Live Well. Be Wise

Send us Fan MailMeet Naomie Peasley. She is a Survivor. A Teacher. And a beacon for Hope. She shows us how it’s possible to move from victimhood to accountability one day at a time. In today’s episode we sit down with Naomie Peasley, a Colville Tribal member from the Okanogan Valley. She shares about her life growing up on the reservation, surviving abuse, poverty, generational trauma, and her own alcoholism. With a non-Native mom and a Tribal member father she tells what it was like to straddle both worlds.We talk about the unique struggles of a people who carry so much pain and trauma, knowing how and when to honor that pain and when to move forward with empowered choices to heal and prosper in healthy communities. Her super power is eliminating excuses for people who need help but can’t quite seem to see, or walk the path, she now walks.Listeners this conversation is REAL. We talk about the colonization of the Native American people in our region. We talk about the abuse that happened in local boarding schools. We talk about the horrifying statistics of abuse, alcoholism and suicide for Tribal members. Yes this may land hard, and maybe that's ok. Maybe we can offer our open hearts and minds to listen to the stories of our Native neighbors, like Naomie. To honor the people who's land we live on, who still live here, whose stories are ready to be heard.In the midst of this painful reality, trust me when I say, Naomie's story is one of hope. She is a passionate helper in our regional communities and her story will remind you of what potential lies in us all. You won’t want to miss her message —today.Bio:Naomie Peasley is a proud member of the Colville Confederated Tribes, and a member of the Sinixt Nation. Born and raised in Omak, Washington, she carries deep roots in her community and a lifelong commitment to giving back.After earning her bachelor’s degree from Lewis-Clark State College, Naomie returned home to serve the place that shaped her. Her professional journey has included roles such as managing the Okanogan County Fairgrounds and helping with fire recovery efforts there, as well as working for the Intertribal Agriculture Council to help Tribal producers navigate USDA programs. Today, she serves as the Tribal Engagement Manager with Thriving Together NCW, where she works alongside the Tribe and partners to support efforts that support healthy communities. She also wears the volunteer hat for many different groups. Naomie stays actively involved in her community by coaching youth, referring basketball, volunteering on local boards, supporting youth events, and organizing gatherings that create connection, opportunity, and a sense of belonging.While her career and community involvement reflect her deep commitment to service, Naomie considers motherhood her most important role. She is a proud mom to two teenage daughters who attend Brewster High School and keep her busy year-round with sports and activities. Outside of work, their family cares for a 20-acre farm where they raise hay, horses, pigs, and lambs—staying grounded in the land and the values it represents.Naomie’s journey has not been without challenges. Having faced and overcome significant hardships, she now uses her experiences to uplift others. She is deeply committed to showing her children—and her community—that resilience, growth, and hope are always possible.Resources:1. St. Mary's Mission: A news report on the Omak Catholic Indian Boarding School2. Only 7 Seconds: Local non-profit addressing youth loneliness by encouraging and empowering individuals & partners to connect with others who matter in their lives.

Send us Fan MailToday Dorrinda and I sit down to give our thanks to each other, our listeners, and this community of incredible storytellers! To celebrate the first year of Live Well Be Wise.We reflect back on the year, and share what we're learning through hearing and sharing people's stories of healing through hardship. Additionally what we feel the wisdom process is shaping up to be. Of course we are not social scientists, we are curious humans who are having a conversation about what is bubbling up inside of us. (ps. don't hold us to anything we've said, we are not giving advice of any kind)We do a really fun "mash-up" of wisdom at the end of the episode, with a small nugget of wisdom from each of our Season-1'ers! Huge shout out to Chandra Villano, Ana Gonzalez, Scott Kreiter, Linda Congdon, Juan Pablo Suarez, Kelly Condefer, Blake Suzelis, Jaime Donegan, Briseldy Hernandez-Ramos, Zo Jaspers, Kim Fowler and Jamie Johnson.Please listener, let us know what you think, we want to hear how these stories are sparking something inside of you? If so, reach out, we'd love to hear from you!With gratitude,Kari & [email protected]

