This writing process takes the raw material of our lives and transforms it into healing. Heller shares her journey of leaving home when she was thirteen years old and living on the streets to later guide others to use generative writing for self-discovery. Generative writing will reveal your inner wisdom for healing, creative magic, and personal transformation. Meredith Heller is a poet, singer-songwriter, avid nature lover, and educator with degrees in writing and education. She leads writing workshops online and in person. She also teaches in schools, juvenile detention centers, women’s prisons, and wellness retreats. She is the author of. Write a Poem, Save Your Life: A Guide for Teens, Teachers, and Writers of All Ages (New World Publishers 2021) and Writing by Heart: A Poetry Path to Healing and Self-Discovery (New World Library 2024)

Interview Date: 6/14/2024. Tags: Meredith Heller, homelessness, poetry, generative writing, radical honesty, ancestors, prayer, the Moon, Health & Healing, Personal Transformation, Writing

Despite our strongest intentions, there are common reasons we may find ourselves defeated in our efforts to make sustainable changes in eating and exercise. Segar gives us new frameworks to finally achieve our goals as she outlines areas of behavior based on the science of sustainable change. Michelle Segar, Ph.D., is an award-winning researcher at the University of Michigan and health coach. For nearly three decades, she has pioneered methods to create sustainable healthy behavior changes that are being used to boost patient health, employee well-being, and gym membership retention. She advises global organizations on these issues and delivers keynotes and trainings. Her books include: No Sweat: How the Simple Science of Motivation Can Bring You a Lifetime of Fitness (Harper Collins Leadership 2015) and The Joy Choice: How to Finally Achieve Lasting Changes in Eating and Exercise (Hachette Go, 2022)

Interview Date: 6/16/2023 Tags: Michelle Segar, sustainability, behavior change, habits, motivation, mindfulness, exercise, eating, self-compassion, flexibility, Health & Healing

Our present media landscape poses significant challenges in the current political climate as they continue to exacerbate the perception that most U.S. citizens are hopelessly divided. Research shows this is not the reality. Outlined here are examples of many groups that have built alliances and have crossed boundaries to build a better future for all. Diana McLain Smith, Ph.D. has worked with families, organizations, communities, and in some of America’s most iconic businesses and entrepreneurial nonprofits. She has developed an approach that converts debilitating intergroup conflict into constructive outcomes. This work is known as Leading through Relationships (LTR™). She’s a former partner at the Monitor Group and former chief executive partner at New Profit. Her approach is to educate practitioners to develop the skill for engaging and fact-based dialogues, learning from different perspectives, and partnering across boundaries. Her books include Divide or Conquer: How Great Teams Turn Conflict Into Strength (Portfolio 2008), The Elephant in the Room: How Relationships Make or Break the Success of Leaders and Organizations (Jossey-Bass 2011) and Remaking The Space Between Us: How Citizens Can Work Together To Build A Better Future For All (Ballast Books 2024)

Interview Date: 7/5/2024 Tags: Diana McLain Smith, Not in Our Town, Derek Black, Eli Saslow, friendship, Billings Montana, Patrice O’Neil, Allison Gornick, Media, Social Change/Politics

Guy Finley is the founder and Director of the Life of Learning Foundation. He explores deescalating painful disagreements and fights in our relationships and gives us tools to transform anger and blame into healthy and fulfilling communication. He shows us a way to stop old, negative patterns in their tracks and leads us into a landscape in which we can deepen the loving bond between ourselves and our partners. He is the author of many books including The Secret of Letting Go (Llewellyn Publications 2008), The Secret of Your Immortal Self: Key Lessons for Realizing the Divinity Within (Llewellyn Publications 2015), The Essential Laws of Fearless Living (Red Wheel/Weiser 2008), Forever Free CD set (Llewellyn Publications 2009), Life is Real Only When You Are (Audible Audio Edition 2014) and Relationship Magic: Waking Up Together (Llewellyn Publications 2018)

Tags: Guy Finley, life-long learner, life-long learning, lifelong learning, Aesop’s Fable, fear, McKeever the dog, patience, blame, anger, coercion, Sir Laurens Van der Post, Spirituality, Relationship, Philosophy, Personal Transformation

When pain takes up residence in our lives there is no one-size-fits-all solution, no quick fix. Shockley has lived with pain over a long period of time and she can attest to the fact that when we create a new relationship with our bodies, our emotions, our minds, and our spirits, our healing can truly unfold. She is the author of The Pain Companion: Everyday Wisdom for Living with and Moving Beyond Chronic Pain (New World Library 2018)

Tags: Sarah Anne Shockley, TOS, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, chronic pain, bubble of pain, journaling, Health & Healing, writing, psychology

Jonathan Robinson helps us discover how we may be become more effective communicators to create more empathy, intimacy, and understanding in all our relationships. One of the keys to fostering deep trust and intimacy is asking questions while being vulnerable enough to openly share details of what we are thinking and feeling. The techniques and stories Robinson shares here are like sacred medicine. Robinson is the author of many books including Life’s Big Questions: 200 Ways to Explore Your Spiritual Life (Conari 2011), Communication Miracles for Couples (Conari 2012), Shortcuts to Success: The Absolute Best Ways to Master Your Money, Time, Health, and Relationships (Red Wheel/Weiser 2000), Shortcuts to Bliss: The 50 Best Ways to Improve Relationships, Connect with Spirit, and Make Your Dreams Come True (Conari 2011), Find Happiness Now: 50 Shortcuts to Bring More Joy, Balance and Love into Your Life (Conari 2014), The Technology of Joy: The 101 Best Apps, Gadgets, Tools and Supplements for Feeling More Delight in Your Life (Self Published 2016, More Love Less Conflict: A Communication Playbook for Couples (Conari Press 2018)

Tags: Jonathan Robinson, blame, intimacy, understanding, empathy, Oprah Winfrey, attitude,communicating, communication, trust, making assumptions, Spirituality, Relationship, Philosophy, Personal Transformation, Sexuality, Self-help

Liberman asserts, “Anything that catches your eye is actually looking for you.” He speaks about living in a choiceless way and following what attracts your eye. He says, “Life provides a way for us to continually experience meeting things, responding to things, completing things and in the process we gain an authentic security in our ability to meet everything.”

Tags: Jacob Liberman, belief, truth, Arthur Zajonc, perception, energy, physics, David Bohm, frozen light, insight, precognition, intuition, meditation, breath, Science, Spirituality, Meditation

A few subjects covered in this dynamic dialogue include: How did Tadd discover her ability to be a clairvoyant? How did Tadd discover her spirit guides? What process can we use to move from anxiety to calmness? How can we manifest true fulfillment beyond mere happiness? What is the relationship between destiny and choice? How our deepest fears are linked to a core wound.

Tags: Ellen Tadd, spirit guides, clairvoyance, chakras, inspiration, crown chakra, third eye, spiritual bypass, original sin, original imbalance, destiny, choice, affirmations, deep listening, deepest fear, desire, Personal Transformation, Meditation, Intuition, Psychic, Spirit Guides, Angels, Spirit, Spirituality