Shows
Better Place Project with Steve NorrisTop 8 Tips for Co-Parenting Success Post DivorceDivorce is both an ending and a beginning, especially when children are involved. Join me, Steve Norris, as I unravel the complex web of maintaining a child-centered focus during and after custody splits. With guidance from research by Gritsch, Fincham, and the Gottman Institute, this episode shares eight critical strategies that prioritize your kids' emotional well-being. You'll hear heartfelt personal stories and learn why it's crucial to steer clear of negative talk about your ex in front of the children, how to communicate effectively, and the profound influence of kindness on your family's future dynamic.Transitioning to...
2024-05-2115 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisJillian Turecki: Embracing the Dance of Modern Love and Self-Discovery - Encore PerformanceCaught in the whirlwind of modern love and personal transformation, I, Steve Norris, alongside the insightful relationship coach Jillian Turecki, share an intimate view on the dance of connection and self-discovery. In a world where the swipe of a finger can dictate the next chapter of our love lives, we unpack the digital age's impact on relationships and the courage it takes to nurture authenticity. As we unravel the threads of connection, you'll be privy to heart-stirring stories and transformative wisdom that beckon you to look inward and foster healthier bonds with those you cherish.Journey with...
2024-05-141h 02Better Place Project with Steve NorrisOrgasms, Tantra Sex and the Benefits of Sleeping Naked, with Intimacy Coach Magda KayIn this week's episode, Steve sits down with intimacy expert, Tantra Teacher, and Relationship Coach, Magda Kay to talk about all things sex. Magda has written a brand new book titled No More Faking it: A Woman’s Guide to Getting the Love, Pleasure and Fulfillment She Deeply Desires – And Steve & Magda leave nothing on the table in this conversation. They talk about tantra sex, orgasms, why some women aren’t having orgasms and how to fix that, They talk about F Power, what that means and the 4 inner voices that women and men have that can help us p...
2024-01-161h 06Better Place Project with Steve NorrisHoliday Episode: Steve & Erin's Christmas Memories - Encore Presentation from 2020In this Holiday / Christmas Bonus Episode from 2020, Erin & I chat about our own holiday traditions growing up and what we look forward to the most about the holidays. We even take a trip down memory lane and listen to clips of some Norris original Christmas songs from the 90s and early 2000s. That’s right, we have our own Christmas album. Hehe! Pour yourself some eggnog or hot cocoa and enjoy this holiday special!To stay connected with Better Place Project and for updates and behind the scenes info, please follow us on social media:
2023-12-1341 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisSteve's Top 7 Tips for Staying YoungerThis is my birthday week, so, I’ve decided to do an episode on my top tips for staying young. When I decided to do this episode, I googled “Tips for staying younger….” And I couldn’t believe it. Virtually every article was about how to LOOK younger. Good Housekeeping has 19 ways to LOOK younger, readers digest has 47 simple ways to look younger, and they all talk about “use this skin cream, this moisturizer, this sun screen, take supplements, use this hair conditioner etc. It’s all about focused on Looking younger: I’m talking about how to FEEL young...
2023-10-1018 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisActivist and Author, Dr. Terence Lester - All God’s Children: How Confronting Buried History Can Build Racial Solidarity, Part 1I am so honored to have Dr. Terence Lester back to chat about his thought-provoking new book, All God’s Children: How Confronting Buried History Can Build Racial Solidarity.In this Part 1, Steve & Terence cover topics such as:Terence's near fatal auto accidentHis receiving his Ph.D.The inspiring story that was the impetus for launching Love Beyond WallsDismantling unrecognized prejudice"The Talk" that Terence and other black parents have to have with their childrenSteve shares his white privilege storyTerence's take on "color blindness."Black history and the importance of it being taught accurately in schools to...
2023-10-031h 02Better Place Project with Steve Norris5 Steps to Finding Your Purpose: Solo EpisodeJoin us on a transformative journey where we explores the profound quest of finding your true purpose. Steve will guide us through the maze of self-discovery, humor, and enlightenment as we uncover the magic of purpose.Discover why finding your purpose can be utterly life-changing, like unlocking a treasure chest within yourself. We'll dive into the six steps that lead you to your life's most exciting story, your "why," and your compass for navigating life's seas.Prepare for an adventure filled with nuggets of insight, as Steve guides you toward your own treasure chest of...
2023-09-1214 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisSeasonal Changes and the Human PsycheIn this episode, we explore the profound impact of seasonal changes on the human psyche and discuss strategies to alleviate the effects on mood and promote well-being. We begin by understanding how seasonal variations influence our biological clock, hormonal balance, and neurotransmitter activity, directly affecting our mood. The reduction in daylight hours during winter disrupts the natural production of serotonin, leading to feelings of lethargy, sadness, and a decrease in overall well-being. We also explore how changes in daily routines and activities, such as limited outdoor time and colder temperatures, can contribute to a sense of isolation a...
2023-06-1321 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisPsychotherapist Monica Haughey: Engaging Our Creativity to Live Our Best LifeIn this week's episode, Steve spends some time with Monica Haughey, a Transformational Coach and Psychotherapist, to explore the topic of creativity and its transformative power in our lives.The conversation begins with the question, "What is a creative entrepreneur?" Monica shares her insights into the concept of creative entrepreneurship and sheds light on the unique qualities and mindset of individuals who combine creativity with entrepreneurial endeavors. She explains how creative entrepreneurs bring innovative ideas to life, often in the form of businesses or projects that disrupt traditional norms and offer new solutions to problems....
2023-06-0641 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisEncore Bonus Christmas Episode with Steve & ErinIn this Encore Christmas Bonus Episode from 2020, Erin and I chat about our own holiday traditions growing up and what we look forward to the most about the holidays. We even take a trip down memory lane and listen to clips of some Norris original Christmas songs from the 90s and early 2000s. That’s right, we have our own Christmas album. Pour yourself some eggnog or hot cocoa and enjoy this holiday special!To stay connected with Better Place Project and for updates and behind the scenes info, please follow us on social media:
2022-12-2040 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisThe Power of Somatic BreathworkIn this episode Steve and his guest, therapist Lisa Strawn, discuss their life changing experience with Somatic Breathwork. Steve and Lisa participated in a recent in-person Somatic Breathwork Practitioner training conducted by Somatic Breathwork founders, Steven Jagger and Fish Fischer. In this episode Steve and Lisa discuss:* What Somatic Breathwork is and how it helps people heal.* The release of stress, emotions and trauma through Somatic Breathwork* The power of community *The process of healing * Combining Somatic Breathwork with other modalities* How you can experience Somatic Breathwork
2022-12-1325 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The Story of Ben Norris' Gift of a KidneyWould you donate one of your kidneys to a complete stranger? In fact, a stranger that you've never met and may never meet? Well that's exactly what 21 year-old Ben Norris did.Listen to this short, inspiring 15 minute episode to learn about what made Ben decide to do this and why we all should consider donating, not necessarily a kidney, but blood, platelets, plasma etc, and becoming an organ donor (upon death).For more information about kidney donation, please visit:https://www.kidney.org/To stay connected with Better Place Project and fo...