Send us Fan MailWe sat down today with Jamie Johnson, a new friend and neighbor in the Upper Valley. She shared with us about how she came to leave the vocation that she loved, teaching. Suffering from overwhelm and demoralization, Jamie says she was no longer willing to be the face of success in an education system that was failing to give it’s students what they needed.We talk about how systems set us up to fail. How burnout isn’t as much of a personal cause as a systemic one. What is the cost of staying in a system and culture that doesn’t align with your values or allow for you to care for your most basic needs like taking a bathroom break? Hence the title of her book, “Teach and Still have Time to Pee.”We unpack the deeper threads of overwhelm, motivation and getting comfortable with allowing struggle, for ourselves and those we love and support. Her business, is called, Kickass Teacher and she has been involved with education in various ways for over 25 years. Bio in English: Jamie Johnson is an overwhelm support coach and former bilingual elementary school teacher who spent years working in one of the highest-pressure school districts in the country. After experiencing demoralization inside a system that conflicted with her values, she joined the Peace Corps and discovered that educator overwhelm is a systemic issue, not a personal failure. Jamie has since founded Kickass Teacher, written Teach and Still Have Time to Pee, and directed museum education programs. Today, she helps high-capacity professionals untangle burnout, reclaim agency, and align work with integrity. She believes overwhelm is a signal of misalignment—and that when we get curious instead of critical, we can focus on what truly matters, creating a life rooted in freedom and balance.In Spanish: Jamie Johnson es coach en manejo del agotamiento y fue maestra bilingüe de primaria durante varios años en uno de los distritos escolares de mayor presión en Estados Unidos. Tras enfrentar la desmoralización dentro de un sistema que no estaba alineado con sus valores, se unió al Peace Corps, donde descubrió que el desgaste profesional en la educación es un problema sistémico, no un fracaso personal. A lo largo de los años, fundó Kickass Teacher, escribió Teach and Still Have Time to Pee y dirigió programas educativos en un museo. Hoy acompaña a profesionales comprometidos y de alto desempeño a desenredar el burnout, recuperar su agencia y alinear su trabajo con su integridad. Cree que el agotamiento es una señal de desalineación y que, cuando elegimos la curiosidad en lugar de la autocrítica, podemos enfocarnos en lo que realmente importa y construir una vida con mayor libertad y equilibrio.Resources:1. Jamie's Coaching Website: Coaching to overcome Overwork & Overwhelm2. Kickass Teacher- her business3. Teach and Still Have Time to Pee her book!4. NCW Healing Arts -the new Collective where we met Jamie!Books she recommends: A) "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less"B) "Demoralized: Why Teachers Leave the Profession They Love and How they Can Stay"

Send us Fan MailWelcome back friends for Season 2! Dorrinda and I are profoundly grateful for your support (listening & sharing) and are thrilled to be back with a full year worth of episodes that aim to inspire hope, connect us across the divide, and foster learning & growth for ourselves and our communities.Today we kick off Season 2 with an incredible story as told by community member, Kim Fowler. She is a cancer warrior and now a survivor, in full remission from stage-3 metastatic breast cancer.Her journey is not just about the fight against cancer, but what was required to heal her life in multiple layers. Kim shares her fiercely won wisdom on the importance of community, what it means to be your own best advocate, when to ask questions and when to rest.She hides nothing and shares her heart in such a way that will warm your heart and give you hope if you too are living with cancer. A fierce advocate, a compassionate ally and the “wig lady” at Cancer Support Community Central Washington, (formerly The Wellness Place of Wenatchee).  She is ready to be of service to those who now stand where she once stood.  Kim is an inspiration to us all and her “shine,” as she calls it, is truly the product of her life, cancer and all. She even says how grateful she is to have had cancer, "it's like the weirdest thing, but it changed my life inside out."She closes with saying how cancer has been a mind-altering, soul-altering journey. It helped her find a more meaningful way of living and being in relationship with her body-mind and heart. Bio:Kim is 64 years-old and married to Mr. Wonderful, Kurt Fowler, her 2nd hubby, of 32 years. Her marriage is his, mine and ours on kids. Three kids from her first marriage, twins from his first and a boy and girl together. All together 5 girls, 2 boys and 13 grandchildren. Kim retired from JCPenneys Salon 4 1/2 years ago, where she was the salon manager. She was in the beauty business around 40 years. She loves to read, do yoga, listen to music and play with her grand-babies. Being in nature is always good medicine for Kim. She loves meeting new people, making friends and connecting with like minded people. Life is beautiful!Local Cancer Care Resources Recommended by Kim:1. Cancer Support Community Central Washington (formerly The Wellness Place)2. EASE - Exercise & Survivorship Education

