Shows
Gathering GoldWhat Could Have BeenIn today's follow-up to the Escape Hatch Fantasies episode, Sheryl and Victoria discuss the double-edged allure of ruminating on what could be? and what could have been?
They discuss the difference between a fantasy and a dream for the future, how to work with the energy of regret, and what we can learn from the film Past Lives (2023) about making space for longing, mystery, and acceptance in the face of our many life choices and experiences.
2025-04-1140 minGathering GoldThe Gift of PresenceLeaves are falling from the trees. The world is shifting into hues of gray and brown, into sparseness and clarity. Meanwhile, we are entering into the holiday season.
Amidst it all--the darkness and the light, the fatigue and the excitement--how can we stay present for the gifts all around us? Not the gifts wrapped in paper and bows, but the little, everyday miracles: the maple tree still wrapped in orange and golden leaves; the comfort and safety of a heated home; the magic of sharing a meal with good friends.
In today's episode, Victoria shares r...2024-11-2225 minGathering GoldConnecting with Ancestors“I can tell you the names of Taylor Swift’s parents, but not my great-grandparents.”
Can you relate to Victoria’s admission in today’s episode?
Many of us have lost connection with our ancestors. Or rather, that connection was severed even before we were born, by cultural conditions that de-prioritize relationships in general, and familial bonds in particular.
And: connecting to the unseen realm of ancestors goes beyond learning about our genealogy. We can draw strength and comfort from imaginal grandmothers, mythological archetypes, and even fictional characters that have helped shape us into who we...2024-10-2548 minGathering GoldThe Fear of Taking RisksBy nature or nurture, or some combination of the two, some of us are chronically risk averse–especially if we struggle with anxiety. While some cautiousness can be healthy, extreme risk aversion can keep us from engaging with the world deeply, living our values, and just plain enjoying life.
By taking risks, we learn more about ourselves and the world. And by learning more about ourselves and the world, we learn how to take more intentional, skillful, and enriching risks.
In today’s episode, we explore some of the inner templates that make it challenging for u...2024-08-3045 min
ADHD Adventures with Suzi PaytonADHD, Parenting & Eating For Dopamine With Victoria RussellVictoria Russell is based in Oxford and runs two businesses - VGR Business Support, which offers accountancy and administration services and Inspired Mind UK
Consulting that only launched this year, which is business coaching and mentoring for neurodivergent entrepreneurs and startups.
Growing up in the eighties it didn't even enter Victoria’s mind that she might be neurodivergent, despite having a brother with ADHD and it wasn’t until her own child was diagnosed with AuDHD and she started researching information to help her daughter that the lightbulb moment happened and Victoria realised she was...2024-07-2321 min
MUDDY CREEK PODCAST (The Not So Perfect Bigfoot Show)"Searching for Sasquatch." Book Author Russell EasterbrooksSend us a textAuthor and Sasquatch Researcher, Russell Eastbrooks Joins us tonight to talk about his book.Russell Easterbrooks has worked with the North Carolina Forest Service and Vermont Forest & Parks. He first became interested in Sasquatch in high school while working on a report for his academics. After writing his book, "Searching for Sasquatch with Historical Observations and Interpretations", he spends his time giving interviews and speaking at Bigfoot conferences. You can find is book and artwork on Amazon and Ebay.2024-06-291h 17Gathering GoldSummer SolsticeSheryl and Victoria take a pause from exploring themes of Thresholds: Reflections at Midlife, in order to honor the Summer Solstice.
Sheryl explains why it is so important to honor these season portals, and receive their goodness. Sheryl and Victoria reflect on their previous episode about Summer from three years ago, and discuss why Sheryl was so focused on loss, nostalgia, and grief at that time. Victoria unpacks how she has grown stronger in using her voice since that episode aired.
Together, Sheryl and Victoria lean into the joyful, abundant, and juicy invitations of summer, w...2024-06-2054 min
The Talking TradesmanLets talk eating disorders - Mental health nurse & interior designer, VictoriaIn this conversation, Russ and Victoria delve into the different types of eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder, and the differences between men and women in terms of prevalence and presentation.
Find Victoria here
https://www.instagram.com/interiorsbyvictoria?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
They also explore the triggers and underlying causes of eating disorders, including trauma and societal pressures. The conversation highlights the importance of addressing the underlying issues and providing support for individuals with eating disorders.
The conversation explores the...2024-06-142h 02Gathering GoldRupture and RepairRupture and repair. Rupture and repair. Rupture and repair.
This is the rhythm of all close relationships—even the relationship between Sheryl and Victoria, as we discuss (gingerly, with care) in today’s episode.
In any relationship, if we get close enough, we will eventually experience a rupture. We make mistakes, we let each other down, we hurt, and then, with courage, self-awareness, and a foundation of love, we can heal.