2022-09-0915 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! Five Minutes from Seeing the World: Restoring Sight to the BlindIn this episode, Steve tells the story of Himalayan Cataract Project. The vast majority of blindness in the world is unnecessary—caused by cataracts, actually, and curable with a five-minute surgery. High costs kept the surgery out of reach for many millions until Nepalese ophthalmologist, Dr. Sanduk Ruit, saw differently and invented a way to cure blindness for the poor, everywhere. This is the work of the Himalayan Cataract Project—the most inspiring, innovative nonprofit you’ve never heard of.Two ophthalmologists, Dr. Sanduk Ruit and Dr. Geoff Tabin, started the Himalayan Cataract Project to fulfill their persona...
2022-08-2614 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisRandall Wallace: Award-Winning Writer, Editor, and Pop Critic on the Power of MusicIn this episode, Steve sits down with former LA Times Music Veteran Randall Roberts to chat about the power of music in our lives, why we should be carving out time to listen to music, and they even swap some behind the music scene stories as Randall shares what it's like to sit down with the likes of Mick Jagger, PJ Harvey, Danny Elfman and others.Randall Roberts is an award-winning writer, editor, music freak and disc jockey who recently left his post covering music and culture for the Los Angeles Times. During his 12 years there...
2022-08-0254 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The "Mind the Gap" Love StoryIn this weeks, episode, Steve tells the story of Dr. Margaret McCollum, who would go to the Tube Station in London, sit on a bench, and wait for the subway doors to open, so that she could hear the sound of her late husband on the recording warning the passengers to "Mind the Gap."But one day, as the train approached and the doors opened, she was devastated to learn that they had replaced the technology and the recording made in the 1950s by her husband, Oswald Laurence was no longer being used.So Dr. Mc...
2022-07-2905 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisSolo Episode: 100th Celebration - What A Brush with Death, Affairs, Divorces and Betrayal Have to do with the Launch of this Podcast!In this week's episode, Steve reflects on the first 100 episodes and does a deep dive into what events in his life lead to the launch of Better Place Project.Topics Covered:* Podcast launch with Steve's daughter Erin* History of the show* Steve's childhood* Falling in love* Early Music Career* Success in Business* Divorce* Betrayal by a business partner* Behind the scenes trivia* Compassion Prison Projects's Letter Writing Campaign* Future Direction of the showTo stay connected with Better Place Project and for...
2022-07-2648 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The Thing I Value MostIn this short, 6-minute episode, Steve tells the story of a young boy named Jack Bennett who befriended the man next store, Mr. Belser. Years later, after Jack had grown up and moved away, he receives a phone call from his mom letting him know that Mr. Belser had passed away.Jack flies home for the funeral and discovers that a gold box that had been locked on the top of Mr. Belser's desk, was missing. That box was there for Jack's entire childhood and whenever he would ask Mr. Belser what was in it, he would al...
2022-07-2206 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! Greater Love Hath No Man - The Story of Patrick CadaginIn this week's Feel Good Friday episode, Steve shares the inspirational story from 1909 of an Irish-American hero named Patrick Cadagin, who gave his life to save a young woman.Cadagin, who was living in Springfield Illinois, was a watchman at a railroad crossing when a woman named Pearl Bunes was approaching in her horse and buggy. The horse panicked at the roar of an approaching locomotive and bolted towards the tracks. Cadagin took action and grabbed the horse by the reigns, only to be thrown upon the tracks and killed by the train.He's been go...
2022-06-2408 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! Disorder in the Court: Hilarious Real Life Stories of Courtroom ExchangesThis week, Steve decided to try and inject a little humor into your Friday (or whatever day it is that you happen to be listening to this), and borrow again from his friend Brad Aronson’s blog. Brad is best known for writing the inspiring bestselling book Humankind: Changing the World One Small Act at a Time (all proceeds go to nonprofit Big Brothers Big Sisters).In this episode Steve reads excerpts from Brad's blog detailing actual exchanges taken by court reporters between lawyers and witnesses on the stand, taken from a book called Disorder in the Cour...
2022-05-2006 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisWanderlust Founders Jeff Krasno & Schuyler GrantIn this episode, Steve chats with Wanderlust Co-Founders and husband/wife duo Jeff Krasno & Schuyler Grant. On top of having a few laughs about Schuyler's Mom embarrassing her as a child in a Mexican restaurant in the case of the missing fajitas, and some Curb Your Enthusiasm stories, Steve, Jeff and Schuyler do a deep dive on topics such as community, relationships, having babies at home, the early days of their relationship, current political divisions, whether we are or not in a the midst of a consciousness revolution, forgiveness, free will, gratitude and much more.In 2008, Jeff Kr...
2022-05-171h 48Better Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The Story of Two FrogsIn this week's Feel Good Friday episode, Steve tells the fable of two frogs who fall into a deep pit and how the power of encouragement (or lack thereof) affects the outcome.To stay connected with Better Place Project and for updates and behind the scenes info, please visit our website at www.Betterplaceproject.org Follow us on social media:Instagram: @BetterPlaceProjTo follow Steve & Erin on Instagram:@SteveNorrisOfficial@ErinorrisFacebook: Facebook.com/BetterPlaceProjectPodcastEmail: BetterPlaceProjectPodcast@gmail.comTo stay c...
2022-05-1304 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The Story of Bernadette Russell and 365 Days of Random Acts of KindnessThis week's Feel Good Friday episode shines a light on Bernadette Russell from the UK, who after having a random positive experience in a post office, decided to commit to doing an act of kindness for 365 consecutive days. The experience would change her life forever! Steve chats about Bernadette's story, while playing clips from her BBC 4 appearance, while also sharing some fascinating findings that have just come in after the completion of the world's largest study on kindness, conducted by the University of Sussex, involving 60,000 volunteers. There is so much to learn from this study about the ben...
2022-04-2907 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisBrad Aronson - Bestselling Author of HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act At a TimeIn this episode, Steve and Brad chat about the Power of Kindness, the ripple effect of kindness, what Kindness means to Brad, how it effects us physiologically when we do acts of kindness, and you’re definitely going to love the stories he shares from his book about amazing humans doing breathtaking acts of kindness. Brad Aronson is the author of the Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestseller HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time. All proceeds from his book go to Big Brothers Big Sisters.Brad is deeply involved with you...
2022-04-2653 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! Yia Lor's "How Can I Be that Seed that Continues" Essay.For this week’s story, we head to Wisconsin. Steve stumbled across a project called “Love Wisconsin,” whose mission is to use storytelling and social media to bring about a more connected, compassionate, and engaged Wisconsin.In this episode, Steve reads and essay written by Yia Lor that was published in the Wisconsin Historical Society Press' book ‘Hope Is the Thing: Wisconsinites on Perseverance in a Pandemic’. Yia, whose parents came to Wisconsin as refugees of the Vietnam War, writes about coming from a long line of farmers and growing up working long hours barefoot in the mud with her...
