Susan Passalacqua
Episode 162

Narrator: Welcome, friends, to another episode of The Story and Experience Podcast. Join your host, Japhet De Oliveira, with his guest today, and discover the moments that shape us, our families and communities.

Japhet De Oliveira: Hey, welcome, friends, to another episode of The Story and Experience Podcast. It's good, it's good. There's a little bit of laughter in the studio here at Roseville, California and that's because I'm sitting with a very funny person. It's going to be good. It's going to be good.

Susan Passalacqua: Thanks, Japhet.

Japhet De Oliveira: You're welcome. You're welcome. And if you're brand new to the podcast, there are 100 questions and they progressively become more engaging and interesting towards 100. But they are for our guests to choose where they want to go. And I'll ask the first 10, and then you'll share between 11 and 100 where you want to go. And they are about your stories and experiences that shaped you into the leader that you are today. Let me begin with the first one.

Susan Passalacqua: Okay.

Japhet De Oliveira: Could you tell us your name and does anybody ever mispronounce it?

Susan Passalacqua: All right. I go by Sue. Last name, Passalacqua.

Passalacqua.

Japhet De Oliveira: Passalacqua, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: And as you can imagine, we get a lot of mail where maybe the P might be dropped. You might want to cut that out.

Japhet De Oliveira: No, there's no cutting out. It's just a roll.

Susan Passalacqua: But yes, I get that all the time. "How do you pronounce that? How do you spell it?"

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: But...

Japhet De Oliveira: But?

Susan Passalacqua: It's a maiden name, right?

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: I married it.

Japhet De Oliveira: You married it.

Susan Passalacqua: I married the name.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. How does that help that it's a maiden name?

Susan Passalacqua: My maiden name was Kielbasinski.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, wow. Sue.

Susan Passalacqua: I lost a letter.

Japhet De Oliveira: You lucked out?

Susan Passalacqua: I think I got a lot better.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's fantastic. Hey, that's great.

All right, Sue, what do you do for work?

Susan Passalacqua: What do I do for work? Official title, Community Benefit Compliance Manager. Wow, it sounds really...

Japhet De Oliveira: Exciting.

Susan Passalacqua: Exciting.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's the word you were thinking of, yeah, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: That was the word I think about. But it is...

Japhet De Oliveira: Compliance is the word that actually makes it sound exciting.

Susan Passalacqua: I know.

Japhet De Oliveira: No, tell us, tell us, what does that mean?

For Adventist Health.

Susan Passalacqua: For Adventist Health.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: At the system office. I work with each of our markets, making sure that we are compliant with IRS regulations and state regulations for our tax-exempt status by filing community benefit reports.

Japhet De Oliveira: Right.

Susan Passalacqua: There is a cycle of community benefit reports that we have to file for each of our hospitals.

Japhet De Oliveira: You just make sure that we actually are filing them properly?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Because we're doing the work.

Susan Passalacqua: We've got the work. That's the beautiful part of it.

Japhet De Oliveira: Right.

Susan Passalacqua: I'm not asking anyone to do the work.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Just let us get the reports in to show.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's actually really good. It's the record keeping?

Susan Passalacqua: Mm-hmm.

Japhet De Oliveira: You're the record keeper?

Susan Passalacqua: I'm the record keeper.

Japhet De Oliveira: Wow, that's great. That's great. Now, you enjoy this?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: I get to talk to all the markets, every single one of them, and now we get new ones too.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's fantastic. Good. How long have you been doing this?

Susan Passalacqua: Off and on for six years.

Japhet De Oliveira: Six years.

Susan Passalacqua: Seven years. In compliance. I've worked with Adventist Health for about 11.

Japhet De Oliveira: Have you been in compliance your entire life?

Susan Passalacqua: I have not.

Japhet De Oliveira: Are you compliant? Knowing Sue...

Susan Passalacqua: I only recently became compliant.

Japhet De Oliveira: Became compliant?

Well, I'm glad you are compliant. Have you been in compliance, in the field of compliance, your entire career or has it been a change, or... ?

