Feb 3, 2022
(reading time: 4 min.)
Becoming Real.
You won't become more productive, you won't become richer, you won't become more fashion savvy. You might, though, become real....read more
Jan 24, 2022
(reading time: 2 min.)
Imagination vs Fantasy
Until I began turning toward Imagination. I realized that, really, I had a choice. I approached a crossroads, as it were, and could succumb to the world as it is (sucks) or make a genuine effort to create a world that doesn't suck so much....read more
Oct 6, 2021
(reading time: 4 min.)
Peacemaking with Brene Brown
Peacemaking — as in, in this one-sided relationship I am in with Brene Brown, I worked at making peace with the irritation I felt toward her (and, honestly, I am well aware — it's incredibly awkward that I was irritated with "her" and not her content — I get it...I don't know her.)...read more
Aug 16, 2021
(reading time: 5 min.)
Caring
I'll posit that caring for yourself takes such courage, compassion, wisdom and patience that you might need some help :) likely it would be awfully challenging to do this on your own. We need each other....read more
Jun 29, 2021
(reading time: 7 min.)
Do the Right Thing.
I am contemplating people who choose to do the morally courageous thing even when there is no clear benefit to themselves, and often when there is a downside....read more
Jun 5, 2021
(reading time: 5 min.)
Words Can Break Your Heart
No matter who you are. If you are Viola Fletcher, the oldest survivor of the Tulsa Massacre, speaking to congress, the words chosen are direct, honest, searing....read more
Jun 1, 2021
(reading time: 2 min.)
Learn To Read Your Package Insert
But there is a part of you that would really love to flourish. And when that part of you is ignored, when that part of you is squashed, shamed, dismissed, or abused, it languishes....read more
May 26, 2021
(reading time: 3 min.)
Raising Orchids
We need that rugged dandelion aspect to dig in, root ourselves and keep going no matter what. We need the orchid expression to flourish....read more
May 25, 2021
(reading time: 3 min.)
Shhh! Someone I Love Feels.
Then the music started. A large, fiercely happy sunflower sat on the piano and the teacher began to play. I can't remember the song — what is screaming in my head right now are lyrics that feel, translated, like "BE HAPPY GOD DAMMIT. IT'S TIME TO BE HAPPY. NOW"...read moreMay 7, 2021
(reading time: 0 min.)
What Forgiveness Isn't
I have had a week working on shadow...read more
Apr 13, 2021
(reading time: 3 min.)
Insight: 10 Things
#66 in a series of wild and precious things to help you gain self awareness...read more
Apr 5, 2021
(reading time: 4 min.)
Transform: 10 Things
#65 in a series of wild and precious things to rewaken your spirit...read more
Mar 29, 2021
(reading time: 4 min.)
Unrefined: 10 Things
#64 in a series of wild and precious things to help mess you up in a good way...read more
Mar 15, 2021
(reading time: 4 min.)
Unreserved: 10 Things
#63 in a series of wild and precious things to build a foundation of love so you can witness the other...read more
Mar 8, 2021
(reading time: 4 min.)
Uncivilized: 10 Things
#62 in a series of wild and precious things to move us in the right direction...read moreFeb 8, 2021
(reading time: 4 min.)
Normal: 19 Things
#61 in a series of wild and precious things to help you find balance....read more
Feb 1, 2021
(reading time: 3 min.)
Tropism (Blossoming, but better): 10 Things
#60 in a series of wild and precious things to get you moving...read more
Jan 29, 2021
(reading time: 1 min.)
Refresh: Conversation with Reena Friedman Watts
Refresh: I know I needed a refresh this week and so I am delighted to share this conversation with Reena Friedman Watts: Entrepreneur, podcaster, mom of four kids, wife, coach, community grower, storytelling junkie. You’ll want to listen for the recurring chorus of fail better, keep doing your best, tell your story, your voice matters, shine on. Reena’s podcast is called Better Call Daddy, and, yes, it turns out that her daddy is her talisman, her go-to in the times she needs a boost, and her...read more
Jan 25, 2021
(reading time: 4 min.)
Refresh: 10 Things
#59 in a series of wild and precious things that help you process stuff...read more
Jan 22, 2021
(reading time: 1 min.)