2022-04-1507 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! Susanna Salter: The Back-Fired Joke that Made Her the First Woman Mayor in AmericaFor today’s story, we go all the way back to 1887 when a group of men put Susanna Salter’s name on a ballot for mayor as a joke intended to humiliate her and put women in their place. Well, the joke backfired and she won over 60% of the vote and became American’s first female mayor.Susanna Madora Salter (née Kinsey; March 2, 1860 – March 17, 1961) was an American politician and activist. She served as mayor of Argonia, Kansas, becoming the first woman elected to serve as mayor in the United States (Nancy Smith was the first wom...
2022-04-0810 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisKara Bitar: Live a Life You Love!Kara Nicole Bitar is an Optimization Coach and Kundalini Yoga Teacher. She helps her clients live the happiest, healthiest and most successful versions of themselves. She holds a J.D. from Duke University School of Law and worked in high-stakes corporate litigation at one of the largest law firms in the Southeast. She combines the dedication and commitment that it took to become a successful attorney, real-life training in what it takes to succeed at high-levels, and extensive research, experience and training in how to optimize our lives. She is also a KRI Certified Instructor of Kundalini Yoga, Reiki Mas...
2022-04-051h 02Better Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! Ukrainian Celebrity Chef Serves Up Free Gourmet Meals for RefugeesFor this week’s story, we head to Ukraine, which we all know is in the middle of a war with Russia right now, and we shine a light on Levgen Klopotenko, who was the winner of Master Chef Ukraine in 2015 and is one of the best known chefs in the country. Klopotenko owned a restaurant in Kiev, but fled the day that Russia invaded. Klopotenko can’t leave the country because he is a man of fighting age and will have to fight if called. He says he’ll fight if he gets the call, but that he probably...
2022-04-0105 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisAustralian Poet / Philosopher Simon Drew: Ancient Wisdom for Modern flourishingSimon Drew is an Australian poet, author, musician, photographer, and philosophical mentor. He has a Bachelor of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and is currently studying for a Master of Divinity.He is most well known for his work with the Practical Stoic Podcast, which has since evolved into The Walled Garden — a podcast and online community where he, Kai Whiting (philosopher), and Sharon Lebell (writer) explore a wide range of topics regarding philosophy, beliefs, ideas, and creativity.Simon's poetry, music, and writings often play in the rea...
2022-03-301h 03Better Place Project with Steve NorrisTigrilla Gardenia: The Fascinating Things that Plants Can Teach us!Fascinated by nature since her earliest memories, Tigrilla Gardenia turned that passion into her vocation. Her journey began in a polyethnic childhood. She earned a degree in music and electrical engineering, entering the high-tech corporate world via RealNetworks and Microsoft in the early days of the internet. The desire to escape the confines of the corporate world proved too strong, and Tigrilla soon began following her own spiritual path. She co-owned a circus, produced intentional dance events, taught Kabbalah, and even toured with Cirque du Soleil. Today, she works as a Nature-Inspired Mentor, Leade...
2022-03-221h 05Better Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The Story of Pro Baseballer Drew Robinson: From Suicide Attempt to a Life with PurposeThis week's story is about the San Francisco Giants baseball player Drew Robinson's battle with mental illness, which drove him to the point of shooting himself in the head in an attempted suicide. Against all odds, Robinson survived and is now on a mission to help others who may feel like they have nothing to live for.To become a Better Place Project Member (and receive free BPP Merch) and support our show, please visit:https://www.patreon.com/BetterplaceprojectTo stay connected with Better Place Project and for updates and behind the scenes i...
2022-03-1811 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisZach Skow: From "90 Days to Live" to Marley's Mutts!Zach Skow, Marley’s Mutts Founder rescued Marley, a Rottweiler-Pit Bull from the Mojave Shelter in 2002 at eight weeks old. He used to carry him around in a backpack with just his head poking out.When Zach was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease, it was Marley who helped pull him from despair and into the fight. It was his relentless love, omnipresent affection, and “today can be the best day of our life” mentality which helped Zach live again.When Zach contemplated suicide, Marley looked at him with a blinding affection that just couldn’t be ignored. ...
2022-03-151h 11Better Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The Story of Dr. Jay Nash and StandProud in the Democratic Republic of CongoFor this week's feel-good story, we go half way around the world to the democratic republic of Congo to shine a light on a man named Jay Nash and the organization he founded called StandProud.Mr. Nash first began assisting disabled people in the developing world when serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He resumed spare-time work with disabled Congolese youth upon returning to the Congo in 1998 to work for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and in 1999 helped them to organize themselves into a charity (ACDF) designed to a...
2022-03-1109 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisDan Fischer, Founder of One Last Wave ProjectAfter experiencing the devastating loss of his father and best friend, Dan Fischer turned to surfing to heal through the transformative power of the ocean. After one faithful salt water session on January 4, 2022, he decided to throw out an open invitation on Tiktok to others who may be struggling with loss. He invited them to share the stories and names of loved ones who they'd lost and promised to etch them onto his board, as a way to forever memorialize them in the place they so deeply loved. That inaugural board has now become a be...
2022-03-0833 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! TikTok Dad Stands in at LGBTQ WeddingsToday’s story shines a light on Dan Blevins, who after walking his daughter down the aisle in 2018 said that just the thought of someone not having a parent at their wedding or in their life, was just heartbreaking to him. So, what did Dan do? He uploaded a video to Tiktok where he invited anyone from the LGBTQ community to ask him to stand in as a parent at their wedding if their own parents were not supportive of their relationship.No one should have to say “I do” alone.Dan's TikTok video has now gon...
2022-03-0406 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisThe Human Case for Fewer Cars in Our Lives: Melissa & Chris BruntlettMelissa and Chris Bruntlett are Canadian authors and urban mobility advocates who strive to communicate the benefits of sustainable transport and inspire happier, healthier, more human-scale cities. Their first book, Building the Cycling City: The Dutch Blueprint for Urban Vitality, explored the urban and transport planning decisions that established the Netherlands as a bicycle paradise, and how North American communities are translating these ideas to build their own cycling cities. In 2019, Melissa and Chris, along with their children Coralie and Etienne, relocated from Vancouver, Canada, to Delft, the Netherlands. Melissa now works with Mobycon—a bicontinental mobility con...
2022-03-011h 06Better Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! Hope for Humanity: Some Good News About How We're Doing as a Species!In this episode, Steve shares some good news about things we humans are doing right as a species.Credit and Special thanks to Johan Norberg and Tony Morley for their article "Reasons to be optimistic in 2022" which was the resource for this episode.To stay connected with Better Place Project and for updates and behind the scenes info, please follow us on social media:Website:https://www.betterplaceproject.org/ Instagram: @BetterPlaceProj To follow Steve on Instagram
2022-02-2407 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisDr. Kyra O'Keeffe on Love: the Direct Experience of Our Shared BeingDr. Kyra O’Keeffe, PhD, is an educator and speaker who celebrates love, or the direct experience of our shared being. She earned her masters degree in Educational Neuroscience at Harvard University and her Ph.D. in the Learning Sciences at Stanford University, where she studied ego—or “the performance of the separate self”—in the American educational system. She then taught at Stanford, before leaving to pursue her own spiritual aims more fully. In 2019, she met Francis Lucille and Rupert Spira, who shared their understanding of the ancient wisdom of non-duality, which delivers the freedom, peace and happine...
