TradingUp
TradingUp is new podcast series produced by Journey12 in proud partnership with Carl Sandburg College. More than just a podcast, TradingUp is a front-row seat to the lived experiences of men and women who’ve chosen a path that’s too often overlooked—the skilled trades.
In each episode, we’ll shine a light on real people, telling real stories of how they’ve charted careers rooted in technical skill, resilience, and hands-on problem solving. These are not narratives of overnight success or viral fame, but of purpose forged in welding bays, machining shops, dental hygiene labs, and behind the dashboards of diesel engines—where grit, craftsmanship, and passion come together to build something lasting.
Through these conversations, we’ll explore what it means to trade up—not just in job titles or earning potential, but in personal fulfillment, community contribution, and the dignity of meaningful work. We’ll meet individuals who have discovered their calling through Sandburg’s programs and partnerships, and who now keep our communities moving forward—quietly, reliably, and often without fanfare.
At a time when the world seems increasingly tilted toward screens and abstraction, these stories remind us of something vital: that there is extraordinary value in the tangible, in the applied, and in the deeply human act of working with one’s hands. This series honors that work—and the people who do it.
TradingUp is here to challenge assumptions, celebrate possibility, and inspire a deeper appreciation for the trades and the institutions, like Sandburg, that make these journeys possible.
TradingUp
THE HEART OF THE WORK: How nursing heals more than the body
In this episode of Trading Up, we explore what it really means to care — not just as a profession, but as a deeply human calling. We sit down with two remarkable women whose journeys began with hardship, wound their way through personal loss and educational struggle, and converged through the healing power of nursing.
Diamonique Heyburn, a recent graduate of Sandburg’s nursing program, opens her heart about the experiences that shaped her, especially the impact of nurses who cared for her sister through illness. That compassion — quiet, steadfast, and deeply human — is what inspired her to become a nurse herself.
Tina Braun Smith, Sandburg’s Nursing Program Coordinator and one of Diamonique’s instructors, knows that while you can teach skills, you cannot teach someone to care. And that, she says, is what makes Diamonique exceptional.
Together, they share a story that defies easy labels. It’s about education, yes — but it’s also about dignity, grit, and grace. It’s about healing not only the patient, but the family. It’s about lifting the next generation even as you remember your own climb. And it’s about the kind of learning that doesn’t just land you a job — it changes your life.
This conversation is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the most important credentials we carry are not on paper, but in the heart.