Renewal: Loving the Unlovable — Conversation with Tamara Brown
Renwal: Our theme for the week led me to a new podcast series: “Loving the Unlovable” First up, a conversation with my sister, Tamara Brown. Her MA in Human Development is what got me to call her but it was our relationship as sisters that helped us talk about the unlovable. What makes us lovable? Why is that such a cringey question? My sister and I dive in, staying on the edges of her professional background as a child development expert but really talking a lot about where we are as far as o...read more
Jan 18, 2021
(reading time: 5 min.)
Renewal: 10 Things
#58 in a series of wild and precious things to feed your soul...read more
Jan 14, 2021
(reading time: 2 min.)
Perception: Conversation with Stan Smith
Perception: It’s all in how you see — the angle, the lens, the depth. This week, we continue our conversation on family, immigration, vulnerability and beauty with Stan Smith, adjunct professor of social work at USC. You have to wait until the 37 minute mark to get there, but this is where we end up: “I think it's true. Family is beautiful. Not Just the family that I think I deserve to have, or my kid deserves to have, or the family you deserve to have, or the one sitting across the pew from...read moreJan 11, 2021
(reading time: 4 min.)
Perception: 10 Things
#57 in a series of wild and precious things to help you see better...read more
Jan 7, 2021
(reading time: 2 min.)
Persistence: Conversation with Stan Smith
Persist! It’s those little efforts we make that, over time, move mountains. Today I get to share the first part of a two part conversation with Stan Smith, social worker and adjunct professor of social work at USC (University of Southern California). So, awhile back, I asked Stan about children as possibly the most vulnerable members of our society. He responded with: “We are the vulnerable ones who are afraid of that vulnerability.” I start this episode off with that exchange, and we go from...read moreJan 4, 2021
(reading time: 4 min.)
Persistence: 10 Things
#56 wild and precious things to help you reset...read moreDec 28, 2020
(reading time: 4 min.)
Resilience: 10 Things
#55 in a series of wild and precious things to help build your resiliency...read moreDec 21, 2020
(reading time: 4 min.)
Love: 10 Things
#54 in a series of things to open you up to love...read more
Dec 17, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Joy: Conversation with Anna Katarina of Rumour Mill
Joy! This week, Anna Katarina and I speak about Rumour Mill [https://www.rumourmill.band/], the band she created with Aline Daigle — and why you (we) should all sing, support live music, and music, music, music. Sing! Singing helps us move from our reactive (fight, flight, freeze or fawn) “lizard-brains” and into our grounded, responsive, fully-alive, fully-human selves. Singing makes it possible to access a full range of emotions. We *know* this, but sometimes we need a reminder. Anna Katari...read moreDec 14, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Joy: 10 Things
# 53 in a series of wild and precious things that will bring you joy....read more
Dec 11, 2020
(reading time: 1 min.)
Peace: Conversation with Dr. Jennie Barron
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, a conversation with Dr. Jennie Barron, executive director of the Mir Center for Peace. Jennie spoke with me about her dissertation which is her research into urban orchards. Urban orchards is code, I found, for some awfully subversive ideas. Jennie unpacked these for me as one might a series of very cherished gifts — first, by challenging my understanding of ownership. Imbuing it with the sense that it’s something we’r...read moreDec 7, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Peace: 10 Things
#52 in a series of wild and precious things to bring you (and us) peace...read more
Dec 4, 2020
(reading time: 1 min.)