2022-02-221h 12Better Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! NFL Star Anthony Harris Takes an 11-Year-Old to a Father/Daughter DanceToday’s story brings together NFL star Anthony Harris and a grieving 11-year-old girl named Audrey Soape. Unfortunately, Audrey lost both her father and her grandfather in the months leading up to her church’s father-daughter dance.In an inspiring act of kindness and compassion, Harris flew to Texas to give young Audrey a night she will never forget!To become a Better Place Project Member (and receive free BPP Merch) and support our show, please visit:https://www.patreon.com/BetterplaceprojectTo stay connected with Better Place Project and for updates and b...
2022-02-1805 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! When a Can of Coke Cost a QuarterToday’s story was submitted by Joseph J. Mazzella to Sunnyskyz.com and reminds us to cherish every moment we have while we’re still here. Mazzella reflects on his childhood growing up across the road from a 4-H Camp where he would swim, play basketball, ride his bike, play in the woods, and above all, get a quarter from his Nana and buy himself, as he describes it, "a sweet can of Coca Cola to quench my thirst and lighten my heart."In Mazzella's letter, he talks about what he would tell that boy now i...
2022-02-1105 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! Love, Kindness, and Broccoli Tempura!We go back to Baltimore for this week's Feel Good Friday Episode, where we tell the story of Brandon Jones' quest to cook his dying mother-in-law's favorite broccoli tempura, that she used to order from Ekiben restaurant every time she came to town.Brandon sent an email to the Chef and Co-Owner of the restaurant, Steve Chu explaining the situation and asking for the recipe. Steve immediately responded and said that he'd drive the 6 hours to meet Brandon and his wife Rina, and personally cook the food for his mother-in-law and serve it to her hot and f...
2022-02-0405 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! Soccer Star Ian Wright's Surprise Visit by His Childhood Teacher, Sydney PigdenIn this tear-jerker of an episode, Steve tells the story of soccer star Ian Wright's surprise meeting with a long-lost teacher who had meant the world to him, and who he thought had died. Ian describes him as the first positive male role model he had had in his life.His teacher, Sydney Pigden, was an ex World War II fighter pilot who had flown over Buckingham Palace at the end of the war. He told Ian, that he was more proud that Ian played for England, than him flying over Buckingham Palace.This episode is...
2022-01-2808 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! A Thousand Smiling Souls on a Surfboard with Dan FischerBelieving in the "Transformative power of the ocean," Dan Fischer sought solace surfing the waves of Newport, Rhode Island after the death of his father and a close friend. After one of those surf sessions where he had written his father's name on his surfboard, he decided to do a Tiktok video inviting others who had lost someone, to send in their names, he'd write it on his board, and take them out for "one last ride."His video went viral, and before he knew it, the healing power of the ocean was not only healing him, b...
2022-01-2110 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisDr. Rich Blundell Returns: Coming Together of Science, Art, Nature, Blockchain and Crypto!Dr. Rich Blundell is an ecologist working at the interface of art, science, nature and culture. His research examines how transformation happens across the scales of person, place and planet. As a cultural communicator, Rich tells a scientific story of the universe that includes art and human creativity as natural phenomena. Dr. Blundell’s research and work has received numerous grants and awards including, The National Science Foundation grant for Science Out There, the Michael Brinkman Award, and The Deep Time Values video award for An Earth Story. Blundell’s creative video work has appeared on PBS, National Geographic and...
2022-01-181h 32Better Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The Inspiring Story of Nathan Ogden!This week’s story shine's a light on one of the most courageous humans you will ever come across, Nathan Ogden. Back in December 0f 2001, Nathan, an accomplished snow skier, accustomed to catching big air, was hauling down the mountain and launched himself off a huge jump soaring more than 30 feet in the air. But this particular jump went horribly wrong and Nathan crashed, crushing his spine, leaving him in a wheel chair and endless hours, days and months ahead of him to regain the use of his arms and hands. Through all of this, Nathan held hope that one d...
2022-01-1408 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisEncore Presentation: The "Graffitti Grandma," Irmela Mensah-SchrammEncore Presentation of this Better Place Project Global Storytelling Series!Irmela Mensah-Schramm is a 75-year-old activist who set out to erase symbols of hate in the world. Often referred to as “Graffiti Grandma”, she’s spent the last 3 decades removing and covering up Nazi imagery and racist graffiti in Berlin, Germany. She’s removed 88,300 Neo-Nazi stickers since 2007 and continues to fight against racism and discrimination. In this episode, Irmela describes her experiences growing up in post-World War II Germany and the events that led her to find purpose in removing racist and xenophobic graffiti. We hope that...
2022-01-1156 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The Mole in the NHL and the Hero who Got it Removed!This week's 7-minute feel-good short story is about the NHL Hockey Coach, Brian Hamilton who was working on the bench of the Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken's match when I determined young medical student named Nadia Popovici, who was sitting right behind the bench, noticed a peculiar mole on the back of his neck that she thought might be cancerous. So, she decided to type him an urgent message on her phone saying "The mole on the back of your neck is possibly cancerous. Please go see a doctor" and she held her phone up to the pl...
2022-01-0707 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisNew Year Episode: Science-Based Tips for Keeping your New Year's Resolutions!In this episode, Steve and Erin share their New Year's Resolutions for the year, chat about why it can be so hard sometimes to stick to these goals, and they go over 5 science-based tips to help you keep your New Year's Resolutions.A resolution has a far greater chance of being a success if it meets the following criteria:1) Cue-based plan2) Has a penalty clause3) It's Fun4) Allows room for emergencies5) Has support from friendsA few books that Steve and Erin read in 2021 that they highly recommend:
2022-01-0440 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The Story of the Wandering Fish Chair and the Matching Tattoo!This week’s 6-minute Feel Good Friday Episode tells the story of Emily Delfavero, a very unique chair, and a very special Facebook Group that brought them all together.Emily, an auto mechanic from Syracuse, New York spotted a chair posted to a Facebook group that happened to be the exact fish chair that inspired her to get an image of it tattooed on her leg a couple years earlier. She had not only never owned the chair, but had never actually seen the chair, nor knew it existed. She had only seen the design on a dol...
2021-12-3107 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisWOW Season 4! Words Of Wisdom Compilation of Guests Answering the Question "How Can We Make the World a Better Place?"At the end of every episode, Steve and Erin ask each guest "What advice do you have for us and our listeners on how we can help make the world a better place?" In this inspiring WOW (Words Of Wisdom) episode, they revisit and play back past guests' answers to this question. Hear perspectives and advice from world-renowned thought-leaders, a psychologist, 3-Time Cancer Thriver, best-selling authors and more!In this episode, you'll hear from:* Caroline Rose: 3 Time Stage 4 Cancer Thriver* Freddie Fuller: The Singing Cowboy who grants musical last wishes*Robin Parrish: Co-Founder of E...