Susan Passalacqua: No, I started with Adventist Health at Ukiah Valley. At the time it was UVMC.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay.

Susan Passalacqua: Ukiah Valley Medical Center. And I worked in philanthropy, I worked in wellness, I worked in employee health, and then I worked in patient experience.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: And then I moved to Roseville where I got a job at the mission department.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yes. Mission integration.

Susan Passalacqua: Mission integration with Dustin and yourself.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: And that's when I started working on community benefit, community impact.

Japhet De Oliveira: Hey, that's fantastic. That's good. Good.

Sue, are you an early riser or late night owl?

Susan Passalacqua: Both.

Japhet De Oliveira: Both? Great. What's early for you and what's late for you?

Susan Passalacqua: Today, I woke up at 4:45.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay.

Susan Passalacqua: And I don't usually go to bed until 10 or 11.

Japhet De Oliveira: So you don't sleep?

Susan Passalacqua: I do not sleep.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, my goodness, Sue. Okay. All right.

Susan Passalacqua: I take a nap though. I'll take a little nap.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, yeah? Power nap?

Susan Passalacqua: Power nap.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's really good.

Susan Passalacqua: I'll nap.

Japhet De Oliveira: You do like 10 minutes?

Susan Passalacqua: I take a 20-minute coffee nap.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Have you heard about those?

Japhet De Oliveira: No, I haven't. Tell me.

Susan Passalacqua: What I've heard, to get your ultimate nap, is to drink a cup of coffee, nap for 20 minutes. And by that time, the caffeine will kick in and you'll be ready to go.

Japhet De Oliveira: I've never heard of that.

Susan Passalacqua: Never heard that?

Japhet De Oliveira: Never heard that.

Susan Passalacqua: All right.

Japhet De Oliveira: It takes 20 minutes for it to take effect? Okay.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's good.

Susan Passalacqua: You've got to drink your coffee, take a nap real quick.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay. All right. That's great. Oh, that's interesting. This morning at 4:45, when you woke up, first thought that went through your mind?

Susan Passalacqua: "I've got to take the dogs out for a walk."

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, really?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay. How many dogs do you have?

Susan Passalacqua: Two.

Japhet De Oliveira: Two. Had them for a long time, or... ?

Susan Passalacqua: No, no, they're fairly new.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay. What kind of dogs are these?

Susan Passalacqua: A Labrador Retriever and a Golden Retriever.

Japhet De Oliveira: Aw. That's good. Good. But they shed hair, right?

Susan Passalacqua: All the hair.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: All the time. Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay.

Susan Passalacqua: That wasn't a smart move.

Japhet De Oliveira: I'm very happy for you.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's good. Where were you born, Sue?

Susan Passalacqua: Oh, this is great.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, yeah?

Susan Passalacqua: Oh, yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah. Well, all of these are great, but this is really great.

Susan Passalacqua: But this is really great. Buffalo, New York.

Japhet De Oliveira: Really?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, fantastic. Did you grow up there?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah, I grew up in West Seneca.

Japhet De Oliveira: So you like snow?

Susan Passalacqua: No.

Japhet De Oliveira: I'm kidding.

Susan Passalacqua: Why you think I'm in California?

Japhet De Oliveira: I'm kidding.

Oh, wow. And so when you were there as a child, what did you imagine you would grow up to be?

Susan Passalacqua: I had no vision.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, yeah?

Susan Passalacqua: I have to tell you.

Japhet De Oliveira: Really?

Susan Passalacqua: You know what I mean?

Japhet De Oliveira: No.

Susan Passalacqua: When you're like, "Oh, this is what I'm going to be."

Japhet De Oliveira: But you had an imagination, right?

Susan Passalacqua: I think probably in the back of my mind, I was going to be a lawyer.

Japhet De Oliveira: Really?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Huh? Do you like reading?

Susan Passalacqua: Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah, I liked reading.

Japhet De Oliveira: Did you pursue law or that was just when you were young?

