Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Social Media Influencer Chad Ehlers, also more commonly known as Da_chad. He has made it his mission to bring some joy into people’s lives with his Global movement called ChadChange. He continues to spread love and positivity through music and dance through his movement. He knows that in today’s world, people face many challenges. So, he utilized TikTok to build an army of 400+ influencers to spread positivity and happiness.
Chad continues to raise money for numerous charities and impacts people’s lives with his compassionate and motivational attitude. His inspirational story and his approach to bringing people the opportunity to have fun through dance have touched many people’s hearts and lives.
Hi Chad! Please tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a social media influencer that started on TikTok. I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and now live in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I started doing some of the popular dances on TikTok, and then I started making my own.
My previous wife, before Mia’s mom, took her life due to depression. Because of that experience, I wanted to reach out to help others in need and spread positivity. That’s how I started a group of influencers that are growing daily to do the same. We support and raise money for various charities each month and for individual families as well.
I teach dance free of charge through Zoom, not as a serious dance class but for anyone and everyone to come and experience joy and forget about the day’s stress. Together, we dance, smile and laugh.
Along the way, my youngest daughter (Mia) was diagnosed with leukemia. This was an eye-opener that inspired me to use my platform to advocate for childhood cancer awareness.
What was the motivation behind making a move from nursing to full-time social media influencer?
I am naturally a positive personality. I felt that this was my calling, so I did nursing for about 10 years. While doing this, I had a strong urge to help others stay positive and happy. It seems hard for me to do so in an atmosphere with so many sick and dying patients, so I decided to change my environment to continue to spread positivity.
This change of becoming a positive social media influencer also allowed me to stay at home more with my family.
TikTok has really helped to spread your message of positivity. Please share your views on this.
I think it’s because TikTok focuses on inducing positivity through music and dance, which is the world’s most compelling expression form. Music and dance have been around since the inception of time and always will be.
Why do you think music and dance are such influential channels for promoting positivity and boosting mental health?
If you think about the most dominant and emotionally impactful videos you’ve ever watched, and if you took their sound away, Then those videos would lose their ability to touch your heart.
Music is a universal expression, meaning that it doesn’t matter what primary language you speak or what side of the planet you live on; we can all relate to it. If you play a music piece with a rhythmic beat, everyone will relate and bob their heads to it together, inherently. If you add a harmonic chord with a powerful crescendo, people will become emotional, cry, or even feel inspired together.
Please tell us about the ChadChange Movement and the story behind it.
The ChadChange Movement started with about five people. One day, I was doing one of my live sessions on TikTok, and I asked them if they wanted to form a group to show support. I didn’t expect it to grow as it has now!
These days, we receive a huge number of requests daily from people who want to join this group of positive influencers.
The movement has grown like a snowball!
For example, we have groups for people going through Divorce, Cancer, Abuse, etc… We have also formed a few different group structures with:
- A leader’s group
- A promoter’s group
- A designer’s group
- A Charity Board, etc.
Besides, on the first of every month, we also raise funds by going live and raising awareness for a particular charity for that month.
I stay so motivated to continue to do this because of the testimonies I receive from various influencers about how stumbling across the ChadChange Movement has saved their lives.
You are working with so many Mental Health services to assist in transforming people’s lives. How important is this in our current times?
Today’s time feels so much more stressful given that people feel trapped inside their homes due to the Covid pandemic. And, everything is online or on social media! Every single person has gone through something in their lives. Having an outlet to relieve their stress or vent their emotions can be just the thing someone wants to save them from depressive feelings or actions.
What does being a father mean to you?
It means protecting, providing, loving, and teaching your children to the best of your ability. I will fail most likely every day, but the most significant thing is that I never give up. Every morning you wake up, you can try again to do better, and if you don’t succeed, there’s always tomorrow!
How can people find and support you and your movement?
You can engage in my content and follow my story through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Tiktok. You can follow up through the website also.
People can get involved by checking out the links on my social media platforms, my bio links, and my website. They have information about the merch, donations, our zoom classes, and inspirational talks.
Even something as mild as a compliment can make me smile, inspiring and encouraging me to help others.
Thank you, Chad, for your time! We wish you the best for your journey ahead!