2021-12-2828 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! Who Knew The North Pole was in Santa Claus, Indiana?Hear the story about a small town in Southern Indiana named Santa Claus and the "elves" who volunteer each year to respond to the 20,000+ letters that Santa receives each year!To become a Better Place Project Member (and receive free BPP Merch) and support our show, please visit::https://www.patreon.com/BetterplaceprojectTo stay connected with Better Place Project and for updates and behind the scenes info, please follow us on social media: Website: BetterPlaceProject.org (Leave us a voice message directly from the home page of our website)I...
2021-12-2405 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisBarry Nicolaou: Graveyard Epiphanies, Einstein's Advice, and Manifesting What We Want!Barry is a fierce advocate of well-being to be able to chase down life’s sought after moments.His ability to unlock and define corporate Inspiration, purpose, gratitude and drive led him to his #1 Best-Selling book: The 11 Master Secrets to Business Success and Personal Fulfillment in 2015.Barry’s national talks, keynote addresses, webinar presentations, and workshops work to deconstruct the untapped power of subconscious thought and the science of creative visualisation. He focuses on the deconstruction of mindset blocks which surround cognitive fear, old-wired subconscious paradigms, Inherited thinking, and their connection to real-world managerial expectations and...
2021-12-211h 08Better Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! A Second Chance for People and Things who Deserve It!This week’s feel good story is about a company called Second Chance, in Baltimore, Md. Second Chance offers 2nd chances for materials and 2nd chances for people. Second Chance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides people, materials and the environment with a second chance. They deconstruct buildings and homes, salvage usable materials, and make those and other donated items available to the public for reuse at their more than 200,000 square foot retail center. With the revenue generated, they provide job training and workforce development for those with various employment obstacles in the Baltimore region. Many of the...
2021-12-1708 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisHoliday Episode! Compilation of This Year's Guests Sharing Their Favorite Holiday Traditions!In this Special Edition Holiday Episode, we compiled responses from 18 different guests of the podcast this year who answered the question "What is your favorite holiday tradition?"We received so many wonderful answers from all across the board, and even a few holidays and traditions that we've never heard of, from different cultures around the world.You'll here answers from Anaise and Carine Kanimba (Daughters of Paul Rusesabagina, real life hero of the movie Hotel Rwanda), Bailey Richardson (One of the first employees at @instagram), Caroline Rose (3 Time Stage 4 Cancer Survivor), Christy Harrison (Best Selling...
2021-12-1442 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The Hero Santa!Steve tells the story of how a very special Santa Claus saved not only Christmas, but the innocence of a small child who never forgot.To stay connected with Better Place Project and for updates and behind the scenes info, please follow us on social media: Website: BetterPlaceProject.org (Leave us a voice message directly from the home page of our website)Instagram: @BetterPlaceProj To follow Steve & Erin on Instagram:@SteveNorrisOfficial @ErinorrisFacebook: Facebook.com/BetterPlaceProjectPodcastEmail: BetterPlaceProjectPodcast@gmail.com
2021-12-1004 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisMark Bunn: Vedic Science, Dharma, Breathwork, Conscious Living, and the Importance of Finding Our Purpose.Mark Bunn has spent the last 30 years studying the ancient wisdoms of health, transcendence, higher consciousness, dharma (natural purpose) and the deeper mysteries of life.Drawing primarily on the timeless Vedic tradition of India (including Ayurveda) and the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, he discovered how numerous cultures throughout history have known of a great secret to life – that hidden beyond our physical universe are certain unseen ‘natural laws’ governing all of life.Most importantly, by understanding and learning how to live in tune with these eternal laws of life, we can enjoy exceptionally good health...
2021-12-071h 11Better Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The Story of Trashaun Willis, the One-Armed Athlete Making a Difference!This week’s 5-Minute feel good story is about internet sensation Trashaun Willis, who due to a rare disorder called Amniotic Band Disorder Syndrome, was born with only one arm. But not only has that not stopped him, he has gone on to accomplish remarkable things, going on to become a standout basketball and football player. But as you will hear in this story, he's also become a great human being making a difference in the life of Jayce Crowder, a young boy who was born with the same condition.To stay connected with Better Place Project and...
2021-12-0305 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisBetter Place Badasses: Season 4! What Keanu Reeves, a 7 Year-Old Super Hero, La La Land, and Artificial Glaciers Have in Common!Once again, it’s time for Better Place Badasses of Season 4, where Steve and Erin each shine a light on 5 Badasses that are making a positive difference in the world.Featured on this episode:Amy Wright of Bitty and Beau’s Coffee - Amy and her husband started this coffee shop as a safe place of children and young adults to find employment. As advocates for the value, acceptance, and inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the Wrights have dedicated their lives to making the world better place for their children and others livin...
2021-11-3028 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The Story of Betty Jenkins and the Inflatable Bra!In this episode, Steve tells the story of Betty Jenkins and the inflatable Bra. Betty, in her own words, describes what happened to her when she was just a skinny teenager, was wearing an inflatable bra given to her by her mother, and took a flight over the Andes Mountains.As the non-pressurized plane increased altitude, her bra started to expand, leading to an embarrassing, but hilarious story that she will never forget.To stay connected with Better Place Project and for updates and behind the scenes info, please follow us on social media:
2021-11-2605 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisLinda Bjork: Founder of Hope for Healing, Trying to Stop One Heart From BreakingLinda Bjork is a best selling author, speaker, host of "Linda's Corner" podcast, and founder of Hope for Healing non-profit charity. Some of her books include “Crushed: A Journey Through Depression,” and Amazon best seller “You Got This! An action plan to calm fear, anxiety, worry, and stress.” Linda’s personal mission is to empower people to become their best selves.In this episode we chat about Linda's five year battle with depression. She goes into detail describing what it was like living in a "deep, dark hole" and how she climbed out of that hole, one step at a time.
2021-11-2349 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The Thanksgiving Story of Jamal Hinton and the Mistaken Text From "Grandma!"In this episode, Steve tells the heartwarming Thanksgiving story of Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench. Wanda went to send a Thanksgiving Dinner Invitation text to her grandson, but unbeknownst to her, he had a new phone with a new number. Hence, her text went to a complete stranger, Jamal Hinton. What happens next, set the stage for a unique friendship and a new tradition that has lasted six years and counting.To stay connected with Better Place Project and for updates and behind the scenes info, please follow us on social media:Website: www.BetterPlaceProject.org...
2021-11-1906 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisPaul House and Angie Gade: Turning Tragedy Into Hope and Healing for VeteransThis week's guests are Paul House and Angie Gade of HouseInTheWoods.org.Paul and Dee House founded House in the Woods after their son, Sgt. Joel A. House, was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in the Army in Iraq. Their vision for House in the Woods began shortly after attending the military memorial service at Fort Hood, TX for Joel and 19 other soldiers from his army base who died the same month as their son. It was both emotionally overwhelming and comforting to be around so many families who were experiencing the same grief and lo...
