Mark Castaneda and his dog Jelly Bean took care of each other, while they were unhoused. Now, Mark is studying to be a rocket scientist, with Jelly Bean still by his side.
Learn about this family's incredible transformation, and Mark's work advocating for those who still live on the street, in this episode of People, Pets, and Purpose, a show about the human-animal bond and what really matters.
Find Human Animal Support Services Online:
Mark Castaneda and his dog Jelly Bean took care of each other, while they were unhoused. Now, Mark is studying to be a rocket scientist, with Jelly Bean still by his side.
Learn about this family's incredible transformation, and Mark's work advocating for those who still live on the street, in this episode of People, Pets, and Purpose, a show about the human-animal bond and what really matters.
Find Human Animal Support Services Online:
Welcome to another episode of People, Pets, and Purpose, our interview series about the human animal bond and what really matters. A lot of these things that we don't even think about have such an impact on us. And a lot of times are wrapped around the pets that we love and adore, that are in our lives on a regular basis. And as always, I'm Diaz Dixon, the advisor for external affairs and partnerships for the Human Animal Support Services project. Today, I could not be more excited about a talk with Mark Castaneda, who has an incredible story of personal transformation. And he is someone who I admire greatly. He comes to us from Lodi California. Mark is an engineering physics student at ULP with a focus specifically in space sciences. So a lot of the stuff I'll talk about will be over my head. But hopefully you guys can understand it because he also works directly with Commonspirit Health in organizations that I'm very familiar with I love and respect, as they're always striving to bring health care services to communities in need. From our having served as a junior researcher for NASA space flight, the NASA Space Flight Center, and as a NASA aerospace scholar budget officer, he is living out his dream by contributing to Space Sciences in really significant ways. But what led him to his path to the stars is the big question that we will ask that and we will talk a little bit about that journey. But we're gonna learn as he navigated through housing insecurities, and a number of other things. But he had this little gem by the name of Jelly Bean, who helped him get to where he is today. So Mark, thank you for being here today on People, Pets, and Purpose. We're so happy to have you here today.
Mark Castaneda:Awesome. Yeah. Thank you, Diaz. That's such such a nice nice welcome. I'm so so happy to be here, speaking with you guys, where your mission is something so very close to my heart. So thank you.
Diaz Dixon:Very cool. Very cool. Well, let's start from the beginning. Mark, tell us where you're from. And what were your interests interest to take you into the space science? realm?
Mark Castaneda:Sure. Yeah. So I've lived in San Joaquin County for a while. Stockton Lodi area. Before that I was born and raised in Southern California, in Orange County. Space Sciences. For sure. That was, that was my dad. That was my dad, he, he got me hooked on Star Wars from a very young age and other sci fi. But looking back, he definitely encouraged me to envision a future where like science and technology could just do all this really exciting, cool stuff. So I think from an early age, that that was what I wanted to do.
Diaz Dixon:That's cool. That's really cool. You know that it's funny when we take our paths are always people that have that influence on us and taking in a direction. It's cool when you hear people say that it's the one of the parents. Well, can you describe to us what engineering physics is to those who may not be familiar with the concept?
Mark Castaneda:Yeah, sure. So usually, when I tell people, my field is engineering physics, they get this response like, like, Oh, I hate math, I could never do that, or, or you must be so smart. And here's here's the secret about math or anything STEM related really is it's never about how smart you are, it is always about how determined you are. So, so Physics is the study of the natural world, and all the brilliant ways in which it works all the way down from the subatomic particles, all the way up to scales on the grandeur of the entire universe. Engineering is using all of that knowledge, to design and innovate and create and solve problems. So for engineering physics, while it is a lot, it is a lot. I get the best of both worlds. And I love that.
Diaz Dixon:That's really cool. I love the way you just broke that down. Because when you take it all together, usually like right over their head, but when you break it up in those different pieces that makes sense. And I do love the piece where you just talked about how determined you are because that's a I think that's a lesson for us in anything that we're striving to achieve or we want to go after it's not about how smart you are and how determined you are. That's really cool. I appreciate that little nugget. I'm gonna take that in, put that in my toolbox. How I did all this leads you NASA.
