Magic Thread Media

The way we love, fight, withdraw, and reconnect at home shapes how we lead everywhere else. Dr. Pavini Moray joins Amy to explore relational mindfulness, conflict patterns, leadership boundaries, shame, power dynamics, and the unconscious survival strategies that follow us from childhood into work, intimacy, and community. Together they unpack what happens when leaders overextend, when relationships become competitive instead of collaborative, and why healing relational patterns may be the deepest leadership work we ever do. The conversation moves through vulnerability, compassion, emotional accountability, mentorship, and the possibility of becoming more grounded, relational humans both at home and at work. By the end, what emerges is a hopeful truth: awareness creates choice, and choice creates the possibility for transformation.Moments That Create Momentum:Why Home Relationships Shape Leadership – Explore how unresolved conflict and emotional patterns at home ripple directly into workplace leadership and culture.The Professional Paradox: Why is it that you can lead a team with total composure during an executive crisis, yet find yourself "acting like an asshole" the moment you walk through your front door?The "Juicy Energy" Drain: Are you accidentally starving your personal relationships by giving all your best, life-affirming energy to your company, leaving only the "leftover" conflict and divisiveness for your partner?The Corporate Affair Trap: Discover why high-pressure workplaces often become a "safe haven" while the home becomes a combat zone—and how this "reversal" is a leading driver of workplace infidelity.Understanding the Pursuer-Withdrawer Dynamic – See how common relationship cycles form and why interrupting even one small part of the pattern can begin healing.Conflict as a Pathway to Self-Awareness – Discover how shame around conflict can become an invitation toward growth instead of something to avoid.Holding Power Without Losing Humanity – Hear how conscious leaders balance compassion, boundaries, accountability, and healthy authority.About the Guest:Dr. Pavini Moray is the author of How to Hold Power: Becoming a Leader People Love and Respect and the Tending the Bones: Reclaiming Pleasure after Transgenerational Sexual Trauma. With over 30 years of experience as an educator, activist, and somatic coach, they help leaders and couples do the inner work that changes how they show up in every relationship they're in.Dr. Moray holds an M.Ed. in Montessori Curriculum Design and a Ph.D. in Somatic Psychology, and works at the intersection of the body, relational patterns, and conscious leadership. They use Relational Life Therapy and somatic approaches to help people move from adaptive survival strategies into the kind of grounded, boundaried presence that actually leads well.A queer, trans, nonbinary human walking the path of old magick and ridiculous delight, Pavini writes the Substack "Glitter Joyride" and believes that learning to be truly relational with the people we love most is the first step to learning how to do it everywhere.https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-pavini-morayhttps://www.instagram.com/pavinicoakwellmoraySubstack: Glitter Joyride - https://pavinimoray.substack.com/About Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Have you ever felt a flicker of something greater inside you, just waiting for the right moment to ignite? In a world that often asks us to dim our lights or follow someone else's blueprint, it is time to stop apologizing for your power and start leading from your soul. In this electrifying episode of Create Magic at Work, Amy Lynn Durham sits down with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and transformational leader Glenda Benevides. Glenda shares her "Soul on Fire" philosophy, a movement designed to help you break through limitations and rise into the bold, unapologetic life you were meant to live. Through stories of resilience, rejection, reinvention, and artistic courage, Glenda offers a grounded invitation to become more unapologetic in the way we live, lead, and create. From journaling and reflection to music, storytelling, and community, this conversation becomes less about fixing ourselves and more about returning to ourselves and finding our soul's fire.Moments That Create Momentum:Burnout Often Signals Disconnection – Explore why depletion is frequently tied to resisting your deeper purpose instead of simply doing too much.The Courage To Be Unapologetic – Glenda reframes confidence as the willingness to stop seeking permission and approval from the outside world.Why Creativity Is Essential for Leadership – Discover how creativity reconnects people to meaning, energy, and emotional resilience in work and life.The Story Behind the Grammy Journey – Hear how rejection from the Recording Academy became a lesson in persistence, clarity, and authentic self-worth.Soul on Fire as an Immersive Experience – Learn how music, journaling, reflection, and storytelling create transformative experiences that reconnect people to themselves.Honoring Hidden Stories Through Songwriting – Glenda shares how uncovering forgotten historical figures inspires empowerment, courage, and artistic purpose.About the Guest:Glenda Benevides is a GRAMMY®-nominated singer-songwriter, award-winning artist, author, and transformational leader known for her powerful voice and electrifying presence. Through her music, books, and immersive live experiences like Soul On Fire, she inspires audiences to step into their courage, confidence, and full self-expression.Blending soulful storytelling, raw authenticity, and a deep commitment to personal transformation, Glenda’s work goes beyond entertainment. It’s a movement. Her mission is to awaken courage and the fire within, helping people break through limitations and rise into the bold, unapologetic life they were meant to live.YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/c/glendabenevidesW: https://glendabenevides.com or https://glendamusic.comIG: @glendabenevidesmusicLINKED IN: https://linkedin.com/in/glendabenevides/BUY MUSIC: https://glendabenevides.bandcamp.comAbout Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

What if the parts of you you’ve learned to doubt are actually the ones trying to guide you home?In this conversation, Cari sits with Trudy Goodman to explore the quiet but profound cost of not trusting ourselves—and the long, compassionate path of returning to that trust. Not as a concept, but as a lived, embodied relationship with intuition, vulnerability, and truth.Trudy shares how a lifelong pattern of overriding her intuition led to painful consequences, including moments of deep denial in relationships. What emerges is not regret, but a reframing: those experiences became the very doorway into rebuilding trust from the ground up. Not through force, but through small, consistent acts of listening.The conversation gently unravels the tension between spiritual teachings that ask us to “drop the self” and the very real, human work of tending to it. Rather than rejecting the self, Trudy invites a different approach—one rooted in compassion, awareness, and the willingness to stay present with what’s difficult without turning away.There is no bypassing here. No perfection to reach.Only a deepening devotion to what is true—again and again.And the realization that even the parts we’ve pushed away are not problems to solve… but places asking to be loved.The Treasures in the Trash:When Intuition Gets Overridden – Trudy shares how ignoring her inner knowing led to painful consequences and long-standing patterns of self-doubt.Rebuilding Trust From the Inside – A practice of listening to even the smallest impulses becomes a way to retrain intuition and restore self-trust.The Myth of Dropping the Self – Spiritual teachings are reframed to include, rather than reject, the human self and its lived experience.Compassion for the “Unwanted Parts” – What we often label as shadow is revealed as parts of ourselves asking for attention, care, and love.Self-Devotion as a Practice – The path forward becomes one of steady, compassionate commitment to knowing and trusting oneself over time.About the Guest:Trudy Goodman is a psychotherapist and internationally recognized meditation teacher who has been teaching mindfulness for decades. She is the founding teacher of InsightLA, a leading meditation community in Los Angeles, and was among the earliest teachers of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, working alongside Jon Kabat-Zinn. Trudy holds a graduate degree in psychotherapy from Harvard and has dedicated her life to helping people cultivate awareness, compassion, and emotional healing through meditation. Known for her warmth, accessibility, and depth of wisdom, she has guided thousands of students in integrating mindfulness into everyday life.https://www.trudygoodman.com/https://www.instagram.com/trudy_goodman/https://www.facebook.com/therealtrudygoodmanAbout Cari:Cari Jacobs-Crovetto is an executive and leadership coach and the founder of Brave Directions, where she works with senior leaders and C-suite executives to strengthen interpersonal and team relationships, navigate conflict skillfully, and deepen self-awareness, influence, and confidence.Before becoming a coach, Cari spent three decades in marketing and product leadership roles across Fortune 100 companies, media networks, consulting firms, and venture-backed startups. In 2019, she was named one of Forbes’ Top 50 Chief Marketing Officers.Cari brings together decades of operating experience with more than 45 years of Buddhist meditation study and practice, integrating deep inner work with practical leadership development.She facilitates the renowned Interpersonal Dynamics (“Touchy Feely”) course at Stanford Graduate School of Business where she also coaches grad school students, leads meditation classes and leadership workshops, and hosts the podcast Finding Treasures in the Trash.Her mantra: Fierce Heart — where compassion meets bold, badass leadership.https://www.bravedirections.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carisf/https://www.instagram.com/cari_jacobs_sfThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

What if the ways you’ve learned to cope… are also the ways you’ve learned to stay away from yourself?Cari sits down with Lisa Danylchuk to explore what it actually means to lean into pain—not forcefully, not all at once, but with enough support to stay present to what’s real. Together, they unpack the many forms avoidance can take—overworking, overgiving, numbing, performing—and how easy it is to normalize those patterns, especially in high-functioning lives.Lisa brings both personal experience and clinical depth, sharing how grief became a doorway rather than something to bypass. Not because it was easy, but because there was enough safety to stay with it. That distinction becomes central: this work isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about knowing how to approach gently, and when.What emerges is a more compassionate understanding of trauma, shadow, and healing. Not as something reserved for extreme experiences, but as something woven into everyday life—into relationships, leadership, identity, and the quiet ways we disconnect from ourselves.The invitation isn’t to dive in recklessly.It’s to begin, wherever you are, with honesty… and support.The Treasures in the Trash:The Many Faces of Avoidance – How avoidance shows up in everyday behaviors like overworking, caregiving, and numbing habits.Grief as a Gateway – Lisa’s experience of losing her brother becomes a turning point that led her to lean into, rather than bypass, pain.Safety Before Depth – Healing depends on having enough internal and external support to approach difficult emotions without overwhelm.Trauma Doesn’t Discriminate – Hard experiences shape people across all environments, including high-achieving and professional spaces.Gentle Is Powerful – Sustainable transformation comes not from force, but from slowly and compassionately meeting what’s been avoided.About the Guest:Lisa Danylchuk, LMFT, E-RYT is an author, licensed psychotherapist, and yoga teacher trainer specializing in bringing yoga into trauma treatment. A graduate of UCLA and Harvard University, Lisa is the founder of the Center for Yoga and Trauma Recovery in Oakland, CA, and creator the Yoga for Trauma (Y4T) Online Training Program. She has authored three books: Yoga for Trauma Recovery: Theory, Philosophy, and Practice (2019), Embodied Healing: Using Yoga to Recover from Trauma and Extreme Stress (2015), and How You Can Heal: A Strength Based Guide to Trauma Recovery (2017), and is a contributing editor for Best Practices for Yoga for Veterans, published by the Yoga Service Council. She also serves on the Board of Directors and the UN Task Force for the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, and was recently elected to serve as Secretary for the organization. A leader in the movement to incorporate yoga into trauma treatment, she has trained yoga and mental health professionals around the world, and presents her work internationally.https://lisadanylchuk.com/https://www.instagram.com/howwecanheal/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisadanylchukmft/About Cari:Cari Jacobs-Crovetto is an executive and leadership coach and the founder of Brave Directions, where she works with senior leaders and C-suite executives to strengthen interpersonal and team relationships, navigate conflict skillfully, and deepen self-awareness, influence, and confidence.Before becoming a coach, Cari spent three decades in marketing and product leadership roles across Fortune 100 companies, media networks, consulting firms, and venture-backed startups. In 2019, she was named one of Forbes’ Top 50 Chief Marketing Officers.Cari brings together decades of operating experience with more than 45 years of Buddhist meditation study and practice, integrating deep inner work with practical leadership development.She facilitates the renowned Interpersonal Dynamics (“Touchy Feely”) course at Stanford Graduate School of Business where she also coaches grad school students, leads meditation classes and leadership workshops, and hosts the podcast Finding Treasures in the Trash.Her mantra: Fierce Heart — where compassion meets bold, badass leadership.https://www.bravedirections.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carisf/https://www.instagram.com/cari_jacobs_sfThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

What if the life you’ve built—your strengths, your identity, even your success—is only half the story?In this conversation, Cari sits with Henry Most to explore what happens after we’ve learned how to “be someone” in the world. The ways we adapt, achieve, and belong aren’t random—they’re shaped early, often in response to what was welcomed and what wasn’t. Over time, those adaptive strategies become who we think we are.But eventually, something begins to shift.Henry introduces a Jungian lens that maps this process: a first phase of becoming—building identity, learning how to function—and a second phase that asks something much harder. Not how to succeed, but how to return. How to meet the parts that were set aside. How to listen when the body starts speaking louder than the story.Through his own experience, he shares what it feels like when that shift begins—not as clarity, but as collapse. A loss of self. A dismantling of certainty. And then, slowly, a different kind of knowing emerging. One that isn’t driven by performance or proving, but by something deeper, quieter, and more honest.What becomes clear is that this work doesn’t require a dramatic turning point. It can begin in much smaller moments—in the pause, in the breath, in the willingness to feel what’s underneath the reaction.The movement toward wholeness isn’t about becoming more.It’s about reclaiming what was never lost—just left behind.The Treasures in the Trash:The Two Halves of Becoming – Henry introduces a Jungian framework that separates identity-building from the deeper work of integration.How the Ego Gets Built – Early experiences shape what parts of us are welcomed and what gets pushed into the shadow.When the System Starts to Shake – Anxiety and internal tension emerge as suppressed parts begin pushing back into awareness.Collapse as a Turning Point – A personal loss of self becomes the doorway into deeper emotional and somatic exploration.Returning Through the Body – The path toward wholeness is revealed as a practice of pausing, feeling, and integrating what arises.About the Guest:Henry Most brings a unique blend of experience across psychotherapy, coaching, group facilitation, and data analytics. He is a Lecturer in Management and Leadership Coach at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he also facilitates interpersonal dynamics (“T-group”) work, and has taught at the California Institute of Integral Studies.After a successful career in market research and analytics, Henry shifted his focus toward self-exploration and human development, drawing from psychology, Buddhism, somatics, and group dynamics. He now works with individuals and teams to deepen self-awareness, strengthen connection, and support more effective leadership.He holds a BA from Cornell University and a master’s in Marriage & Family Therapy from CIIS, and has trained in Stanford’s Interpersonal Dynamics Facilitator Training Program and Co-Active Coaching.https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-most-99783a4/About Cari:Cari Jacobs-Crovetto is an executive and leadership coach and the founder of Brave Directions, where she works with senior leaders and C-suite executives to strengthen interpersonal and team relationships, navigate conflict skillfully, and deepen self-awareness, influence, and confidence.Before becoming a coach, Cari spent three decades in marketing and product leadership roles across Fortune 100 companies, media networks, consulting firms, and venture-backed startups. In 2019, she was named one of Forbes’ Top 50 Chief Marketing Officers.Cari brings together decades of operating experience with more than 45 years of Buddhist meditation study and practice, integrating deep inner work with practical leadership development.She facilitates the renowned Interpersonal Dynamics (“Touchy Feely”) course at Stanford Graduate School of Business where she also coaches grad school students, leads meditation classes and leadership workshops, and hosts the podcast Finding Treasures in the Trash.Her mantra: Fierce Heart — where compassion meets bold, badass leadership.https://www.bravedirections.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carisf/https://www.instagram.com/cari_jacobs_sfThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