2021-11-1647 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFeel Good Friday! The Story of Lawrence Anthony, The Elephant WhispererIn this very first episode of Feel Good Friday, Steve tells the remarkable true story of the Elephant Whisperer, Lawrence Anthony. Anthony, a conservationist, environmentalist and best selling author, was head of conservation at the Thula Thula animal reserve in Zululand, South Africa. Anthony was known for his unique ability to communicate and calm elephants that had experienced trauma. Lawrence ended up taking in a herd of "troubled" elephants who hated humans due to abuse and killings of members of their herd by humans. He quickly learned that earning the trust of these elephants was going to be n...
2021-11-1209 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisHema Vyas, UK Psychologist and "Heart Whisperer" - Aligning the Heart, Mind and Body.Hema Vyas, the “Heart Whisperer,” is one of the UK’s most prestigious psychologists. A renowned speaker on heart wisdom, human consciousness, spirituality, health, energy medicine and the science of Ayurveda, for almost thirty years she has been practicing as a psychologist and life leadership mentor. She has worked with creatives to CEOs helping them connect to their own personal truth and build towards a life of joy, love, mindfulness, and prosperity. Her philosophy is built on the wisdom that once heart, mind, body and soul are integrated and aligned, people can achieve optimal wellbeing, creativity and success. Hema i...
2021-11-0955 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisChristy Turlington Burns: On a Mission to Stop Preventable Deaths From Pregnancy and ChildbirthEvery Mother Counts (EMC) founder Christy Turlington Burns’ work in maternal health began after experiencing a childbirth related complication in 2003—an experience that would later inspire her to direct and produce the documentary feature film, No Woman, No Cry, about the challenges women face throughout pregnancy and childbirth around the world. Under Christy’s leadership, Every Mother Counts has invested nearly $21 million in programs in Africa, Central America and Caribbean, South Asia and the United States focused on making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, everywhere. Before founding Every Mother Counts, Christy received international acclaim as a model...
2021-11-0251 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisCNN Hero Woody Faircloth: Kindness Can Spread as Quickly as the Wildfire that Changed his LifeCNN Hero Woody Faircloth is the founder of EmergencyRV.org, initially established in response to the massive and deadly November 2018 Campfire, which decimated the entire town of Paradise, California and left more than 50,000 residents traumatized and displaced. It was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history and the most expensive natural disaster in the world in 2018 in terms of insured losses. For Faircloth and his then six-year-old daughter Luna, watching events unfold on television from Denver was not enough. Determined to help, the father and daughter set out to raise funds to purchase an RV an...
2021-09-2141 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisIt Ain't Easy! Challenges of Trying to Make a Better World as Wildlife Thrives When the Humans Stay HomeIn this episode, Steve and Erin cover a variety of topics, starting with an update on the Paul Rusesabagina (The real-life hero of the movie “Hotel Rwanda") kidnapping and trial, and Steve does a deep dive on the David Attenborough documentary “The Year Earth Changed,” which covers the many fascinating ways the pandemic has actually benefitted wildlife around the world. They then discuss challenges that they are encountering as they try to implement some of the things they’ve learned from guests on the show. They chat about the difficulties in tackling forgiveness, the importance of practicing positive se...
2021-09-1430 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisDJ/Co-Founder of Ecstatic Dance LA, Robin Parrish on Bridging the Mind-Body Connection and Unleashing your Unique Brilliance Within!Robin Parrish is the Co-Founder of Ecstatic Dance LA where he has facilitated hundreds of events for thousands of participants encouraging self-expression, holistic wellness, and personal transformation through embodiment practices and community building experiences. He has built a community around the Ecstatic Dance movement, which is now world wide, and is also a frequent musical artist for the dance floor utilizing his skills as a multi-instrumentalist, percussion and DJ curating music for the Ecstatic Dance and transformational dance floor. He’s an avid educator, event producer, meditation guide, and coach; and bridges healing arts, self-development an...
2021-09-0756 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisFreddie Fuller: The Singing Cowboy and The Power of Musical Last WishesIn this episode, we speak with Freddie about the power of music in our lives and his passion for playing musical last wishes; singing and playing his guitar for those who are dying.FREDDIE FULLER, also known as the “The Singing Cowboy,” is a singer, songwriter, musician and storyteller. For decades, Freddie has performed before thousands at various functions, from house concerts to larger venues such as the famous Broken Spoke. Freddie entertained the troops in Iraq at the request of the commanding General. As told by Reader's Digest, Freddie is also a frequen...
2021-08-3138 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisHolding on to Hope: A Conversation with Caroline Rose on Facing Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Head On!Caroline Rose is a forty-three-year-old mom, wife, dog-lover, wine-loving, hope holding, three-time stage 4 cancer thriver. After being told there was no hope and that her cancer would eventually come back to take her life, Caroline did the only thing she knew to do; she took each day as it came and endured the brutal cancer treatments one by one. And then, one day, in the most unexpected of ways, hope came back to Caroline in the form of a young rescue dog named Riley Rose. And once she found her rediscovered hope in life, Caroline knew she was ready...
2021-08-2458 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisWOW Episode!: Words Of Wisdom Compilation of Guests Answering the Question "How Can We Make the World a Better Place?"At the end of every episode, Steve and Erin ask each guest "What advice do you have for us and our listeners on how we can help make the world a better place?" In this inspiring WOW (Words Of Wisdom) episode, they revisit and play back past guests' answers to this question, Hear perspectives and advice from world-renowned thought-leaders, mental health experts, scientists, psychiatrists, best-selling authors and more!Here from Azim Khamisa, Missy Bellinger, Dr. Chloe Carmichael, Dr. Rich Blundell, Terence Lester, Dr. Christian Heim, Dai Manuel, Christian De La Huerta, Zach Correa, Eric Winters, and Dr. S...
2021-08-1740 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisSpecial Edition: Better Place BadAsses of Season 3! Jon Bon Jovi is Way More Than a Rock Star and 5 Year-Olds Can Change the World! In this 2nd Special Edition of Better Place Badasses Steve & Erin each select 5 special people from around the world and trade off stories about these inspirational badasses that are making the world a better place. Included in the episode are Alex Stephany (Founder and CEO of Beam.org), Sikander Bizenjo (founder of Balochistan Youth Against Corona), Selah Thompson (8 year-old founder of empoweredreaders.org), Leng Ouch (Cambodian Environmental Activist), Simone Biles (Olympic Gymnast), Rock star Jon Bon Jovi (JBJ Soul Foundation - https://jbjsf.org/), Denny Ying (Raising awareness for military veteran suicide prevention and mental health), Carmen Carcelén (Ecu...
2021-08-1033 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisDr. Shad Helmstetter: The Power of Neuroplasticity and Positive Self-TalkShad Helmstetter, Ph.D., is the author of more than twenty books in the field of self-talk and personal growth. His books include the classic self-talk best-seller, “What to Say When You Talk to Your Self,” "Negative Self-Talk & How to Change It,” and “The Power of Neuroplasticity.” His books are published in more than 74 countries worldwide. Dr. Helmstetter has appeared on over 1200 radio and television programs, including repeat appearances on Oprah Winfrey, ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN News. or a free 30-day pass to listen to positive self-talk sessions, please visit https://www.selftalkplus.com/.To stay co...
