Shows
Later, with Mo'KellyA Road trip to Visalia, the Most 'Kind-Hearted' CA Cities & a Major AnnouncementICYMI: Hour One of ‘Later, with Mo’Kelly’ Presents – A look at the road trip to Visalia for Producer Kiana’s wedding and Tawala’s Mix CD collection for the trip AND the 18 California cities ranked among the most “kind-hearted' in the nation…PLUS - Ron Ross, President at RDR Foods Inc., and Wendy's franchisee for over 30 years, joins the program with a major announcement regarding the “Later, with Mo’Kelly Pre-Halloween Soiree” - on KFI AM 640…Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app2024-10-1937 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsDeirdre McLaughlin Talks About Compassion and Dignity for MAP — Minor Attracted PersonsWelcome! Today is a special episode where I have a conversation with Deirdre McLaughlin about dignity and compassion for people who are attracted to minors.We explicitly are not talking about people who perpetrate sexual abuse against children. We are in no way conflating child sexual abuse with persons who are attracted to minors.And we would like to ask you to consider this.There are people in our midst who have been dealt a hand where their sexual orientation is attraction to minors and we believe our society...2022-03-031h 02
Wild and Precious ConversationsWendy Talks About BenevolencePhoto by aisvri on UnsplashI wonder.I mean, honestly, this morning, I have an image of Ukrainian grandmas on my mind. As I write this, as I say this, What would a benevolent world actually look like? It's been on my mind all week. This week has been interesting. I think what I came to at least for my own world is that a benevolent world would be moving a lot more slowly. It seems as though it's the actions and thoughts that happen in the moment really...2022-02-2417 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsWendy Talks About UbuntuIt’s snowing lightly and the sun’s last glow is obscured by mist. My teenager is practicing cello in a small, quaint cabin nearby while I meander in the woods and along the lakefront, stopping briefly on the dock to see if I can see any stars emerging.I’m listening to a book by Iain McGilchrist called “The Master and His Emissary” and it’s in turns riveting and excruciatingly boring as he describes the dire straits we’re in.Pre cello lesson, I’ve been nursing one of Brene Brown’s “vulnerability hangovers” so bad th...2022-02-1718 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsLisa Richardson Talks About MovementWelcome to another episode of Wild + Precious conversations — This week, a replay of our November 12, 2020 conversation with Lisa Richardson.This week I had a chance to speak for the first time with Lisa Richardson, a writer based in Pemberton, British Columbia. Lisa’s writing moves me.It would be wonderful if there were so much strategic planning around this project that I could honestly say that is why I asked her to talk about movement.Alas, no. Movement was our loose theme but perhaps more correctly, we spoke of growth through the metaphor of g...2022-02-1049 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsWendy Talks About Becoming RealWendy here: This is kind of scary to be honest. Welcome. To another episode of wild and precious conversations. An edited, abridged version of the podcast/video cast :) Yes, if you would like to actually look at someone very, very real, I uploaded this to YouTube. But let’s start with that quote, that's often miss attributed to Voltaire. “I disagree wholeheartedly with what you say, but I will defend to my death, your right to say it.” And I realized that there's a lot in that quote. First of all, let me...2022-02-0320 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsJean Russell Talks About ThrivabilityInvited to have a conversation about the book “The Dawn of Everything”, Jean Russell did her level best to stay on topic. :) I did not help, mostly because her life’s work on Thrivability is so compelling. A brief introduction of Jean: She has been passionate about co-creating a more thrivable world since 2007. 2022-01-2739 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsErica Scott Talks About ConsentWelcome to a world of collaboration, consent, intimacy and deep rich relationships based on trust!Erica Scott is a consent educator working hard to make consent culture a reality. I feel honored to share our converstaion with you. The book launch begins January 21, 2022, so I am going to make our show notes short this week, in order to get this episode out in time.We discuss the collaboration in consent, the reason a “gatekeeper” relationship limits us, the possibilities that unfold when relationships are interwoven with collaboration and consent.At the 42:00 mark...2022-01-2059 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsEffortless InterludeWelcome! Wow — 2022. This week I am sharing a short 20 minute episode riffing on what I have learned about effortlessness over the past few days. Specifically, incorporating Julia Gillmor’s Facebook Livestream on Resistance and Russell Brand’s YouTube video on Laziness.Here is the script I read from for the podcast:Hi - Wendy here - welcome to another episode of wild and precious conversations.This week, a short interlude.I have lined up a pretty cool list of conversations for the coming year, and I thought it might be a g...2022-01-1320 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsMarla Estes and Joe Burgo Talk About HumilityCultivating Humility. Huge growth potential if you can get comfortable being uncomfortable. (And I would add, let’s make the uncomfortable place as welcoming and inviting as possible.)Joe Burgo’s website announced this course at the bottom of a blog post (as I recall). Marla Estes’ site was a humble outreach; I joined the class and am now an advocate for cultivating humility.In fact, I chose to open 2022 with Cultivating Humility — it is what I want to see more of in my life, in my family, in my community.