Susan Passalacqua: No, I went to school. I went to college.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Poli sci major, criminal justice major.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, really? Okay.

Susan Passalacqua: And then what happened was I took an internship at the Public Defender's office at County Buffalo and I hated it.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: I was like, "I'm not going to be a lawyer."

Japhet De Oliveira: An epiphany moment.

Susan Passalacqua: Epiphany moment.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: I'm so glad I did it though.

Japhet De Oliveira: Was that difficult to make that change?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah, because then I graduated and I had nothing. Everything, I was going to take the LSAT, thinking about law schools, and I was like, "Okay, now what?"

Japhet De Oliveira: What did you do? This is a bonus question.

Susan Passalacqua: This is a bonus question.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah. What do you do? That's a career change at such an early stage.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah. I had no...

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, no career.

Susan Passalacqua: It was just no career anymore. What ended up happening, I had met my future husband at college and he had an opportunity to go to California to finish up his schooling. And he had always wanted to be a lawyer.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay.

Susan Passalacqua: Okay?

Japhet De Oliveira: Right.

Susan Passalacqua: He's like, "Okay, well I'm going to California, you want to come?"

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: And I was like, "Sure."

Japhet De Oliveira: Sure.

Susan Passalacqua: "Sure, sure." And so I went to California.

Japhet De Oliveira: And then changed everything.

Susan Passalacqua: Changed everything.

Japhet De Oliveira: That is amazing. That's amazing. That's good. All right. When you wake up in the morning and first drink of the day, liquid green smoothie, tea, coffee, what do you have?

Susan Passalacqua: Coffee. Nespresso.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, yeah? Nespresso. Do you add any milk to it, or just... ?

Susan Passalacqua: Light milk and that's it.

Japhet De Oliveira: Hey, that's fantastic. Good.

Susan Passalacqua: Half and half, actually.

Japhet De Oliveira: Half and half. Oh, okay.

Susan Passalacqua: If we're going to be honest.

Japhet De Oliveira: Well, I'm hoping we are. I'm teasing you.

Personality, if people were to describe you, Sue, would they say you're an introvert or an extrovert? And would you agree with their description?

Susan Passalacqua: I would think people would call me an extrovert.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, yeah?

Susan Passalacqua: And they would liken me, I have been told that I am personification of a Golden Retriever. If I were a dog, I'd be a Golden Retriever.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. That's actually a new question I should add to the podcast. If you were a dog... ?

Susan Passalacqua: You should.

Japhet De Oliveira: I'm kidding. That's really interesting.

All right, let me ask you a leadership question. Are you a backseat driver?

Susan Passalacqua: Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay. Right.

Susan Passalacqua: In the way...

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: That I sit back and watch.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, okay.

Susan Passalacqua: And watch.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay.

Susan Passalacqua: Not that I'm telling everyone, "Okay, turn here, turn here."

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay.

Susan Passalacqua: But I'm just in the backseat. I guess I shouldn't have said the driver. I sit in the back seat and just watch and see where people go with it. Because usually everybody knows what needs to be done and it's just a matter of...

Japhet De Oliveira: Making sure.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah. "Oh, you forgot to cross the T," so maybe an editing.

Japhet De Oliveira: That they're compliant?

Susan Passalacqua: Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yes. That's good. That's good. That's good. All right. Floor is open. My face.

Susan Passalacqua: You got a little, you were like, your face, "You're a backseat driver?"

Japhet De Oliveira: Yes. I just take over the wheel from five rows behind.

Susan Passalacqua: I don't care. Let's do it my way.

Japhet De Oliveira: All right, let's go. 11 to 100, where do you want to go?

Susan Passalacqua: 15.

Japhet De Oliveira: 15, all right, here we go. What is the one thing you always misplace?

Susan Passalacqua: Probably my glasses.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, yeah?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Do you have a lot?

Susan Passalacqua: Do you remember Scooby-Doo? Remember Scooby-Doo?

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Right? And Velma. "Where are my glasses? I can't see without my glasses."