Mark Castaneda:So maybe maybe I'm biased. But I think I think NASA is the dream for anyone who wants to get into space sciences and exploration. But I'm talking about that determination. You know, after surviving years of homelessness on the streets, I kind of just, I just kind of made this deal with myself, man. I said, you know, Hey, man, if if, if that's not going to stop you, then maybe nothing can stop you. So why not make? Why not make NASA why not make the dream the destination, and let's use that same determination. And not stop?
Diaz Dixon:Wow, I love it. If you're gonna go after company, you might as well go big and, and just make sure you keep pushing forward. Well, in your time, you just cut down on homelessness. And know that there are over 600,000 Americans, any given night that are dealing with homelessness, you start to us surviving it. So what was that journey? Like for you? How'd you get there?
Mark Castaneda:Sure. So, um, how I got there a few years out of high school, both my mother and I became homeless. And you know, it, there wasn't just just one thing that happened, there wasn't one specific tragedy for my story. But it was kind of just this, this dark comedy of successive errors and poor decisions and shortcomings. But what I do attribute to a lot of it is an increasing addiction. So I, I had, I had addiction problems, and that definitely made things get worse and worse. Something that I'm proud to say I've got a little over three and a half years, sober today. So
Diaz Dixon:that's awesome. Well, one thing mark that you don't know about me, I ran a substance use treatment facility for 14 and a half years. And anyone who's battled that journey and has clean time I call heroes. And I truly see you as a hero. That's, that is awesome. And homelessness is one of those things as well, that can be so challenging. And oftentimes, the average person doesn't know how people get there, there are so many different types of homeless. There's so many different paths that take you down that road. And it is, but it's real. And I have to say, fortunately for you, you had you had a little partner in crime that you somehow found in Jelly Bean, what? When did she come into your life? And how did that come about?
Mark Castaneda:Certainly, well, look, before we, before we start talking about about her. Which, because she when she came around, that's when things kind of started to change. Right? So, but the but the experience of being homeless, it's really it's really hard to convey to someone who hasn't, who hasn't lived it, right. Like there's these really bizarre things that happen. For example, you know, waking up many mornings, to someone telling you to leave that you can't be where you're at, and looking around, you know, already feeling you know, dejected and you know, all of that, and then looking around and realizing that there is no place that you can go where you're wanted or even allowed to be. It is such a de humanizing feeling that words, it's it's hard to put into words. What I what I can say, though, and I don't, it's, it can get really heavy really fast. So I'm not gonna go into the heavy details and stuff like that. But, you know, being homeless is this experience of a perpetual, uphill battle? Where you're facing, you know, severe violence, discrimination, loss and hopelessness and hunger just become these traumas that you learn to live with every single day. Yeah, yeah. Um, you know, a police officer stopped and asked me one time he said, You know what, And he wasn't happy with me. But he was taking the time to stop and asks, and I respect that. He said, What? What is keeping you here, what is keeping you on the streets. And I told him, you know, if you're not defeated, if you're not broken or traumatized, by the time that you get to the streets, that you become homeless, just give it some time. And that is what is keeping us on the streets. That is what is keeps people on the streets. And that, so that's, that is 99% of the experience is, but I do want to talk about the other 1%. And it's really critical, because it is the complete other end of the spectrum, all yours. The other end of the spectrum, I have witnessed and been part of these be willed during acts of charity, and selflessness, both from the larger community, to the homeless community as well as from within the homeless community to one another, that does exist. And so for those of you watching this, for those of you who reach out to the homeless community, whether that is food or a blanket, or $1, or even just a kind word, that, that matters, feeling seen by the rest of the community, it really matters. And I would not have had a shred of hope left, had it not been for those rare individuals who take the time to fight who find that empathy, to stop and talk and just just sit for a minute and listen, and and talk and even smile, you know, even just getting a smile while you're homeless. It is it's rare, right? So I want to, I want to thank all of you guys who, who do that. And I'm sure anyone who who's watching this podcast, has that empathy. So I want to thank you all for being part of my story or part of someone else's story.