Yet it is no small task to skillfully traverse ruptures and repairs. As Sheryl explains in today’s episode, “we become de-sensitized to the exp...2024-05-101h 08
Hire Learning with Oz RashidStepping Up The Career Ladder | Hire Learning Podcast | Oz Rashid With Victoria RussellI love hearing stories of ambitious folks moving up in a company - and Victoria Russell is the perfect example. Starting as a marketing analyst at Papa John's, Victoria worked there for over 15 years eventually landing up at the top as their Chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. And she continues to make strides now working as Beam Suntory's first Chief D&I Officer. Victoria has so much to share, everything from walking into a big PR controversy to stepping into a new organization and learning what they are really...2024-05-0145 min
Talk ArtDoron Langberg (with Victoria Miro and Glenn Scott Wright)We meet artist Doron Langberg at his new exhibition in London at Victoria Miro Gallery. Night is a hymn to nocturnal worlds both interior and exterior, and the spaces of ambiguity, opportunity and liberation – physical and psychological – that open up after dark. We also meet Doron's gallerists Victoria Miro and Glenn Scott Wright.Doron Langberg’s intimate yet expansive take on relationships, sexuality, nature, family and the self proposes how painting can both portray and create queer subjectivity, forging a relationship between interior and exterior realities and the ways in which they shape and are shaped by one...2024-02-231h 12
Leading What Matters MostDriving Systemic DEI Impact with Victoria Russell (Part One)Phil is honored to have Victoria Russell on the show this week. For over 20 years, Victoria has courageously advocated for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. Nationally acclaimed for her leadership, particularly during times of crisis, Victoria has driven positive systemic change across many fields. Victoria is passionate about cultivating the next generation of leaders. From her decades of experience leading impactful initiatives in diversity, equity and inclusion, crisis management, marketing, and human resources, Victoria has a wealth of wisdom to share. You won’t want to miss the compassionate insight and visionary leadership Victoria demonstrates, this week on Leading Wh...2024-01-0930 minGathering GoldFairy Tales by the Fireside with Daev FinnIn this special episode, Sheryl's husband Daev Finn joins the show to continue our seasonal exploration of wintry themes. A psychotherapist who uses the metaphor of myth and fairy tales in his work, Daev offers his perspective on the Brothers Grimm telling of "Briar Rose" (otherwise known as "Sleeping Beauty").
Daev, Sheryl, and Victoria read the tale aloud, then share their reflections on themes of slumber, sexuality, growing up, and banishment. Daev offers perspective on the history of myths and fairytales and their problematic parts, Sheryl reflects on the treatment of powerful women in patriarchal narratives, and...2023-12-2259 minGathering GoldSheryl’s Conscious TransitionIn today’s special episode, Sheryl shares her story of navigating a major transition over the past year: ushering her eldest son out of the nest and into college far from home.
Sheryl shares passages from her journal that detail how she rode the waves of grief, reached for support, and found relief after bringing Everest to school and adjusting to home life without him.
And, she and Victoria discuss some of the pillars that hold up highly sensitive people during the micro and momentous transitions throughout life.
Re...2023-10-0657 minGathering GoldThe Cloak of ShameEveryone feels shame at one time or another.
For some of us, shame is an occasional or even rare experience. It’s an awful feeling, but manageable.
For others, shame is a state that we are particularly prone to; our shame gets activated quickly and intensely. We might even walk around in a haze of free-floating shame, inhaling it with the air we breathe.
In today’s episode, Sheryl and Victoria explore shame and some of its shifting forms: shame as a creature of the dark that hides out in our innermost places, that...2023-09-0149 min
Talk ArtVictoria CantonsWe meet leading artist Victoria Cantons from her London studios!!! We discuss her autobiographical as well as confessional work. Cantons presents a record of trauma and healing, alongside a rigorous inquiry into the social constraints surrounding gender politics. Deeply informed by her own experience of limitation and stigma, her work reverberates with notions of freedom, selfhood, representation, power and aspects of the human condition which she writes, despite our divergent identities and experiences, "connect us all." While her incisive and inquisitive creative gaze extends across photography, text and video, painting and drawing remain firmly at the c...2023-08-251h 19Gathering GoldExpectations, Emotions and Very Big Days (from Patreon)Today's episode is from the Gathering Gold Patreon Bonus Episode vault! Sheryl and Victoria address a question from Olivia, who is considering marriage with her partner. Olivia's family expects a big wedding, but she dreads being the center of attention. Also...she has some fears about making this forever commitment.
Though Olivia's question is about marriage, the themes in this episode will resonate with anyone currently facing a big transition, like Sheryl and Victoria: right now, Sheryl is preparing to bring her eldest son to college for the first time, and Victoria is wrapping up her last...2023-08-1834 min
Cannabis Law on EarthTed Smith - President and Founder of the Victoria Cannabis Buyers ClubTed Smith is a big Boy Scout. He is constantly helping others in need, and Ted has successfully advocated human rights for decades. Ted is the Founder of the the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club, Canada's oldest compassion club, which opened in 1996. He has played a large role in the battle to legalize cannabis in Canada for the past three decades and continues his advocacy work today . Since moving to Victoria in 1995 to start the International Hempology 101 Society, Ted has been at the forefront of cannabis activism. He is the author of Hempology 101: The History and Uses of Can...2023-08-011h 36Gathering GoldGrowing Up and Knowing OurselvesIn today’s solo episode, Victoria responds to Patreon Community questions about resistance to growing up and learning to connect to our wants, needs, and values.
Sharing anecdotes from her life, she reflects on core fears and beliefs inside the aversion to responsibility and adulthood, and discusses gentle approaches to examining the invitations inside our existential anxieties.
She also shares approaches to developing a stronger relationship with ourselves, even when we feel very disconnected, and to making decisions while holding space for ambivalence.
References:
Perennials Podcast
The four givens of existential psychotherapy
Se...2023-07-2145 min
Cannabis Law on EarthOwen Smith - Director of the Victoria Cannabis Buyers ClubOwen Smith is a director of the non profit Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club ("VCBC"), one of the oldest compassion clubs in Canada, with over 8000 active members, which helps members who have documented, serious medical conditions, by providing them with medicinal cannabis and cannabis based products. Owen is a cannabis subject-matter expert, possessing a wide range of cannabis industry knowledge based on two decades of working with patients, advocates, dispensaries, non-profits, producers and processors as well as one of the worlds largest cannabis corporations.In 2009, Owen was arrested for baking cannabis and making extracts, edibles and...2023-07-141h 26Gathering GoldRelationship Anxiety: Katie’s StoryToday, we are finally addressing a topic that has been the pathway to Sheryl’s work for so many of her clients and course members: relationship anxiety.