What if the reason this work feels unclear… is because you’ve been trying to approach it from your mind instead of your body?Cari takes the conversation out of theory and into practice, answering the question so many people quietly carry: how do I actually do this? Not conceptually, not intellectually—but in a way that creates real movement.Using the metaphor of Ruth Asawa’s wire sculptures, she reframes the work as something whole—where what’s visible and what’s hidden, what’s formed and what’s shadowed, all belong to the same structure. Nothing is separate. Nothing is extra. The shadow isn’t a problem—it’s part of the art.From there, she offers a grounded, repeatable five-step process—not as a rigid method, but as a way of learning how to come back into relationship with yourself. Safety. Listening. Staying. Expanding. Integrating. Each step gently interrupts the habit of living outside of the body and invites a different kind of attention—one that’s slower, more honest, and less controlled.What emerges isn’t about fixing anything.It’s about learning how to be with what’s already there—long enough for it to reveal something true.And trusting that what’s been buried isn’t random… it’s waiting.The Treasures in the Trash:Making the Work Tangible – Cari shifts from concept to application, offering a grounded way to begin engaging with inner truth work.The Shadow as Part of the Whole – Using Ruth Asawa’s sculptures, she reframes shadow not as separate, but as essential to the full expression of self.Why Look If Life Feels Fine – Even in stable or happy lives, unseen patterns continue to live in the body and shape experience.A Five-Step Path Inward – Safety, listening, allowing, expanding, and integrating form a repeatable practice for engaging the body’s truth.The Body as the Entry Point – Real transformation happens not through thinking, but through sensing, feeling, and staying present with what arises.About Cari:Cari Jacobs-Crovetto is an executive and leadership coach and the founder of Brave Directions, where she works with senior leaders and C-suite executives to strengthen interpersonal and team relationships, navigate conflict skillfully, and deepen self-awareness, influence, and confidence.Before becoming a coach, Cari spent three decades in marketing and product leadership roles across Fortune 100 companies, media networks, consulting firms, and venture-backed startups. In 2019, she was named one of Forbes’ Top 50 Chief Marketing Officers.Cari brings together decades of operating experience with more than 45 years of Buddhist meditation study and practice, integrating deep inner work with practical leadership development.She facilitates the renowned Interpersonal Dynamics (“Touchy Feely”) course at Stanford Graduate School of Business where she also coaches grad school students, leads meditation classes and leadership workshops, and hosts the podcast Finding Treasures in the Trash.Her mantra: Fierce Heart — where compassion meets bold, badass leadership.https://www.bravedirections.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carisf/https://www.instagram.com/cari_bravedirections/Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

What if the parts of you you’ve worked hardest to hide are the ones quietly shaping everything?Cari opens a deeper layer of the work by naming what most of us instinctively avoid—the emotions, patterns, and experiences we’ve tucked away in order to function, belong, or feel in control. She calls it “trash,” not to diminish it, but to make it approachable enough to finally turn toward.Because what we push down doesn’t disappear. It lives in the body, in the nervous system, in the subtle ways we react, connect, withdraw, or overcompensate. Even when we don’t see it, others can feel it. And often, we’re living inside stories about ourselves that were built to protect us—but no longer tell the truth.Through her own experience, Cari shares how panic interrupted the version of reality she had been holding onto. What felt like something breaking was actually something surfacing. Beneath the anxiety was a deeper recognition—about fear, about love, about the gap between who she believed herself to be and what was actually there.From that moment, the work became clear: not fixing, not avoiding, but learning how to look. Learning how to stay. Learning how to tell the truth without turning away.This isn’t a one-time excavation. It’s a relationship.And what we find, if we’re willing to keep going, has the potential to change everything.The Treasures in the Trash:Naming What We Avoid – Cari defines “trash” as the parts of ourselves we hide, suppress, or feel shame around.The Shadow Is Already Seen – Even when we don’t acknowledge our shadow, others can feel it through subtle, unconscious signals.Panic as Truth Rising – Her early panic attacks weren’t random, but a breaking point where buried truth demanded to be felt.The Lie We Learn to Live In – She uncovers how the story of a “perfect life” protected her from facing deeper pain.Turning Toward Instead of Away – The episode invites a lifelong practice of meeting ourselves fully and using what we find as fuel for growth.About Cari:Cari Jacobs-Crovetto is an executive and leadership coach and the founder of Brave Directions, where she works with senior leaders and C-suite executives to strengthen interpersonal and team relationships, navigate conflict skillfully, and deepen self-awareness, influence, and confidence.Before becoming a coach, Cari spent three decades in marketing and product leadership roles across Fortune 100 companies, media networks, consulting firms, and venture-backed startups. In 2019, she was named one of Forbes’ Top 50 Chief Marketing Officers.Cari brings together decades of operating experience with more than 45 years of Buddhist meditation study and practice, integrating deep inner work with practical leadership development.She facilitates the renowned Interpersonal Dynamics (“Touchy Feely”) course at Stanford Graduate School of Business where she also coaches grad school students, leads meditation classes and leadership workshops, and hosts the podcast Finding Treasures in the Trash.Her mantra: Fierce Heart — where compassion meets bold, badass leadership.https://www.bravedirections.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carisf/https://www.instagram.com/cari_bravedirections/Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

There’s a moment in every life where something cracks open—quietly or violently—and asks us to look closer. Not at what’s polished or presentable, but at what we’ve hidden, avoided, or quietly abandoned within ourselves.This opening episode is an invitation into that space.Cari Jacobs-Crovetto shares a life shaped by both deep sensitivity and profound disruption—early vision loss, emotional instability at home, panic attacks, and the relentless pull toward understanding herself more fully. What emerges is not a story of overcoming, but of turning toward. Again and again.This isn’t about fixing what’s broken. It’s about reclaiming what was never meant to be thrown away.And maybe, just maybe, the parts of you that feel like “too much” are the very places where your life begins again.The Treasures in the Trash:An Invitation to Turn Toward What We Avoid – Cari reframes shadow and discomfort as the starting point for real, lasting transformation.A Childhood Shaped by Unseen Reality – Growing up without clear vision deepens her connection to intuition and inner awareness.Living Without Emotional Safety – Early exposure to addiction, instability, and fear creates patterns that later demand healing.Panic as a Catalyst for Awakening – Debilitating anxiety becomes the doorway into embodiment, presence, and inner exploration.Choosing Courage Over Avoidance – The episode closes by naming resistance as the entry point into truth, integration, and self-reclamation.About Cari:Cari Jacobs-Crovetto is an executive and leadership coach and the founder of Brave Directions, where she works with senior leaders and C-suite executives to strengthen interpersonal and team relationships, navigate conflict skillfully, and deepen self-awareness, influence, and confidence.Before becoming a coach, Cari spent three decades in marketing and product leadership roles across Fortune 100 companies, media networks, consulting firms, and venture-backed startups. In 2019, she was named one of Forbes’ Top 50 Chief Marketing Officers.Cari brings together decades of operating experience with more than 45 years of Buddhist meditation study and practice, integrating deep inner work with practical leadership development.She facilitates the renowned Interpersonal Dynamics (“Touchy Feely”) course at Stanford Graduate School of Business where she also coaches grad school students, leads meditation classes and leadership workshops, and hosts the podcast Finding Treasures in the Trash.Her mantra: Fierce Heart — where compassion meets bold, badass leadership.https://www.bravedirections.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carisf/https://www.instagram.com/cari_bravedirections/Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Ep 56 | Past Life Regression and Spirit Guides: Insight, Illusion or Something Else? with Certified Hypnotist and Author Karen KubickoWhat if some of your strongest fears, habits, or even relationships didn’t start in this lifetime?Today we are #LiveintheHive with Karen Kubicko, a past life regressionist who helps clients access deeply immersive experiences that feel like memories from another time. For some, it’s healing. For others, it raises big questions about consciousness and identity.Karen is a psychic intuitive, Reiki Master, past life regression expert, certified hypnotist, instructor, and author of Life Is Just Another Class—One Soul’s Journey through Past Life Regression, an account of 16 of her own past lives and Making True Love—Healing Relationship Patterns Through Past Life Regression which explores common root causes of relationship issues, and provides insight on how to heal these patterns. Today’s spirited conversation invites curiosity more than conclusions - we’re leaning right into the edge of what we think we know about ourselves. Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or somewhere in between, this conversation lives right on that edge. Takeaways and lessons:How does your soul incarnate?Karen gives an overview of the vastness of the soul as it incarnates and becomes grounded in the earth experience/consciousness.Karen shares her childhood connections across the veil and interaction with spirit guides. She tells the story of one of her Near-Death Experiences (NDE) – an emergency C-section birth of her second child.She was compelled to explore metaphysics more deeply and discovered the work of Dr. Brian Weiss, with whom she went on to study.How is the power of forgiveness crucial to this work?Karen breaks down your spiritual “team” – spirit guides and passed-over loved ones.For those who experience themselves as non-binary, may there be a deeper understanding of being both male + female?The quantum healing experienced through this work heals not only yourself, but it ripples out to ancestors.Her first book explores how to access your own past lives. Her second book explores healing relationship patterns and root causes through past life regression.All this and SO much more…Find Karen:https://www.karenkubicko.com/https://www.youtube.com/@KarenKubickoFind Sandra:www.SandraBargman.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@sandraamazon@SandraBargman#TheEdgeofEveryday #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast #PastLives #PastLifeRegression #SpiritGuides #NDE #NearDeathExperienceMentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

In a quiet room lit by candlelight and softened by rain, this episode invites you to settle into the living rhythm of friendship as something more than connection, something closer to a shared becoming. Drawing from moments of reunion, long-held bonds, and a story that didn’t last, the conversation gently explores how the circles of fellowship shape us over time. There is a sense of returning here, to people who have known us across seasons, and also a quiet reckoning with the edges they reveal in us. What does it mean to truly tend a friendship, not just name it? What do we learn when a relationship asks more of us than we can give, or reflects something we are not yet ready to face? Moving between memory, story, and reflection, this episode becomes a space to notice who walks beside you, who has fallen away, and how each connection has quietly shaped your path. It is an invitation to sit with gratitude, to feel the weight and warmth of belonging, and to consider how friendship, when deeply lived, becomes one of the most powerful forces in who we are becoming.Invitations to Consider:The idea that friendship is not just connection but “tending what we tame,” requiring care, presence, and reciprocityHow friends act as companions of emergence, shaping who we become beyond our family of originThe evolving nature of friendship circles, including growth, distance, repair, and renewalA deeply personal story illustrating how friendships can expose moral boundaries and identity edgesThe concept of fellowship as shared investment, drawn from both personal reflection and literary influenceAbout Aaron:Aaron Tabacco, PhD, has spent more than thirty years guiding people through growth and change, often in complex and high-stakes environments. He currently serves as the Director of Staff Experience at a major academic health sciences university. With a background spanning nursing, neuroscience, education, coaching, and mediation, his work centers on helping individuals and organizations navigate identity, connection, and transformation with greater clarity and care.Known for his grounded presence and compassionate communication, Aaron works with students, clinicians, faculty, executives, and senior leaders across healthcare and other industries. His approach integrates relational depth, reflective practice, and a commitment to creating more humane, integrated ways of working and living. He works in San Francisco, California, and lives in Vancouver, Washington, where he continues a lifelong engagement with writing, music, and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest alongside his husband and three adult sons.https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-tabacco-phd-83359b9/https://lucusgroup.com/homehttps://substack.com/@aarontabacco?r=b5ap9&utm_medium=ioshttps://www.youtube.com/@CirclesEdgesEmail: [email protected] for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