Diaz Dixon:I love that mark. And I think for any listeners and people who are sitting and watching that, that gives us a call to action to make sure that we can lead with love. And we're taking steps to whether it's just giving something as simple as a smile, or supporting or asking a question, or giving someone the opportunity to be seen that that is that's so powerful. And Mark, thank you for your vulnerability in this moment in, in dropping this knowledge on so many people that need to hear. And you're talking about that shred of hope, we should be giving people hope we should be finding ways to lift one another up. So that is your great example. Look where you are now looking at what you're doing. Your story is powerful, I appreciate you, you digging in on that. And I appreciate you slowing me down and going back to talk about that experience. Because that's a big part of who you are. And going to be a big part of why we continue to have impact on this world that needs that empathy needs that compassion. And these that time, that's really cool. I ran a homeless shelter for for youth was a drop in center. And along with the team, we turned it into a full fledged shelter. And one of the things that we realized we needed to do and be better listeners, and that make assumptions as to why someone's in that spot. So when that police officer asked you a simple question, well, what keeps you here? It was really good for someone to stop and ask that question and listen, right and probably just as good for you to be able to think about it and start talking about putting it out there out loud.
Mark Castaneda:Yeah, no, you're right. It's because being seen and being understood or listened to. That is what combats the feeling of dehumanization, or that feeling of being separated from society to such a degree that you feel like, you know, there's no way out, you know, that's, that's that re humanization process. It's so critical. Yeah, so critical.
Diaz Dixon:Well, and all the while you're trying to stay safe, because you know, you talked about that. So every night you thinking more on my guess my stuff's gonna get stolen? Am I safe place to sleep? Eat? Those had to be really difficult parts of the process for you as well.
Mark Castaneda:Yeah, it's, it's, it's just like you said it's a it's a constant thing. If you, if you can't carry something with you, you have to be prepared to lose it. Right. So that's, that's part of the reality. You know, where unfortunately even, you know, the the safest place that you can sleep on the street is somewhere, kind of in public in lit areas, you know, and what that means is usually in front of a business or something like that, and nobody wants you there. Right. So it's, it's this balance of, well, am I going to get am I going to risk getting arrested and going to, to jail for sleeping in front of a business again? Or am I going to risk? You know, possible physical violence out out in the cuts somewhere? Yeah, every day, it's just it's it's a reset. And it's a lot. It's a lot. Yeah.
Diaz Dixon:Yeah. Well, congratulations. Great work on your journey as you've continued to, like, take big steps. I think we can talk a little bit more now about like, what how did Jelly Bean come into the picture? Well, yes. Give us give us give us the lowdown on on that party. That chapter.
Mark Castaneda:Okay. Yes, thank you. So, Jelly Bean, the star of this show today, I feel like so I met Jelly Bean. She was a few months old. And I was homeless at the time. And a friend who was also homeless. He wasn't, he wasn't able to take care of her. So I started out, just kind of dog sitting every day. And making sure she was cared for. And I just fell in love with her. She was this incredible little being of just like love and joy and playfulness and just perpetually happy. And once once he saw that bond, he was like, You know what? You guys were meant to? meant to have each other? Go ahead. So that's how that's how she came into my life.
Diaz Dixon:Wow. And what a gracious wonderful human being to be able to see that and, and give that up. That is really, really cool. Were you worried while you were living out on the streets, that you wouldn't be able to take care of her? Or was that never even a thought? Well,
Mark Castaneda:there's, there's there's two answers to that. I think.
Diaz Dixon:So
Mark Castaneda:taking care of her was the number one priority. Always. She ate before I did. She when it was hot out or when I needed to go across town, I did not have her run alongside the bike. I pulled her in a cart behind my bike because I didn't want her pads to get hurt. You know, she was always always taken care of. But you know, on the on the other end of that the fact that I was concerned about taking care of her was part of my was really a part of my transformation. How she inspired me Can I can I share a story?
Diaz Dixon:Oh, please.