Send us Fan MailIn episode-11 Briseldy Hernandez - Ramos tells us how growing up Latina in a white world had her constantly wondering what it meant to belong. Facing the challenges of growing up in a migrant farm-working family, moving from school to school, in environments of racial bias and prejudice, she struggled to see herself in the spaces she found herself in. After years using heavy cosmetics to lighten her dark skin she says, “I had to learn what it was to really be me.” She began writing in middle school, finding an outlet to express her raw feelings and experiences. It was here she could finally give words to what it was like to walk in her "worn out shoes." Then she spent 3-years doing community organizing work, with Rural People's Voice. This, she says, helped her fully find her voice and uncover those parts of herself that had previously been hidden. She highlights how she learned to meet conflict with skills of active, intentional listening and personal vulnerability. Briseldy shares her first published poem, "Minecraft Audios & I" and how she  brought together Minecraft audios and the insidious fear for Latino families in current times.Be inspired by this young woman. She models with grace and vulnerability, how we can all choose to grow through hardship on purpose. She plans to fight for social, racial and economic justice.Bio: Briseldy Herandez-Ramos is a 20-year-old senior at the University of Washington majoring in Law, Economics & Public Policy with a minor in Creative Writing. Briseldy is involved in over six cohorts, multiple political leadership councils, and holds a variety of leadership roles that push for racial, social and economic justice. This includes being a council member for Sage Leader’s Political Leadership Council, a social services intern at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, an Organizer at Rural People’s Voice, a field manager at Environment Washington, an active member for Washington State’s Public Health Association, being awarded the Seattle Poetry Fellowship and selected for the Washington Youth Arts Leadership program and finally, a published author. Briseldy has made a profound impact on the lives of many. Specifically, with in-depth canvassing experience at Rural People’s Voice, she helped stop the repeal of I-2109 and I-2117 (Capital Gains Tax and the Climate Commitment Act) that provided immense support for working families, students, and children. Focusing on creative nonfiction, she writes about immigrant injustices stemming from her own. Briseldy is deeply inspired by her brother, Kevin, who, alongside her, continues paving the way for those who once stood in fear.Resources:1. Briseldy's poem "Minecraft Audios & I"  2. Rural People's VoiceEn el episodio 11, Briseldy Hernandez-Ramos nos cuenta cómo crecer como latina en un mundo blanco la llevó a preguntarse constantemente qué significaba pertenecer.Al enfrentarse a los desafíos de crecer en una familia de trabajadores agrícolas migrantes, cambiando de escuela, a menudo en entornos de prejuicios y prejuicios raciales, le costó reconocerse en los espacios en los que se encontraba. Tras años usando maquillaje intenso para aclarar su piel oscura, dice: "Tuve que aprender a ser realmente yo misma."Comenzó a escribir en la secundaria, encontrando una vía de escape para expresar sus sentimientos y experiencias más crudas. Fue allí donde finalmente pudo expresar con palabras lo que era caminar con sus "zapatos desgastados." Luego, pasó tres años trabajando en la organización comunitaria con Rural People's Voice. Esto, dice, la ayudó a encontrar su voz y a descubrir esas