There are parts of us that learn to survive before they ever get the chance to live.In this conversation, Wai Poc invites us into the quiet, complex terrain of identity—where visibility and invisibility coexist, where inherited fear shapes connection, and where the longing to belong meets the courage to be fully seen. From growing up as one of the only Asian students in his school, to navigating life as an “invisibly gay” man, his story is not linear—it’s layered, tender, and deeply human.What unfolds is not just a story about identity, but about the masks we wear to feel safe… and the moment we realize we can no longer live inside them. Through friendship, self-love, and a willingness to stay curious about others, Wai Poc shows us that connection is not something we find—it’s something we allow.And maybe the invitation here is simple, but not easy:to take off the mask… and trust that who we are is enough to be met.The Treasures in the Trash:Survival isn’t the same as living - What helped you navigate early environments, whether inherited fear, silence, or self-protection, can quietly limit your ability to fully connect, express, and thrive. At some point, survival patterns need to be reexamined so life can actually be lived.The mask that protects you can also confine you - We learn to shape ourselves in ways that feel safe or acceptable, but over time that version of ourselves can become the very thing that keeps us from being fully known and expressed.Self-love expands your capacity to connect - As you begin to accept the parts of yourself you once hid or rejected, your ability to understand, relate to, and genuinely connect with others deepens.Needing people is part of being human - The belief that we should be completely independent can keep us isolated, when in reality connection, support, and understanding are essential to a full and meaningful life.There is more space for you than you think - The idea that you need to shrink to belong is often internalized, and while not everyone will understand you, there is far more room for your full self than you’ve been led to believe.About the Guest:Wai Poc is an Executive Coach in the high-tech, biotech, and finance sectors, including for VPs at companies like Google, Facebook, Genentech, Gilead as well as for C-levels in pre and post IPO Series A to D companies where he is based in Silicon Valley. His expertise includes strategic influence, leadership development, and organizational dynamics. Many moons ago, Wai studied cultural anthropology at Stanford University before moving onto a MBA and into business. He is part of the teaching and coaching team on EQ at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. A sabbatical field expedition to Madagascar led Wai to meet Patricia Wright, with whom he is now writing a book on power and politics in the workplace. Their goal is to decode the primate roots of human competition and collaboration with Unleashed: A Field Guide to Power and Politics at Work.About Cari:Cari Jacobs-Crovetto is an executive and leadership coach and the founder of Brave Directions, where she works with senior leaders and C-suite executives to strengthen interpersonal and team relationships, navigate conflict skillfully, and deepen self-awareness, influence, and confidence.Before becoming a coach, Cari spent three decades in marketing and product leadership roles across Fortune 100 companies, media networks, consulting firms, and venture-backed startups. In 2019, she was named one of Forbes’ Top 50 Chief Marketing Officers.Cari brings together decades of operating experience with more than 45 years of Buddhist meditation study and practice, integrating deep inner work with practical leadership development.She facilitates the renowned Interpersonal Dynamics (“Touchy Feely”) course at Stanford Graduate School of Business where she also coaches grad school students, leads meditation classes and leadership workshops, and hosts the podcast Finding Treasures in the Trash.Her mantra: Fierce Heart — where compassion meets bold, badass leadership.https://www.bravedirections.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carisf/https://www.instagram.com/cari_bravedirections/Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Hello Hive!Happy birthday to me!It’s April 15th, Income Tax Day, and my mother always told me I was a great return on my birthday. It’s also World Art Day! Art nurtures creativity, innovation and cultural diversity for humans around the globe, playing an important role in sharing knowledge and encouraging curiosity and courageous conversations. And ART is RESISTANCE! What better day to release my next episode, one that celebrates creativity, identity, and the power of artistic expression and storytelling.Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with former Silicon Valley Tech CEO, musician, and non-binary trans advocate, Michele Bettencourt - for a courageous conversation on the evolution of IDENTITY.Easily one of my most favorite conversations. Michele’s willingness to share her provocative story openly, along with her articulate, salty and, intriguing story-telling, kept me rapt, laughing heartily, and deeply moved. I know you will be, too.With over a thirty-five-year career in Silicon Valley, Michele Bettencourt served as CEO and Director of multiple private and public companies, including Imperva and Coverity. She is the founder of the Michele Bettencourt Foundation which promotes fair employment for transgender individuals.Michele is a singer/songwriter/musician who, in 2018, dropped her debut album, Vampire Time, which features such esteemed collaborators as Carmine Rojas (David Bowie, Rod Stewart), Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), and Russ McKinnon (Barry Manilow, Tower of Power).Vampire Time examines the paradoxes of contemporary life—how people can feel both connected and distant, certain yet uncertain, and visible yet misunderstood, real human experiences on the edge between ordinary life and moments of transformation. Life Lessons through these stories:It’s okay to evolve. Understanding yourself is a journey, not a one-time decision.Be kind. Respecting and accepting others helps create a more compassionate and inclusive world.Creative expression can be a powerful way to share truth and process identity.In Vampire Time, the White House is upside down. In real time, too.Live by the personal mantra, “My Life. My rules.”You can usually tell when people are being kind.Cross dressing is the gateway drug to transitioning.Be an ambassador.Believe in accidental journeys.Become a “meanderthal.”Parental passing grants permission and release.What makes a transition “successful” is how you’re treated.Trans people in bathrooms. Women say the nicest things in bathrooms. Make someone’s day and call them she if that’s what they want. The ripple effect will change humanity.It’s hard to hate someone up close.Thank you, Michele.Remember, the edge is where you come alive.Find Michele + Vampire Time:https://music.apple.com/us/artist/michele-bettencourt-and-vampire-time/1831583691https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd9ZrZBQw3QAmC2k1SjKdsghttps://www.samdevorah.org/boardFind Sandra:SandraBargman.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrabargman/https://createmagicatwork.net/meet-the-teamMentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Happy April Fools Day!April 1st is a day for surprises. Far more than a prank day— The Day of the Fool is a ritual threshold.What better day to launch The Edge of Everyday podcast on Magic Thread Media?April Fools’ Day belongs to the archetype of The Fool—the one who steps forward without a map, who trusts curiosity over certainty, and who begins the journey before knowing where it leads. TThe "truth" of the fool is a paradox...A step into uncertaintyA break from rigid thinkingPermission to see the world differentlyThe Fool is the only archetype who can move freely between worlds —logic and intuition, ordinary and extraordinary. The Fool is an Edgewalker.And THAT is exactly what a conversation exploring “the edge of everyday” promises to do. Walk between worlds. It's what we've been doing for over 120 episodes.I started #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast in October 2021 at TalkRadio.NYC. I then moved to Buzzsprout in 2024. Shows from TalkRadio.NYC are on my YouTube Channel. All the shows from Buzzsprout are now here on Magic Thread Media.Hosting this podcast has changed my life immeasurably. It is through hosting that I met Amy Lynn Durham, and because of our spectacular relationship, I've (and The Edge of Everyday) landed at Magic Thread Media.And I'm so grateful.So pour a drink with me and let's have toast to creating magic, exploring edges, holding courageous conversations, and celebrating my joy in becoming a part of the Magic Thread Media Team!Remember...the Edge is where YOU come alive.Find me:www.SandraBargman.com@SandraBargmanhttps://www.youtube.com/@sandraamazon#TheEdgeofEveryday #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast #MagicThreadMedia #LiveInTheHiveMentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

"What are you waiting for? We’re all in the departure lounge." — Dr. Mark RittenbergHow do we lead in a world that feels broken? In this pilot episode of The Ballet of Empathy, Dr. Mark Rittenberg invites us to step out of our "comfort zone" and into the "stretch zone" to reclaim what it means to be a human being in leadership.What unfolds is a reflection on the beauty and rupture of human connection, where love becomes both the foundation and the test of leadership. Through moments of vulnerability, conflict, forgiveness, and truth telling, a deeper invitation emerges to repair what is breaking, to speak when silence feels safer, and to lead through presence, dialogue, and the courage to remain in relationship.Recorded live at the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute, this conversation launches a 12-month series exploring the heart of Mark’s life’s work and his upcoming book, Leadership is Love. Mark challenges the "culture of silence" and the "ridiculous" disconnect of our modern era, offering instead a "healing salve" for the workplace.Facilitated by Amy Lynn Durham, Executive Producer of Magic Thread Media, this episode is a roadmap for those ready to commit the radical act of love in service of something larger than themselves.The Choreography Of A Connection:Uncover The Origin Of Leadership As Love – A defining moment reveals how a simple phrase became a lifelong philosophy rooted in human connection.Explore The Duality Of Connection And Heartbreak – The conversation examines how the same relationships that uplift can also fracture through silence and avoidance.Reveal The Cost Of Avoiding Difficult Dialogue – A growing pattern of ghosting and disengagement exposes a deeper cultural fear of confrontation.Examine Courage Within The Danger Zone – Moments of truth-telling illuminate the emotional risk required to move beyond comfort into real transformation.Illuminate The Healing Power Of Forgiveness And Apology – Leadership is reframed through acts of repair, where dialogue restores what disconnection erodes.About the Host: Dr. Mark Rittenberg is a Distinguished Teaching Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business, specializing in leadership communication and interpersonal dynamics. He is known for helping individuals and organizations develop authentic leadership presence through human connection and dialogue.With over three decades of global experience, he has worked with Fortune 100 companies, government institutions, and international organizations. He is also the founder of the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute, where he trains leaders and executive coaches from around the world.At the heart of his work is a simple but powerful belief: leadership is rooted in love, expressed through presence, dialogue, and the courage to remain in human connection.https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-rittenberg-bb90214/ Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

There are moments when a stranger’s story feels like a mirror, quietly revealing something we’ve carried for years without naming. In this episode, Aaron invites us into the layered terrain of family origin stories, where identity, belonging, and inherited narratives begin to take shape long before we have language for them. Through a deeply human encounter and a series of gentle questions, the conversation settles into the quiet realization that much of who we believe ourselves to be may not have been chosen at all. As the night unfolds, listeners are asked to sit with the stories they’ve lived, the roles they’ve carried, and the subtle edges where those inherited patterns begin to soften, shift, or ask for release.Invitations to Consider:A powerful real-life encounter that opens the doorway into reflecting on human resilience and chosen identityHow family origin stories shape identity, often before we are aware of itThe role of belonging, attachment, and emotional conditioning in early developmentThe hidden influence of family roles, myths, and power structures on adult lifeThe possibility of rewriting inherited narratives and choosing new ways of beingAbout Aaron:Aaron Tabacco, PhD, has spent more than thirty years guiding people through growth and change, often in complex and high-stakes environments. He currently serves as the Director of Staff Experience at a major academic health sciences university. With a background spanning nursing, neuroscience, education, coaching, and mediation, his work centers on helping individuals and organizations navigate identity, connection, and transformation with greater clarity and care.Known for his grounded presence and compassionate communication, Aaron works with students, clinicians, faculty, executives, and senior leaders across healthcare and other industries. His approach integrates relational depth, reflective practice, and a commitment to creating more humane, integrated ways of working and living. He works in San Francisco, California, and lives in Vancouver, Washington, where he continues a lifelong engagement with writing, music, and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest alongside his husband and three adult sons.https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-tabacco-phd-83359b9/https://lucusgroup.com/homehttps://substack.com/@aarontabacco?r=b5ap9&utm_medium=ioshttps://www.youtube.com/@CirclesEdgesEmail: [email protected] for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

There are moments in life when everything you built collapses. A car accident rewires your future. A company sale that looks like a dream turns into a financial freefall. A market crash. A divorce. A season where the identity you wore like armor falls apart.In this conversation, Scott Duffy does not offer the highlight reel. He tells of the collapse. The pawn shop. The last $200. The parking lot tears. The phone call that helped him stand back up. And underneath his story is a truth that feels both confronting and liberating.In this episode of Treasures in the Trash, Cari sits down with entrepreneur and investor Scott Duffy to explore a reality that every leader—and every human being—eventually faces: what happens when the very strengths that once made us successful stop working.Scott’s career has included remarkable highs—building companies, selling a business to Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, and working at the forefront of entrepreneurship. It has also included difficult setbacks, including financial collapse and divorce. Those experiences became the backdrop for a deeper conversation about resilience, reinvention, and what it really takes to begin again.During the conversation, Scott offers a striking observation about the current moment in the age of artificial intelligence: the very skills that once defined our expertise may quickly become outdated. As he puts it, “Your superpowers before ChatGPT may now be your baggage.”But the deeper insight in this conversation isn’t really about technology.It’s about what happens when life disrupts us—when the identities we’ve built begin to loosen and the strategies that once worked no longer carry us forward.Those moments can feel like collapse. But they can also become powerful turning points.Finding Treasures in the Trash is about taking the muck of life—the uncertainty, the failures, the parts of ourselves we’d rather hide—and discovering that it can become the very gold that opens the next chapter of our lives. Or of our planet.The Treasures in the Trash:Beginner’s mind opens possibility - When we become experts, our thinking can quietly harden. Scott and Cari explore the power of returning to beginner’s mind—what the Zen tradition calls shoshin. Experts see limits; beginners see options. In times of disruption, curiosity becomes a strategic advantage.Your superpower can become your baggage - The skills that once made us exceptional can eventually trap us in outdated patterns. In the age of AI—and in life more broadly—growth requires the willingness to release certainty and evolve beyond what once defined us.Resourcefulness matters more than resources - Scott draws a powerful distinction: success rarely comes from having the most resources. It comes from how creatively and courageously we meet reality. Resourcefulness, not abundance, is what moves people forward.When the wave comes, you move through it - Disruption is inevitable. Whether it’s AI, a market shift, or a personal collapse, the question isn’t whether the wave arrives—it’s how we respond. We can run, freeze, or learn to move through it.The people around you shape what feels possible - Our environments matter. Scott reflects on the idea that we often become the average of the people closest to us. The relationships we choose can either expand our sense of possibility or quietly shrink it.Transformation begins after the fall - Some of Scott’s most powerful insights come from the hardest chapters of his life. His recovery framework—accountability, forgiveness, learning, and gratitude—reveals how moments that feel like collapse can become the foundation for growth.If you’re ready to start reclaiming the parts of yourself you’ve pushed aside, head to https://bravedirections.myflodesk.com/5daystotruth to sign up for ”Five Days to Truth”—a free guided meditation series to help you begin that process with clarity and care. It’s a powerful companion to this work, and Cari’s gift to you.About the Guest: Scott Duffy is an entrepreneur and AI business strategist. He is the Founder of AI Mavericks and several other AI-focused businesses. Prior to AI ventures, he founded a company acquired by Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, held leadership roles at FOX Sports, NBC Internet, & CBS Sportsline, and started his career working for Tony Robbins. He is the author of four influential books, including "Shoshin," "The Ultimate Prompting Guide," "Breakthrough," & "Launch"; has been recognized as a “Top 10 Speaker” by Entrepreneur; has appeared on CNBC; has spoken at the NY Stock Exchange; and was Co-Host of a popular podcast for Microsoft.https://scottduffy.com/https://www.facebook.com/realscottduffy/About Cari:Cari Jacobs-Crovetto is an executive and leadership coach and the founder of Brave Directions, where she works with senior leaders and C-suite executives to strengthen interpersonal and team relationships, navigate conflict skillfully, and deepen self-awareness, influence, and confidence.Before becoming a coach, Cari spent three decades in marketing and product leadership roles across Fortune 100 companies, media networks, consulting firms, and venture-backed startups. In 2019, she was named one of Forbes’ Top 50 Chief Marketing Officers.Cari brings together decades of operating experience with more than 45 years of Buddhist meditation study and practice, integrating deep inner work with practical leadership development.She facilitates the renowned Interpersonal Dynamics (“Touchy Feely”) course at Stanford Graduate School of Business where she also coaches grad school students, leads meditation classes and leadership workshops, and hosts the podcast Finding Treasures in the Trash.Her mantra: Fierce Heart — where compassion meets bold, badass leadership.https://www.bravedirections.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carisf/https://www.instagram.com/cari_bravedirections/Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

A quiet question sits beneath the noise of modern life. When did inspiration give way to exhaustion? When did courage soften into silence?In this opening invitation, Dr. Mark Rittenberg reflects on the moment people stop singing, stop gathering, and stop standing up for one another. The Ballet of Empathy begins as a call back to human connection and a reminder that leadership lives in presence, dialogue, forgiveness, and the courage to repair what has been broken. Through stories of heartbreak, community, and renewal, this podcast explores a rising movement of people choosing love, communication, and responsibility for the world they share.