{My intro...2022-01-0652 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsUncertainty — Why I Love/Hate It and How to Embrace ItWell, good morning! I recorded a new introduction to this, my second ever episode of this podcast. This morning as I was getting my coffee, I was overcome by a wave of hopelessness — things looked bleak. The hopelessness rises when things seem certain — and that’s when I remembered that the one thing we can count on is change and uncertainty. And that gave rise to a bit of hope.A few notes: I listented to a wonderful podcast episode this morning with Steven Leavitt of Freakonomics fame. His podcast, People I Mostly Admire...2021-12-3025 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsStephanie Bonastia Talks About Intuitive EatingRecovery — Stephanie Bonastia is an intuitive eating coach who thought she could never feel sane around food — that she was “broken” and unfixable…what she discovered and what she shares in our conversation and in her practice is life changing and hope full. From her website:Life opens up to you. Creativity, passion, and purpose is a part of healing. Find what lights you up.Our conversation covered classism, racism, shame — and processing our shame, mindfulness and integrating our dark and light sides.About mindfulness, we talk about how “mindfulness” has kinda been co-op...2021-12-2348 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsGood Enough: Conversation about Winnicott, and how to be "Good Enough"Good Enough — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation replay where I tell a story about a “Good Enough” life and give some ideas for how you can get one of your own. I forgot about using this photo. I needed one of me and took this with my phone as I was working. Why I look so surprised (and a little bemused, maybe?)For this week — as my young adults return from school, my youngest is busy running from work to school to cello to — whatever — and I feel like a full time listener to a litany...2021-12-1623 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsRebecca Hunter Talks About What She Saw at Fairy Creek.Response — Rebecca Hunter went to Fairy Creek to help in the kitchen. While there, she saw sadistic, cruel and unnecessary violence on the part of people whose sole job is to protect and serve.She saw this. Now what?That’s what we’re talking about in this two-part episode of Wild and Precious Conversations.This week we continue but focus on what we can do.I’ve been noticing a lot of writing on staying numb. It’s nuanced. We don’t have to jump in on every situation that is unbalance...2021-12-0943 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsRebecca Hunter Talks About What She Saw at Fairy Creek.Action — Rebecca Hunter went to Fairy Creek to help in the kitchen. The first morning there, RCMP raided the camp, arrested first only people of color (skipping over the young white women in the peaceful protest line) and wrecked havoc at the camp, taking pictures of their post-wrecking and lying to the public saying that the disarray was caused by the land defenders themselves, being the reason they needed to arrest them.She saw all of this. Now what?That’s what we’re talking about in this two-part episode of Wild and Precious Conversations.I...2021-12-0249 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsDr. Stacee Reicherzer Talks About Her Book: Healing Otherness HandbookOtherness: What happens when we are bullied, isolated, left out and “othered” — let’s learn how to heal that part of us so we can move into “Togetherness”I am so happy to have had a chance to talk with Dr. Stacee about her new book: The Healing Otherness Handbook.Our conversation goes from speaking about how to muck around in the compost of our lives and do our small things to create more beauty — to how to free ourselves when we are in isolation — to Jewish faith and the idea of Tikkun — to transgender ideas and how we c...2021-11-2552 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsAndrea Bell Talks About Sustainability: "The House is On Fire"Sustainability: Andrea and I know each other from homeschool days — we’ve seen each other at our most unsustainable and we’re still friends. Andrea runs a {gorgeous} sustainable lifestyle magazine called Trend Privé, so that is how this conversation started…“The part that I think needs to be addressed is that it's totally okay to be overwhelmed and feel frustrated and really angry and hurt and sad that the powers that be have let us down or that we didn't realize earlier, or however it is that that's showing up for people, it's important to say:...2021-11-1853 