In this episode, we’re talking to Katie, asking her to share her story in the same style as the popular course member interviews included at the end of the Break Free from Relationship Anxiety course.
Katie describes her relationship patterns before finding Sheryl’s course: how she would always run as soon as she thought someone might get hurt, how she thought that a relationship needed to start w...2023-02-171h 08Gathering GoldAnticipatory AnxietyYou probably know the feeling: it’s the pit of dread in your stomach every time you see a particular date on the calendar, and you know exactly what’s happening on that day. The plane trip. The presentation at work. The dentist appointment.
If your dread is strong enough, you might find it date consumes your thoughts. You're distracted even during enjoyable activities, worrying about the outcome of this looming event. What if the plane crashes? What if you get fired? What if the dentist drills the wrong tooth?!
This line of thinking has a na...2023-02-0352 minGathering GoldDarkness & LightThere are different kinds of darkness.
Sometimes we head out into darkness to go on a journey—there might be fear or nervousness, but also excitement and curiosity. What glittering stars might guide our way? What might we see once our eyes adjust?
Then there is the type of darkness that envelops us when we experience a dark night of the soul, the kind that might, if we’re lucky, be part of some mysterious transformation or initiation.
And then there is the darkness that appears when the greatest horrors of the world show th...2022-12-0250 min
Rise with Emily & AudraAuthentic Community Deposits: Victoria RussellVictoria Russell is the first Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer of Beam Suntory, a world leader in premium spirits. Victoria leads diversity and inclusion across talent acquisition, career development and employee retention, marketing, community relations, and building organizational capability to better recognize bias and further drive inclusive mindset. In this episode, Victoria shares the power of learning from others, creating authentic community deposits, and developing a “buffet of mentors”.2022-11-2951 min
Lead With Your Brand!™S3E45 : Lean into Yes and Take the Risk : Victoria Russell, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Beam SuntoryIt’s that time of year again…you guessed it, year end performance reviews! Now is the time to think through the key words that describe your personal brand, that is, your word bank of brand attributes. Jayzen takes a special moment in this show to help you better get your arms around how to create and use your personal word bank, as these are the key attributes that you want to be known for and should be used to populate your year end review.
This week, Jayzen is thrilled to welcome Victoria Russell to the show. Vict...2022-11-1546 minGathering GoldSelf-Trust, Grief and the BodyDue to a family emergency, Victoria wasn’t able to record with me this week (I share more about this in the episode), so I had to harness my self-trust and fly solo. I watched self-doubt peer in from the wings, and I utilized the skills that I teach to make room for the doubt and also become curious about what might be living underneath it.
Through this process, I invite you to join me as we create a sacred space for whatever grief you may be carrying. I then talk about how caring about what random ot...2022-11-0433 minGathering GoldWhen We Mess UpRecently, we've had episodes about purity, perfectionism, and what it means to be (or not to be!) "good." We've emphasized again and again that no one is perfect, that we are all messy human beings with flaws, who make mistakes.
In today's episode, we are getting a bit more specific about what it means to be imperfect: we are sharing stories of recent times when we have messed up, what those mess-ups felt like for us, and how we worked through them. From dead houseplants and near-accidents to (very large) impulsive purchases, we're talking about the shame...2022-10-1849 minGathering GoldPurity and PerfectionismWe start today’s episode with a story from Sheryl about how getting covid brought up the voices of purity and perfectionism in her—cold, scolding, cruel voices. Sheryl shares how she worked through these voices with the help of a compassionate friend and dialoguing in her journal.
Victoria reflects on her fear of contamination, reckons with trying to play God, feels the pressure of perfectionism in her body, and sheds tears.
Sheryl describes her spiritual perspective on facing our fallibility and offers a ritual for release. And, she shares a meditation on what it feel...2022-09-171h 05
The PlodcastKen Ashworth: 'good' coppers, 'good' crooks, and the chase of Russell CoxAn “unsolvable” case isn’t something in Ken Ashworth’s vocabulary. A Victoria Police veteran of 39 years and the recipient of the Australian Police Medal, Ken is no stranger to chest-to-chest confrontations with “good” crooks. Having joined the force at 18, he was quickly thrust into Melbourne’s wild-west scenes of the 1980’s, and would make a name for himself for arresting and successfully prosecuting some of Australia’s most notorious criminals including Ray Denning, Russell Cox, and Lex Pierce; just to name a few.
Explain that Photo: https://policeveteransvic.org.au/the-plodcasts-explain-that-photo-episode-8/
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Send in a voice message: http...2022-09-0744 minGathering GoldThe Power of the PauseIn today’s episode, we are talking about a simple, yet powerful tool we all can use as we seek to live from more wisdom and less reactivity: the ability to pause. Whether we are arguing with our partner, greeting a loved one as they enter the house, or moving from one task to the next, incorporating a pause can help us to shift our energy, practice gratitude, and remember who we really are and how we want to be.
Sheryl and Victoria take a one-minute pause in the middle of the episode (and invite you to as...2022-08-1249 minGathering GoldDeep ConversationsHave you ever wished that you could join the conversations that you hear in podcasts? Do you find yourself longing for deeper conversations with people you meet in your daily life?
In today’s episode, we’re responding to a question from Monique, a member of our Patreon community: “How do you go about having deeper conversations when not everyone wants or is in the head space to have them, or they find deep conversations uncomfortable?”
Sheryl and Victoria explore what we really mean when we say "deep conversations," conditions that help us reach more depth, a...2022-07-1550 minGathering GoldThe Father WoundToday's episode features a very special guest: Daev Finn, Sheryl's beloved husband (and Victoria's uncle!)
Daev is an artist/psychotherapist and former visual effects artist, and recent graduate of Depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute.