I have some FANTASTIC NEWS to share with you and this news centers around my guest today. The Edge of Everyday Podcast is MOVING to a new platform! As of APRIL 15th – my birthday – The Edge of Everyday will broadcast on a new platform, Magic Thread Media, founded by Amy Lynn Durham, host of Create Magic at Work Podcast – which is now in the top 5% of the podcasting world. And today we are #LiveInTheHive with Amy, herself, to talk all about it! Magic Thread Media, founded in December 2025, is a media and publishing studio producing podcasts, companion works, and original creative IP through a curated network of voices.On The Edge of Everyday, I blend soulful inquiry with grounded real-world insight, inviting listeners to embrace complexity, expand perspective, and engage life’s uncertainties with greater presence, compassion, and authenticity. I am thrilled and honored to add my voice to the Magic Thread Media network and be amongst the powerful leaders and voices Amy has curated.In my excitement, I also thank you Sal and Laura Celly and MaximizeU.Life you for hosting #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast. I maintain my collaboration with them in all our other work.In this conversation we celebrate, we sing, we laugh a lot, and, as always, we go deep. Key Takeaways:The power of being MESSY. There is no such thing as the perfect time to start building your dream. Simply begin where you are and embrace imperfection. Mistakes are a crucial part of your success story.What and who is an Edgewalker?Amy shares her rich podcasting journey, from honing her message while being a frequent guest, to building Create Magic at Work podcast how it’s all led to the creation of Magic Thread Media. Turning 50: Women stepping into their power as they age, sharing their voice and vision OUT LOUD, and not caring what others think.Love vs High Self Orientation. Getting out of your own way and choosing to be in service to others.Amy shares the work and vision of the publishing arm of the network.The relationship of her Executive Coaching firm and Magic Thread Media. I am a proud member of the Executive Coaching Team as a Voice and Presence Teacher. (Thank you for the kind plug, Amy!) Clients come to MTM to hone their message and raise their voice. Then they work with Amy to decide how they share, and in what media format.Amy shares her phenomenal vision AND her vision beyond her vision.Uprising of women clients looking to stop holding themselves back and to find the courage to amplify their voice, their message, their vision.All this and so much more.Amy Lynn Durham is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic at Work and is host of the globally recognized Create Magic At Work® podcast. She is the author of both the prompt journal Creating Career Magic & the activity book Create Magic At Work. Amy is the Founder and Executive Producer at Magic Thread Media, a media and publishing studio producing podcasts, companion works, and original creative IP through a curated network of voices. This platform extends conversations about leadership, culture, and the human experience into long-form media, publishing, and live experiences.www.CreateMagicatWork.comwww.MagicThreadMedia.comConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedInCaptivate Feed

Email: [email protected] are moments when the world feels heavy with brokenness, when problems gather around us and something inside wants to move quickly toward repair. Aaron gently lingers in that space, exploring the quiet pull to become the fixer in every room. With steady presence and thoughtful questioning, he invites us to notice the subtle line between compassionate presence and identity built on being needed. What happens when helping becomes who we are? What tightens inside us when conflict appears, and what softens when we choose to sit with discomfort instead of controlling it? Through reflections on burnout, empathic distress, and relational tension, Aaron opens a path toward deeper self-awareness and spiritual growth. Rather than rejecting service, he encourages a more spacious way of showing up, one rooted in wholeness instead of fear. The conversation settles into a simple but profound question: who are you if you are not fixing?Invitations to Consider:The difference between fixing as control and presence as companionship in service.How empathic distress can drive reactive helping behaviors.The emotional cost of attaching identity and self-worth to being needed.Why sitting with discomfort can deepen relationships and reveal truth.The societal consequences of collective “fixing” rooted in fear rather than awareness.About Aaron:Aaron Tabacco, PhD, has spent more than thirty years guiding people through growth and change, often in complex and high-stakes environments. He currently serves as the Director of Staff Experience at a major academic health sciences university. With a background spanning nursing, neuroscience, education, coaching, and mediation, his work centers on helping individuals and organizations navigate identity, connection, and transformation with greater clarity and care.Known for his grounded presence and compassionate communication, Aaron works with students, clinicians, faculty, executives, and senior leaders across healthcare and other industries. His approach integrates relational depth, reflective practice, and a commitment to creating more humane, integrated ways of working and living. He works in San Francisco, California, and lives in Vancouver, Washington, where he continues a lifelong engagement with writing, music, and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest alongside his husband and three adult sons.https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-tabacco-phd-83359b9/https://lucusgroup.com/homehttps://substack.com/@aarontabacco?r=b5ap9&utm_medium=ioshttps://www.youtube.com/@CirclesEdgesEmail: [email protected] for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Content Note: This episode includes a brief first-person account of physical and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.This episode is about Radical Acceptance and Radical — and I mean radical — Self Love. Acceptance of uncharacteristic looks. Acceptance of our race. Acceptance of real physical pain. Acceptance of aging. But ultimately, it is about accepting the shadow all the way through — every part and every way it can show up, from childhood through the crone. Radical Acceptance without flinching. Mandy Ingber has lived her entire life finding treasures in the trash. She has lived this work like no one I have met yet. “When you push away the shadow, you get rid of your own power.” So she has done the opposite. Nothing gets cut out, nothing gets pushed down or away — everything is there to be experienced in this life. To have transformation, you have to have the difficulty — it doesn’t feel good, and that’s why we don’t want to be in it. But that’s the doorway. Like the yoga she’s taught to celebs like Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson, we dig deep to make it through the pose to find the true gold in the challenges of life.Key Takeaways:Pouring yourself into what’s labeled a “negative.” Because of Mandy’s looks, she was cast early as a villain—asked to embody exaggerated shadow parts by playing those roles.Being cast as your shadow. Moving toward the scary parts of yourself in a conscious, safe way. For Mandy, this meant facing deep fear connected to her father by eventually becoming that fear herself when cast as a villain.Our relationship to appearance. Being “cast” by the world based on how we look can be debilitating—or it can become a portal into radical acceptance, especially when our appearance is intertwined with race.Nose jobs and fixing the outside. Changing our exterior doesn’t resolve the complexity of what we feel inside or how we accept ourselves. The old self doesn’t disappear—it waits in the shadow to be transformed into treasure.Our looks as a proxy for conditioning we don’t talk about nearly enough.Insecurity as a doorway. How feeling insecure can open us to experiencing life more fully and honestly as human beings—without fear.Going through physical pain to find freedom. We find joy, resilience and more when we can lean into the entirety of our experience.Jiminy Cricket and wishing upon a star as consciousness and focused attentionIf you’re ready to start reclaiming the parts of yourself you’ve pushed aside, head to https://bravedirections.myflodesk.com/5daystotruth to sign up for ”Five Days to Truth”—a free guided meditation series to help you begin that process with clarity and care. It’s a powerful companion to this work, and Cari’s gift to you.About the Guest:Mandy Ingber is a Los Angeles based New York Times best selling author, wellness expert, and astrologer who has spent more than 30 years guiding clients to understand their life’s purpose through their birth charts and embodiment practices. She is the creator of the YOGALOSOPHY method and the author of Yogalosophy: 28 Days to the Ultimate Mind Body Makeover and Yogalosophy for Inner Strength: 12 Weeks to Heal Your Heart and Embrace Joy. Her work has earned awards from Los Angeles Magazine and LA Weekly, and she has been featured in major publications including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, People, and The Oprah Magazine, with television appearances on Good Morning America and the TODAY show. Her private client list has included Jennifer Aniston, Kate Beckinsale, Helen Hunt, and Brooke Shields.In addition to her wellness work, Mandy is deeply committed to supporting people through life’s transitions. She is a certified Death Doula who guides individuals and families through advance medical directives, living trusts, and final wishes, and she serves as a minister for both end of life celebrations and weddings. She is also a sought after speaker and spokesperson for wellness brands, serves on the advisory committee for the Cancer Prevention Clinic at Providence Saint John’s Health Center, and brings a unique creative background from her earlier career on Broadway, television, and film.https://mandyingber.com/https://www.instagram.com/mandyingberAbout Cari:Cari Jacobs-Crovetto is an executive and leadership coach and the founder of Brave Directions, where she works with senior leaders and C-suite executives to strengthen interpersonal and team relationships, navigate conflict skillfully, and deepen self-awareness, influence, and confidence.Before becoming a coach, Cari spent three decades in marketing and product leadership roles across Fortune 100 companies, media networks, consulting firms, and venture-backed startups. In 2019, she was named one of Forbes’ Top 50 Chief Marketing Officers.Cari brings together decades of operating experience with more than 45 years of Buddhist meditation study and practice, integrating deep inner work with practical leadership development.She facilitates the renowned Interpersonal Dynamics (“Touchy Feely”) course at Stanford Graduate School of Business where she also coaches grad school students, leads meditation classes and leadership workshops, and hosts the podcast Finding Treasures in the Trash.Her mantra: Fierce Heart — where compassion meets bold, badass leadership.https://www.bravedirections.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carisf/https://www.instagram.com/cari_bravedirections/Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

“Ferocious Compassion requires that I find the courage to speak my truth, to find the courage to be disliked, to find the courage to turn and face confrontation.  Ferocious Compassion guides me to choose authenticity over approval. It allows me the freedom to assert myself, to be vulnerable, to express, not suppress my true emotions and intentions.”    - Author, Sandra BargmanToday we are #LiveInTheHive with award-winning author, book mentor, editor, leadership coach, and my friend, Cynthia Gregory. The above quote is from, FEROCIOUS COMPASSION, my chapter in the newly released and much anticipated book, LOVE NOTES from the Soul 2.0: Stories of Compassion and Healing, curated and edited by Cynthia. We had Cynthia on as a guest last October to celebrate the release of Love Notes 2.0 (Ep 42) and we’re thrilled to welcome her back to dig in a bit deeper. Cynthia’s motto is: “Allow your story to take up space in the world.” And I’m thrilled that my thought concept, Ferocious Compassion, is taking up space in the world!The power of storytelling and the power of finding and sharing your VOICE in the world is at the heart of every aspect of Cynthias work. Sound familiar? No surprise that from the moment I met her, I was completely drawn to Cynthia and her soulful and creative work. Which is why I gave her a resounding YES when she asked me to become a contributing author to LOVE NOTES 2.0. There is a total of 27 stories in this book, an exquisitely curated and edited collection by Cynthia, each one a LOVE NOTE. And what could be better than sharing and celebrating love notes today, as we start Valentines Day weekend?We touch on…The power of sharing your VOICE and reconnecting to the courage of storytelling.Is Ferocious Compassion controversial? Is political? The politicization of human rights.The genesis of the phrase, “ferocious compassion.”The radical act of telling your truth. Truth-telling = More stories.People-pleasing is a trauma response.In these challenging times, stories become MORE important in our lives.The conflicting stories of the USA – we have 2 distinctly different narratives of “who” is an American.The inspiration for the creation of the Love Notes Anthologies. Following your creative instincts and trusting the process!Work on Love Notes 3.0 has begunRISE + WRITE, A SOULFUL SUMMER WRITERS RETREAT | HUDSON VALLEY, NEW YORKLed by Cynthia Gregory and Sandra Bargman | Create, mine, write, speak, and craft your story.Friday, July 31 - Sunday, August 2 | For more details and registration: www.coachcynthiagregory.comLove Notes 2.0 Book Signing Event | The Olive Free Library in West Shokan, New YorkThursday, July 30th @ 5:30 pmJoin Editor Cynthia Gregory and Contributing Authors Sandra Bargman + Sarah Olivieri for readings, discussion and Q&A.   https://www.olivefreelibrary.org/Cynthia Gregory is an award-winning writer and author of Journaling as Sacred Practice: an Act Of Extreme Bravery, What Is Possible From Here, and the LOVE NOTES Anthologies. She was also editor of the California Writers Club, Redwood Writers’ Annual Anthology: ON FIRE (2023).Full bio, resources, coaching and events:www,CoachCynthiaGregory.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorycynthia/Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Aaron invites listeners into a quiet inner space where uncertainty is no longer something to overcome, but something to notice and meet with care. Through personal reflection and thoughtful inquiry, the episode explores how uncertainty shapes our sense of self, revealing the ways we cling to certainty for safety and how that grip can quietly limit us. Rather than offering guidance or resolution, the reflection lingers with questions of identity, creativity, and courage, suggesting that uncertainty may be the very condition that allows us to choose who we are becoming. This is an invitation to pause at the edge of what cannot be known, to soften our resistance, and to consider how we show up when the future offers no guarantees.Key Takeaways:An exploration of uncertainty as a constant condition of human life rather than an interruption.A personal story of standing at a life crossroads and the paralysis that certainty-seeking can create.The idea that creativity depends on uncertainty and cannot exist without it.A reframing of courage as curiosity applied in moments of resistance.An invitation to define identity not by outcomes, but by character and presence in uncertain times.About Aaron:Aaron Tabacco, PhD, has spent more than thirty years guiding people through growth and change, often in complex and high-stakes environments. He currently serves as the Director of Staff Experience at a major academic health sciences university. With a background spanning nursing, neuroscience, education, coaching, and mediation, his work centers on helping individuals and organizations navigate identity, connection, and transformation with greater clarity and care.Known for his grounded presence and compassionate communication, Aaron works with students, clinicians, faculty, executives, and senior leaders across healthcare and other industries. His approach integrates relational depth, reflective practice, and a commitment to creating more humane, integrated ways of working and living. He works in San Francisco, California, and lives in Vancouver, Washington, where he continues a lifelong engagement with writing, music, and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest alongside his husband and three adult sons.https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-tabacco-phd-83359b9/https://lucusgroup.com/homehttps://substack.com/@aarontabacco?r=b5ap9&utm_medium=ioshttps://www.youtube.com/@CirclesEdgesEmail: [email protected] for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