Hope: Conversation with Cam Brewer
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, a conversation with Cam Brewer, lawyer, activist, author. I told Cam that we would be speaking about the commons. Ha. I planned to have this conversation and then put it out as a helpful adjunct to another couple conversations I am waiting to share with you about both our collective responsibility as a society and our how we can use that collective responsibility as an empowering force for good in the world. Well, as w...read moreNov 30, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Hope: 10 Things
#51 in a series of wild and precious things to increase the hope...read more
Nov 28, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Integrity: Conversation with David Hall
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, I speak with David Hall, soon-to-be Registered Nurse specializing in Geriatrics. This week I had a chance to speak with my cousin, David Hall. Deciding to make a career chaing in midlife is one thing, becoming a registered nurse specializing in geriatrics is another. First, fingers crossed as I upped my sound editing game this week. Feedback welcome. I start the conversation (I feel) rather abruptly, throwing us into a...read more
Nov 23, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Integrity: 10 {More} Things
#51 in a series of wild and precious things the make you whole....read moreNov 19, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Integrity: An Introduction
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, I am introducing the idea of integrity. Due to a series of unfortunate events, which honestly included a trasnformer blowing up or catching fire (or something like that ) this week’s episode does not have a guest. But I think that’s exactly what needed to happen. Next week, we get a conversation with Cam Brewer, lawyer, activist, *accountant*, entrepreneur. This week, we get a short introduction to integrity. A short,...read moreNov 16, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Integrity: 10 Things
#50 in a series of wild and precious things to help build your emotional flexibility...read more
Nov 12, 2020
(reading time: 1 min.)
Movement: Conversation with Lisa Richardson
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, I speak with Lisa Richardson, writer. This week I had a chance to speak for the first time with Lisa Richardson, a writer based in Pemberton, British Columbia. Lisa’s writing moves me. It would be wonderful if there were so much strategic planning around this project that I could honestly say that is why I asked her to talk about movement. Alas, no. Movement was our loose theme but perhaps more correctly, we spoke of...read moreNov 9, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Movement: 10 Things
#47 in a series of wild and precious things to get you unstuck...read more
Nov 5, 2020
(reading time: 1 min.)
Creative Process: Conversation with Jackie Tahara
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, I speak with Jackie Tahara, licensed surface pattern designer, illustrator, and artist. This week feels really special because wild and precious conversations is again a real conversation! When I met Jackie Tahara years ago, she was a lawyer. Fast forward many years and she makes her living through her art as a licensed surface pattern designer (notice the patterns in her image, above!) I really wanted to listen to her t...read moreNov 2, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Creativity: 10 Things
#46 in a series of wild and precious things to help you be more creative...read moreOct 29, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Magic & Faith: The power of the curse in our modern lives. The nocebo (and placebo) effect.
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, I contemplate the power of the curse in our modern lives: The nocebo effect. This week, I have been contemplating the power of our words. There’s quite an industry dedicated to the idea that affirmations, positive thinking, and the like can make you rich, powerful, beautiful and healthy. Contrast that with the reality (which hit me this last week) that there is one emotion we all struggle mightily with that we use as a...read moreOct 26, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Magic & Faith: 10 Things
#45 in a series of Wild and Precious things to make you stronger...read moreOct 23, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Magic: Wild and Precious Meanderings
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, I introduce you to the FREE Science of Well Being class taught through Cousera by Dr. Laurie Santos at Yale. This week, I think Dr. Laurie Santos’ Yale course was on my mind as I contemplated Magic vs Science. I took her “Happiness Class” a few years ago when my family needed, frankly, a reminder of what happiness was. I think that is what was behind my thesis that emotional fitness ain’t Magic — It’s science. And kinda...read moreOct 19, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Magic vs Science: 10 Things
# 44 in a series of wild and precious things to help you grow emotionally stronger...read moreOct 15, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Uncertainty: 12 Wild and Precious (and Proven & Fun) Ways to Tackle Uncertainty and Avoid Burnout.