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsJames Tracy Talks About Activism and His Book: Hillybilly Nationalists, Urban Race Rebels, and Black PowerOrganizing: We take on harm reduction, labour organizing, what happens if we succeed in dismantling capitalism, and why we need access to nature — Can we actually find labour that is not extractive but meaningful and fulfilling, and so. much. more!So…next time you’re at Thanksgiving Dinner, why don’t you ask around and find out a little more about your cousins? Maybe you might have an activist sitting next to you?My northern California cousin is in the Wild and Precious House this week — I feel really blessed / lucky to be able to ta...2021-09-1035 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsDr. Stacee Reicherzer Talks About Her New Book: Healing Otherness HandbookOtherness: What happens when we are bullied, isolated, left out and “othered” — let’s learn how to heal that part of us so we can move into “Togetherness”New month, new podcast episode! I am so happy to have had a chance to talk with Dr. Stacee about her new book: The Healing Otherness Handbook.Our conversation goes from speaking about how to muck around in the compost of our lives and do our small things to create more beauty — to how to free ourselves when we are in isolation — to Jewish faith and...2021-07-2952 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsEmily Morrison Talks About Bipolar 1 and Suicide PreventionFlourish: To get to flourish, you start with learning how to care — for yourself, your work colleagues, your neighbour.This episode marks our return to podcasting. Season 2 let’s call it. Beginning in February, I needed to take a break due to a family situation. If you want to learn more, I have written about it here.Wild and Precious Conversations returns today, however, with a conversation that will fill you with tools, enthusiasm, and motivation to create a more caring world where we can all flourish.We talk about how hard it is t...2021-06-0352 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsRefresh: Conversation with Reena Friedman WattsRefresh: I know I needed a refresh this week and so I am delighted to share this conversation with Reena Friedman Watts: Entrepreneur, podcaster, mom of four kids, wife, coach, community grower, storytelling junkie.You’ll want to listen for the recurring chorus of fail better, keep doing your best, tell your story, your voice matters, shine on.Reena’s podcast is called Better Call Daddy, and, yes, it turns out that her daddy is her talisman, her go-to in the times she needs a boost, and her champion. It was so heartwarming and...2021-01-2938 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsRenewal: Loving the Unlovable — Conversation with Tamara BrownRenwal: Our theme for the week led me to a new podcast series: “Loving the Unlovable” First up, a conversation with my sister, Tamara Brown. Her MA in Human Development is what got me to call her but it was our relationship as sisters that helped us talk about the unlovable.What makes us lovable? Why is that such a cringey question? My sister and I dive in, staying on the edges of her professional background as a child development expert but really talking a lot about where we are as far...2021-01-2247 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsPerception: Conversation with Stan SmithPerception: It’s all in how you see — the angle, the lens, the depth. This week, we continue our conversation on family, immigration, vulnerability and beauty with Stan Smith, adjunct professor of social work at USC.You have to wait until the 37 minute mark to get there, but this is where we end up:“I think it's true. Family is beautiful. Not Just the family that I think I deserve to have, or my kid deserves to have, or the family you deserve to have, or the one sitting across the pew from me at...2021-01-1443 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsPersistence: Conversation with Stan SmithPersist! It’s those little efforts we make that, over time, move mountains. Today I get to share the first part of a two part conversation with Stan Smith, social worker and adjunct professor of social work at USC (University of Southern California).So, awhile back, I asked Stan about children as possibly the most vulnerable members of our society.He responded with: “We are the vulnerable ones who are afraid of that vulnerability.” I start this episode off with that exchange, and we go from there. It’s obvious...2021-01-0737 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsJoy: Conversation with Anna Katarina of Rumour MillJoy! This week, Anna Katarina and I speak about Rumour Mill, the band she created with Aline Daigle — and why you (we) should all sing, support live music, and music, music, music.Sing! Singing helps us move from our reactive (fight, flight, freeze or fawn) “lizard-brains” and into our grounded, responsive, fully-alive, fully-human selves.Singing makes it possible to access a full range of emotions. We *know* this, but sometimes we need a reminder.Anna Katarina (with lifelong friend Aline Daigle) created Rumour Mill, a West Coast Canadian indie band t...2020-12-1739 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsPeace: Conversation with Dr. Jennie BarronWelcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, a