Send us Fan MailIn episode 10, we sit down with community member Zoe Jaspers to talk about the very real intersection in his life between Christian faith and being transgender (someone whose gender is different than the gender they were assumed to be at birth). Just as a trans-Atlantic journey crosses the Atlantic Ocean, the trans-gender journey crosses gender (from that assigned at birth). How can we navigate understanding in these waters with grace and curiosity instead of judgment and fear?With incredible depth and clarity, Zoe tells us the story of how he walked into the Christian faith and how it became the safe and supportive community that allowed him to explore his faithful journey through gender.  Zoe shows us what it means to be curious, even with fear, and move forward anyway. He shares...what it means to have lived as a woman but to never feel at home in his body as such.the difference between performing gender norms versus knowing with authenticity who you are.how femininity continues to play a role in his life as a man and how he embodies both.how he intentionally approached his medical transition and how hormone treatment has brought him clarity and peace of body, mind, and spirit. Zoe walks us through multiple pathways to understanding: in terms of Christian scripture and theology, as well as simply through his lived experience. He unpacks concepts around co-creation, resurrection, “knowing a tree by its fruits,” and more.If there is someone out there who can humbly be in service to connecting the people inside the trans experience and those outside of it--it is Zoe Jaspers.Please join us friends and neighbors, as we cross this bridge with compassion and understanding —together.Bio: Zoe Jaspers (he/they) serves as a Christian minister in the Wenatchee Valley, focused especially at the intersection of justice history, contemplative spirituality, and collective liberation. Outside of their work in direct ministry, Zoe loves reading on topics of all sorts (recent topics of note include speleology and mycology), learning various fibercrafts like knitting and embroidery, sipping iced coffee at the farmer’s market, and befriending all cats.Resources:1. Sunnyslope Church: https://www.sunnyslopechurch.org/2. Interfaith Justice Coalition: [email protected] 

Send us Fan MailJoin us today for Episode-8 as we sit down with Jaime Donegan, a neighbor and creator in the Wenatchee Valley! His story begins and ends with this statement, "this is your day...""How do we get off the hamster wheel of life, motivated solely by other people's demands, and return to our own rhythm and pace?" Jaime tells us how to do just this! With purpose and passion Jaime shares how he came to his foundational truth --to live a life that he wanted to live, AND how it has helped him fulfill his life's mission.We talk about:how his first grade teacher helped him find his "voice"how significant loss took him on a 3-month grief trek in the Himalayasthe exact moment he decided to get out of "the race" and live for himselfAND...what it means to live a "home-free" lifeIf you have never met Jaime Donegan or been significantly inspired by someone else's unconventional and creative life, now is your chance.  AND if you are struggling with being the creator of your own life, he gives specific tips to start that journey of finding your own voice and living the life you deserve and desire. Enjoy!Bio:Jaime Donegan is a native of Indiana and a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington, IN and is the owner of Jaime Donegan Productions.  Jaime has directed Follies Variety Shows that are used as charity fundraisers for 41 years. He has produced shows in 38 states and has helped to raise over 18 million dollars for various charities and community projects. In addition to his own production company, Jaime has also been the CEO of Meridian Creative Artist Development Company in New York City and continues to work with all types of artists across the country by coaching them and helping them polish their performance skills. In 2013, Jaime started the Hot August Nights summer theater series at the Numerica Performing Arts Center in Wenatchee, WA and is also co-creator/director of Holiday Spicier at the PAC.  When not directing theatrical productions Jaime can be found growing grapes, landscaping, making, drinking and pouring wine at Fielding Hills Winery on beautiful lake Chelan or traveling the world in search of adventure and incredible life experiences.    Finding balance in life is always the goal. 