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, you have an assignment: either go and listen to Brene Brown’s Unlocking Us episode interviewing Emily and Amelia Nagosky, or sign up for my free Self Care First Aid Kit Course. This week I spent a good amount of time editing again — I will admit that I had gotten lazy, but a wonderful piece of feedback gave me renewed resolve to spend the hours editing. Let me know your thoughts.... This week in the newsletter, I wrote...read moreOct 12, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Uncertainty: 10 Things
#43 in a series of wild and precious things to help you grow stronger....read moreOct 8, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Not Happy: A Conversation Around Why Happiness is Not the Goal
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week contemplating happiness, as in why we should not strive for it. I tell the story of Nick Brown, who called “bullshit” on a mathematical constant in positive psychology. This week I begin with the story of Nick Brown, a veteran IT guy who, after turning 50, changed into Human Resources and ended up smack dab in a Positive Psychology course in East London. He learned that we need a ratio of 2.9 positive emotions to every 1...read moreOct 5, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
!Happy: 10 Things
#42 in a series of wild and precious things to help you grow stronger (and happier?)...read moreOct 1, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Retreat: We Need To Stop Fighting
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week contemplating retreat. Using Norm MacDonald, Trader Joe, and Sun Tzu. So, this week, it’s just me again, no guest. Retreat. When my husband said he needed to retreat (not his words, but I think appropriate) and that I was welcome, I hesitated. I felt the transition was too much. I only went because I knew it was important to him and I felt like I wanted to support him. The retreat — 4 days camping in the rain — restored...read moreSep 28, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Retreat: 10 Things
#41 in a series of wild and precious things to help you love your entire self...read moreSep 25, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Values: Conversation about what we value and what we should value
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week it’s just me again, this time contemplating value. What it is, what we value, and what we should value. I have been spending all my extra time over the last few weeks creating my website (underbel.li [https://underbel.li]), creating courses (Create your own self care kit [https://wildprecious.thinkific.com/courses/self-care-kit]) and a little bookshop (Buy Indie books online — my first curated list is related to another...read moreSep 21, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Value: 10 Things
#40 in a series of wild and precious things to help you love your entire self...read moreSep 17, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Boundaries: Conversation about what they are and how to set them.
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week it’s just me again, this time contemplating boundaries. What they are, how to know and set your limits, and why or why not this should start early. Of course as soon as I decided that I was going to take a look at mental flexibility via relationship boundaries, I knew I was in trouble. Boundaries and I have a long and fraught history. A child of the summer of love, I came of age when it was normal to fire “stewardesses” f...read moreSep 14, 2020
(reading time: 4 min.)
10 Things: Boundaries
#39 in a series of wild and precious things to improve your emotional flexibility...read moreSep 10, 2020
(reading time: 4 min.)
20/20: Conversation about how our environment affects our emotional well being — and what we can do.
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week it’s just me talking about how our environment affects our emotional well being…and stuff we can do to get stronger. As I researched this episode, lots of familiar favorite people ventured into my consciousness. A man named Dr. Bruce K Alexander, who famously led the “Rat Park” experiments at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby British Columbia. A priest named Father Greg Boyle, who run the largest gang rehabilitation and r...read moreSep 7, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
10 Things: Environment
#38 in a series of wild and precious things to help you grow your heart 3 sizes too big...read more
Sep 4, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Family {Again}: Conversation with my sister and cousins
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week is a conversation with my sister and my cousins on our perfectly imperfect family. Chalk this up to yet another time I thought I was going to get off easy… After many many hours of deep thought, lots of laughing, and many conversations, text messages, and still more conversations, we have an episode for you. Obviously, we’re not the Kardashians, so it’s fair to ask why you’d want to listen to us talk about our family. W...read more
Aug 31, 2020
(reading time: 4 min.)
Family: 10 {More} Things
#38 in a series of wild & precious ways to love your whole self more...read more
Aug 27, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Family: A Conversation About Fantasy vs Reality and The Sad Story of The Stauffers.
Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week is a short episode to queue up next week’s conversation with my sister and my cousins. We talk regularly, so we thought we’d give it a go with a basic theme and ample time to talk…but the conversation just didn’t work as an episode so we’re trying again. This week, you’ve got me for around 25 minutes with some thoughts on the fantasy versus reality of family. Funny, it occurred to me this week that family is most easily...read moreAug 24, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Family: 10 Things
#37 in a series of wild and precious things to help you love your {whole} self more....read more
Aug 20, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Nurturing/Mothering: Conversation with Jessica Hessels
Nurturing/Mothering — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Jessica Hessels, Badass Mom of the Badass Moms Club [https://www.jessicahessels.com/]. Our conversation begins at approximately the 5:20 mark with Jessica graciously accepting my affirmation that I wholeheartedly enjoy her youthfulness. I appreciate her young, open attitude toward mothering (and all care giving) and so we start there. We talk a lot about social media - how it can empower and disempower young parents simpl...read moreAug 17, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Nurturing: 10 Things
#36 in a series of wild and precious things to help you love your whole entire self...read more
Aug 13, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Connectedness {Week 2}: Conversation with Cate Baio
Connectedness — Welcome to the second half of a Wild and Precious conversation with Cate Baio, Transformational Coach [https://catebaio.com/]. Our conversation begins with Cate speaking about the importance of community in connectedness and how challenging that is right now. She talks about a Brene Brown book, “Braving the Wilderness”, and how important shared experience is to our sense of community. (Heck Yes!) I make a rallying cry for the fact that humans are going to be human, no matter w...read moreAug 10, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Connection {Week 2}: 10 Things
#35 in a series of wild and precious things to help you love your whole entire self...read more
Aug 6, 2020
(reading time: 1 min.)