Today we are #LIVEInTheHIVE with Brian Gorman, maverick leadership coach and author of Leading into the Age of Wisdom: Reimagining the Future of Work. Brian writes: “When hierarchies falter, networks and circles emerge. When loyalty contracts dissolve, people seek belonging and purpose. When change accelerates, organizations must cultivate adaptability and rhythm. When technology grows powerful, the human role shifts from doing the work of machines to bringing discernment, empathy, and wisdom into the system.”What are the implications for corporations and organizations? And from a larger perspective, democracy and patriarchy?As Klaus Schwab writes in The Fourth Industrial Evolution, “The changes are so profound that, from the perspective of human history, there has never been a time of greater promise or greater peril.” Is our dystopian view that AI is replacing human-kind true or false?Which beliefs, habits, or assumptions about leadership may need to be unlearned or reframed for me to become an Age of Wisdom leader? We touch on….We are at a tipping point with AI that requires making clear decisive decisions to choose the ultimate path upon which humanity will embark, recognizing that we’re on the verge of the equivalent of the Industrial Revolution.AI has made human intelligence obsolete, but humans possess WISDOM, Wisdom guides our decisions in how we utilize AI.Hierarchy assumes wisdom rests in the top tier, when in fact everyone has wisdom or the potential for wisdom. Brian shares 2 stories of well-known corporations discovering that wisdom from the C-suite is no longer sufficient.Democracy itself (and all patriarchal systems) requires the overlay of these same skill sets as leaders moving into The Age of Wisdom.Decentralizing decision making from the top doesn’t slow systems down.What are wisdom circles? How do we respond to crisis? And what will be the impact of our decisions over the next 7 generations?Work is not done through time, it’s done through energy. How do we build physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energy?Circle, rather than linear, philosophy>>> Interconnectedness.All this and so much more.Full bio, book, wisdom circle events, and resources: https://transforminglives.coach/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briangorman07030/Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

If your life hasn’t been a neat, white picket fence…If you’ve learned how to function, succeed, even thrive—while something inside still feels tight, unfinished, or quietly aching—this podcast is for you.Finding Treasures in the Trash is an invitation to turn toward what you’ve avoided: the anxiety, the unease, the stories you were taught to disown. Through intimate conversations with teachers, leaders, and everyday humans, we explore what happens when pain isn’t something to fix—but something to listen to.This isn’t a lifelong healing marathon.It’s about courage, honesty, and curiosity.So grab your gloves.Let’s go dumpster diving—because in the muck lives the gold.

Our lives move in patterns long before we notice them. We learn what keeps us safe, what helps us belong, and what allows us to move through the world with less risk and less pain. In this first quiet gathering of Circles | Edges, Aaron invites listeners into a candlelit, late night space to reflect on those familiar cycles and the masks we wear to survive them. Beginning with a story from his nursing education and expanding outward into the ways we protect ourselves emotionally and socially, the episode lingers at the moment when awareness begins to stir. This is not a search for answers or solutions, but a place of arrival. A pause at the edge of what feels familiar, and an invitation to consider, together, what it costs to stay protected and what becomes possible when we start to notice.Key Takeaways:A reflection on why late night talk radio once mattered and why that intimate, solitary voice still feels necessary todayThe origin of Circles | Edges and its intention to explore shared human patterns without chasing solutions or certaintyA nursing school story that becomes a metaphor for how emotional and social masks interfere with real connectionAn exploration of how masks form, why they feel necessary, and how they quietly create cycles of disconnectionA gentle invitation to consider what it might mean to pause at the edge of a familiar pattern rather than rushing past itAbout Aaron:Aaron Tabacco, PhD, has spent more than thirty years guiding people through growth and change, often in complex and high-stakes environments. He currently serves as the Director of Staff Experience at a major academic health sciences university. With a background spanning nursing, neuroscience, education, coaching, and mediation, his work centers on helping individuals and organizations navigate identity, connection, and transformation with greater clarity and care.Known for his grounded presence and compassionate communication, Aaron works with students, clinicians, faculty, executives, and senior leaders across healthcare and other industries. His approach integrates relational depth, reflective practice, and a commitment to creating more humane, integrated ways of working and living. He works in San Francisco, California, and lives in Vancouver, Washington, where he continues a lifelong engagement with writing, music, and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest alongside his husband and three adult sons.https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-tabacco-phd-83359b9/https://lucusgroup.com/homehttps://substack.com/@aarontabacco?r=b5ap9&utm_medium=ioshttps://www.youtube.com/@CirclesEdgesEmail: [email protected] for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/

"Young   People Are Acts of Nature, But Beautiful Old People Are Works of Art"   - Dr. MarionToday we are #LiveInTheHive in Dr. Marion Somers, award-winning and nationally recognized Geriatric Care Specialist, professor, and author of the book, Eldercare Made Easier: Ten Steps to Help You Care for an Aging Loved One.From the moment I met Dr. Marion, I’ve been captivated by her passion for the elderly, for the death and dying process, and for LIFE! We’ve had many poignant conversations about her life and work, and I’m thrilled to share this extraordinary 85-year-old force-of-nature on #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast. (Full disclosure: As you know, we don’t edit on #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast – we prefer the adventure of being #LiveInTheHive! However, we had some technical problems with our recording, and a bit of editing was necessary on this one.)In this episode, we touch on…What type of person is drawn to stay present to the aging, death, and dying process?Marion shares the story of growing up in Harlem, gravitating to the elders in her community and discovering her love of storytelling.The power of deep listening.How has eldercare changed over the years?Technology has separated and isolated all of us, but particularly the aging.Discover ways to engage in eldercare, both as an elder and as a caregiver.What is important to those who are transitioning.The power of planning a funeral with the person who is in transition.What does it mean to grieve well?A brief review of her exhaustive and resource rich book on eldercare.For over four decades, Doctor Marion has provided care for more than 2,000 elderly clients while she owned and operated a thriving Geriatric Care Management practice. As a leading expert on elder care issues, topics, and solutions, she’s been featured on The Today Show, Eyewitness News, in The Wall Street Journal, Newsday, and on a host of national radio programs. Contact Dr. Marion HERE.Buy Book HERE.Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Happy New Year Everyone! Goodbye 2025 and hello 2026.  I have high hopes for 2026. We can all agree 2025 has been quite an insane roller coaster of a ride, to put it mildly.A Universal 1 Year (2026) is a threshold. It begins a new nine-year story not only for the world, but for each of us. If you imagine the past nine years as a chapter – from 2017 to 2025 – the 1 Year is the moment the next chapter title appears.The page is blank. The pen is in your hand. The themes of a 1 Year revolve around emergence: new beginnings, self-leadership, instinct and courage.And in Chinese Lunar tradition, 2026 is The Year of the Crimson Fire Horse. This year is celebrated for its dynamic energy, symbolizing passion, change, and transformation. Horses represent strength, freedom, and spirited perseverance, and the element of fire magnifies these qualities.The theme for 2026 is CLEAR.  It’s about acceleration. breakthrough and integration.It is time to step forward with COURAGE!I share a reading of ‘We Were Made for These Times’ by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes.“My Esteemed Ones – Do not lose heart. We were made for these times. I have heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world now. Ours is a time of almost daily astonishment and often righteous rage over the latest degradations of what matters most to civilized, visionary people. You are right in your assessments. The luster and hubris some have aspired to while endorsing acts so heinous against children, elders, everyday people, the poor, the unguarded, the helpless, is breathtaking. Yet, I urge you, ask you, gentle you, to please not spend your spirit dry by bewailing these difficult times. Especially do not lose hope. Most particularly because, the fact is that we were made for these times.” Wishing our listeners, guests, and everyone who contributes to and uplifts #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast a very Happy New Year!#TheEdgeofEveryday #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast #HappyNewYear2026 #WeWereMadeforTheseTimesConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

In this trailer, Aaron Tabacco introduces the heart of the show and the two forces that shape our human experience. The circles are the patterns, rituals, relationships, and rhythms we move through every day. The edges are the moments of choice, the boundaries we meet or create, and the thresholds where growth quietly begins.This podcast is a space for reflection, attention, and connection. A place to notice what often goes unseen and to listen inward during moments of transition. Circles | Edges is not about fixing or forcing change. It is about awareness, presence, and understanding who we are becoming.Intro music "Unraveling the Night" composed by Miriam Milewska provided under license through Pond5

What is the relationship between theatre, storytelling, and community?In a larger sense, what is the role of art in times of resistance and unrest politically?Today we are #LiveInTheHive with Seth Gordon, author of the new book, Crossroads in the American Theatre: New Leaders in a New Age.This book is a must read for theatre geeks, theatre lovers and for those who understand the importance of art and the communal experience of live theatre in these dark and challenging times. The American theatre is at a crossroads. After a worldwide pandemic and the social reckonings that took place just before and around the pandemic, the way non-profit theatres lead their institutions and produce their plays is being reexamined almost from scratch.As we witness the collapse of institutions and systems nationally in real time, media, financial, education, religion, etc. the American theatre, too, has been called to evolve, and to re-connect with the greater community it serves. Seth Gordon, and the artistic leaders he interviews for this book, reflect deeply on the future of American theatre and it’s supporting structures. And they offer hope for emerging theatre-making.In this illuminating episode…Seth offers a brief history of theatre in the USA, in particular the emergence of our national non-profit theatre institutions – the move from a strictly business model into a model that served the creation of art and it’s relationship to community, rather than the creation of profit. The ideal of non-profit theatre vs commercial theatre.Theatre is an instrumental element of a thriving TOWN SQUARE that supports and enriches the community it serves.How did the pandemic affect the faltering existence of non-profit industrial complex? Did it cause it, or simply illuminate it? How have streaming services contributed to the disconnect from live theatre? We must reinvigorate the loyalty of the theatre to its community AND vice versa.Theatre is an “essential form of democracy” and the massive IRONY of the attack on and erosion of democracy ushered in by 47 and his regime and the pulling of federal funding coinciding with reevaluation of live theatre institutions (artistic institutions in general). Art is RESISTANCE.A social message vs. entertainment While the classics are relevant, is it time for brand new voices and different play structures?Does the Board of Directors’ role need reimagined?Theatre will always survive, but it may not be structured in the same way.All this and so much more…Full bio/resources:https://www.ou.edu/finearts/drama/about/peoplehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-gordon-619b165/Buy HERE. Also available at The Drama Bookstore, NYC.Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

