Shows
Stories on PurposeE14 Hyper-Achiever to Peaceful Observer, a Meditation Story | Stan AjemianWhat happens when a hyper-achiever tries to master meditation in ten days? For me, it ended with violently throwing up in front of a hundred silent meditators and carrying that trauma for years. But that embarrassing failure became the doorway to the practice that has transformed my life more than anything else.In this solo episode, I share my winding journey with meditation, from that disastrous ten-day silent retreat where I tried to be the "best meditator in the room," to finding a teacher who helped me begin again by telling me, “Don’t meditate.” I open up about how me...
2026-02-0935 minStories on PurposeE13 From Divorcing His Parents to Soulful Leadership | James Davis-MasseyAt the age of 12, James Davis-Massey made one of the most difficult decisions of his life: he stood before a court and divorced his parents. It was a soulful decision, one that defied logic and wasn't driven by what his head or even his heart told him, but by a deeper knowing that he needed to move toward safety and love. Growing up in an environment marked by abuse, alcoholism, and neglect, James knew deep within himself that he needed safety and love, even if it meant making an extraordinary choice that most children never face.That...
2026-01-2743 minStories on PurposeE12 Writing with Polly: A Grief Mosaic Across Time | Aaron SimmonsAaron Simmons met his wife, Polly, in the Peace Corps, and together they built a life filled with art, literature, and deep partnership. They married, bought a house, and had three children. Then, three years ago, Polly died suddenly from a pulmonary embolism, leaving Aaron to navigate life as a solo father and to wrestle with unanswerable questions.In the midst of his grief, Aaron discovered Polly's journals—pages and pages of her thoughts, insights, and humor written over the years. As he began writing through his own pain in the middle of the night, an idea em...
2025-12-1757 minStories on PurposeE11 Being Different, Again: A Paraplegic Athlete Discovers Power in Standing Out | Tricia DowningWhat happens when the life you've known is taken from you in an instant? For Tricia Downing, a competitive cyclist, that moment came on September 17, 2000, when she was hit head-on by a car and paralyzed from the chest down.But Tricia's story isn't just about a life-changing accident. It's about the resilience she built long before that day, as a biracial adoptee growing up in a white family, navigating a world where she never quite fit in, always standing out.When her injury added another layer to her identity, Tricia had a choice: let it define her, or use...
2025-11-2343 minStories on PurposeE10 My Addiction to Adrenaline, the Cost of Feeling Alive | Stan AjemianIn this deeply personal solo episode, host Stan Ajemian shares his journey through what he calls an "addiction to adrenaline", a pattern of seeking dangerous experiences that masked deeper pain from loneliness and depression. From triggering avalanches in the Canadian Rockies to two catastrophic cycling accidents, Stan reveals how extreme sports became his way of feeling alive and connected to others.This isn’t just a story about adventure gone wrong, but one of transformation, self-awareness, and the power of inner work. Stan contrasts his two major cycling accidents, one before his meditation practice, when he was an...
2025-10-2934 min
PRIME SPACEInsights from Converge 2025“Connection. Celebration. ICF Converge 2025.”In this special episode, Elias Scultori, MCC, takes you straight to the heart of ICF Converge 2025 in San Diego, California — the ICF global gathering of professional coaches. Experience the energy, wisdom, and warmth of this worldwide community through a lively collage of interviews with coaches, leaders, and innovators who are shaping the future of our profession.From emotional reunions to deep reflections on learning, presence, and diversity, these voices remind us of the power of connection that defines coaching — beyond screens, beyond words.Episode Highlights 00:50 - Lyssa deHart, MCC – On...
2025-10-2725 minStories on PurposeE9 Becoming the Person to Receive Real Love | Lyssa deHartIn this heartfelt conversation, Lyssa deHart shares her journey from running away from love to becoming the person who could truly receive it. Through self-awareness, courage, and deep inner work, she learned to release old patterns that once kept her safe but isolated. Lyssa opens up about moving beyond the need to be liked, to genuinely liking others, and herself, in return.Together, Lyssa and host Stan Ajemian explore how our earliest experiences shape how we show up in relationships, and how Lyssa’s deeper understanding of both men and herself led to her marriage of 27 years. Th...
2025-10-1352 minStories on PurposeStories on Purpose TrailerWelcome to Stories on Purpose. I’m your host, Stan Ajemian.This is a podcast about the moments that change us—the stories of adversity, resilience, and transformation that shape who we are and why we do what we do.Every two to three weeks, I release a new episode, usually around 30 to 60 minutes long. Most of the time, you’ll hear me in conversation with remarkable guests who share their journeys of finding meaning through struggle. And every so often, I’ll share my own reflections in solo episodes.My hope is that the...
2025-09-2901 minStories on PurposeE8 Finding Joy and Beauty Even With Cancer | Steve StaruchMost people view cancer as a devastating diagnosis. For Steve Staruch, it was something he met with curiosity and an unwavering belief that he would survive. He credits the steadfast support of the people around him as a vital part of his healing journey.In this episode, Steve, well known as a beloved classical music radio host, shares how he faced cancer while continuing to embrace life with joy and gratitude. He reflects on the ways music, faith, and community became sources of strength, and how leaning into beauty allowed him to thrive even in difficult times.