Connectedness: Conversation with Cate Baio
Connectedness — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Cate Baio, Transformational Coach [https://catebaio.com/]. Our conversation begins with Cate speaking to the fact that I view her life’s work as being about connection and connectedness. We wind out way through a conversation that goes to ideas put forth in Brene Brown’s book, “Braving the Wilderness” We move from there to the idea of being connected to those around you and seeing yourself though the lens provided by those clos...read moreAug 3, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Connection: 10 Things
#34 in a series of wild and precious things to build emotional health...read more
Jul 30, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Good Life: Conversation with Jeff Strong
Good Life — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Jeff Strong, pastor of Nelson Covenant Church [https://nelsoncovenant.com/]. Our conversation begins as we dive in with the idea of a rule of life — Jeff speaks about the most recent time he worked on his, which was during vocational formation to become pastor in the Covenant church. We move from there to the idea of balancing our authentic selves with being together in relationship in the world. Mindfulness, listening to our bodies...read more
Jul 23, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Goodness: People Are Good First Episode
Goodness — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation that’s both about our Goodness and the first episode of my parallel project: People Are Good. [https://peoplearegood.substack.com/p/people-are-good-shut-up-youre-the] The episode begins with a quote from my favorite podcast. I’m a Murderino, a huge fan of “My Favorite Murder” and in episode #185, Karen Kilgarith and Georgia Hardstark nailed it when they said the title of Karen’s next book will be: “Shut Up: You’re the Asshole” — You need to...read more
Jul 16, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Good Enough: Conversation about Winnicott, and how to be "Good Enough"
Good Enough — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation where I tell a story about a “Good Enough” life and give some ideas for how you can get one of your own. I began by diving into Winnicott and his ideas about the “good enough” care giver. What that means, why we mostly unfortunately didn’t have “good enough” parents and probably weren’t good enough parents ourselves. Also 1000% no shade to parents — first, we’re all in the same boat, trying to follow the latest expert advice rather than...read more
Jul 9, 2020
(reading time: 3 min.)
Sex: Conversation with Leah Carey
Sex — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Leah Carey of Good Girls Talk About Sex [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/good-girls-talk-about-sex/id1436501617] podcast. Our conversation began by acknowledging that “the world is on fire”. From there, we dove head first into talking about sex. I’m taking a bit of a departure today for my show notes, because I really like Leah’s bio and want to use it to introduce what we talked about and why I think Leah was the perfect choice as...read more
Jul 2, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Gratitude: Conversation with Matana Poupko Jacobs
Gratitude — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Matana Poupko Jacobs, of Hope to Recharge [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/hope-to-recharge/id1464788845] podcast. Our conversation began by jumping right in to the reality that gratitude is really easy when life is easy. It becomes precious when life throws you a curve ball, when you have to remember to be grateful for your breath. For your ability to sit down. For the roof over your head. For your food that day. We then wander...read more
Jun 25, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Peace 2: Conversation with Kimberly Weeks
Peace — Welcome to the second half of my Wild and Precious conversation with Kimberly Weeks, Trauma Recovery Coach. Our conversation continues with the reality that you cannot have peace within when your neighbour is in trauma. We really reach deep and talk about the difficult stuff going on in the world right now: the emerging awakening to a world that does not tolerate injustice, that does not tolerate racism. Kimberly shares the 5 steps to recovery from trauma: * Denial * Chaos * Recove...read more
Jun 18, 2020
(reading time: 1 min.)