In today's episode, Daev talks about the father wound, relationships between fathers and sons, and his experience fathering two highly sensitive sons. He explores myths and stories that illuminate this topic, and discusses how fathers and "fairy godfathers" can help guide boys towards more vulnerability, connection to emotions, and connection to self.
You can find out more about D...2022-06-1753 min
Go Bariatrics- All things Weight Loss Surgery - No BS, Just Raw, Straight Talking!Listen: Russell Quirk's Nauseating Discussion on Obesity, Weight Loss & SurgeryObesity is a problem that is growing across the United States, United Kingdom. Contrary to what Russell Quirk believes, obesity is not simply a matter of eating too much and not exercising enough. Obesity is a complex condition that can be caused by many different factors. Weight loss surgery may be an option for some people who are struggling with obesity, but it is important to make healthy choices, which is simple according to him.Russell Quirk is one of the most outspoken voices. He's been featured on national TV and radio, and has written...2022-06-0150 minGathering GoldSeparation AnxietySeparation anxiety can feel like a scream from the soul, like love choking on its own breath. It springs from a variety of sources, both genetic and environmental, and often thrives in a mixture of deep love, profound fear of loss, an exaggerated sense of threat, and an underestimation of our own competence. Separation anxiety calls for individuation, for leaning upon an inner parent, as well as social and even spiritual connection.
In today's episode, Sheryl and Victoria explore their own stories of separation anxiety from their earliest memories, and Sheryl shares her son's recent triumph in t...2022-05-2156 minGathering GoldThe Mother Wound"Your children are not your children
They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself
They come through you but not from you
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you..."
-- from "On Children" by Khalil Gibran
In today's episode, we explore the mother wound in its tender, painful, personal, and collective layers. Sheryl shares her gentle approach to exploring this wound, which includes compassion for the generations of mothers wounded by the patriarchy and embrace of "good enough" mothering. She offers a d...2022-05-0646 minGathering GoldDark Shadow, Bright ShadowIn today’s episode, we’re taking a dip into the shadow lands, and exploring what we mean when we talk about “our shadow” in the realm of human psychology. Sheryl and Victoria share a few traits that they’ve become aware of in their own shadows, and discuss the interplay of shadow and persona and how both benefit from attention and curiosity. Sheryl explains how we can channel shadow characters in healthy ways and learn to see the golden or bright shadow in ourselves, rather than only projecting it onto others.
References:
A Little Book...2022-03-111h 01Gathering GoldThe Passage of TimeThe passage of time: we all feel it, but highly sensitive people seem to feel it that much more acutely, and often from a very young age. In today's episode, Sheryl shares how she has been feeling the passage of time more strongly as her youngest son nears the age of 18 and begins preparing for college, and how she meets "sweet grief" when it arises. Victoria shares how she often tried to stop or stall the process of growing up throughout her younger years because of this early and sharp awareness of time passing.
We discuss the s...2022-02-2559 minGathering GoldDropping Into Your BodyYou've probably heard the phrase "drop into your body" many times before--even from Sheryl. If this phrase brings up an automatic reaction of fear, frustration, or drawing a blank, you are not alone. In today's episode, we are discussing some of the reasons that we might have blocked off awareness of our body or connection to our emotions early on, and why we might now be afraid or frustrated when we try to reconnect.
Sheryl and Victoria discuss some of the fearful thoughts that arise around "What might my body tell me about my truth?" Sheryl expands u...2022-01-281h 11
Trail Tales ARPRussell The Runner - Running Wild and Helping Kids!Russell The Runner is back on the show, this time recapping his Ultra Marathon in support of Kids Help Line along the Victoria Rail Trail in the beautiful Kawartha Lakes! We also get into some strength training talk, Russell's mileage feats in 2021 and his goals for 2022.
Donate to Kids Help Phone
Russell's Global News Interview
Please visit this episodes sponsor - Matts Party Rental Supplies2021-12-2336 minGathering GoldWinter‘s ParadoxWinter is a season of contrasts. In the long dark nights, candles burn more brightly. Amidst the cold, we find ways to generate heat. And in the spaciousness and emptiness, we make room for new birth.
In today's episode, Sheryl and Victoria discuss winter as a time of paradox: a season of the elder and of the child, of quiet reflection and raucous play, turning inward and pushing ourselves out. A feminine season, ripe for mythology and rich with ferocity, warmth, destruction and creation.
We delve into a season that is not easy, but offers it...2021-12-231h 04Gathering GoldSpiritual LongingIn today’s episode, we’re talking about spiritual longing: longing for connection to God, to mystery, to something greater than our individual selves. We explore some of the obstacles and questions that arise around spirituality: Do I need belief to be spiritual? Is my partner wrong for me if I’m on a spiritual path and they’re not? How do I pray when I’m afraid of what God might ask me to do?
Victoria shares some of her history with spirituality and religion, including the legacy of her almost-monk grandfather, and a journey that includes V...2021-12-101h 02Gathering GoldLonelinessHere in the Northern Hemisphere, we are entering into what can feel like a particularly lonely season for many people: the leaves have fallen from the trees, daylight disappears early, and the holiday season is upon us.