Japhet De Oliveira: Ever had them in an awkward place when you couldn't find them? Like on your head?

Susan Passalacqua: Oh, yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, yeah?

Susan Passalacqua: I'm sure. Oh, yeah. That goes without saying. They're hanging somewhere on there. I might even be wearing them.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's okay. All right. That's good. All right. That was 15. Where next?

Susan Passalacqua: Let's do 22.

Japhet De Oliveira: 22. If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be?

Susan Passalacqua: Anywhere? I would go.... All right, to Paris.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah?

Susan Passalacqua: I want to see what it looks like with the Olympics.

Japhet De Oliveira: Are you going to go?

Susan Passalacqua: No, but I would.

Japhet De Oliveira: You would?

Susan Passalacqua: If I could be anywhere. That's what you were asking.

Japhet De Oliveira: You want to go because of the Olympics?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah, I want to see what that's all about. I would just love to be there in the atmosphere and with all the people coming and the excitement.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: I just think it'd be so fun.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's not everybody's cup of tea, be surrounded by thousands and thousands of people from every country.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah. With French people, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: With French people too.

Japhet De Oliveira: All of them, yeah. Great. That's great. That's great. All right, where next?

Susan Passalacqua: Where next? Oh, I was thinking, "Where next am I going to go?"

Japhet De Oliveira: Where's the next place? And another place? Which number?

Susan Passalacqua: 77.

Japhet De Oliveira: 77. All right. Whoa.

Susan Passalacqua: Let's skip them.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, no, I like your numbers. Share one of the most cup-filling experiences with us.

Susan Passalacqua: Okay. This is a little backwards, but what happened was a couple years ago, I loved Adventist Health. I got a great job opportunity to work for another organization.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: And I missed Adventist Health.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh. Yeah, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: I just was really unhappy without the mission.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: My cup-filling was making that realization that what I needed was more purpose. And it wasn't about the money, it wasn't about a prestigious job. It was really about working here with the people.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, great people.

Susan Passalacqua: I will say I love.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: That was it, that realization.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's really cool. Thanks for sharing that.

Susan Passalacqua: You're welcome.

Japhet De Oliveira: All right, good. That was 77. Where next?

Susan Passalacqua: Oh, my goodness.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. The choices.

Susan Passalacqua: I know, there's a lot.

22. I'm going to do all double digits.

Japhet De Oliveira: 22. If you could be anywhere right now... We've done that one.

Susan Passalacqua: Oh. 88.

Japhet De Oliveira: 88. You can go there. Oh, tell us about how your life has been different than what you imagined. Ooh.

Susan Passalacqua: Well, honestly, I did not think I would have kids. My husband and I were married for literally 10 years before we said, "You know what? We're missing something."

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: And that was our kids.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. How many kids do you have?

Susan Passalacqua: I have three.

Japhet De Oliveira: You have three? Wow.

Susan Passalacqua: Three.

Japhet De Oliveira: Wow. That's fantastic.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: That's something I didn't think of when thinking about...

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. Bonus question. What's the most amazing thing about your kids?

Susan Passalacqua: They love each other.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh.

Susan Passalacqua: They're just super close as siblings go where they're their biggest supporters, they're always there for each other. It is so beautiful. And I have to say, they don't argue. Even when they were toddlers and early on, they didn't argue. They always loved each other.

Japhet De Oliveira: Hey, that's beautiful.

Susan Passalacqua: It really is.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's really exceptional. All right, good. That was 88. Where next?

Susan Passalacqua: 99.

Japhet De Oliveira: 99. All right. What's the most difficult truth that you've ever told?

Susan Passalacqua: I think it would have to be when I talked to my daughter about her mental health. And just said that she didn't recognize the struggle.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: And I think somebody had to talk to her about it.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. That's a hard conversation too.

Susan Passalacqua: It is a hard conversation.

Japhet De Oliveira: And in reality, it's a common conversation today.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Right?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. The pressure is just, it's a lot. Yeah, yeah.

Did you have advice before you had the conversation?