Peace: Conversation with Kimberly Weeks
Peace — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Kimberly Weeks, Trauma Recovery Coach. Our conversation began with what peace is. My young, immature self thought peace was easy. My slightly more mature self knows it’s not. Getting there, getting to a place of peace, of wholeness, is where the struggle lies. We talk about what peace is and how to get there. What the struggle feels like when you don’t have peace on the inside but crave peace in your outer world, in your community. Hint...read more
Jun 11, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Creativity: Conversation with Jae Hermann
Creativity — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Jae Hermann, Badassery Advocate. Our conversation began with my curiosity around Jae’s stint as a Military Police Officer. As soon as I saw that in her bio, I knew I had to ask for more on that story. Our conversation flowed into recommitting to your platform, recommitting to what you stand for on a daily basis, and being willing to change as needed. To reinvent what you do, how you show up. We talk about wanting to ensure that this...read more
Jun 3, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Thriving: Conversation with Dr. Nancia Leath
Dr. Nancia Leath gave me the honor of a conversation where she spoke eloquently and authentically on how to thrive NOW in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. I normally would have joined in the podcast blackout but feel that Nancia’s voice adds to the conversation and at such a deep level that it would be wrong to silence. And her voice is important this week. Learn from her rage. Learn from her compassion. Learn from her joy, celebrating her daughters’ successes this week (I feel compelled...read more
May 28, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Compassion: Conversation with Dr. Stacee Reicherzer
Compassion — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Dr. Stacee Reicherzer. Our conversation started with the compassionate action Dr. Stacee took after the killing of Ahmed Aubrey and flowed from there into ways to work out your compassion muscle including making space for self compassion. One of my favourite parts begins around the 25 minute mark where Dr. Stacee talks about the opposite of compassion — resentment — and how important it is to listen when we feel resentment. D...read more
May 22, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Becoming: Conversation with John de Graaf
Becoming — The Underbelly Project Podcast has a new name “Wild and Precious” I spoke with filmmaker and Vice Presidential candidate John de Graaf. Our conversation went from why run for Vice President “Why not?” to how can we all slow down, smell the roses (the party he is representing is called the Bread and Roses party), and balance our lives so that we have just enough for a good life. John de Graaf has spent the last 43 years documenting people and organizations which strive to make societ...read moreMay 15, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Authenticity: Conversation With Brandi Beck
Good afternoon! Photo by Priscilla Du Preez [https://unsplash.com/@priscilladupreez?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/s/photos/strength?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] Twelfth episode of Conversations from the Underbelly Project podcast. Authenticity. For today’s episode, I spoke with clinical psychologist Brandi Beck. One of her core focuses is Authenticity so it makes sense to hear h...read more
May 7, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Resilience: Conversation with Cylvia Hayes
Good afternoon! Photo by Priscilla Du Preez [https://unsplash.com/@priscilladupreez?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/s/photos/strength?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] Eleventh episode of Conversations from the Underbelly Project podcast. Resilience. For today’s episode, I spoke with Empowerment Coach, International Speaker, Author, Spiritual Teacher and New Economy leader— Cylvia Hayes....read moreMay 4, 2020
(reading time: 4 min.)
Resilience: 10 Things
1. TWIL (This Week I Learned.) This week I learned about resilience. Resilience needs flexibility and bendiness. The Willow is resilient, the Oak tree isn’t. I think this week it really hit home for me that the necessary element resilient people have developed is not as much th strength but the flexibility. Certainly, they emerge stronger. But when stuff happens, they bend into it. They don’t stiffen and try to weather the storms with a tough exterior. The resilient people may not tell the...read more
May 1, 2020
(reading time: 1 min.)
Purpose: Conversation with Holly Woods
Good Evening! Photo by Ian Schneider [https://unsplash.com/@goian?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/s/photos/purpose?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] Tenth episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Purpose. For today’s episode, I spoke with purpose expert, author, and coach — Holly Woods. Her book, The Golden Thread: Where to Find Purpose in the Stages of Your Life [https://www.amazon....read more
Apr 23, 2020
(reading time: 1 min.)
Trust: Conversation with Deirdre McLaughlin
Good Morning! Photo by Fred Kearney [https://unsplash.com/@fredasem?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/s/photos/trust?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] Ninth episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Trust. For today’s episode, I spoke with registered clinical counselor and sexual health educator, Deirdre Mclaughlin. The conversation itself was a practice in trust: ---------------------...read more
Apr 16, 2020
(reading time: 1 min.)