2025-09-2040 minStories on PurposeE7 Reconciliation and Growth From German Roots to Indigenous Dialogue | Sebastian MerzSebastian Merz grew up in Germany, where the people continue to carry the reality of a dark past that has never been fully reconciled. His search for peace within his family and culture eventually led him to Canada, where he now serves as a government negotiator on reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia, while also guiding his coaching clients through their own transformations.In this episode, Sebastian speaks candidly about the pain he carries from his German ancestry and the parallels he sees in the struggles of reconciliation with Indigenous communities. He reflects on the tension...
2025-09-0837 minStories on PurposeE6 From Professional Skier to Life Reimagined After Nearly Dying | Eric DavisEric Davis was a professional alpine skier, on track for the Olympics or the World Cup circuit. Then, at just 22, he was diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The illnesses and the powerful medications prescribed to treat them pushed his body to the edge, and at one point, nearly took his life.That near-death moment became a profound awakening. Eric recalls feeling separate from his body and from the person he had always known himself to be. In that moment, something shifted. Against all odds, he experienced a spontaneous remission of his autoimmune illnesses....
2025-08-1855 minStories on PurposeE5 Honoring His Place in the World and Embracing Uncomfortable Moments | Elias ScultoriElias Scultori began his career as a classical musician in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was later invited to perform in another musical capital, New York City, appearing on some of the world’s most iconic stages, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.Despite similarities between these two international cities, Elias shares the challenges he faced in adapting to the culture of the United States. He reflects on how a shift in language and environment creates entirely new ways of seeing the world, and of being.He speaks beautifully about how un...
2025-08-0647 minStories on PurposeE4 Help Anyone. Hurt No One | Tony LatimerAt age 17, Tony Latimer was the first on the scene of a major car crash and made a life-threatening decision that would shape the rest of his life. Earlier in his life, his uncle had given him the advice, “Help anyone, hurt no one,” and “You never want to get to the end, when it’s too late, and look back and say, if only I had…” He also observed the big and stable Catholic Church change its mind on issues, from which he learned that he could challenge anything.These lessons gave him the courage to make bold mo...
2025-07-1649 minStories on PurposeE3 Overdoing His Way to a Values Driven Life | Jonathan ReitzJonathan Reitz grew up hearing the message that he’s worthless and not likely to amount to much, even when he somehow knew he was capable. The message and the disconnect of it led to depression, which, when combined with his addictive personality, led to years of alcoholism. Through acceptance of himself and deep inner work, he overcame his depression, and he used his addictive personality to drive a career through radio and television to become a leader in the coaching community.More recently, he was diagnosed with ADHD and learned to embrace his divergent thinking that pr...
2025-06-2451 minStories on PurposeE2 Being an Artist is Really Mastering Yourself | Paul BoehnkeIn this episode, Stan Ajemian interviewed Paul Boehnke, who spent 30 years as a classical musician, and through self-discovery, realized that his love of being an artist lay as much in the inner work as in his love of his instrument, and his desire to share his insights with his students and the world led him to a career in coaching.Learn more about Paul Boehnke’s work:Website: https://paulboehnke.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@innercriticcoach Thoughts on Demand book: https://thoughtsondemand.org/ To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in...
2025-06-0938 minStories on PurposeE1 My Own Journey Through Challenges to Find My Purpose and Identity | Stan AjemianIn this premiere episode, host Stan Ajemian shares his personal journey through trauma, loss, and reinvention. From a near-fatal accident to the collapse of his marriage and career, Stan reflects on how inner work led him to a develop radical acceptance and gratitude, which led to his new purpose in coaching. A story of transformation, growth, and discovering strength on the other side of struggle.Click Here for the TranscriptStanLet’s connect:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: stan@beingthechangecoaching.com...
2025-06-0428 min
Somatic WisdomS6 E7 Stan Ajemian, Life and Leadership Coach, on Resilience, Finding Gifts in Challenges, and Somatic MeditationHello Listeners, For a machine-generated transcript, please click here. Stan Ajemian's website is here. You can find his LinkedIn Profile here. His podcast, coming later this Spring is entitled Stories on Purpose. *** To schedule a reading through a special offer with Cristy (for Somatic Wisdom listeners) using natal astrology and coaching, please use this Calendly link. *** We would love to hear your thoughts or questions on this episode via SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/SomaticWisdomLoveNotes To show your gratitude for this show, you can make a on...
2025-03-2942 min
Judgement Day: T2 VS CinemaT2 vs Holiday DetritusThis week: low budget holiday movies with a slew of returning guests and a very exciting celebrity cameo by Mr. Matt Farley of Motern Media!Featuring: Olivia Leirer, Megan Carroll, Peter Jubinsky, Viktor Maco, Caroline Debevec and Anastasia Usinowicz!FILMS DISCUSSED: CHRISTMAS AGAIN, THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS RUSH, CHRISTMAS CATCH and THE MOTERN MEDIA CHRISTMAS SPECIALTheme by Johnny Ampersand: https://jonnyampersand.bandcamp.com/Contact the podcast at judgementdaypod@gmail.comContributing Artists: Carol of the Bells by Live Action Fezz...
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