Sheryl shares a passage from The Wisdom of Anxiety about loneliness, and we talk about how we can shift from discussing it as a statistic (1 in 5 adults in the U.S. reports feeling “serious loneliness”), and start to add color, texture and feeling to the conversation. What color is loneliness for you? What shape does it take? What stories does it br...2021-11-241h 03Gathering GoldThe Goodness of Ordinary LifeWhat does it mean to live up to our potential, to fully experience life and to feel our lives are enough? Are we stuck choosing between constant striving for bigger and better or settling for boredom and apathy? In today’s episode, Sheryl shares memories of her grandparents that continue to inspire and inform her view of what it means to live a beautiful, simple, good life. Victoria unpacks some of her fear and shame around what it means to do and be “enough,” and asks Sheryl what has helped her to let go of the restlessness and fantasy that o...2021-09-101h 03Gathering GoldSchool Anxiety, Part 1In today’s episode, we’re talking about school anxiety, and how feelings of dread or grief may arise as summer ends and the beginning of the school year lies right around the corner. We discuss why many highly sensitive people don’t like change, and the trick that Victoria used to get through the first few uncomfortable weeks of adjusting to a new school year. We also talk about some of the painful and even traumatic experiences that can color our school years or linger long after they’ve ended, from tragic world events to bullying and loneliness. And, Vic...2021-08-2252 min
What's Your Story?Investing in yourself and knowing it will pay off - Victoria RussellVictoria Russell, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Beam Suntory, didn't know her journey would take this path but listening to her story tells you she is right where she is supposed to be. Her family helped to instill a love for learning and confidence in exceeding all expectations set on her. She also learned firsthand early in her career the importance of good people leaders to bring the most out of team members. Throughout her career, she has sought out opportunities to develop herself which often times took place outside of the regular day job. Listen to her story...2021-08-0853 minGathering GoldJealousyIn today's episode, we're talking about the green-eyed monster: jealousy. Where does this monster come from, and what does it feed on? What do we do when we feel it's taken over us?
Sheryl and Victoria pull this emotion out of the shadows and talk about their own jealous streaks. Sheryl shares experiences with jealousy in friendship, and painful betrayals in her earliest romantic relationships. Victoria shares a poem about her own imagined "monsters" under the bed, and the ways that jealousy feeds on comparison and our imaginations.
We discuss letting ourselves feel the feeling, p...2021-07-231h 01
MKTG MastermindManifesting Your Life | Dr. Victoria ShawVictoria Shaw is Licensed Professional Counselor and Spiritual Coach who combines her background and training in psychology and counseling with her intuitive gifts to help clients heal, grow and realize their spiritual and full personal potential. She takes a holistic approach to counseling, addressing clients’ concerns on the mind/body/spiritual levels. She especially loves working with people who are committed to using their struggles and life experiences to fuel their own spiritual awakening. Victoria is the author of four self-help books for parents, children and teens, the host of Intuitive Connection podcast, and the mother of tw...2021-07-1930 minGathering GoldBirthdaysIn today's episode, we're talking about birthdays and all that comes along with them: fear of loss and aging, questions about purpose and timelines, and recognition of gold gathered and wisdom gained through another year of living. We talk about our bodies changing, and what it means to age in a culture that worships youth. And we discuss taking time to reflect and ritualize, to make space for whatever we are feeling so we can welcome in joy as we mark time, grieve, celebrate, and set intentions. Sheryl shares a letter to Victoria to mark her 30th birthday this...2021-07-091h 01Gathering GoldSummerIn today's episode, we're talking about summer, the season of "nothing lasts forever." Sheryl and Victoria talk about the gifts and opportunities that lie waiting in this season, which is both teeming with abundance and hinting at the colder, darker months to come. We discuss nostalgia and grief around childhood summers (longing for what was and what wasn't), the adolescent nature of summer in all its blooming, creative and wild glory, and how to attend to expectations and overwhelm that often accompany this season for highly sensitive people.
References:
Sheryl's blog post "Season of the Fallen Fl...2021-06-251h 00Gathering GoldNighttimeIn Episode 3, we shine some light on what’s happening in the highly sensitive heart during the dark, quiet (and sometimes scary) hours of the night. Beginning with the sense of emptiness, dread or loneliness that may arise when the light starts to shift and we dip into sunset, then twilight, Sheryl and Victoria describe feelings that have accompanied them in these liminal times, particularly during childhood. Then, we talk about fear of the dark, Victoria’s first panic attack that occurred in the middle of the night, and Sheryl’s first experience with insomnia during her transition into junior...2021-05-281h 03
Perennials PodcastEpisode 66: Wisdom from Folklore with Felicia Russell, Part 2My sister Felicia Russell and I are continuing and concluding our conversation about Taylor Swift's album Folklore with an exploration of themes like commitment, communication, betrayal, and escape. We share personal stories from our own lives about things falling apart and coming together, just like they do in the songs we're unpacking today. And, we pull out some creative writing tips from some of the techniques we see Swift using in her songs.
2021-05-211h 09
Perennials PodcastEpisode 65: Wisdom from Folklore with Felicia RussellIn today's episode, my sister Felicia Russell and I are unpacking wisdom from a little-known indie album we found in the back of a dusty old record shop...okay, just kidding. We're close-reading one of the most talked-about albums of 2020, Taylor Swift's Folklore. Our little romantic English and History-loving hearts skip a beat as we unpack each track, discussing themes like unlived lives, patience, anger, forgiveness, people-pleasing and managing mental health struggles. We discuss how the songs highlight cultural values and timeless human experiences, and we share stories from our own lives that reflect lessons from Folklore.
C...2021-05-131h 12Gathering GoldNamesIn Episode 1, we’re talking about names: the names of our hosts and the name of the podcast. You’ll hear the story behind Sheryl’s name, involving ancestry, immigration and Jewish tradition, and about the literary origins of Victoria’s name. Then we’ll dig into the concept of Roots & Crown, and how it symbolizes Sheryl’s approach to tending to our inner worlds and moving towards greater wholeness: going gently into the earth of our being, peering inside the dark places with curiosity and compassion, grounding ourselves in nourishing practices and relationships, and reaching towards the invisible realm of cre...2021-04-2336 min
Step into Mondays!41. Do you have recommendations on how to better reach my students - online and in person? A conversation with Victoria Russell.Whether you are teaching online, remotely or in person, there are some best practices that can help make the whole process easier for both you and your students. Join us in our conversation with Victoria Russell, a guru of online teaching, and check her out at the following links...https://www.routledge.com/Teaching-Language-Online-A-Guide-for-Designing-Developing-and-Delivering/Russell-Murphy-Judy/p/book/9781138387003 http://nflrc.hawaii.edu/events/view/105/ https://varussellblog.wordpress.com/--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/stepintomondays/message2020-12-071h 14
Perennials PodcastEpisode 53: A Self-Care Visualization Inspired by Queer EyeThis special episode invites you to think about how you can use your imagination to tap into different parts of yourself, parts that can see your gifts and strengths and offer you compassion and care.