Acceptance: Conversation with Justine Kaufmann
Good afternoon! Photo by Toa Heftiba [https://unsplash.com/@heftiba?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/s/photos/acceptance?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] Eighth episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Acceptance. For today’s episode, I spoke with my yoga instructor, Justine Kaufmann. For some reason, I thought acceptance would be easy. I’m pretty laid back, aren’t I? Well, this was qui...read more
Apr 9, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Grief: Conversation with Elizabeth Wilder
Good afternoon! Photo by Anastasia Dulgier [https://unsplash.com/@dulgier?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/s/photos/grief?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] Seventh episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Grief. I had the great good fortune to speak about grief with Elizabeth Wilder, licensed clinical counselor and clinical supervisor. We went there and then some. A couple quick notes:...read more
Apr 2, 2020
(reading time: 2 min.)
Kindness: Conversation with Kristene Perron
Good morning — er, afternoon! Photo by Andrea Tummons [https://unsplash.com/@krewellah87?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/s/photos/kindness?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] Sixth episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Kindness. Serendipity showed its hand this week and Kristene Perron, science fiction author and notably kind person agreed to speak with me about kindness. A couple quick...read more
Mar 26, 2020
(reading time: 1 min.)
Solitude: Conversation with Deryn Collier
Good morning — er, afternoon! Photo by Nils Rasmusson [https://unsplash.com/@nilsynils?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/s/photos/solitude?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] Fifth episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Solitude. With the huge gift of Deryn Collier, mystery writer (that is, writer of mysteries), and friend. So much more fun to do this solitude thing with someone (see what...read more
Mar 19, 2020
(reading time: 1 min.)
Joy
Good morning! Photo by Zac Durant [https://unsplash.com/@zacdurant?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/s/photos/joy?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] Fourth episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Let’s just all be okay with Thursday morning each week. It’s official now. Joy this week — wow. Joy. * First, it’s vital. Not frivolous, not an extra, not childish. * Second, it requires prese...read more
Mar 12, 2020
(reading time: 1 min.)
Commitment
Good morning! Photo by Aaron Jean [https://unsplash.com/@aaronjean?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/s/photos/commitment?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] We’re at the third episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Still dropping Thursday morning…maybe that’s just where this is going to land. Talking about Commitment this week brought up a lot for me. What I realized is that much of what I...read more
Mar 5, 2020
(reading time: 1 min.)
Uncertainty
Good morning! Photo by Aziz Acharki [https://unsplash.com/@acharki95?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/s/photos/uncertainty?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] Wow! Welcome to the second episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Easing slowly into the Wednesday morning slot :) — almost there! The theme this week was Uncertainty and man alive was that easier to do in a highly controlled writte...read more
Mar 1, 2020
(reading time: 1 min.)
Intentions
Good morning! Photo by Kathleen Macgregor [https://unsplash.com/@kmacgregorart?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/s/photos/intentions?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] Welcome to the first podcast episode for the Underbelly Project. Since the theme this week was Intentions, this week I chose two stories that I think highlight what can happen when we courageously take small actions that match...read moreDec 23, 2019
(reading time: 2 min.)
10 Things #3
A small start to tackling burnout through vulnerability......read moreDec 3, 2019
(reading time: 0 min.)
Your underbelly is your core.
Care for it, strengthen it, love it and you will thrive....read moreNov 11, 2019
(reading time: 1 min.)
Introduction — This is my very first episode...Underbelly has iterrated a bit.
...read moreNov 6, 2019
(reading time: 2 min.)
The Underbelly Trailer
Hello and welcome to the underbelly podcast. Come along and explore the vulnerable underside to story and learn that, in the real world, there are no heroes -- there are no bad guys -- it’s complicated. I’m Wendy, and I have been paid to tell people’s stories for decades. Along the way, what I have learned is that stories are powerful -- they can heal, but they can also kill. When they are used well, they’re medicine. In the wrong hands, they’re dangerous poison. Over the next episodes, we’re...read more