What is Gratitude? How do we connect with Gratitude in challenging times?Today we are #LiveInTheHive with your host, Sandra Bargman, to share her thoughts on Gratitude and what the Thanksgiving holiday means to her. Hint: It’s her wedding anniversary!In this solo special episode, Sandra…Talks about the inherent paradoxes of Thanksgiving Day. The emotional nostalgia that edges up to the myth upon which the holiday is based.Reads a story written a few years back about her Thanksgiving wedding.Shares her understanding of gratitude and the practices she uses to ground herself in gratitude.Science and bioresearch of the frequency of gratitude.Power vs Force by Daniel R. Hawkins Gratitude is good for your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.Concise summary: Focus on what you have, not what you lack.Closing prayer: This Land Belongs to No One by Hila Ratzabi Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Today we are #LiveInTheHive with Transformational Guide, Medium, and Author, Deborah Hanlon.What can our connections to death, loss, and grief teach us about living more fully?Deborah is committed, in all of her work, to the understanding that Intuition is not a mystical gift reserved for only a few -  it is our human birthright AND, by learning to tap into it intentionally, it becomes an extremely helpful tool in addressing our current levels of societal and cultural polarization, as well as contributing to the expansion of our global consciousness.In this juicy conversation, we touch on…What is fake humility and the power of sharing your talents with joy.How we can raise our consciousness on what “dead people” really means. Who and what they become when they pass…Deborah shares her story of the discovery and growth of her abilities.Intuition and mediumship is a natural skill for everyone.Her upcoming book: Reassembling Yourself: The Alchemy of Grief. Deborah shares her relationship with grief and how it informs her work – and – her 9-step process of turning grief into gold and growth.The science of mediumship – consciousness exists after death and mediumship to coming into resonance with that energy.Can someone experience fractured energy?How we must look inward to find strength and clarity in these challenging times.Deborah Hanlon is an intuitive, author, and teacher with a master’s degree in psychology and multiple mindfulness-based certifications. She is based in New York's Hudson Valley and holds workshops online for people all over the globe. For over 2 decades, she has guided thousands through grief, transformation, and personal awakening using her unique style of authenticity and intuitive knowing. She offers one-on-one intuitive coaching, live events, and international retreats. Her books include In the Presence of Proof and The Little Girl Who Asked Why. Her third book, ReAssembling Yourself, explores grief as a catalyst for healing and growth. [email protected]/DeborahHanlonIntuitivewww.tiktok.com/@deborahhanlonConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Happy Anniversary to #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast!This month marks the 4th ANNIVERSARY of when I started this podcast at TalkRadio.NYC and the 2nd year Anniversary of moving the podcast to MaximizeU.Life. Of course, also streaming on all your favorite podcast platforms.Happy Halloween – Happy Samhain - Happy Witches New Year!On this night, in the place between the old and the new, all is possible. It is in this place of paradox where transformation lives. And that place is the edge, the edge of everyday.Today’s episode is a replay of one of my MOST favorite episodes, my special Halloween and Anniversary episode from last year, featuring my dear friend, Leslie Ellis, grammy award winning singer/songwriter and actor. I share a bit about the history of Samhein, and about my own spiritual journey and pagan leanings. This episode was recorded right before the 2024 presidential elections - so it’s fascinating to revisit that headspace now that we are a year into this new regime.And my conversation with my uber talented friend, Leslie, is absolutely divine. Let’s dive in.Again, thanks for listening.What is Halloween based on? What is witchcraft? What is the witch archetype? My own spiritual journey and pagan leanings... AND our special GUEST - Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter - and one of my best friends - LESLIE ELLIS! Her journey playing Grizabella on Broadway in CATS, arguably a witch archetype in her own right.We share Leslie’s song, We ARE WARRIORS. What does it mean to be a warrior for truth, for freedom?https://music.apple.com/ca/album/we-are-warriors/1631590513?i=1631590514All this and SO much more...#TheEdgeofEveryday #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast #TheFeminineRises #WitchesAreTheVeil #HalloweenGrammy® Award winning vocalist Leslie Ellis performs live across the USA and Europe with hit songwriter Casey Kelly in duo Kelly&Ellis. Leslie has sung with many artists including Celine Dion on “My Heart will Go On” – from the movie “Titanic” (for which Leslie won the Grammy) and Thomas Dolby on his latest album “Forty” (featured on “Hyperactive”). She sang the original soundtrack song, “Six Times Around the Sun” for the CBS mini-series, "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town" and she’s done countless TV/radio jingles and song demos for SONY Music.In 2007 her self-penned “Flyer Song” was adopted by the US Navy and made into a video as a tribute to the troops and their families. She’s also written songs, dozens of which have been cut by artists including The Bellamy Brothers and NYC based recording artist David Ippolito.Leslie has appeared on television and the Broadway stage - CATS, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and CITY OF ANGELS, among others - and in the films "The New True Charlie Wu" , "Happy New Year Mr. Kates" and the feature film "Unconditional" In 2007 she starred in an independent film called, “My Name Is Wallace” which was invited to the Cannes Film Festival.Leslie also has a successful career as a voice over artist and a book narrator.Watch on YouTube: https://app.maximizeu.life/podcast/edgeofeverydayFind Leslie:www.LeslieEllis.com | @asongliveshereConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Today we are #LiveInTheHive with award-winning author, book mentor, editor and leadership coach, Cynthia Gregory.“Allow your story to take up space in the world.”  - Cynthia GregoryThe power of storytelling and the power of finding and sharing your VOICE in the world is at the heart of every aspect of Cynthias work. Sound familiar? No surprise that from the instant I met her, I was completely drawn to Cynthia and her soulful and creative work.I’m thrilled to announce that I am a contributing author to Cynthia’s next book project, LOVE NOTES ANTHOLOGY 2.0 – Stories of Healing and Hope launching on November 1st.My chapter is titled Ferocious Compassion. What is ferocious compassion?  And how does compassion relate to finding your voice and sharing your story? Quite a lot, as it turns out.I absolutely loved this conversation. We touch on…Cynthia’s life-long love of stories and writing and the neuroscience behind storytelling.Do NOT wait to tell/write your story. When your voice is gone, your stories are gone.The 2 types of storytelling: Our vulnerable presence filled stories that empower VS. the negative self-narratives, the stories we tell ourselves that disempower.Her first foray out of fiction into writing non-fiction, sharing her love of journaling in Journaling As a Sacred Practice.What was her inspiration for Love Notes from the Soul Anthologies.I share how I joined with Cynthia, choosing to be a part of Love Notes in writing my chapter, Ferocious Compassion, based on the incident with a friend that inspired the phrase.Making Nice VS Being Kind.I read the opening of Ferocious Compassion.What is the highest expression of compassion? How does it support finding and sharing one’s voice. The repercussions of the phenomena of reality tv on our political and cultural landscape.LOVE NOTES ANTHOLOGY 2.0 launches on November 1st.  To register for the virtual launch, go to https://bit.ly/4nuVichCynthia Gregory is an award-winning writer and author of Journaling as Sacred Practice: An Act Of Extreme Bravery, What Is Possible From Here, and LOVE NOTES Anthology. She was also editor of the California Writers Club, Redwood Writers’ Annual Anthology: ON FIRE (2023).With a bachelor's degree in journalism from Gonzaga University and a master's degree in literature from Mills College, Cynthia’s mission is to expand the body of modern literature. When she’s not helping execs and entrepreneurs write their professional memoirs, she helps business leaders use digital media to easily and strategically expand their brand to new audiences. Cynthia’s enigmatic short stories have appeared in a range of publications, including The Sun, Glimmer Train and The Briar Cliff Review, among many others. She took second place in the Writer's Digest Fiction Contest and first place in the Glimmer Train family matters competition for “Melting at Both Ends,” and first place in the Mark Twain Short Fiction Prize for her story, “Baby Blood.” She is a member of the California Writer’s Club, Redwood Writers Chapter, and the International Coaching Federation.CoachCynthiaGregory.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorycynthia/Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

I’m very happy to be back in front of my mic, having been away from #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast for 6 weeks. I didn’t plan to take a break. But because of a slew of unforeseen conflicts and guest scheduling issues, and because I was off doing a play…it just happened.Happy Fall!Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with two special guests, multi-award-winning guitarist and singer/songwriter, Sean Harkness - and Liz Picolli, SDC director/choreographer, and founder/artistic director of Queen of Rogues Arts Space in Woodstock, NY.Sean is returning to The Plum at Traver Hollow House (www.ThePlumTH2.com) on Saturday October 18 th with his SOLO show, Just Me: Solos, Songs, and Stories. He will also be performing at Queen of Rogues Arts Space in Woodstock on Friday, October 17 th .Today’s episode is of course, about plugging these upcoming shows, but more importantly, it’s a conversation about the power of ART – theatre, music, visual art, storytelling– to uplift and inspire – not only an audience, but also the performers themselves – in these challenging times.It’s a conversation about building new performance and gathering spaces, creating and sharing safe, supportive and inclusive communities, and about RESISTANCE to authoritarianism through art, music, truth-telling, and storytelling.We touch on…As you know, I always ask my guests, “What identity do you lead with”? And Sean and Liz have unexpected and wonderful answers to kick off this delicious and rich conversation.What inspired Liz to create and run Queen of Rogues Art Space.The importance of building community and being a part of many communities.Sean is most known for being a collaborator with other musicians and singers. What inspired him to create a solo show? And why now? Sean shares his goals, and the obstacles he overcame in sharing his own voice in a solo show.How creating/performing/artistry is keeping us sane and connected to joy in these challenging times.All this and SO MUCH MORE.Sean Harkness in Just Me: Solos, Songs and StoriesFriday, October 17 | 7pm | Queen of Rogues | Woodstock NYFor more info and tickets: www.QueenofRogues.comSaturday, October 18 | 4pm Doors Open | 5pm Show | The Plum @ TH2For more information + receive an invitation to the Salon:www.ThePlumTH2.comFull bios, schedules, events, etc.:[email protected]@queen.of.roguesConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Recently I was asked by one of my guests after we finished recording…. What was the inspiration behind creating the Edge of Everyday Podcast? Why did I feel called to the kinds of conversation I explore in each episode?I appreciated her question and her curiosity. Quite simply – I am captivated by paradox and I’m deeply committed to amplifying voices and stories, particularly those of women.  What to say, how to say it, and why it matters is at the heart of everything I do, and everything I teach.I decided right then to record an episode in which I shared the journey I’ve taken to The Edge of Everyday. In this episode I share…·      Live recording of my song, Who’s To Say? written as an intention setting song, an opening invocation. Later you will hear about the show being structured as a ritual. Lyrics: Sandra Bargman Music: Ian Herman·      Being called to seminary, and while there, having the inspiration to create my company, Sacred Stages, LLC, that synthesizes my performing background with my service leadership.·      Creating the “Caba-Ritual” – the background of The Edge of Everyday solo show – the impulse to create it, + structuring it as a ritual for a transformative experience.·      I said I would include a picture of my opening show outfit in the show notes but I’m unable to do so…check out the performance clips and pictures on my website, www.SandraBargman.com.·      The core message and concepts presented in the solo show. What are those concepts? Admitting complexities and exploring paradox. Being real. Truth-telling. Yes, truth can be ugly and raw, but the heartbreak of truth is a better experience than happiness from lies, fear, or delusion. ·      “The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off” – that marvelous quote by feminist Gloria Steinam, highlights the dual nature of truth: it can be both challenging and liberating. ·      The decision to transition to doing a podcast during Covid.·      The live performance of Everyday People, by Sly Stone, with my “rap” spoken poetry, Lean In Edgy Ones, woven within.·      All this and much more. Thanks for listening.Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Hello listeners. This is a potent episode and I am so grateful to my guests.We are #LIVEintheHIVE with Betsy Gaines Quammen, historian and award-winning author of American Zion + True West – and Tasha Adams, the ex-wife of Oath Keeper’s founder, Stewart Rhodes.Betsy has previously been a guest on #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast in June of 2022 and in that episode, we talked about both of her powerful and increasingly relevant books and the significant need to have difficult conversations across polarizing political views and differing cultural perspectives. You can find that episode at TalkRadio.NYC and on my YouTube channel, Sandra Bargman on The Edge of Everyday. Betsy brings wisdom + engaging storytelling to her important work, and in these increasingly turbulent times under a clearly authoritarian administration, I knew I needed to have her on the show again. When I reached out, Betsy suggested that I also ask her good friend, Tasha Adams, to join us. Tasha’s ex-husband, Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the right-wing militia, The Oath Keepers, had just been released from jail, having had his sentence of 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy for his role in the Jan 6th insurrection commuted. Tasha’s story is deeply moving, a life lived under the thumb of an abusive, manipulative man, and finding the courage to plan an escape for herself and her 6 children. I could only imagine how she must be feeling upon hearing the news of his release.This episode is NOT about the Oath Keepers, or Tasha’s role in it. There are podcasts and interviews and two documentaries in which to explore that information. This episode explores the relationship between open spaces and toxic masculinity.“What I knew then and feel more deeply now is that open lands inspire open minds. This is the open space of democracy”. - Terry Tempest Williams in NYTBetsy and Tasha shared how they met while Betsy was researching the BUNDY family and publicly owned federal lands for her first book. It’s all documented in her book, American Zion: Cliven Bundy, God, and Public Lands in the West.Then researching Western mythologies that create TOXIC MASCULINITY. Researched in True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America.The power of WOMEN friendships.The takeover of OPEN spaces of land out west and the open spaces of a closet – and of the mind – the complete MACRO + MICRO of toxic masculinity.Both women weigh on the abuse, vitriol and the TACTIC of DISORIENTATION for control by Toxic men.The very IMPORTANT exploration – that question that Tasha has received – that every trapped and abused woman has received – “WHY didn’t you leave?” Both Tasha and Betsy weigh in with extraordinary insight and information.“The tyranny over the weak” that toxic masculinity employs today.How is Tasha rebuilding and reclaiming today? She’s writing a MEMOIR!Betsy is working on a non-fiction book, DEAD RECKONING, that explores ancestral relations to haunted landscape, haunted houses and epigenetic trauma.All this - and much more.Resources:www.BetsyGainesQuammen.com @betsygainesquammen www.ThatGirlTasha.com @thatgirlTashahttps://www.nbc.com/[email protected]#MaximizeU #TheEdgeofEveryday #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcastConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

With our anti-science, anti-intelligence, chaos and cruelty driven administration, it’s hard not to feel completely hopeless about the climate emergency. Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with Harriet Shugarman, a US based university professor, multi-award-winning author, writer, economist and climate policy advisor with many years of experience working on our climate emergency. www.ClimateMama.comWe are still reeling from the catastrophic floods in Texas, with a death toll presently at 111 and another 172 people found missing.  The climate crisis played a significant role in this flooding, and thanks to this chaotic and incompetent administration, staffing shortages at the National Weather Service contributed to the severity of the flooding. Climate disaster meets climate denial.According to research, 77% of the global population want their government to do whatever it takes to limit the effects of climate change.Where are we in our efforts to meet the climate crisis? How can we prepare for the growing climate instability? And most importantly, how do we hold onto hope?As Climate Mama Harriet Shugarman says, “Tell the truth, actions speak louder than words, and don't be afraid."In this episode we touch on…In these challenging times, Harriet recommits to leading with empathy.Only 90 days in, there are devastating cuts to U.S. climate research by the Trump administration. How are we meeting these setbacks?Climate.gov has been completely erased from the internet. However scientists saved this information and you can find it here: https://screening-tools.com/abouThis 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP30), which will be held in Belém, Brazil, from November 10-21, 2025, is an important year marker during which countries must share and report on their climate contributions. We now have climate deniers in what the USA reports, so hopefully they will not be at the global table.How can we promote public awareness and engagement on climate change issues? Why are we so ineffective? The continued power of STORYTELLING. www.DearTomorrow.org | www.OurKidsClimate.org Climate grief and mental health. www.Ecopsychopedia.orgWhat drives the global community to want their governments to take climate action? How can we be “good ancestors”?Her award-winning book, "How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate, Turning Angst into Action."More resources: www.InsideClimateNews.org | www.climatecommunication.yale.eduFollow Micheal Mann + Katharine Hayhoewww.artsandclimate.orgFull bio:www.climatemama.com@ClimateMamaConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with Karen Hinton, author of the bestselling book, Penis Politics: A Memoir of Women, Men, and Power – Karen was a guest on our show in January of 2023, for our episode entitled The Edge of Silence. What is the price of silence in Penis Politics? You can check out that phenomenal episode at TalkRadio.NYC or on my YouTube channel, Sandra Bargman on the Edge of Everyday. Her book, Penis Politics, is a compelling coming-of-age memoir, set both in small-town Mississippi and big-city New York, with a long layover in the nation's capital.The Kirkus review had this to say: “A timely, engaging political account about the consequences of saying nothing - and speaking up. Hinton’s prose is sharp and incisive. She is adept at setting a scene and bringing people to life on the page.”And one of those people was Andrew Cuomo, whom she has known for over 20 years and for whom she has worked for 5 years.Andrew Cuomo resigned as Governor of New York on August 24, 2021, amidst an overlapping cluster of ethics scandals, including accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct from 11 women.Penis Politics was released in December of 2021. Today, June 23, 2025, Andrew Cuomo is running for Mayor of New York City.This episode was recorded on the eve of the Mayoral primary, and, at that time, Cuomo was leading in first choice ballot polling, however, Zohran Mamdani, the virtual unknown, Democratic Socialist jumped to the lead in ranking polls.In a shocking victory, Cuomo conceded to Mamdani in the NYC Democratic Primary. Will Cuomo run as an Independent in November? We'll see. How has someone who resigned in scandal + shame able to lead in the polls? Why do we continue to choose misogynistic, scandal ridden men to be our political leaders?  What has become of the #MeToo movement? With all our patriarchal systems in place, with an adjudicated rapist in the highest office in the US, is it possible to uncouple sex and sexual abuse from power and politics?In this episode, on the eve of the mayoral primary in New York City, Karen Hinton is uniquely qualified to explore these questions and to weigh in on why Andrew Cuomo is unfit to become the Mayor of NYC. Full bioWe touch on…The powerful story behind her decision to #SpeakUpNotShutUp and to write Penis Politics.What has happened to the #MeToo movement? The legal fees of Cuomo for 3 of his accusers are being paid for by NYS taxpayers – $19.4 million.She shares in her 2 op-eds – NY Daily News and on her Substack – the reasons why Cuomo is unfit for office. He doesn’t want to be Mayor; he wants to position himself for a presidential run.Trump and Cuomo would most likely align.Leveraging of donors vs care for the people. The immediacy of being Mayor is not his skill set.Weigh in on Zohran Mamdani and his ideas. Time for a new breed of Leaders. The Dem party must evolve.Watch video: https://maximizeu.life/the-edge-of-everyday/KarenHinton.com | Penis-Politics.com | @JKarenHinton LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/karenhinton/ | https://substack.com/@karenhinton Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

