. Six-year-old Ella sings a Spiritual, and while walking through a storm to her choir director’s house to practice, she discovers that the words of her solo hold a secret code!

You may purchase Ella’s Sunday Song from our publishers site at https://klepub.com/nicole-franklin/. And please leave us a review!

We’re thankful for all of the readers who have loved the story and shared their sentiments with us. We are grateful.

Since my November birthday is so close to the holiday season, I would love to give the gift that is Ella’s Sunday Song! Here is our offer for donating the entertaining and educational Ella’s Sunday Song to classrooms and community organizations:

  • Purchase Ella’s Sunday Song in bulk (10 books or more) at the discounted price of $9.50 per book and shipping is free (annually, third week of October through Nov. 30)!

  • Sponsor the Ella’s Sunday Song booth at a future book fair and secure the donation of 50 books to young readers

  • Purchase THREE books at full price and get a FOURTH BOOK for free (free shipping not included in this offer)

All specials continue to November 30, 2024.

Sign up to be a DONATION PARTNER on this form. Or send me a note at Nicole@BeforeYouGo.TV or text “Ella” to 212-665-4418 and let us know your preference—your gift.

Birthday months are the best! Thanks for your donation!

Ella's Sunday Song is a Gift!

The children’s picture book, Ella’s Sunday Song, is available for your loved ones, book club or community organization. The story follows six-year-old Ella who learns how to figure out the code for the Spiritual she is scheduled to sing for her Sunday solo.

Authors Irene and Nicole Franklin are the mother/daughter team behind the narrative. A portion of the sales are donated to a different children’s charity every month.

Read more about Ella and her journey to uncovering the history of a beloved Spiritual by visiting the information page. Go, Ella!

A Children's Book for Childrens' Charities!

Thrilled to announce that children, communities and families everywhere can purchase our children’s book Ella’s Sunday Song. What is Ella’s Sunday Song? It’s our children’s picture book where six-year-old Ella figures out the code behind the Spiritual she will be singing at her Church as her Sunday solo. Read more about Ella’s Sunday Song and get your copy or purchase as a gift! Go, Ella!

With each purchase of Ella’s Sunday Song, a portion of the profits benefits a different children’s charity or event every month. Do you want your charity or event to be on the list? Let us know here.

Our first charity to benefit from our presales and book sales through November 30, 2024 is the Good Vibes Only mental wellness, anti-bullying and child safety conference hosted by the Social Justice Committee of the St. Louis Archdiocese. This FREE conference for middle-school aged youth will take place in St. Louis, Mo. on September 28, 2024. Special guest performance: Gentlemen of Vision.

If you know of middle-school aged children in the St. Louis area who could use this afternoon of interactive learning, care and free lunch, please visit the registration page. Spaces are limited!

To keep this conference free for attendees, the team behind Ella’s Sunday Song invites you to purchase our book and support the conference that shares strategies for mental wellness and self-defense.

For now, thank you for supporting this free conference and future children’s charities and events during the upcoming months and sales of Ella’s Sunday Song.

Ella brings out the curious and gracious nature in all of us. Thank you, Ella. Thank you to all who want to assist children through literature and love. We appreciate you!

Conversation starters: 107 open-ended Questions for seniors

Ever have a conversation with a senior who is willing to tell it all if asked the right questions? I have. And I’m sharing those questions—all 107 of them!

I’ve named this guide 100 Years Three Gunshots and Five Husbands. Who wouldn’t want to hear that story? It all starts with a question.

It’s so fun to engage in conversation with those who have lived full and complicated lives. As I learned when producing Before You Go, most people have incredible life advice that comes from deep dark places. It helps so many to unburden themselves by sharing these secrets. That has been my experience as an interviewer. Maybe it can be yours!

And hey, if you’re the one ready to share your life story, start here. Writing a fictional character for a novel or screenplay? Ask what would {character} do with these simple questions.

These is a suggested price of $10 per manual, but there’s an even better offer: Download these 107 open-ended questions and Pay What You Wish! When you pay what you wish, you’ll be added to the free Timeless Tales Society where you are issued a referral link to earn 30% on selected products. It’s been a fun journey all of these years as a storyteller. Time to hear some wisdom, leave some wisdom, and reward the community. Let’s go!

Thank you for your Donations!

Throughout the 25 years EPIPHANY Inc. has been in independent storytelling bliss, the company would truly not exist without the love of our audience, supporters, gracious crew members, family and friends. Donations have come in many shapes and sizes. We are grateful for all.

