Copyright: Catherine Gibson
Catherine Gibson and Dennis Schleicher have started a live-streamed talk show on YouTube called “Keeping it Real with Dennis Schleicher and Cathy Gibson.” The show addresses the struggles that almost everyone goes through at least once in their life, but it is done in a fun, entertaining, and caring manner. As an added bonus, Sophie the dog helps keep it real.
What the show is about
During these live streams, Cathy and Dennis highlight how people’s differences make them unique. The two share how their differences have led to them being bullied and how they learned to embrace those differences. By sharing their struggles, their subsequent embarrassment, as well as how they came to accept and love their differences, they inspire viewers to do the same.
They aim to provide assistance and encouragement to others who are in similar shoes, and hope that with this channel, they will be able to make a difference. To add to the nuance of “keeping it real,” the show is unedited and completely authentic. Aside from the questions they prepare for each other, the show is completely unscripted and somewhat unpredictable.
The Beauty of Being Different
During the shows, Cathy and Dennis want to encourage people to stay true to who they are, to love themselves, and to be their own individual. Everyone has something which makes them different – what makes them unique. Cathy and Dennis explain that “being different is the new norm,” and because of this, people should not only be embracing it, but proclaiming it.
Cathy compares being different to having different ice cream flavors. Just as it would be boring to only ever have one flavor of ice cream, it would also be boring if there was only one “flavor” of people.
About Catherine Gibson
Catherine Gibson is an author, dance teacher, and a voice for others. Catherine, who at the time was already a dance teacher, decided to learn sign language at the American School for the Deaf. She decided to combine these two passions and started to teach dance to the deaf children at the school. She and the children enjoy each other tremendously, and they all love to dance.
Inspired by her experiences and the wonderful people she has met, she decided to become a voice for others. Her foundation, For Children with Love, is one of the ways in which she gives to people. The children’s books written by Catherine are sold through this website, and a portion of the proceeds from these books are given to various charities.
Catherine wants to be a positive voice, and with this, she hopes to get others to be kind to one another and to embrace each other’s differences. She believes that it is important to create awareness about people who live with life challenges, and addresses this through her books, social media pages, videos, and more.
One of Catherine’s books, “Daisy Mae Finds Her Way” is endorsed by Betty White, and Catherine also received a Mark Twain Award for it. The book is about two classmates who find a stray dog. One sees it as dirty, while the other sees it as in need of love and help. Within this book, messages of bullying, abuse, and love come forward – and the difference that all of this can make in someone’s life.
She believes that people, and specifically children, should use what makes them different as their “superpower,” that which makes them feel as though they can accomplish anything.
About Dennis Schleicher
Dennis Schleicher is an author and public speaker who aims to inspire others. His two books, “Is He Nuts?” and “Scripture Up,” have led to many discussions and many positive changes in people’s lives.
Dennis aims to help and inspire others by sharing his story and what he has been through. He believes that everything happens for a reason, and that what has happened to him has made him stronger.
At only seventeen years old, Dennis appeared on seven talk shows. This was because he was a victim of a hate crime in high school. He shared his story on his talk shows and continues to do so through public speaking, social media platforms, and his books.
Catherine and Dennis on YouTube
Both Catherine and Dennis use their experiences, good or bad, to be able to help others. It is, therefore, that their YouTube channel is as authentic, entertaining, and full of love. They are “keeping it real” together by sharing their previous experiences, explaining how they learned to embrace them, and giving others advice on how they can do it too.
They also explain the harm in labeling or separating someone just because they are different. They believe that because people are unable to embrace others for their differences, conflicts arise. In one of the YouTube live-stream episodes, they say that people should not judge and rather be open-minded – stop and listen first.
In Conclusion
Catherine and Dennis urge people to find happiness in their uniqueness. They share a message of empowering oneself and to not change for others, even if you are being bullied for it. When you become comfortable with yourself and who you are, you also embrace your differences. Be proud of who you are!
Catherine and Dennis are using this platform to help others, just like they do in all their other endeavors.