An on-going series with Joanna RushToday we are #LiveintheHive with our special guest, actor, activist and playwright, Joanna Rush. Joanna and I share similar experiences in our career trajectories. Our first chapter was spent performing, in our 2nd chapter we added becoming a seminary trained and ordained Interfaith Minister, and in our 3rd act, we’ve layered on the roles of activist and political junkie, loudly sharing our own voice in our artistic expression. I had Joanna on #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast in April of 2024 for Episode 8: The Edge of Artistry, Aegism, and Activism, during which we talked about her most recent one woman show, No Malarkey!, directed by the late great Lynn Taylor-Corbett.We recently decided to hold a series of conversations around the topic of how ARTISTS serve in challenging times. What is the role of the ARTIST and the need for the arts in the rise of authoritarianism?Artists are facing censorship, funding cuts, and fear under DJTs second term - as political repression reshapes the cultural landscape. How are artists of all ages and genders showing up to move the needle forward and address the issues of today?This is the foundational first of what we hope will be many conversations exploring the many tendrils of resistance and how, in these times of revolution, artists can serve in supporting the emerging narrative about culture, populism, social resentment and economic scarcity.We touch on…Her show, No Malarkey! shifted during the campaign, when Biden passed the torch to VP Kamala Harris and ultimately, she set down the project, due to a confluence of issues.She is creating a unique celebration of life for Taylor – Corbet, which includes a portion of No Malarkey!Mining comedy in painful, dark times.Her dual citizenship – the beauty of Ireland vs the strife in the US.Came home from Ireland to perform a reading of Sinclair Lewis’ It Can’t Happen Here on October 27th, the exact date that #MAGA was gathering in Madison Square Garden, mimicking the NAZI gathering in MSG in 1939.The power of Tik Tok is another artist format in which to share your voice. She is creating a series of monologues for Tik Tok.We open the door on understanding how defunding The National Endowment of the Arts is affecting all Americans.Technocracy and the Tech bros – beginning to understand this vision for a new global order.The ability of AI to locate on-line resisters is causing fear and anxiety.Resource: www.ArtisticFreedomInitiative.comAll this and so much more.Full bio and information:[email protected]@NoMalarkeyPlayConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Today we continue with Part II of our special 2-part series dedicated to Mothers.  We are #LIVEintheHive with my special guests, 3 women I adore, to continue talking about the complexities and paradoxes of MOTHERHOOD, the complicated mother-daughter relationship, care-giving a parent, the joy of having children, the choice not to have children, the care taking of Mother Earth and the mentoring of young people.Meg Flather is a two-time Bistro Award winner and a four-time Manhattan Association of Cabaret and Clubs (MAC) Award winner. Meg has released eight CDs of her original music,  authored Home Shopping Diva. . . Lessons, Lyrics and Lipstick - and Hold On Tight . . . a love story. Her one-woman musical, Hold On Tight, partners her original songs and stories from her book of the same name about caring for a parent with dementia, for which she received the award for Best Storytelling Show from The United Solo Theatre Festival.https://megflather.com/https://www.youtube.com/@megflatherableAnn Kittredge has worked on and off Broadway, TV, concert halls, and regional theaters nationwide, hes been a parent advocate and leader in the NYC Public School System, and as a cabaret performer has won multiple awards, including a 2025 Bistro for her album, Romantic Notionshttps://www.annkittredge.com/https://www.youtube.com/@AnnKittredgeHarriet Shugarman is one of the leading voices in the global parent climate movement, the founder of ClimateMama, and the award-winning author of "How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate, Turning Angst into Action."  Harriet is the chair of the Advisory Council for Our Kids Climate, an anchor organization connecting national and grassroots groups from more than 50 countries working on intergenerational organizing and engagement strategies. Harriet is a mentor and leader with the Climate Reality Project and the recipient of the prestigious Climate Reality Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrietshugarman/https://www.instagram.com/climatemama/?hl=en“Let us dedicate this new era to mothers around the world, and, also to the mother of all mothers — Mother Earth. It is up to us to keep building bridges to bring the world closer together and not destroy them to divide us further apart.”  – Suzy KassemConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Today is May 15th and we just celebrated Mother’s Day here in the US – and this special two-part series is dedicated to Mothers. Today we are #LIVEintheHive with my special guests, 3 women I adore, to talk about and to HONOR the wonderful complexities and paradoxes of MOTHERHOOD, the complicated mother-daughter relationship, care-giving a parent, the joy of having children, the choice not to have children - and the mentoring and nurturing of young people.So many stories told, so many surprises, so much vulnerability, and so much laughter. You’ll just have to listen, because I have no notes. 😊Meg Flather is a two-time Bistro Award winner and a four-time Manhattan Association of Cabaret and Clubs (MAC) Award winner.Meg has released eight CDs of her original music (all of which are available on Apple music). Meg has also authored two books that are now available on Amazon: Home Shopping Diva. . . Lessons, Lyrics and Lipstick - and Hold On Tight . . . a love story. Her one-woman musical, Hold On Tight, partners her original songs and stories from her book of the same name about caring for a parent with dementia, for which she received the award for Best Storytelling Show from The United Solo Theatre Festival.https://megflather.com/https://www.youtube.com/@megflatherablelinktr.ee/megflatherAnn Kittredge is keenly aware of the chapters she has lived: in chapter 1 she enjoyed working on and off Broadway, TV, concert halls, and regional theaters nationwide. Chapter 2 was spent as a parent advocate and leader in the NYC Public School System, taking time off from pursuing her career to raise her children. In chapter 3, Ann returned to performing and immersed herself in the cabaret world where she has won multiple awards, including a 2025 Bistro for her album, Romantic Notions, and was also chosen as a top 5 albums of 2024 by The Broadway Radio Show.https://www.annkittredge.com/https://www.youtube.com/@AnnKittredget.ly/PPxXFHarriet Shugarman is one of the leading voices in the global parent climate movement, the founder of ClimateMama, and the award-winning author of "How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate, Turning Angst into Action."  Harriet is the chair of the Advisory Council for Our Kids Climate, an anchor organization connecting national and grassroots groups from more than 50 countries working on intergenerational organizing and engagement strategies. Harriet is a mentor and leader with the Climate Reality Project and the recipient of the prestigious Climate Reality Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrietshugarman/https://www.instagram.com/climatemama/?hl=enQuote at end of show by  – Suzy KassemConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Happy May Day! This episode was recorded on Earth Day, April 22, and drops on May Day – some very potent energy! Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22nd, aimed at raising awareness and promoting environmental protection. It's a global movement where individuals, communities, and organizations unite to take action and address environmental and climate crisis issues. May Day's cultural significance is deeply intertwined with spring goddesses and pagan rituals… its roots lie in ancient celebrations of fertility, nature, and of spring at its peak, often linked to deities like Flora (the Roman goddess of flowers), and Maia (the Greek goddess of fertility), and to the Celtic holiday, Beltane. Here in the US, the government is rolling back every regulation and law they can to rape our environment, decimate our ecosystems, and dominate our Mother EARTH. The Patriarchal paradigm on parade for all to witness – a system built on separation. From body, from land, from lineage, from the sacred. What will it take to know the Girl God, the sacred feminine?  Today we are #LiveintheHive with Trista Hendren, author, speaker, visionary founder of Girl God Books and ONE POWERFUL voice, mother, and leader in the dismantling of the patriarchal mindset and the remembrance and return to the wisdom and mystery of the Divine feminine, and to the ancient truth of kinship, reciprocity, and inter-being. I was very moved by our passionate conversation. With so little to be sure of in these challenging times, I took great comfort in the probing vulnerability that was shared. We touched on…Trista walks between many worlds. She was raised in a conservative Christian home and later wanted to become a pastor, only to realize there was no genuine leadership role for her in this denomination. She shares her story of her discovery of feminism, her Interfaith curiosity and conversion to Islam, and how living in Lebanon was life changing.The power of female sacred art and iconography, and the importance of the curated art she’s used on book covers for Girl God Books.She shares the story of how her daughter inspired her to write The Girl God, the subsequent trilogy, and the evolution to starting Girl God books.What presses most on Trista is the time we have left! Women must regain their inner knowing – and we must improve our education of young women. Leaders must be held accountable.The enormous need for self-care in these challenging times.Her leading edge is her focus on the Palestinian genocide.The need for and power of ceremony and ritual and the incredible creation of a 2-ton concrete sculpture of The Goddess of Willendorf by her beloved husband on her property in Norway. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Venus-of-WillendorfAll this and so much more…You can find more about Trista Hendren's projects at www.thegirlgod.comResources:https://www.instagram.com/grandmothersagainstgenocide/https://www.instagram.com/mothersagainstgenocide/https://mariannebergvall.substack.com/p/norways-prime-minister-accused-of-complicity-to-genocide?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=trueConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Happy Birthday to Me! I have a fun ritual that I do every year on my birthday – I try something new – something really physical – and something I’ve never done before. For example, one year I ziplined, I did hot yoga one year – one year I went pole dancing, one year I attended a sweat lodge – this year, I’m going rock climbing!I love this ritual – and my loyal listeners know how I adore ritual – because it reminds me to keep thinking outside of the box and to let go of what may be MY “tried and true”. It’s an act that symbolizes for me starting this next year of my life with boldness and an embrace of change. And that is what being on the edge of everyday is all about…Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with our special guest, actor, singer, podcast host, psychotherapist, multi- hyphenate Extraordinairre and master storyteller, Susan Lambert. Susan and I share a deep love of the exploration of liminal space.I love being in a liminal space. It’s why I adore ritual. Ritual is an invitation into s liminal space for transformation. And I know it’s why I boldly embrace change – or – at least most of the time. It’s why I call myself an Edgewalker. So what is liminal space?Listen in on this moving conversation to find out. We touch on…What is the definition of liminal space?Susan leads with the identity of connector – connecting people and ideas. She is a liminal space explorer (AKA Edgewalker) – most often walking between the worlds of artist and helper/service leader and shares about the similarities of the worlds through her discovery of “being known” with both clients and audiences.Her first experience of liminal space as a young person.Our shared understanding of being on stage, of performing theatre, as being in liminal space.Bridgebuilding is a skill of someone who resides in liminal space.Susan shares her discovery of the power of choice in the difficult industry of show business. And her experience of tumbling between a few liminal spaces to create a way to have and be both an artist and a healer.The rough edges of letting go and the death of who we think we should be.Succumbing to the rabbit holes of potential and promise, and learning that dreams can shift and evolve.How wanting to be in liminal space shows up in her creative and therapeutic work.Her audio book, The Wild Edge of the Heart: Susan shares the idea for and journey of bringing to life the poetry of 12 women poets and donating the proceeds to The National Institute for Reproductive Health. https://nirhealth.org/The willingness to forgo the answers and to live into the questions, in Life, therapy and in artistic expression.Our shared love of Salon – it’s ability to connect, build community, inspire, and create belonging in these challenging times, and the possibility of her performing in my salon space, The Plum at TH2. www.theplumth2.comWatch Video: https://maximizeu.life/the-edge-of-everyday/Find Susan:https://www.inthebalance.life/susanhttps://www.wildedgeheart.com/https://bsky.app/profile/susanlambert2.bsky.socialConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Happy April Fools day!The fool archetype in literature, often seen as a wise fool or jester, is a character who, through seemingly simple or foolish behavior, challenges authority, speaks truths others can't, and acts as a counterbalance to societal norms, often with humor and resilience. Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with our special guest, actor, comedian, choreographer, playwright, multi- hyphenate extraordinairre and master storyteller, Melinda Buckley. She has written and performed several solo shows, her latest being, MOTHER (and me), which will be the focus of much our conversation.MOTHER (and me) is a fast-paced 75-minute piece that uses the power of theater to bring people together around an important issue: Alzheimer’s, and the struggles families face while caring for a loved one, utilizing the power of humor and resilience.Melinda and I have so much to talk about, so many similar experiences on our journeys, but, in particular, the themes of the artist as healer and the complicated, somewhat consuming mother-daughter relationship. In this April Fools episode, we explore the edges between story telling and grief, caregiving and advocacy, and humor and healing. Where they meet is where the power of the artist emerges.Find Melinda: : www.motherandmetheplay.com | www.oneupsolo.comIn this episode we touch on…The service leader/artist identity and how Melinda stepped into this identity by doing this very personal and vulnerable show. Admitting some of the ego-centric emptiness that can, at times, be felt in the business of show.Melindas relationship with her larger-than-life mother, her phenomenal backstory of intrigue and drama, and her courageous embrace of becoming a single mother.The complicated and potentially co-dependent Mother-Daughter relationship within show business.The difficulties within the family of coming to terms with her Mother descending into Alzheimers.To deal with her grief and overwhelm, Melinda began to journal all she was experiencing and learning and these writings became the spark to create her poignant and hilarious solo piece, Mother (and me).Booking the show in the New York Fringe, and welcoming the help of other artists and producers to develop the show and bring it to many other venues in NYC and regionally, as well as in solo festivals.Her edges explored: Summoning her courage to vulnerably share such a deeply personal story. The unexpected wisdom she discovered about death and dying.The complicated emotions she experienced by not being with her Mother when she passed.Care-givers as teacher and models for staying present to death and grief.The profound healing power of comedy and laughter.The jaw-dropping statistics of the growth of Alzheimers in the US – and Melindas growing understanding of advocacy during her care-giving as well as through doing her shows and offering talk backs in conjunction with Alzheimers Association.Her new play, Color My World, non-biographical, about early on-set. For festival schedule: www.helltownplayers.orgWatch Video: https://maximizeu.life/the-edge-of-everyday/Connect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Today’s episode was recorded in January of 2023 and it is awonderful conversation I had with one of my most favoritepeople, author and spiritual teacher, Gloria Karpinski. I met Gloria at the end of my 1 st year of seminary when she came to speak at the Ordination Ceremony for The New Seminary at St. John the Divine. She became a trusted mentor and friend – and I went on to produce + narrate the audio version of her book, Where Two Worlds Touch. (A short clip from the narration has been inserted in one of the original commercial breaks) It was such a JOY to revisit the conversation! I am so deeply moved by Glorias depth of wisdom, her connection to spirit, and her practical, down-to-earth and gentle teaching style. We reminisced, laughed, told stories, and Gloria weaves her very powerful messages from spirit throughout our conversation. Her words are more prescient than ever.In this episode we touched on…Remembering our true identity: I AM a being of Light vs the roles we play every day.The calling of community + mentorshipThe centerpiece of our evolutionary spiral is the restoration of the Divine Feminine in the human consciousness.Her book, Where Two Worlds Touch, is a model of the concept of ‘the edge of every day.’ Our greatest edge is thefear of change.Intentionality of incarnation: The four types of energies to make evolutionary turnings.Gloria shares how her work with Spirit and Life Attunements expanded and evolved.The rise of the Divine Feminine and our understanding of YINness. What is a pragmatic visionary? What is paradox?All this and so much more…Watch video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIdejXUlzq4&t=947sGloria is a holistic counselor, spiritual director, teacher and author. Herseminars as well as her individual in-depth Life Attunements emphasize the relevancy of universal spiritual principles to everyday life and the inter-dynamics of mind, body, emotions and spirit.She is the author of three books: Midnight Rainbows, A Memoir withMessages from My Spiritual Quest (audio only), Where Two Worlds Touch: Spiritual Rites of Passage and Barefoot on Holy Ground: Twelve Lessons in Spiritual Craftsmanship, both published by Ballantine Books. Full bio.www.GloriaKarpinski.comConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with the multi-talented and multi-award-winning performer, host and raconteur, RICHARD SKIPPER, for a spirited conversation about the power of positivity, the rough edges of ambition and embracing our third act potential, the shifting landscape of the NYC cabaret scene, and of course, we’ll hear juicy stories from his treasure trove of performance history. Richard is best known for his impersonation of Carol Channing for twenty years and for chronicling the history of the beloved musical Hello Dolly, by Jerry Herman, which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary in his show.In this episode we touch on…Richard Skipper Celebrates Hello Dolly, his show weaving songs and stories about Hello Dolly and his relationship with Carol Channing - with guest appearances from the many performers who have been a part of the Hello Dolly family. www.CallonDolly.comOur innate desire to be seen, heard, and connected.Leaving social media, and letting go of its addiction, anxiety, and time consumption.The power of stepping out of our comfort zones and asking for what we need and want.“Richard is the embodiment of Hello Dolly”. What drew Richard to impersonate Carol Channing for 20 years and to embrace the powerful and timeless message of Hello Dolly, one of taking chances and thinking outside the box that resonates still in these challenging times.With his encyclopedic knowledge of the history of Hello Dolly, Channing herself urged Richard to write a book.The Shadow aspects of impersonation work.While this wasn’t my direct question, Richard shares the understanding of the fundamental difference between impersonation and drag.An ambitious life vs. a Third Act mission – the edge between an ambitious life and a simpler life of ease.The power of positivity vs negativity bias, and what living on the edge of everyday means to Richard.We spoke of a follow-up conversation about the future of the cabaret community.All this, and so much more… Richard Skipper is a celebrated entertainer, writer, and master of ceremonies - and has built a reputation as a multi-talented performer with a passion for Broadway, cabaret, and classic Hollywood entertainment.Richard is perhaps best known for his tribute performances as Carol Channing, the iconic star of Hello, Dolly! His portrayal of Channing earned him widespread acclaim, and he became one of the most well-known Carol Channing impersonators in the entertainment world. In addition to his dynamic cabaret performances, Richard created Richard Skipper Celebrates, a series of live events, interviews, and blog posts that honor various figures in show business, covering a wide range of topics, from Broadway history to classic Hollywood, featuring interviews with notable entertainers, singers, and theater personalities. Watch on YouTube: https://maximizeu.life/the-edge-of-everyday/Find Richard:www.RichardSkipper.comwww.CallonDolly.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/richardskipper.bsky.socialRichard Skipper Celebrates on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RichardSkipperCelebratesConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Happy Valentines Day!  Today is the ultimate valentine episode…making love with the divine!Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with our special guest, Kay Louise Aldred, for a follow up conversation, part II to our episode from a couple months ago, Ep 26 | There Is Not a Normal Human: Somatic Shamanism and Neurodiversity. As you know, if you are a loyal listener, I NEVER have enough time with my guests! It’s always a fine line for me between unpacking a topic more deeply or moving on to another aspect of information so listeners can get a more expanded introduction to my guest and the work they offer the world. Ever since I discovered her, I have been quite taken with Kay’s experience and teachings of Embodied Spirituality, and in particular, her understanding of the relationship of the nervous system and the healing of trauma to our experiencing ourselves as divinity – DIVINITY that is our BIRTHRIGHT. In these challenging times of spiritual disconnect, collapse culture, and climate crisis and the growing mental health issues as a result, I feel there is no more important work than what Kay is teaching, modeling and embodying. This conversation is a masterclass for the times in which we live.And is there anything better on Valentines Day than Making Love with the Divine?In this episode, Kay shares her journey from her religious upbringing into seminary, discovering shamanistic and energy work, getting booted from Anglican seminary training, to stepping fully into embodied spirituality.We touch on…What is Meta- Cognition? We re-visit the understanding of the word shamanism as a living dynamic.Of course, we talk about her powerful book, Making Love with the Divine (Girl God Books). Kay expands on her understanding of the Nervous System (and the healing of trauma) as our divine sacred center. Using her religious vernacular, this becomes her re-telling of Eve and the Genesis story through her own lived experience.Kay weaves together the parasympathetic (feminine energy) with the sympathetic response (masculine).Kay shares the liberation of her lineage story of her paternal Grandmother, a creative, religious and eccentric force in Kay’s young life through the Theatre of Church.Witnessing funerals + grief was a powerful lesson in her early years.She details her spiritual journey – the foundational role her grandmother played > moving into theological academia > teaching theology > Anglican Ordination training while at the same time training in shamanism > leaving her religious training > her deconstruction of the control of theology over her and stepping fully into her experience of Embodied Spirituality.“We are searching for an alternative world within this one”.  Spiritual/Sexual abuse in the Anglican church and other spiritual communities and the need for regulation + safeguarding. The neurodivergent community is particularly susceptible to this abuse.Kay Louise Aldred is a visionary change maker: a teacher, liberation, embodiment and spirituality orientated theologian, writer and published author.  As a trauma-informed mentor and facilitator, Kay offers online and in-person consultancy, training and resources. She is a prolific writer and is the author of Somatic Shamanism: Your Fleshy Knowing as The Tree of Life, Making Love with the Divine: Sacred, Ecstatic and Erotic Experiences, Mentorship with Goddess: Growing Sacred Womanhood and Embodied Education: Creating Safe Space for Learning, Facilitating and Sharing – all published through GiConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Today’s episode was recorded on January 16 th , 2023, on Martin LutherKing, Jr Day. It’s a powerful conversation I had with author and diversityand inclusion expert, Annemarie Shrouder.Here in the USA, we just held the inauguration for the incoming President,a convicted felon, and his sycophants who have crafted Project 2025, onJanuary 20 th , ironically falling on MLK, Jr Day.Since day One, DEI has been under attack.Federal agencies have begun removing resources from their webpagesfollowing 47’s executive order cracking down on diversity, equity andinclusion initiatives.Agencies also have been cancelling staff trainings and shuttering diversityoffices to comply with the order, who has called for all DEI staff to be put onpaid leave and eventually be laid off. Companies have begun to follow suit.It felt more important than ever to replay this extraordinary conversation,almost like an act of resistance.Annemarie, dubbed the DEI whisperer, and I talk about …Color blindness and the lengths we will go NOT to see differenceThe power of diversity and inclusion – “Inclusion leads to diversity, but diversity doesn’t always lead to inclusion”.How to create safe spaces and the dance of sharing who you are.The construct of race vs racism. And most importantly, we talk about her book.Being bi-racial – and not fitting in to either group.How writing poetry helped her to find her voiceWeaving poetry, personal stories for context, and DEI leadership teachings.Annemarie is the author of the bestselling book, Being Brown in a Blackand White World: Conversations for Leaders about Race, Racism andBelonging in which she expertly and courageously explores in all thestories she shares in her informative and powerful book, how can we movefrom the structures of Either/OR, choosing sides, staying polarized - to theinclusive mindset of BOTH/And, that embraces complexities found withineach of us and in our world at large?A Diversity & Inclusion expert with a Masters in Bias Awareness,Annemarie has spent more than 20 years in the field of Diversity andInclusion as a facilitator, consultant, and international speaker.Watch on YouTube: https://app.maximizeu.life/podcast/edgeofeverydayFind Annemarie:www.annemarieshrouder.comConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