Send us Fan MailIf you’ve ever wondered what it takes to heal at the deepest layers possible, question everything, leave integral parts of yourself behind, and come out the other side with a smile on your face, you must meet Blake Suzelis.His story of hardship begins at birth, when he is born with his intestines on the outside of his abdomen, a condition called gastroschisis. He has not only survived the prognosis given to his mother of 3-years old, but has gone on to become a mental health practitioner and now a doctor of Mindbody Medicine.  Through decades of physical challenges, cancer diagnoses and a 17-day coma while visiting Peru, Blake shares how he has found himself again and again— awakened. All of which have birthed his incredible 3-part healing system that he teaches through his work at Vital Evolution. His story is one of profound grit, grace and healing. Blake is a clear teacher and role model of what it means to embody a growth mindset, to Live Lucky, and be committed to learning to Live Well and Be Wise.Bio:Dr. Blake Suzelis, PhD, Mindbody Medicine, is a holistic therapist, researcher, and cancer warrior whose work bridges science and spirituality to understand the innate ability to heal. After being born with a birth defect, diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and surviving near-death experiences, Blake devoted his life to understanding spontaneous remission — leading the first quantitative study on the mind-body-spirit role in cancer healing. He is the founder of Vital Evolution, the only Three-Phase holistic cancer retreat model in the U.S., where he guides individuals through a transformative mind-body-spirit healing approach combining neuroscience, epigenetics, spirituality, and lived wisdom.Resources:1. 3- Part Healing Guide:  www.vitalevolution.com/healingguide2. Blake's websites:www.vitalevolution.com; www.liveluckytherapy.com; www.blakesuzelis.com3. Blake's Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vital-evolution/id1637349654 4. Blake's Healing Retreat in East Wenatchee On October 25, 2025. https://www.vitalevolution.com/event-details-registration/awaken-your-bodys-healing-power-in-wa

Send us Fan MailIn episode #7 we are honored to sit down with community member and healthcare provider, Kelly Condefer. You may never get this much authenticity from your own doctor, but you will in this episode!She tells about her experience of seeking happiness in achievement and her life-long battle with depression. With humor and humility she shares what she found at the top of "the ladder" of success and what it took to break through this myth and mindset.We unpack the cultural and familial beliefs and values that build a false mindset of acquiring happiness and how growing up this way caused her deepest wound.  The wound of not belonging.  Hear how she walked through her own dark night of the soul and came to know "happiness is within you, you can't acquire it." Dr. Condefer also shares her wellness practices that have allowed her to re-train her nervous system.  She says, "The cold water has trained my nervous system to relax into the discomfort, and accept that it's there."A story filled with inspiration, and hope that could leave you pondering your own path to happiness and who knows, even considering a cold plunge!! She leaves us with several powerful questions as prompts for our own path to Wellness & Wisdom: 1. Can you embody a feeling that you want to have in your life? 2. Feel, in your body, what it means to be well?3. Do you know what your deepest wound is and can you be with it?Bio: Kelly has been a practicing neurologist in Wenatchee for the past 15 years.  She is fascinated by the mysteries of the nervous system and the challenges she helps her patients face in dealing with neurological conditions.  One of her greatest joys is making heartfelt connections with her patients, and she has a strong interest in helping people understand the connection between experienced traumas and functional neurological disorders.  When not serving as a doctor, she is a dedicated animal lover and plant cultivator, and lives with her partner Neal and scrappy pup Scout (AKA Pupcup), and sweet kitties Nellie and Fitzpatrick.Resources:1. Book "The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment" by Eckhart Tolle, 2004.2. Teresa of Avila, The golden palace3. The “Ice Man,” or Wim Hof Method

Send us Fan MailPart II of II in this Series! If you've missed Part I, please go back and listen to that in Episode-5 when we first met Juan Pablo Suarez.Today you will hear us deepen the conversation we began in Part I.  Juan Pablo shares with us how part of his journey to Wellness was realizing the dream of becoming a father. He shares his "domino effect" and how it all came into place. Highlighting how mental and emotional health can impact our physical health and beyond, we celebrate this deeply inspiring conversation with a funny and insightful young man in our community. We discuss how Juan Pablo found freedom in his life by saying "no" and how it allows him more space to know and accept himself more fully.He unpacks what it means to care for himself and for others and the importance of keeping his agenda and unsolicited advice out of it. His learning around knowing what is his to fix and what is not, is such a powerful lesson for us all! Beyond and through it all, Juan Pablo has learned in his young 31-years the power of story.  He wholeheartedly believes that if he doesn't share his story, then it will be told incorrectly by the world at large. His passion is to share his life so that others will share theirs and through the process, for people to connect & learn from their mistakes.  He says, "we don't have a straight way to go through life, but we gotta go!"Don't forget to connect with Juan Pablo by checking out his resources!Resources: 1. Book- "Entre los rotos / Among the Broken" by Premio Mauricio Achar 2019. 2. Juan Pablo’s passion project: La Voc de mi Emocion presents, "Al borde del colapso" Find out more & follow on TikTok!Spanish:Hoy nos escucharán profundizar en la conversación que iniciamos en la Parte I. Juan Pablo nos cuenta cómo parte de su camino hacia el bienestar fue hacer realidad su sueño de ser padre. Comparte su "efecto dominó" y cómo todo se concretó. Destacando cómo la salud mental y emocional puede impactar nuestra salud física y más allá, celebramos esta conversación profundamente inspiradora con un joven divertido y perspicaz de nuestra comunidad.Hablamos de cómo Juan Pablo encontró libertad en su vida al decir "no" y cómo esto le permite más espacio para conocerse y aceptarse más plenamente.Nos explica lo que significa cuidar de sí mismo y de los demás, y la importancia de mantener sus intereses personales y los consejos no solicitados al margen. Su aprendizaje sobre qué debe arreglar y qué no es una lección poderosa para todos nosotros.Más allá de todo esto, Juan Pablo ha aprendido a sus 31 años el poder de las historias. Cree firmemente que si no comparte su historia, el mundo la contará incorrectamente. Su pasión es compartir su vida para que otros compartan la suya y, a través del proceso, conectar con otros y aprender de sus errores. Dice: «No tenemos un camino recto por la vida, ¡pero tenemos que recorrerlo!».¡No olvides conectar con Juan Pablo consultando sus recursos!Recursos:-Libro que le cambió la vida: Entre los rotos (Premio Mauricio Achar 2019). Disponible en cualquier tienda de libros.-El proyecto de pasión de Juan Pablo: La Voz de mi Emoción presenta "Al borde del colapso". ¡Descubre más siguiéndolo en TikTok!