Mark Castaneda:Okay, so there's this one day she was I only had Jelly Bean for a few months. So she was still a fairly small dog and and one morning we woke up we left our little campsite and we went to the other side of town where there was an outreach center that was providing breakfast and then later on lunch. So we were there for most of the day. When when it started getting dark, we went back to our spot and the city had come through and cleaned out everything they had cleaned out The tent, our blankets, the clothes, all of the dog food, I mean, cleaned out everything. And, and I was just I was devastated, you know, here we go again, we had to reset again. And so now it's getting dark and it's getting late. So we make our way over to this gas station and I'm sitting on the curb and it was so cold that night, it was so cold. And I just remember, like her shivering, I remember her shaking from the cold, she's still young. And I had her in my lap, and I'm trying to put my arms around her just to keep her warm, you know, just to ease her suffering a little bit. And I didn't even have a jacket on myself, everything was gone, not to mention one that I could wrap around her. And I just, I felt so helpless. You know, I was I felt so, so helpless. My best friend, you know, this, this, this new love of my wife was sitting here, and I couldn't do anything. And, you know, this is a, this was a pivotal moment for me, I I leaned in to that little dog with, you know, tears, tears in my eyes. And I promised that dog I told her, I am so sorry. And you will never have to go through this again. And, you know, things things were different after that, the more the more that I took care of her. And the more that I loved her, the more I was able to take care of myself, the more I was able to learn to love myself again, I do want to be clear here is that there are significant barriers to finding shelter when you have a pet and, and for Jelly Bean, who had become a key player in my emotional, mental and behavioral health. You know, going somewhere without her was not an option. I had the wherewithal to know that I'm doing better as a as a person when she is with me. And so I did not want to lose that. So it took time, it took some time. But I found a small church in South Stockton called Hope ministries run by Pastor Valerie Frazier. And she was the only place that we could find at all that was willing to take us and and forever grateful for that. And I think I'd be remiss if I didn't say Thank You, Jesus. But uh, so
Diaz Dixon:awesome. You just really summed up in a beautiful way mark, the importance of the human animal bond. And you even I mean, everything that this show encompasses when we talk about People, Pets, and Purpose, you talk to the two of you giving one another purpose. It's so inspirational, thank you for you know, you're telling the story. And I'm over here willing and that it is so powerful. And it's sad at the same time when we think about the lack of resources that are out there, because there are a lot of organizations that are like, Yeah, we want to help you but you got to get rid of the pet, you got to you know, find a different place for the pet. And we we we need to continue to have the conversation about how it's important to take care of the this animal human bond as a whole. That is pretty awesome. How did the two of you survive together on the streets? How did
Mark Castaneda:we survive together? Well, I definitely know that that the kindness and charity of the community was instrumental in me taking care of her. So there was days where I'd go in front of a grocery store, and she would, she would sit there next to me I'd have my little sign and I'd be playing guitar. Right. And, you know, there was there was days where After an hour, I would have for 30 pound bags of dog food. So it was, it was incredible. And yeah. So taking care of her was definitely it was really a big part of the kindness of strangers. Right. And, you know if she was okay, I was okay. And if I was okay, she was okay. Right. And, you know, when I had Jelly Bean with me, so she's a mix her her mom was Pitt, her dad was German Shepherd and St. Bernard and all these other dogs. So, she's,
Diaz Dixon:she's a pretty good sized dog. And well,
Mark Castaneda:yeah, but she got most of her looks from her mom. Right. So um, so it was really interesting how when she was with me, I definitely felt safer. Because because people would would bring approaching would stop a little bit further back.
Diaz Dixon:Yeah. What's the pit the pity bias that comes into play? Right,
Mark Castaneda:right. So we got to use that to our advantage, right? Even though she doesn't have mean bone in her body. I wasn't about to tell anyone else.
Diaz Dixon:Right? No one else needs to know. Right? Yeah, yeah. So she's got a great personality. And now I have to tell the audience I have been blessed to have been able to actually see Jelly Bean. Mark and I talked earlier, and she was around, he was able to pick her up and I instantly fell in love. But it's it. What are the what would you say are the top qualities for if when you're describing Jelly Bean? What are the what are the first things that come to your mind?
Mark Castaneda:Okay, this is what this is what I tell people that Jelly Bean superpower is this is her strongest quality is she has this inherent ability to go up to someone, even if she's never met them, and make them feel like they are the most important person in the world. Like they are like she she goes up and makes them feel like oh my god, I've loved you forever. I've been looking for you. There you are. And that is her superpower. And it's it's great. Because when I take her places, and she meets new people, just seeing her interact with people. It's just an instant bond and an instant connection. And I envy that I envy that. I'm like, How does she?
Diaz Dixon:That is a great superpower. That is great. Well, one more question here, Mark, I don't want to take up too much of your time. You've been wonderful today and given us all these wonderful stories in great insight. And if you're inspiring me, because I now know that I need to do more. When I'm sitting here just having these conversations with you. There's there's got to be more than I can do. Tell us a little bit about your work with common spirit, and how they have played a key role in your story.