Susan Passalacqua: I think the advice was just more along the lines, obviously mental health is a big thing right now. And understanding it and knowing that there are resources and that there are a lot of things coming at you in life.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: And it's okay.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: It's okay to feel overwhelmed. You've got social media out there telling you that everyone's life except for you is perfect. Right?

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, of course, of course.

Susan Passalacqua: And it's just one of those things that it's like, "You know what? Sometimes it's better to hear it from a person other than your mom."

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, that's true.

Susan Passalacqua: I think that was what kind of was like, "Okay, I can tell you these things, but let's have somebody else work with you."

Japhet De Oliveira: That's pretty good. Good for you.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Good for you.

All right, that was 99. Where now?

Susan Passalacqua: Did we do 22?

Japhet De Oliveira: We did.

Susan Passalacqua: 33.

Japhet De Oliveira: 33. Okay. Here we go. Tell us about the best gift you've ever given someone else. Oh. We have a smile on Sue's face. It's like, "I give so many gifts. Which one shall I tell them about?"

Susan Passalacqua: Well, the smile is because I am not known as a good gift giver.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay. This will be interesting then. All right.

Susan Passalacqua: This will be interesting. I am known as I love to receive gifts.

Japhet De Oliveira: Good for you.

Susan Passalacqua: You know what? The best gift I ever gave was my husband the second dog.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay. The second dog.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Because it was something that he didn't know he needed in his life. And I recognized it and I'm like, "We need a second dog. We need a second dog." And we got the second dog, she is perfect. She fulfills that missing piece that after the kids are gone...

Japhet De Oliveira: Sure.

Susan Passalacqua: You know what I mean? You've got an empty house.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: You've got one crazy dog. Let's get another one.

Japhet De Oliveira: Why not? Why not? Yeah, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: That was it. Finding the perfect dog for him.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. That's fantastic. Good. Good.

All right. That was 33. Where now?

Susan Passalacqua: Did we do 44?

Japhet De Oliveira: No, we did not.

Susan Passalacqua: Okay.

Japhet De Oliveira: All right, 44 it is. What is something that you're proud to have created?

Susan Passalacqua: I think I'm really proud of the work I do here. And I'm proud of the connections I've made with our markets, with our team, with other people here.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: I look back at my career, there's not an award or anything I can get, but I do think the moments and the relationships that have been created, I love. The other day, I sat down in the lobby.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Because I was waiting for somebody.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: I've never sat down there before.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think I saw you.

Susan Passalacqua: Right? You probably did. So why'd she say that?

But I saw all these people I haven't seen for literally since pre-COVID.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: We picked it up and you know what I mean? It was just so nice. And they were true relationships, not...

Japhet De Oliveira: We should encourage more people to sit in the lobby.

Susan Passalacqua: I think we should. No...

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Spend like 10 minutes one morning just to sit in the... Because I didn't know certain people are back at the office.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. There's so many floors, so much stuff. Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah, there's so many floors. Somebody, if they're hybrid, you don't know what day they're coming in. I loved that.

Japhet De Oliveira: Great. That's really good. All right, good. Where next now?

Susan Passalacqua: Did we do 88?

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, we did do 88.

Susan Passalacqua: I should have gone through.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's okay. It's okay.

Susan Passalacqua: All right. Let's do 70.

Japhet De Oliveira: 70, all right. Tell us about one thing that you're determined to accomplish.

Susan Passalacqua: All right.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: I'm going to do it. Okay.

Japhet De Oliveira: What are you going to do?

Susan Passalacqua: I'm going to run a marathon.

Japhet De Oliveira: Are you really?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah, I've got to. I have to. It's my bucket list.

Japhet De Oliveira: How much training do you have to do?

Susan Passalacqua: I have to do all of it. I have to do all the training.

Japhet De Oliveira: Is it a four-week program, a four-year program?

Susan Passalacqua: It could be four year. Anywhere between there, Japhet. Anywhere between four weeks and four years. Okay.

Japhet De Oliveira: You want to do a marathon. Do you run now?