2021-08-0353 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisEric Winters: Author of Swipe Right on Your Best Self: Simple Steps to a Bolder Life with Fewer RegretsEric is a self-leadership coach, black-belt hand-washer, speaker, and author with deep knowledge in the science of building courageous and emotionally intelligent mindsets. His know-how is a result of over 20 years of international corporate life, two masters degrees in human behavior change, and over 12 years helping leaders and their teams become their best selves to meet workplace challenges effectively. He spends much of his time developing authentically courageous leadership through keynotes, workshops, and individual coaching. In this episode we discuss The human predicaments that cause most people to live smaller, timid lives. The critical foundations to b...
2021-07-271h 02Better Place Project with Steve NorrisNPR's How I Built This Finalist, LemonGRAFT CEO Zach CorreaZach Correa, a finalist of NPR’s How I Built This Fellowship, is the Founder and CEO of LemonGRAFT, built for the buying and selling of homegrown produce. LemonGRAFT’s aim is to build a regenerative food system, build community and biodiversity, restore our ecosystem, improve our health, decentralize big agriculture and take food back into your own hands, by creating a sustainable food system. For more info, or to become a founding member, please visit https://lemongraft.com/To stay connected with Better Place Project and for updates and behind the scenes info, please follow us on s...
2021-07-2053 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisIs There a Hero Inside You? Award Winning Author and TedX Speaker Christian de la HuertaWith 30 years of experience, Christian de la Huerta is a sought-after spiritual teacher, personal transformation coach and leading voice in the breathwork community. He has traveled the world offering inspiring and transformational retreats combining psychological and spiritual teachings with lasting and life-changing effects. An award-winning, critically acclaimed author, he has spoken at numerous universities and conferences and on the TedX stage. His new book, Awakening the Soul of Power, was described by multiple Grammy Award–winner Gloria Estefan as “a balm for the soul of anyone searching for truth and answers to life’s difficult questions.” More information about his work m...
2021-07-131h 03Better Place Project with Steve NorrisThe Future is Beautiful. Or There Isn't One: Dr. Rich Blundell and the Story of OikaDr. Rich Blundell is an ecologist working at the interface of art, science, nature and culture. His research examines how transformation happens across the scales of person, place and planet. As a cultural communicator, Rich tells a scientific story of the universe that includes art and human creativity as natural phenomena. Dr. Blundell’s research and work has received numerous grants and awards including, The National Science Foundation grant for Science Out There, the Michael Brinkman Award, and The Deep Time Values video award for An Earth Story. Blundell’s creative video work has appeared on PBS, National Geographic and...
2021-07-061h 00Better Place Project with Steve NorrisDr. Chloe: A Clinical Psychologist and Author's Views on Anxiety, Relationships, Dating, and the #MeToo MovementDr. Chloe Carmichael holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University. She is the author of "Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety," and "10 Commandments of Dating: How to stop getting hurt, put yourself out there and find a relationship that lasts." Dr. Carmichael has been featured as an expert on VH1, Inside Edition, ABC Nightline and other television; and has been quoted in the New York Times, Forbes, Vanity Fair, Shape, Cosmopolitan, Rolling Stone, and other print media. Listen in on our chat with Dr. Chloe about Anxiety, Relationships, Dating in a post-pandemic world, the #MeT...
2021-05-1855 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisHow to Be a Champion of Change: Award-Winning Thought Leader and Author, Dai ManuelDai Manuel is a super dad, dating his wife, with a lead by example way of living and a contagious personality, who is on a mission to positively impact one million role models around the globe to lead a FUN-ctionally fit life through education, encouragement, and community. He is an award-winning digital thought leader and author, Distinguished Toastmaster & keynote speaker, former partner and Chief Operating Officer of a multi-million dollar retail company, and a sought after lifestyle mentor and executive performance coach.Dai knows the struggle of the juggle and keeping his health and happiness a...
2021-05-111h 00Better Place Project with Steve NorrisDr. Christian Heim: Award-winning Psychiatrist and Preventative Mental Health ExpertDr. Christian Heim PhD is an award-winning Psychiatrist, Music Professor and Churchill fellow. During his 20 years as a doctor and 13 years as a psychiatrist, he has heard the stories of 1000s of people, so he listens a lot. He gets lots of joy out of working as a consultant psychiatrist in psychotherapy. He speaks from a place of deep compassion and authority on Mental Health issues that are affecting us all in this new normal: anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, suicide, personality issues and relationship breakdown. His latest book "The 7 types of Love: navigating love in a fractured w...
2021-05-041h 00Better Place Project with Steve NorrisTerence Lester: Activist, Writer, Storyteller and Founder of Love Beyond WallsYou are about to be inspired. Terence Lester is a speaker, activist, author, and thought leader in the realm of systemic poverty. He’s known for nationwide campaigns that have been featured on MLK50, CNN, Good Morning America, and more. In 2013, Terence founded the non-profit “Love Beyond Walls” and has helped hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty to rebuild their lives. In 2019, Terence launched the first museum in the U.S. representing homelessness, out of a shipping container, called Dignity Museum. He also holds four degrees and hosts a podcast called Narrative Shift. Terence has written six boo...
2021-04-2749 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisMissy Bellinger: Co-Founder of A Shelter for Cancer Families Missy Bellinger's late husband Tom was diagnosed with Sarcoma Cancer on their second wedding anniversary, and he sadly passed away eighteen months later. After making a promise to Tom, and being inspired after welcoming an out of town cancer family into her home, Missy created the Amschwand Sarcoma Cancer Foundation, which later evolved into A Shelter for Cancer Families (ASCF). In this episode, Missy shares her heartbreaking story, and how she went on to turn this horrible tragedy into a passion and life's work serving other families in their fight against cancer. Today ASCF is the only orga...
2021-04-2049 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisSpecial Edition: Better Place BadAsses!In this week's Special Edition episode, Steve & Erin each select 5 special people from around the world and trade off stories about these inspirational badasses that are making the world a better place. Included are Adam Lowy (MoveForHunger.org), Malala (Malala.org), Dasia Taylor (Invented infection-detecting sutures), Missy Bellinger (CancerFamilies.org), Jane Elliot (JaneElliot.com), John, Kim, Samantha and Casey Weiner (PCRF-Kids.org), Miley Cyrus (Happyhippies.org), Amanda Morgan (TheAmandaGorman.com), Matthew McConaughey (JKlivinfoundation.org), Abigail Disney (DaphneFoundation.org), and Paul Rusesabagina (HrrFoundation.com).To stay connected with Better Place Project and for updates and behind the...
2021-04-1324 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisForgiveness: It Can and Will Change Your Life - Meet Azim KhamisaJoin us as we chat with Azim Khamisa about the healing power of forgiveness. Azim lost his only son Tariq to a senseless gang-related murder in 1995. Azim chose the path of forgiveness and compassion rather than revenge and bitterness, and went on to mentor the gang member who killed his son Tariq, and forged a friendship with the Grandfather of his son's murderer. This powerful choice led to the establishment of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation and the subsequent forgiveness movement which has reached millions. His foundation commits to end the continuing cycle of violence among youth. He also offers workshops to...