In the first half of the episode, I give some background and context about my own resistance to visualizations and why I used to get angry when therapists tried to make me do them. I share how I came to enjoy them and find them helpful, and why you might too.
In the second half, we'll get grounded with our b...2020-09-1125 min
Career Pivot Podcast with Bec SandsEpisode #009 with Victoria RussellWelcome to episode #9 of the Career Pivot Podcast, hosted by Bec Sands. This episode is available on Spotify, Stitcher, iTunes and Google Podcasts, and if you enjoy it, I would love it if you could please subscribe and leave me a review.In today’s podcast episode, I interview Victoria Russell, a transformative life coach who works with women recovering from trauma and addiction and supports them in relationship and career changes.Victoria began her career in daytime television on the production staff of dramas such as Passions, The Bold and the Beautiful, and General Ho...2020-09-0833 min
Page by Page: Writing the Book in Real TimePivoting to Find Your Path: An Interview with Victoria GilbertOn this episode of A Book and A Dream, meet Victoria Gilbert: author of YA Fantasy Crown of Ice and Cozy Mystery A Murder for the Books. From switching careers to diving into a new genre, Victoria has perfected the pivot that drives success.Links Mentioned in PodcastWebsite/blog: http://victoriagilbertmysteries.com/Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaGilbertMysteryAuthor/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriagilbertauthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/VGilbertauthorPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/victoriagil5582/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/VictoriaGilbertYouTube: https://ww...2020-08-3133 min
Perennials PodcastEpisode 52: What Was Missing with Khay MuhammadRecently, Khay Muhammad called me up to ask if we could do a follow-up to our conversation for Episode 45: Belonging in Yoga. Khay explained to me that something important was missing from that episode, and she wanted to make it right. This episode is for Khay to explain what (or rather, who) was missing--and why.
It's a conversation about patriarchy, white supremacy, and trauma; a discussion of how these forces affect us on personal and collective levels, in our lifetimes and inherited from generations before us. Khay generously models what it looks like to notice and meet t...2020-08-2756 min
Perennials PodcastEpisode 51: How You Matter with Maya Sanyal, Part 2Maya Sanyal and I continue our conversation about purpose by getting a little deeper and more philosophical. Maya talks about how she responds to questions that many of us ask ourselves at some point in our lives when we are faced with trying for something: “Who cares?” “Why does it matter?” and “Who do I think I am?”
Maya believes it is possible to be deeply grateful and content while also ambitious. She believes in the power of presence and creating spaciousness in our lives. Maya has worked to notice, question and dismantle her own thinking traps and hurtful...2020-08-1553 minPerennials PodcastEpisode 50: How You Matter with Maya Sanyal, Part 1Maya Sanyal is many things: a career and academic counselor; a mentor and teacher; a writer; a friend; a loving dog mom; a passion skeptic; a purveyor of hope; a business woman.
In Part 1 of our conversation, Maya and I talk about her career trajectory, which includes navigating the communal culture she comes from and the individualistic culture of the U.S.; earning a PhD in English literature and a Masters in Counseling; and years of teaching and advising students in the university classroom, Writing Center and Career Center. Maya's newest incarnation is being an entrepreneur with A...2020-08-131h 09
Perennials PodcastEpisode 49: Wild Invocations with Ysabel Gonzalez, Part 2Ysabel Gonzalez and I continue our conversation about the poems in her collection Wild Invocations, which traces her journey from girlhood to womanhood. With fire and tenderness, these poems explore relationships and identity, expectations and disappointments, vulnerability and strength.
Ysabel shares how poems help her express different parts of herself and get in touch with "characters" within her that need release. We discuss why it sometimes feels easier to write about tumultuous relationships with unavailable people rather than healthy, loving relationships.
Ysabel expresses her desire to write not just from heartache, but also from peace a...2020-07-3137 minPerennials PodcastEpisode 48: Wild Invocations with Ysabel Gonzalez, Part 1Ysabel Gonzalez's full-length collection of poetry, Wild Invocations (published by Get Fresh Books in 2019), is a juicy, earthy, sparkly, raw, raucous, contemplative gem.
I'm lucky to call Ysabel my friend as well as my colleague at the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, where she is Assistant Director of the Poetry Program.
In Part 1, Ysabel and I talk about the seeds of Wild Invocations, some of the challenges that ultimately helped her learn how to use her voice, and how she grapples with writing and speaking about difficult topics like grief, mental illness and white fragility. Ysabel...2020-07-3046 min
Perennials PodcastEpisode 47: Building a Life with Florence HamerToday's episode features a truly delightful guest: Florence Hamer, a woodworker who lives in her self-built tiny house, and spends her time carving spoons, turning bowls, enjoying nature and baking cakes.
In our conversation, Flo describes the path that led her to her beautiful tiny home, from growing up on her mother's woodland, to learning to carve spoons at university, to living in a van in Australia for six months.
We talked about Flo's relationship to living against the grain; how she adventures amidst and despite worry; the romance vs. reality of tiny-house living; and...2020-07-151h 13
Perennials PodcastEpisode 46: Creativity in Quarantine with Marina CarreiraMultimedia artist (and previous Perennials guest!) Marina Carreira is here to talk about creativity during covid-19. We discuss who gets to claim the title "creative," the importance of carving out creative time and rest time, and the practice of finding beauty in the mundane. Marina reminds us that if all we have energy for right now is survival, that's okay. And, creativity might show up in surprising ways.