We have snacks and seasonal items on our fundraising page. Have a big party coming up? Are people coming over to watch the big game? Grab some snacks from our fundraising site for food that’s just as tasty (if not more) and support a great cause! Also, check out the seasonal items of our fundraising site. Here you can spruce up your garden or holiday giving! Yep, we have all the basis covered. Just visit our fundraiser here.

For those who prefer the click of a button and a tax write-off, please visit our fiscal sponsor Fractured Atlas to make a tax-deductible donation. You’ll see a company description under the banner An EPIPHANY Conversation. Trust that we could not have this conversation without you!

For those who love a quick Cash App transaction, you may find us here: $BeforeYouGoTV. Thank you so much!

Whenever you wish, please sign up for our Before You Go Newsletter. Spending a few minutes with us here is free! Contributing words of wisdom from elders in your world benefits us all. We will not put a price on that.

Thank you for your generosity! Here’s to the next 25!

Discover Black Boy Joy in the Classroom

First Impressions and the African American Male: A Guide to Experiencing the Truth about Little Brother

Are you an educator or mentor with middle-school age Black boys under your care? Read and share this guide with colleagues for cultural context and classroom activities:

https://amzn.to/3TZxssP

The topic is love. The lessons are many.

First Impressions and the African American Male: A Guide to Experiencing the Truth about Little Brother, the curriculum companion to the award-winning Little Brother film series, opens the discussion into life as a Black boy in the United States. Contributions from educators include classroom and group exercises for both teachers and students.

Little Brother is a documentary series filmed in chapters, produced by Nicole Franklin and J. Tiggett. Each 15-minute chapter gives voice to African American males ages nine through 13 who reside in different regions of the United States.

Music on this link: Christian Simmons

First Impressions...Our Love of Black Boys

Having a ball writing on the weekends. Until my next release, I thought, why not release my master's thesis in the meantime on my Amazon Author Page? I read it through recently and it still stands--the joy, the pain (and personal pain) and the inevitable. For those who want to connect more with Black male youth in your classrooms or environments, please give this guide a read and a share--especially, if like me, you love James Baldwin. Thank you, Drs. Raymond Winbush and Jeff Menzies for the forward. Thank you, J. Tiggett for the #film journey! And to all of the Little Brothers who made these chapters (and beyond) possible, you are truly, truly loved. Please click the link to "Follow" my Amazon Author Page, choose First Impressions and the African American Male: A Guide to Experiencing the Truth about Little Brother and read on #Kindle for FREE! #BlackBoys #AfricanAmericanMales #AfricanAmerican #Author #ThisIsAmerica #LittleBrother amazon.com/author/nicolefranklin

Little Brother film guide

New Gig! Let's go!

Week one down. Grateful for the opportunity to work for an institution that serves so many. Honored that Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has entrusted me with the Director of Communications role. Let's go, Team. Thank you to everyone who helped me get here! Go, Cougars! #SIUE

#UrbanWarriors for #STL

Even though I've moved on from City Hall, I'm really proud of the Mayor's Youth Cabinet my colleagues and I formed this past summer under the direction of Vernon Mitchell. Lakesha Robinson, Nashad Carrington and an impressive roster of guest speakers really brought their A game to some very impressive teens. These bright #UrbanWarriors (they came up with the cool name!) really wowed Mayor Tishaura Jones today. Well done, All! I'm thrilled to continue volunteering with this pilot program. We're building an information network where Civics is the focus--teen to teen. #STL #UrbanConservation

Forks, Spoons and A Revolution?

You read that correctly. LISTEN to our audio drama, The Forks, by writer/director Myra Sito Velasquez and enjoy a unique take on table manners—from the utensils themselves! It’s wild…it’s kooky…it’s political…and fun! Kudos to the actors who had a ball on the mic. And a big shoutout to our engineers, editor and composer. We recorded The Forks right out of COVID and had the best feeling when we wrapped: This one is a winner. We indeed have won one award and look forward to more! Check us out on Spotify by clicking here. Great job, Team! #ProudProducer

Photo by Daryl Tillman

A Fun Film Chat with the Gals

So awesome when friends invite you on their show and you just chat it up! Wait a minute. This is the morning of the day I started having COVID symptoms and went into the ER the following evening….uuggghhh. But look how well Sherri Pullum puts her guests at ease! Thanks, Sherri, for inviting me hang out with you and your fantastic production team! #WomenInFilm #SeeHerNow #IndieFilm #Directing

A Return to the Piano?

Maybe for me someday soon. But for those who miss those mandatory childhood lessons and want to get back to a routine, hone their skills or just relish in the ability to provide pure enjoyment for yourself or those within listening range, my Mom is still teaching. Adults preferred at this time. Want to give it a try? Give us a call!