Susan Passalacqua: I do.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, okay.

Susan Passalacqua: But it's been so hot that I haven't been able to.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. How much do you normally run?

Susan Passalacqua: I can run 10, 15 miles a week. I've just got to keep adding that on.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. And you're planning to do this marathon over an entire week? I'm kidding. I'm kidding.

Susan Passalacqua: Yes. Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira: This is going to be an epic journey, right?

Susan Passalacqua: This will be a marathon marathon.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's good. That's good. Well, that's a lot of running still. So why?

Susan Passalacqua: Why?

Japhet De Oliveira: I guess why?

Susan Passalacqua: Because only 1% of the population have run a marathon.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: And I want to be that 1%.

Japhet De Oliveira: I wouldn't be surprised.

Susan Passalacqua: And I just feel like it would just be a goal that I can reach. And something where it's like, especially as you get older, you want to just not feel old. You want to feel like, "I can still do things."

Japhet De Oliveira: That's good. That's good.

Susan Passalacqua: Because I just had a birthday.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: You get older every year. It's like, "Okay, I've got to still say I can do things."

Japhet De Oliveira: That's great.

Susan Passalacqua: And if you take my age, I bet it'd be way less than 1% of how many people run a marathon.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's really good. You'll be in that special class, the over 90s. No, I'm kidding. That's really good, Sue. Well done. Well done. I'm excited for you. I'm excited for all the pain, the bunions. No, no. It's going to be amazing.

Susan Passalacqua: No, it will be. It will be.

Japhet De Oliveira: It'll be amazing.

Susan Passalacqua: It'll be amazing. And I actually have a friend who can put together a training program for me.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, really?

Susan Passalacqua: That is for my age and ability.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's really good. Look, it's going to be fun. Your family is going to love it.

Susan Passalacqua: Oh, my gosh.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. That's good. All right. Where next? That was 70.

Susan Passalacqua: 80.

Japhet De Oliveira: 80. All right, let's go there. How would you like to change in the future?

Susan Passalacqua: How would I like to change in the future? I think I could be a better person.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's good.

Susan Passalacqua: More kind, more forgiving, more tolerant.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: And I think that's the big one, tolerant.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, tolerant.

Susan Passalacqua: More tolerant.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. Do you feel like you have a lot of people around you who are tolerant and you want to be more like that, or why tolerant?

Susan Passalacqua: I think it's just where our society is right now. I have to stop. Everything is not black and white.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's true. That's true.

Susan Passalacqua: There's not two sides of the story. We need to come together and it's got to start one at a time, so it's got to start with me. If I can do that and just work on that, that's awesome.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's a sage word for us today. Yeah, that's good. That's good. Not that your other answers weren't sage wise wisdom. The marathon is going to take a week. It's a good word. It's a good word. I think we could all do that. Yeah. All right. That was 80. Where next?

Susan Passalacqua: 90.

Japhet De Oliveira: 90. All right. Tell us about something that was an insurmountable obstacle and you overcame it.

Susan Passalacqua: Wow.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: That's how we got to 90.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Back in 2018, I got diagnosed with breast cancer. And that seemed pretty insurmountable at the time. Luckily, I had a lot of support, a lot of support here at Adventist Health.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: I had great doctors. But at the time, you just don't know what's going to happen.

Japhet De Oliveira: Absolutely.

Susan Passalacqua: It seems I can do my part, right?

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Everything that I need to do.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: But sometimes there are forces that are out of your control, right? And I guess that's always what made me think about when people say, "Oh, you're a fighter, you're going to be fine." Well, it's not about that.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: It's not about that because certain things are insurmountable.

Japhet De Oliveira: They are.

Susan Passalacqua: Right?

Japhet De Oliveira: Absolutely. If you know, you know. I know.

Susan Passalacqua: Right.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: And so it's like, "I can fight all I want, but cancer has its own mind."

Japhet De Oliveira: Absolutely.

Susan Passalacqua: Its own entity.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: It seemed, at the time, very insurmountable. It's like, "Yeah, I will do what I need to do, but that doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to beat everything."