We also speak about the opportunity for self-reflection during stay at home orders, especially reflecting on racial injustices and the importance of locating white supremacy within ourselves.
We talked about how, ultimately, it...2020-07-0256 min
Perennials PodcastEpisode 45: Belonging in Yoga with Khay MuhammadKhay Muhammad is a yoga teacher who deeply understands the importance of creating true inclusion and belonging in her classes -- for her students and for herself.
Khay and I talk about her childhood growing up in the city of Newark, New Jersey, spending long days with her father in Branch Brook Park and learning about her connection to nature. She also shares about her experiences taking yoga classes for the first time in Brooklyn during her early post-grad years, and why her first yoga class "sucked." Khay describes feelings of loneliness and being "othered" as a...2020-05-261h 01
Perennials PodcastEpisode 44: Bonnets at Dawn with Lauren Burke and Hannah K Chapman
Today's guests Lauren Burke and Hannah K Chapman are hosts of the podcast Bonnets at Dawn, which explores the lives, work and fandom of women writers from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
Lauren and Hannah share some of the wisdom they've taken from authors like Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, Elizabeth Gaskell and Louisa May Alcott. You'll hear about why Lauren is drawn to the Brontës' depiction of women's rage and how she relates to these books as a woman of color; what Jane Austen taught Hannah about figuring out whether to trust a new friend, and why writing for...2020-05-011h 27
Perennials PodcastEpisode 43: Holding Space with Zoe GillisI'm so grateful for this conversation with Zoe Gillis, a licensed marriage and family therapist who in today's episode is helping us to get as grounded as we can and try to stay present during a time of great global anxiety.
There's a lot of uncertainty right now, and a lot that we can't control. Zoe reminds us to focus on what we can control; to meet our own feelings and suffering so that we can work with it and use what we learn to meet the suffering of others; and to look for the good where...2020-03-271h 08
Perennials PodcastEpisode 42: Perennials Book Club, Chapter 1, Anne of Green GablesDuring this difficult and strange time of social distancing amidst a pandemic, I wanted to offer some extra comfort and connection. So I decided to start a Perennials Podcast Book Club! Thanks to all who voted on Instagram and via e-mail for our first Book Club pick: Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery.
In addition to my typical conversation episodes, I’ll be sharing regular mini-episodes in which I’ll read a chapter of the book and then end with some thoughts on the chapter.
Please note: as of July 14, 2020, you can find episod...2020-03-2523 min
Perennials PodcastEpisode 41: Enjoying the Climb with Gillian HerbertGillian Herbert is an avid hiker and rock climber who hiked the Appalachian Trail after high school graduation, which led her to reassess her plans for college and inspired her to study biology. Gillian is now a fourth year veterinary student.
Gillian and I talk about how the AT helped her gain more confidence in herself and widen her ideas about what she's capable of. We also discussed how rock climbing helps her to get out of her head and work with fear in a new way.
To learn more about topics covered and references m...2020-03-061h 08
Perennials PodcastEpisode 40: Stories that Change Us with Lily PercyIn episode 40, one of my dreams comes true--I get to have a conversation with a producer for the podcast that made me fall in love with podcasts, On Being with Krista Tippett. Lily Percy is one of the founding members who brought On Being to independence in 2013; she's also the host of the delightful podcast This Movie Changed Me, and formerly worked for StoryCorps and NPR's All Things Considered.
In today's episode, Lily and I talk about what she's learned from her years of loving movies and listening in on conversations with incredible people reflecting on what i...2020-02-2853 min
Perennials PodcastEpisode 39: True Love with Sarah KoestnerSome of the most common myths about love that we hear over and over again can create real anxiety and distress for people who begin to believe that there's something wrong with them, their partner, or their relationship when their experience doesn't match those myths. Today's episode is about unpacking some of our false beliefs and confronting the reality that love, like everything else in life, includes an element of uncertainty--and that it's way more expansive than perhaps we've been led to believe.
Join me and coach Sarah Koestner as we consider questions like "If I experience...2020-02-141h 11
Perennials PodcastEpisode 38: Spiritual Direction for Christmas with Karen FloranceAs we in the Northern Hemisphere contend with shorter, darker days and the coming of winter, as well as the busy end-of-year and holiday season, it can be easy to become overwhelmed. With just about a week left until Christmas, I'm talking to Spiritual Director Karen Florance about the season of advent and how we can take time to slow down, check in with ourselves and cultivate greater gentleness, compassion and acceptance during this time of darkness and light.
For those like me who struggle with religion and God, who aren't sure what we believe but who...2019-12-171h 06
Perennials PodcastEpisode 37: Let's Save the Planet with Ananya SinghAt just sixteen years old, Ananya Singh is the CEO of Greening Forward, a youth-led environmental organization, and is Partnerships Coordinator for the New Jersey Student Sustainability Coalition.
Ananya’s passion for activism ignited when she was twelve years old and attended the Youth Empowered Action Camp. Since then, she’s learned a lot about what it means to organize and lead, and in today's episode, she's sharing some of those lessons. We discuss how Ananya keeps her activist fire going, how to overcome barriers to action, and how Ananya responds to despair and burnout. Plus, Ananya talk...2019-11-131h 14
Perennials PodcastEpisode 36: Grown Ups Vote with Lauren RobertsThis episode is for anyone (like myself) who cares about humanity and wants to get more informed about how our government works and how to be more civically active, but who has struggled with feeling overwhelmed or even repulsed by our political system and the process of voting.