Send us Fan MailThis interview takes place in 2 parts: Part I is here & Part II coming soon!Today we hear from community member Juan Pablo Suarez.  He shares about learning to live in the present moment and how living in the past or in the future keeps us from being happy.  We talk about what it means to live an authentic life. He says, “One day I woke up and decided to be myself.”Juan Pablo also shares about the deep impact suicide and death has had in his life.  We unpack the family pattern of how work was non-negotiable and about pushing past your limits. He believes these patterns contributed to the early deaths of his uncle, his grandmother and his father. His wish is not to repeat their mistakes. Juan Pablo works at Rural People's Voice where he is a community organizer. He says if I can share and open myself to others, maybe I can inspire others to express themselves. He wants people to know, it’s okay not to be okay and there is strength is owning your emotions. He is creating a platform to help people share their stories.  He is currently collecting letters of people’s stories for this project called, “Al borde del collapso." Resources: 1. Book- "Entre los rotos / Among the Broken" by Premio Mauricio Achar 2019. 2. Juan Pablo’s passion project: La Voc de mi Emocion presents, "Al borde del colapso" Find out more & follow on TikTok!Spanish: En el episodio 5, exploramos el Bienestar y la Sabiduría a través de relaciones fallidas, errores familiares y lo que significa ser vulnerable.Esta entrevista consta de dos partes: ¡La Parte I ya está aquí y la Parte II próximamente! Hoy escuchamos a Juan Pablo Suárez, vecino y miembro de la comunidad. Nos habla sobre aprender a vivir el presente y cómo vivir en el pasado o preocuparse por el futuro nos impide ser felices. Dice: "Cuando siempre deseamos algo más para ser felices, no disfrutamos de lo que tenemos y no vivimos el presente". Hablamos de lo que significa vivir una vida auténtica. Dice: "Un día me desperté y decidí ser yo mismo". Este pensamiento lo infundió en valentía. Dijo que después de esto, todo en su vida comenzó a cambiar. Sabía que tenía que actuar para estar más presente. Juan Pablo también habla sobre el profundo impacto que el suicidio y la muerte han tenido en su vida. Analizamos el patrón familiar de cómo el trabajo era innegociable y sobre superar los límites. Nunca aprender a descansar. Cree que estos patrones contribuyeron a la muerte prematura de su tío, su abuela y su padre. Su deseo es no repetir sus errores. Juan Pablo aprendió a sentir y, en los momentos difíciles, se dio cuenta de que expresar sus sentimientos (incluso cuando son vulnerables) lo hacía más vivo y conectado con su yo auténtico. Juan Pablo dijo que ir a terapia para comprenderse mejor realmente lo cambió todo.Juan Pablo es un joven emprendedor. Dijo: "Descubrí que me gusta mucho intentar ayudar a la gente y, en el proceso, me ayudo a mí mismo". Si puedo compartir historias y abrirme a los demás, tal vez pueda inspirar a otros a expresarse. Al final, quiere que la gente sepa que está bien no estar bien. Y que la fuerza reside en mostrar las emociones.Juan Pablo trabaja en Rural People's Voice, donde es organizador comunitario. Lleva sus perspectivas de vida a su comunidad creando una plataforma para ayudar a las personas a compartir sus emociones e historias. Actualmente recopila cartas (escritas a mano) con historias para su proyecto "Al borde del colapso". ¡Síguelo en TikTok!Recursos:-Libro que le cambió la vida: Entre los rotos (Premio Mauricio Achar 2019). Disponible en cualquier tienda de libros.-El proyecto de pasión de Juan Pablo: La Voz de mi Emoción presenta "Al bo

Send us Fan Mail"My heart believed I was a mistake."  Join us as we sit down with Linda Congdon, longtime Wenatchee resident, to learn about the inspiration for her first book, "Planted by Love." We hear first-hand, how she transforms this false belief, of being a mistake, and ultimately finds her way home to a loving heart.  For herself and for the biological parents she never knew.At 38 years old, Linda heard the voice of God say to her, “you have a natural father, you think of it as a closed book, but it’s an open book to me.” This is where her journey began, thirty two years ago.  We talk about how Linda worked with the Washington state agency, Washington Adoption Reunion Movement (WARM) to find her birth mother. How after about a year and a half waiting to hear news, one day she received a call from the agency, saying, “we found your birth mother, she will be calling you in about 20-minutes.” Hear how she reacted to the news and what happens when they meet a few months later.We unpack the process of forgiveness. The way it deepens self-awareness and helps us find the keys to unlock our own loving heart. You’ll also find out how to reframe feelings of brokenness to points of growth & maturity and how this helped Linda heal her relationship to self. Linda says, "I lived a lot of my life, not very alive, and deeply disconnected." She discovers through her personal journey to finding her birth parents that she is in fact loved and connected. It was only then she could release the rejection and abandonment, connected to her true heart---open and wanting more. Resources:1. Washington Adoption Reunion Movement - https://warmsearch.org2. Linda's Book, "Planted by Love" - On Amazon3. Reach out to Linda: [email protected].

Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode we sit down with friend and neighbor Scott Kreiter. He shares his story about helping his mom remain independent to the last moment--to choose death with dignity. (And no he didn’t kill anyone!) Scott calls himself a neanderthal, not someone who is a deep thinker, but honestly we decided this show proves him wrong! With humor and depth he walks us through the stark reality of having your mom call you at 6 am the day after Christmas and say, "today's the day."Scott was helping his mom end her life as she wished and well let’s just say, nothing ever goes quite as planned.  Learn about the roadblocks and moving goalposts of helping a parent with terminal illness and how to successfully access Washington State’s “Death With Dignity Act.” Specifically how he and his family worked with End of Life Washington to make it happen. (see resource below)We also discuss lessons learned on guilt, regret and "shoulds" and how a Saturday Night Live skit helped Scott let go of these unhealthy habits. Hang on until the end when Scott reads his carefully constructed, "How to Stay Young" checklist, created by he and his wife Amy. These are his wise gems to share with the world as he incredulously retorts when I ask him about wisdom, "I'm too young to be wise, I'm only 55!"Spoiler alert: there’s also some cussing, Willie Nelson and day-drinking in this one!Scott works as a Project Manager in hydropower recreation, archaeology, and construction management, along with a potpourri of other things that don't really go together. He is an expert at none of these things. Scott's interests are in pretty much anything outdoors (biking, hiking, kayaking), having cocktails with friends, and traveling to the Caribbean. But at his core he is a homebody, with his true happy place being at home with family and whatever friends happen to drop by. Scott and his wife, Amy, are also the owners and managers of  what they jokingly call "The Divorce Ranch"...but that's a story for another day. Resources:1. End of Life Washington, non-profit that helps people navigate the process of utilizing the Death With Dignity Act. 2. Topic Related Podcast: "When Death is Scheduled" on Grief Out Loud

Send us Fan MailDorrinda and I sat down with community member, Ana Gonzalez, who tells about living with severe childhood mental health issues and how she came out the other side.  Ana was raised in a Mexican household, facing significant barriers of poverty, trauma and cultural assimilation at a young age.  An experience that profoundly impacted her path to healing and instilled a deep belief in the power of boundaries and forgiveness--- two of her essential tools for growth & learning. She also highlights the challenges of single parenthood and the mental focus, intentionality and support that helped her get through AND seed her dreams. We discuss the value of emotional and mental health for children, the challenges that block it; including cultural beliefs, stigmas, and lack of community-based resources.  With vulnerability, humility and courage Ana shows us how this early experience, shaped her career, her mindset and has fueled her path today for living a good life. A life where she cares for her own mental health and all those she serves in our community.Ana is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and National Board-Certified Counselor with over a decade of experience in social services. With a unique blend of clinical expertise, cultural insight, and personal connection to first responders, Ana brings a compassionate, real-world perspective to conversations about mental wellness, fueling her passion for helping others heal—both on and off duty.Mental Health Resources: 1. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or call "988" 2. A school-based national program where struggling students confide in their peers. Locally, the Eastmont school district uses this model and has multiple schools where the program is active.  https://hopesquad.com/3. One of Ana's local resources to share specifically for first responders in crisis. https://code4nw.org/

Send us Fan MailWARNING: graphic language around suicide loss in this episodeJoin us as we talk with friend and healthcare provider, Chandra Villano, for a richly engaging and awe-inspiring story of surviving suicide loss and near death experience.  Hear how these events profoundly shaped her life and her personal path to wellness.  She explains how her "... deep dive into drugs, alcohol and sex" was a direct numbing response to her traumatic loss.  With humility and clarity she walks us into her story. To hear how she woke up to a life worth living.  Chandra has vast lived experience and sparks us with some tried and true gems for living well.There's vulnerability, authenticity, and grit here friends, tune in to hear how these traits shaped one woman's path to wellness.Helpful Links:-To connect or read more about what Chandra does in today's world check her out here: https://drvillano.com/-If you, or someone you know is having a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide please call or text 988, or chat online at 988lifeline.org.-Bastyr University is a Naturopathic University in the Seattle area: https://bastyr.edu/

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