Japhet De Oliveira: There's no guarantee.

Susan Passalacqua: There's no guarantee. That was it at the time. Of course, I'm here.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. Yeah. You are. Strong and here.

Susan Passalacqua: Strong and here, so I did.

Japhet De Oliveira: Did it change you?

Susan Passalacqua: Oh, yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Anything that you'd be willing to share?

Susan Passalacqua: Sure.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Sure. As people who have cancer, it becomes a little bit of a club.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yes, yes.

Susan Passalacqua: Right?

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: I liken it to the army where people are in the army and they have this bond.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yes, they do.

Susan Passalacqua: "I'll see you on the other side."

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: And you have that same kind of bond where it's like, for breast cancer people, it's a sisterhood of sorts where we're all sisters in that way and we're all fighting for each other. That was something that really changed.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. I can imagine.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah. I know you.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. You know. And I think that, yeah, I'm glad to see that. I like that idea of the sisterhood. There's a new community and it doesn't matter, right? It pulls you all together. Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Anywhere you can talk to them and everybody has a story. And that's, again, it's that connection. It's that relationship where we have stories together and we understand. And until you've been through it, you just don't.

Japhet De Oliveira: Hey, that's good, Sue. That's good. Thank you for sharing that. I appreciate that.

All right. Where next?

Susan Passalacqua: Where next?

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Jeez. 29.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay. Where next? 29. All right.

Susan Passalacqua: I should have just gone one through 11 on.

Japhet De Oliveira: Share three things that make you instantly happy.

Susan Passalacqua: Instantly happy?

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: It takes so little, you know what I mean?

Japhet De Oliveira: That's what I said at the beginning, "You're going to meet a fun Sue."

Susan Passalacqua: It takes so little.

Japhet De Oliveira: Quick as a bell.

Susan Passalacqua: Seriously. "Oh, somebody give me a piece of chocolate." Serena is like, "Do you want a scone?" I'm like, "Yeah, of course I do. Thank you."

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: It's just little things that make me happy. Everything makes me happy. I can't do three things. Coffee in particular does make me happy. And chocolate.

Japhet De Oliveira: And chocolate.

Susan Passalacqua: But everything else does too.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's good. Yay for you.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah. Yeah. A beautiful sunset. A tree. A leaf.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. A leaf?

Susan Passalacqua: In the fall, a beautiful leaf.

Japhet De Oliveira: "I was walking along, found one leaf." Yeah. Go Sue.

Susan Passalacqua: Leave anything on my desk, Japhet, I'll be happy.

Japhet De Oliveira: All right. I left all my dishes, so happy. That is good.

All right, we have time for two more.

Susan Passalacqua: Okay.

Japhet De Oliveira: Can you believe that?

Susan Passalacqua: Two more?

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. Two more numbers. Where'd you want to go?

Susan Passalacqua: We should have played roulette. 26.

Japhet De Oliveira: 26. All right. Oh, tell us about one thing that you love the most that people do not.

Susan Passalacqua: That other people don't?

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, but you just love it.

Susan Passalacqua: Walking fast.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah? Yeah?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Walking fast. You're a speed walker?

Susan Passalacqua: I'm a speed walker.

Japhet De Oliveira: Do you have a funny... ? I'm moving my arms now. Do you have a funny walk, a gate, or... ?

Susan Passalacqua: No, I don't think so.

Japhet De Oliveira: We should film you.

Susan Passalacqua: You should.

Japhet De Oliveira: To see. Speed walker thing.

Susan Passalacqua: When I walk, I have to walk really fast and I can not not walk fast. And I know a lot of people are like, "I don't want to walk with you because you walk too fast."

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, really?

Susan Passalacqua: That would be something that some people, yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: This is where the marathon's coming in.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah, yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Does your husband walk fast?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah. Although he starts off really fast, but he can't keep the pace.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay, so then you'll eventually leave him behind?

Susan Passalacqua: I eventually got to either, I'm like, "Come on, let's go." And he's like...