What is Cultural Intelligence? How does it intersect with DEIB? How does it serve being a Change Maker in these challenging times?Today we are #LIVEintheHIVE with high performance coach, TEDx Speaker, and entrepreneur Kristin Joy Ekkens for a compelling conversation about reaching out of our comfort zones and across the cultural divide. How can we be more inclusive? How can we, as 21 st Century Leaders, embrace amore expanded understanding of adaptability? Join us to learn more about the transformational journey towards inclusion, positive cultural change, and high- performance leadership with Kristin. In this episode we touch on…Understanding the Shadow side of Identity.What is CQ – Cultural Intelligence?The evolution of Kristins’ work, which began with her understanding of the intersection of people, culture, and language > Discovering her passion for ancient wisdom > Living with and learning from diverse cultures > Ultimately going into systems and creating an ecosystem of inclusion.DEIB is under attack in the USLearn the four foundational skills of cultural intelligence.Difference between equality and equity.Kristins’ mission and personal ethos: UBUNTU, and her TEDx talk on this topic.Kristins’ latest company addition, Exponential Joy, a membership community: https://www.exponentialjoy.global with retreats and gatherings, which recentlyincluded a pilgrimage along the El Camino de Santiago.All this and so much more!Kristin Joy Ekkens is a TEDx speaker, award-winning entrepreneur, executive coach, strategic advisor, and master facilitator. She's the Founder & CEO of Exponential Inclusion, a global impact company building inclusive and innovative cultures. With over 20 years of experience, Kristin partners with global leaders and organizations to create lasting positive change. She recently completed an Executive program at Stanford Graduate Business School and holds certifications in Edgewalker Facilitation, Cultural Intelligence, and High-Performance Coaching.Find Kristen:www.exi.globalhttps://www.exponentialjoy.global https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjoyekkens/Find Sandra:www.SandraBargman.com@SandraBargmanhttps://bsky.app/profile/sandrabargman.bsky.socialConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

A short, sweet, and special Happy New Year episode with your host, Sandra Bargman.Sandra shares a reading of ‘We Were Made for These Times’ by Dr. Clarissa PinkolaEstes.“My Esteemed Ones –Do not lose heart. We were made for these times. I have heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world now. Ours is a time of almost daily astonishment and often righteous rage over the latest degradations of what matters most to civilized, visionary people. You are right in your assessments.The luster and hubris some have aspired to while endorsing acts so heinous against children, elders, everyday people, the poor, the unguarded, the helpless, is breathtaking.Yet, I urge you, ask you, gentle you, to please not spend your spirit dry by bewailing these difficult times. Especially do not lose hope. Most particularly because, the fact is that we were made for these times.”Wishing our listeners, guests, and everyone who contributes to and uplifts#TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast a very Happy New Year!Find Sandra:SandraBargman.com@sandrabargman#TheEdgeofEveryday #TheEdgeofEverydayPodcast #HappyNewYear2025#WeWereMadeforTheseTimesConnect with your host Sandra Bargman:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn