Last week, my guest was Oscar Arias, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former President of Costa Rica, who brought peace to Central America. This week, I continue to prove that Chatter That Matters has no boundaries, only journeys of those who overcome, who chase, who change their world and ours for the better.

My guest is Rima Berns-McGowan, a woman who has devoted her life to making the world a better place. She has walked many paths—scholar, author, community builder, politician and then made one of the most unexpected and courageous pivots imaginable: leaving politics to become a Medium connecting those who live here with those who have departed.

What ties it all together is her conviction in tikkun olam, a jewish concept meaning reapir of the world. Whether through evidence-based research, community activism, or channelling messages of love and healing from those who’ve passed, Rima’s life is devoted to building inclusion, belonging, and hope.

In this conversation, we explore:

How her family’s escape from apartheid South Africa shaped her identity and lifelong quest for justice.

The lessons she’s learned from academia, politics, and the people she’s served.

Why she believes our ancestors never leave us, and how as a Medium she can help bring messages from the other side that brings healing and forgiveness.

What her journey teaches us about choosing good over cynicism, compassion over division, and possibility over despair.

Suspend disbelief. Open your heart and listen to the many wonderful messages from Rima Berns-McGown, the Medium.

Presented by RBC, because they believe in stories of human possibility.

To learn more about Rima: IG - @rimabernsm or rimabythesea.com

One of the most extraordinary guests I’ve ever had on Chatter That Matters—and someone who truly put a dent in our universe—is Dr. Oscar Arias, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and two-time President of Costa Rica. Hear his stories of how he had to work with or defy Reagan, Bush, Thatcher, Castro, and so many more.

To set the stage: In 1986, Central America was on fire.

Civil wars raged in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala. The United States and the Soviet Union armed opposing sides. The region was drowning in ideology, bloodshed, and fear.

Then came Oscar Arias, the newly elected President of Costa Rica—a nation with no military.

While others escalated the violence, Arias chose defiance.

He expelled U.S.-backed rebels from Costa Rican soil, rejected global pressure, and authored the Arias Peace Plan. This bold diplomatic initiative helped bring five nations to the table and bring an end to years of war.

Oscar Arias didn’t just defy world leaders; he defied the odds and changed the course of history.

In 1987, Arias was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. But he didn’t stop there.

Through the Arias Foundation for Peace & Human Progress, he helped spark the UN Arms Trade Treaty—the first legally binding agreement to regulate the global weapons trade.

And now, in his 80s, Oscar Arias is on one last mission:

To build a Global Peace Museum in Costa Rica. A place to remind the world that peace isn’t idealistic, it's possible, if given a chance.

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My guest this week is Sheryl Ramstead a woman whose story defies the odds and redefines what it means to be resilient. At 29, on her first solo flight, a fiery plane crash left her body burned and her survival chances below one percent. But from that inferno emerged not just a survivor, but a force of reinvention who became a federal prosecutor, judge, corrections commissioner, marathon runner, mountain climber, and in her sixties, a nurse.

In this episode, Sheryl shares how faith, family, purpose, and a relentless spirit carried her through unimaginable pain and propelled her into a life of service and impact.

Her memoir, Living Life Full Throttle: Surviving, Serving, and Summiting, is a testament to what’s possible when we choose to live with intention and courage.

If you’re facing adversity, rebuilding after loss, or questioning whether you have what it takes to begin again, this episode is for you. Sheryl’s journey reminds us that healing isn’t linear, that fear never truly disappears, and that the most powerful act of resilience is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. This isn’t just a story of survival; it’s a blueprint for transformation and inspiration.

To buy her book: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Life-Full-Throttle-Surviving/dp/1960876805