Japhet De Oliveira: How far ahead are you? before you realize you lost him?

Susan Passalacqua: I don't think that far. He has a dog too, so we've both got dogs pulling us, so it goes fast.

Japhet De Oliveira: Hey, that's good. That's good. 200 yards down the road, there's Sue.

Susan Passalacqua: She's gaining. She's gaining. She's ahead.

Japhet De Oliveira: All right, last number. Where do you want to go, Sue?

Susan Passalacqua: 27.

Japhet De Oliveira: 27. All right.

Susan Passalacqua: That's the hardest part of this, Japhet.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, really?

Susan Passalacqua: Was figuring out the numbers.

Japhet De Oliveira: Apparently so. Oh, this is great. Bring us into your kitchen. You're preparing your favorite meal, what is it? A special meal, not your favorite meal, a special meal. What is that meal?

Susan Passalacqua: Every year for Christmas Eve, I make pierogies.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah?

Susan Passalacqua: And I make homemade pierogies

Japhet De Oliveira: Because?

Susan Passalacqua: I'm Polish, Kielbasinski.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, okay. All right, all right, all right.

Susan Passalacqua: It's a family tradition to make pierogies on Christmas Eve. It's what my mom did for years and years.

Japhet De Oliveira: Did your mom teach you?

Susan Passalacqua: My mom did.

Japhet De Oliveira: Is your mom still around?

Susan Passalacqua: She is not. And so it's just this beautiful-

Japhet De Oliveira: It's you keeping the legacy.

Susan Passalacqua: I am keeping the legacy. I'm teaching my daughters to and my son too. I'm not going to take him out. He's learning. And it's one of everyone's favorite meal.

Japhet De Oliveira: Is it really?

Susan Passalacqua: Oh, yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Aw.

Susan Passalacqua: And it's the pierogies, and they can be difficult.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah?

Susan Passalacqua: They can be very...

Japhet De Oliveira: Temperamental.

Susan Passalacqua: Temperamental. Sometimes you have good pierogi years. And the other thing is too...

Japhet De Oliveira: Good pierogi year. Never heard that before. That'll go down. It's a social media hashtag.

Susan Passalacqua: My sisters make them as well.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: And we literally get on the phone and we kind of do a play-by-play.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, really?

Susan Passalacqua: I'm like, "Is this a good pierogi year?" And I'll be like, "No, it's really hot outside, all the dough is sweating." They explode in the water.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay. Any secrets that you'd like to share about pierogi making?

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah, sure. The secret is it can't be too hot. In California for Christmas, some years it's really hot.

Japhet De Oliveira: Sure, yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: You've got to make sure the dough and everything is cool. Because it does, it sweats, and then the pierogies leak.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Susan Passalacqua: Because they're like little raviolis.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. That's amazing.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Wow. Fantastic. Sue, it has been a pleasure to be able to speak to you.

Susan Passalacqua: Aw, thank you.

Japhet De Oliveira: Thank you for taking the time. Always energy, always a joy. And I will say this, I hope the guests know this as well, I admired the way you handled that journey.

Susan Passalacqua: Thank you.

Japhet De Oliveira: I admired the way the community came around you, but I admired your embracing of it, which was hard.

Susan Passalacqua: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: And the way that you care for others as well. It's always beautiful to see. Thank you for doing that. And I want to encourage people to do the same thing. Sit down with a friend or someone they don't know, ask questions, learn about them. And I really do believe this, we are transformed.

Susan Passalacqua: Yes, I agree.

Japhet De Oliveira: We're better human beings for it. And we will try to be more tolerant of each other. Good word today.

Susan Passalacqua: It's a good word for today.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. God bless you. Thank you for everything.

Susan Passalacqua: Thank you, Japhet.

Narrator: Thank you for joining us for The Story and Experience Podcast. We invite you to read, watch, and submit your story and experience at adventisthealth.org/story. The Story and Experience Podcast was brought to you by Adventist Health through the Office of Culture.