Mark Castaneda:Sure. So I work for a subgroup within common spirit called Ricci, which stands for Research and equity Advisory Council for housing insecurities. And this is really just this incredible group of individuals from all different backgrounds that come together to help advise for new outreach programs and initiatives and partnerships, that common spirit is undertaking. In California, I get to provide my lived expertise and some guidance and you know, I'm really constantly impressed by common spirit, not just hearing the input of this, this advisory board, but just really pushing for the advice and the things that we come up with as a group to move forward into these partnerships. So I can say, hey, you know, based on my lived experience, this may not work because of this way or that this is a great idea put emphasis on that. And feel heard and feel listened to, which is which is great. Um I really love the approach of the lived experience blended with non lived experience. It's, it's, it's really powerful.
Diaz Dixon:Yeah, you know, and I think it's so much more effective. I love that Ricci program, and common spirit. I've got my, actually, I've got my little common spirit candle, I don't even know if we can even see that. But common spirit help the lot on so many different levels, but probably the most impactful information from people with lived experiences. And I know that in the animal welfare world, that's something that people were starting to shift towards. And it can, it can be so they're gonna be so much more movement made, rather than people who don't have experience thinking they have all the ideas, and sitting and listening. So very cool. Very cool. Oh, Today's an important day that I forgot to bring up, right. A special birthday.
Mark Castaneda:Yes. So believe it or not today is Jelly Beans birthday. She is five years old today. And you know, we're gonna go home and have puppy cupcakes with her. Brothers and sisters. And yeah.
Diaz Dixon:Awesome. Do you have any fun facts for us to add about Jelly Bean?
Mark Castaneda:on facts? I mean, fun facts.
Diaz Dixon:She's got brothers and sisters because I didn't. Oh, well. It
Mark Castaneda:was not her actual brothers and sisters. So the home that I have now she's, there's there's two labs, two labs and two cats. So yeah.
Diaz Dixon:She's good with the cat.
Mark Castaneda:She is She is Yeah. But you know, let's see. I don't know how there's something funny about Jellybean. I don't know how but because she was with me always. But when I would be walking through town with Jelly Bean, people would come up and say hi to Jelly Bean. They'd already know her name. Oh, hey, Jelly Bean. Oh, my God, how are you? And I'd never met the person before. And it was a common thing. It was a very common thing. So I don't know, I still can't figure that one out. I still
Diaz Dixon:got around about who she was. And she became this ambassador.
Mark Castaneda:I guess so. I guess so.
Diaz Dixon:Gotta love it. And when you were making that transition off the streets, was it hard to find? Because you had to go take care of obviously, whether it be school or work or whatever it may be had that transition look for you.
Mark Castaneda:Yeah, so like we said before, like the finding a place where I could go with her was near impossible. It was it was near impossible. When I found hope ministries and found the church it was somewhere where we could both be and it was the stability. It was the place of of peace and stability and and healing. That that was very crucial in the journey. And luckily there was one or two individuals also there who were able to help me take care of her. When I first started going back to, to university, it was during the pandemic, so everything was virtual. So I don't know if that was luck or the grace of God but I got to go to class with her sitting right there with me. So
Diaz Dixon:that is that is awesome. Well Mark, I want to thank you for coming in today. I want to thank you for coming in and bring your powerful stories. I am definitely going to stay in contact with you engaged with you because this is something I know I need more of super inspirational. Was there anything else that you wanted to add that maybe I didn't touch on?
Mark Castaneda:That necessarily I want to add but something maybe I could end with real short and brief so if if you want if you want to help the homeless pets if your goal is to help the homeless pets then help the pets help their people. Right? You help help the pets help their their people and you will help both at the same time.
Diaz Dixon:That is a great approach and words of advice. Because oftentimes we are just Looking at it from one side whether animal welfare is only looking at the pet, or human services are only looking at the human. And it just really important for us to pay close attention to helping the pets help the humans and helping the humans have to pet and that it is a it's a really important combination deal here. That's support. And that bond is really important.
Mark Castaneda:So important, so important. That's cool.
Diaz Dixon:Good stuff. Good stuff. Well, I want to thank you for joining us, People, Pets, and Purpose. And once again, this is a show that we talk about the critical elements in the human-animal bond, and why it is beneficial for all of us. So if you want to learn more about the Ricci program, and what's going on at Commonspirit Health and you want to, or you want to look up and find Mark and all the great things he's doing, do so and remember, you can always find me here, sitting with the Human Animal Support Services project pushing to make sure that we make this world a better place. Thank you for joining us, and until next time, have a wonderful, wonderful day.