2021-04-0650 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisCan Dancing Change Your Life? A Chat with Stephen Sayer and Chandrae Roettig GomezThe science is in! In this episode, we chat with Steve and Chanzie about the joy that dancing has brought to their lives, and it can do the same for you! But we now know that not only can dancing provide you physical health benefits, but according to the New England Journal of Medicine's report, dancing can actually make you smarter and help you live a longer, more fulfilling life! Plus, it's a blast! Stephen Sayer and Chandrae Roettig Gomez, also known as Chanzie, are dancers/instructors who specialize in LA/smooth style lindy and collegiate shag. Whi...
2021-03-3057 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisBailey Richardson: Instagram Stories, The Social Dilemma, and Ordinary People Building Extraordinary Things!Bailey Richardson has worked at IDEO, StoryCorps, Pop-Up Magazine and The California Sunday Magazine. She was one of the first employees at Instagram and has also been featured in the recent Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma. Bailey, along with her friends, Kai and Kevin, started People & Company – whose mission is to help people bring their people together. Over the past four years, their team has researched, coached, and collaborated with hundreds of different communities. She published a book called, Get Together, on how to build communities today and also hosts the podcast by the same name, Get together, a sh...
2021-03-2355 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisThe Future of News Media: A Conversation with Eric Maddox, Executive Director of Open Roads MediaAs reported by NPR, Forbes, Reuters and many others, Eric Maddox is the Executive Director of Open Roads Media and the Founder and producer of Virtual Dinner Guest Project. He completed his undergraduate studies in Philosophy and Classic Literature and his MA in International Conflict Transformation. After completing his graduate field research in the West Bank, Eric set up the very first Virtual Dinner Guest Project in Mexico in 2011. Since that time, Eric has traveled throughout the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and Europe to expand the network and the impact of The Virtual...
2021-03-161h 13Better Place Project with Steve NorrisAlan Graham - Founder and CEO of Mobile Loaves and FishesAlan Graham Started Mobile Loaves and Fishes in 1998, a social outreach ministry that provides food and clothing, cultivates community, and promotes dignity to men and women in need. He and four friends boldly answered their call to “love your neighbor” by delivering meals to men and women experiencing homelessness from the back of a green minivan. Since its founding, MLF volunteers have served more than 5 million meals with a side of hope to men and women living on the streets of Austin, and the organization has spawned similar food truck ministries in other cities across the U.S. A...
2021-03-0950 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisThe Kidnapping of Hotel Rwanda Hero Paul RusesabaginaAnaise and Carine Kanimba are the adopted daughters of Paul Rusesabagina, the humanitarian famous for saving 1,200 refugees during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, whose true story was told in the 2004 film, Hotel Rwanda. Since then, he’s published the autobiography, “An Ordinary Man” in 2006 and has received many humanitarian and civil rights awards, including a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 from President George W. Bush. Now Paul Rusesabagina, who angered the Rwandan government with his pointed criticism from exile in the years after the genocide, has gone on trial in a prosecution that has drawn broad international condemnation. In August 2020, he was see...
2021-03-021h 04Better Place Project with Steve NorrisCNN Hero of the Year - Chad PregrackeSeason 1 Finale: Chad Pregracke grew up near the Mississipi River in East Moline, Illinois. From his childhood experience and first job as a clam digger, he decided he wanted to do something about all of the trash collected in the river. At the age of 17, Chad started making calls to government agencies to notify them of the problem, assuming someone would take care of it. But overtime, the problem only got worse. In 1997, Chad decided that if no one else was going to clean up the river, he would. In 1998 at the age of 23, Chad founded Living L...
2021-02-0235 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisClotilda: The Last Slave Ship Speaks - Part 2As seen on 60 Minutes, the Last Slave Ship, known as the Clotilda, is a mysterious story that can’t be told in a hurry. As a matter of fact, it’s taken 159 years to be told and is still not finished.It started with simple people living simple lives in their ‘own’ African country, before being captured by a rival tribe, sold to a wealthy slave owner from America and forced to live in squalor on a two-month voyage across an unforgiving Atlantic Ocean.And despite a then 50-year-old federal law against importing Africans, Clotilda and its...
2021-01-2656 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisClotilda: The Last Slave Ship Speaks - Part 1The Last Slave Ship, known as the Clotilda, is a mysterious story that can’t be told in a hurry. As a matter of fact, it’s taken 159 years to be told and is still not finished.It started with simple people living simple lives in their ‘own’ African country, before being captured by a rival tribe, sold to a wealthy slave owner from America and forced to live in squalor on a two-month voyage across an unforgiving Atlantic Ocean.And despite a then 50-year-old federal law against importing Africans, Clotilda and its cargo of 110 ‘human bein...
2021-01-191h 41Better Place Project with Steve NorrisChristy Harrison: Anti-Diet Author, Journalist, and Certified Intuitive Eating CounselorChristy Harrison, MPH, RD, CDN is an anti-diet registered dietitian nutritionist, certified intuitive eating counselor, and author of the book Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating (Little, Brown Spark 2019). She offers online courses and private intuitive eating coaching to help people all over the world make peace with food and their bodies. Since 2013 Christy has hosted Food Psych, a weekly podcast exploring people’s relationships with food and paths to body liberation. It is now one of Apple’s top 100 health podcasts, reaching tens of thousands of listeners worldwide each week. Christy began...
2021-01-121h 06Better Place Project with Steve NorrisGlobal Storytelling Series: The "Graffiti Grandma," Irmela Mensah-SchrammIn this Global Storytelling Series episode, we chatted with Irmela Mensah-Schramm and our friend and translator from Germany, Petra Nikol.Irmela Mensah-Schramm is a 75-year-old activist who set out to erase symbols of hate in the world. Often referred to as “Graffiti Grandma", she’s spent the last 3 decades removing and covering up Nazi imagery and racist graffiti in Berlin, Germany. She was featured in the 2017 documentary, The Hate Destroyer, and has received several awards including The Göttingen Peace Prize and The Erich-Kästner-Prize . Irmela’s removed 88,300 Neo-Nazi stickers since 2007 and continues to fight against racism and disc...
2021-01-0555 minBetter Place Project with Steve NorrisCNN Hero of the Year - Ibu Robin LimIbu Robin Lim CPM is a Filipino–American midwife, mother, grandmother, and founder of Yayasan Bumi Sehat a non-profit organization in Indonesia. Lim also serves on the board of Bumi–Wadah Philippines, where she is known as “Lola Robin.” Her Passion is Human Rights in Childbirth. She believes that each individual is an essential “Piece of Peace” therefore by protecting the mothers in childbirth and the newborns (our smallest citizens of Earth) we may build peace, one Baby, one Mother, one Family at a time.Listen in as she tells the story of how the tragic death of her sister...
2020-12-291h 28