In the U.S. this week, there are 49,000 elections happening across 34 states. U.S. citizens are granted the right to vote at age 18, just as we're becoming adults. It's an important part of growing up, and yet many people (myself included) don’t always exercise this privilege and responsibility. In...2019-11-0448 min
Perennials PodcastEpisode 35: The Psychology of Harry Potter with Dr. Jill Cermele (Live Show!)For the first ever Perennials Podcast live show, I sat down with Dr. Jill Cermele, professor of Psychology at Drew University, who teaches a course called "The Psychology of Harry Potter." We talked all about what J.K. Rowling's fantasy series can teach us about growing up, getting wise and trying to live a good life.
What can we learn about identity exploration from the Sorting Hat and Hogwarts houses? How can we laugh at our own boggarts, conjure protective patronuses, and avoid counterproductive magical thinking? What makes some people join Dumbledore's Army while others become Death...2019-10-291h 30
Perennials PodcastEpisode 34: Lights Up with Felicia RussellIn today’s episode, I’m talking with my (nine years younger, nine inches taller) sister Felicia Russell about what she’s learned from ten years in the world of theater. Felicia has performed in nineteen musicals or plays over the course of the past ten years, and has auditioned for somewhere around 40 or 50. Her first public performance was at our town’s talent show when she was five years old, and later that same year she went on her first audition for a local community theater production of The Sound of Music.
I used to watch in awe as...2019-10-151h 11
Perennials PodcastEpisode 33: Traveling with AnxietyDo you get anxiety about traveling? Me too! But that's okay, because we can manage it. Anxiety doesn't have to keep us locked in our homes all the time. In addition to whatever treatment methods we're using to manage anxiety in our everyday lives, there are some basic practices that we can take with us wherever we go. In today's episode, I'm sharing 10 tips, tricks and tools for managing travel anxiety that I used on my recent trip to Montana, complete with stories about irrational obsessing over footwear, an almost-ill-fated camping trip, and the playlists that get me through...2019-10-0938 min
Perennials PodcastEpisode 32: Ditching Diets and Ripping Off Halos with Jessie Haims: Part TwoIn Part Two of our conversation, Jessie and I are talking about how obsession with purity and perfection leads to destructive thoughts and behaviors. We talk about common motivations behind restrictive diets and how food can get wrapped up with a person's sense of self-worth and belonging. We also discuss how fatphobia and judgment show up everywhere from yoga studios to doctor's offices. And we share our struggles with body image and trying to untangle our sense of value and lovability from our age and looks.
You can learn more about Jessie and today's episode by visiting t...2019-09-1859 minPerennials PodcastEpisode 31 Ditching Diets and Ripping Off Halos with Jessie Haims: Part OneJessie Haims is an incredible woman--a survivor of cancer and orthorexia, a yoga teacher and student of exercise and nutrition, she has become a fearless voice against diet culture.
Jessie developed a disordered relationship to food at just eight years old, a relationship that continued for nearly two decades. Last year, at age 26, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and decided that enough was enough--she didn't want to waste any more time starving herself and trying to disappear. She finally decided to seek help, and therapy transformed her life. Now, Jessie has an entirely different relationship to fo...2019-09-1042 min
Perennials PodcastEpisode 30 Not Babysitting with Alex BaronAlex Baron is not a babysitter. When he wakes up with his daughter at 5:30 a.m., when he changes her diapers or feeds her, he’s not doing it because he has to or because his wife asked him to--he’s doing it because he wants to. Because he loves being Addison’s dad.
Recent studies from the Pew Research Center show that American fathers who live with their children are spending more time with them than in the past, yet fear that they still aren’t giving enough time to their families. In today’s episode, Alex and I...2019-09-041h 14
Perennials PodcastEpisode 29: The Mystery of the Missing Statue with Mallory MortillaroA few years ago, Mallory Mortillaro was a 22-year-old college graduate and middle school English teacher putting her Art History degree to good use doing part-time archival work. One day on the job, she discovered, tucked in the corner of a town council chamber, a lost Rodin statue. So began a one-year journey to officially authenticating the marble bust of Napoleon, a path that led to lots of media and international attention and to Mallory delivering a commencement address to Drew University’s graduating class of 2018, just five years after she and I graduated from Drew.
In th...2019-08-271h 21
Perennials PodcastEpisode 28: A Perennials Birth StoryIn today's episode, the tables have been turned--I'm the one answering questions!
Lauren Roberts, previously my guest in Episode 23, is interviewing me about the origins of the podcast, and my current take on the themes of "growing up, getting wise and trying to live a good life."
We talk about my post-grad quarter life crisis, slowly shedding the pressure to be a "good girl," moving out of my parents' house and balancing my need for quiet and alone time with social connection and engagement with the world.
I share some of what I've be...2019-08-201h 21
Perennials PodcastEpisode 27: And How Does That Make You Feel? with Jessica GaetaJessica Gaeta is your new favorite Jersey Italian mom. She's loud, she's funny, she makes a mean lasagna, and she's got the biggest heart.
I sat down with Jess to pick her brain about her relationship to resiliency and adversity, how she coped after losing both of her parents by the time she was 20 years old, and how humor helps her find light even in dark times.
We dive deep talking about therapy and how it has helped us both to grow in self-awareness and self-love. We talk about the most helpful and unhelpful things w...2019-08-131h 23
Perennials PodcastEpisode 26: The Nature of Presence with David CrewsDavid Crews is author of Wander-Thrush: Lyric Essays of the Adirondacks and High Peaks, a poetry collection that catalogs his hiking of the “Adirondack 46ers” in upstate New York.
David talks about his passion for wild and rugged terrain, why he doesn’t bring a phone or camera on his hikes, and how he strives to become more present in nature and in life.
We discuss the importance of retreating in order to reflect on how we can better engage with the world, especially in an age of rapid advances in technology and information. We talk abo...2019-08-061h 26