conversation with Dr. Jennie Barron, executive director of the Mir Center for Peace.Jennie spoke with me about her dissertation which is her research into urban orchards.Urban orchards is code, I found, for some awfully subversive ideas.Jennie unpacked these for me as one might a series of very cherished gifts — first, by challenging my understanding of ownership. Imbuing it with the sense that it’s something we’re responsible to. (@10:55)There’s a deco...2020-12-1146 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsHope: Conversation with Cam BrewerWelcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, a conversation with Cam Brewer, lawyer, activist, author.I told Cam that we would be speaking about the commons.Ha.I planned to have this conversation and then put it out as a helpful adjunct to another couple conversations I am waiting to share with you about both our collective responsibility as a society and our how we can use that collective responsibility as an empowering force for good in the world.Well, as we conversed, I realized...2020-12-0444 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsIntegrity: Conversation with David HallWelcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, I speak with David Hall, soon-to-be Registered Nurse specializing in Geriatrics.This week I had a chance to speak with my cousin, David Hall. Deciding to make a career chaing in midlife is one thing, becoming a registered nurse specializing in geriatrics is another.First, fingers crossed as I upped my sound editing game this week. Feedback welcome.I start the conversation (I feel) rather abruptly, throwing us into a contemplation of the commodification of self care.2020-11-281h 00
Wild and Precious ConversationsIntegrity: An IntroductionWelcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, I am introducing the idea of integrity. Due to a series of unfortunate events, which honestly included a trasnformer blowing up or catching fire (or something like that ) this week’s episode does not have a guest. But I think that’s exactly what needed to happen.Next week, we get a conversation with Cam Brewer, lawyer, activist, *accountant*, entrepreneur. This week, we get a short introduction to integrity.A short, 17 minute introduction that took me days to comp...2020-11-2017 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsMovement: Conversation with Lisa RichardsonWelcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, I speak with Lisa Richardson, writer.This week I had a chance to speak for the first time with Lisa Richardson, a writer based in Pemberton, British Columbia. Lisa’s writing moves me.It would be wonderful if there were so much strategic planning around this project that I could honestly say that is why I asked her to talk about movement.Alas, no. Movement was our loose theme but perhaps more correctly, we spoke of growth through the metaphor of...2020-11-1247 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsCreative Process: Conversation with Jackie TaharaWelcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, I speak with Jackie Tahara, licensed surface pattern designer, illustrator, and artist.This week feels really special because wild and precious conversations is again a real conversation! When I met Jackie Tahara years ago, she was a lawyer. Fast forward many years and she makes her living through her art as a licensed surface pattern designer (notice the patterns in her image, above!) I really wanted to listen to her talk about getting there, getting to a place where art was a permanent fixture...2020-11-0541 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsMagic & Faith: The power of the curse in our modern lives. The nocebo (and placebo) effect.Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, I contemplate the power of the curse in our modern lives: The nocebo effect.This week, I have been contemplating the power of our words. There’s quite an industry dedicated to the idea that affirmations, positive thinking, and the like can make you rich, powerful, beautiful and healthy.Contrast that with the reality (which hit me this last week) that there is one emotion we all struggle mightily with that we use as a curse: Shame.We ha...2020-10-2931 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsMagic: Wild and Precious MeanderingsWelcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, I introduce you to the FREE Science of Well Being class taught through Cousera by Dr. Laurie Santos at Yale.This week, I think Dr. Laurie Santos’ Yale course was on my mind as I contemplated Magic vs Science. I took her “Happiness Class” a few years ago when my family needed, frankly, a reminder of what happiness was.I think that is what was behind my thesis that emotional fitness ain’t Magic — It’s science. And kinda boring science, too. The pod...2020-10-2424 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsUncertainty: 12 Wild and Precious (and Proven & Fun) Ways to Tackle Uncertainty and Avoid Burnout.Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week, you have an assignment: either go and listen to Brene Brown’s Unlocking Us episode interviewing Emily and Amelia Nagosky, or sign up for my free Self Care First Aid Kit Course. This week I spent a good amount of time editing again — I will admit that I had gotten lazy, but a wonderful piece of feedback gave me renewed resolve to spend the hours editing. Let me know your thoughts....This week in the newsletter, I wrote that the opposite of uncertainty is bore...2020-10-1634 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsNot Happy: A Conversation Around Why Happiness is Not the GoalWelcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week contemplating happiness, as in why we should not strive for it. I tell the story of Nick Brown, who called “b******t” on a mathematical constant in positive psychology. This week I begin with the story of Nick Brown, a veteran IT guy who, after turning 50, changed into Human Resources and ended up smack dab in a Positive Psychology course in East London.He learned that we need a ratio of 2.9 positive emotions to every 1 negative emotion and when we attain this gold...2020-10-0922 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsRetreat: We Need To Stop FightingWelcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week contemplating retreat. Using Norm MacDonald, Trader Joe, and Sun Tzu. So, this week, it’s just me again, no guest. Retreat. When my husband said he needed to retreat (not his words, but I think appropriate) and that I was welcome, I hesitated. I felt the transition was too much. I only went because I knew it was important to him and I felt like I wanted to support him.The retreat — 4 days camping in the rain — restored me. Nature: woods...2020-10-0120 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsValues: Conversation about what we value and what we should valueWelcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week it’s just me again, this time contemplating value. What it is, what we value, and what we should value. I have been spending all my extra time over the last few weeks creating my website (underbel.li), creating courses (Create your own self care kit) and a little bookshop (Buy Indie books online — my first curated list is related to another course I created).So, this week, it’s just me again, no guest. I hope I did the idea of value...2020-09-2527 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsBoundaries: Conversation about what they are and how to set them.Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week it’s just me again, this time contemplating boundaries. What they are, how to know and set your limits, and why or why not this should start early. Of course as soon as I decided that I was going to take a look at mental flexibility via relationship boundaries, I knew I was in trouble.Boundaries and I have a long and fraught history. A child of the summer of love, I came of age when it was normal to fire “stewardesses” for getting marrie...2020-09-1827 min
Wild and Precious Conversations20/20: Conversation about how our environment affects our emotional well being — and what we can do.Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week it’s just me talking about how our environment affects our emotional well being…and stuff we can do to get stronger. As I researched this episode, lots of familiar favorite people ventured into my consciousness. A man named Dr. Bruce K Alexander, who famously led the “Rat Park” experiments at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby British Columbia. A priest named Father Greg Boyle, who run the largest gang rehabilitation and reentry program in the world. Joseph Henrich, who wrote a book called “The WEIRDest P...2020-09-1034 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsFamily {Again}: Conversation with my sister and cousinsWelcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week is a conversation with my sister and my cousins on our perfectly imperfect family. Chalk this up to yet another time I thought I was going to get off easy…After many many hours of deep thought, lots of laughing, and many conversations, text messages, and still more conversations, we have an episode for you.Obviously, we’re not the Kardashians, so it’s fair to ask why you’d want to listen to us talk about our family.2020-09-0445 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsFamily: A Conversation About Fantasy vs Reality and The Sad Story of The Stauffers.Welcome to another episode of Wild and Precious Conversations. This week is a short episode to queue up next week’s conversation with my sister and my cousins. We talk regularly, so we thought we’d give it a go with a basic theme and ample time to talk…but the conversation just didn’t work as an episode so we’re trying again.This week, you’ve got me for around 25 minutes with some thoughts on the fantasy versus reality of family. Funny, it occurred to me this week that fa...2020-08-2826 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsNurturing/Mothering: Conversation with Jessica HesselsNurturing/Mothering — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Jessica Hessels, Badass Mom of the Badass Moms Club. Our conversation begins at approximately the 5:20 mark with Jessica graciously accepting my affirmation that I wholeheartedly enjoy her youthfulness. I appreciate her young, open attitude toward mothering (and all care giving) and so we start there.We talk a lot about social media - how it can empower and disempower young parents simply through its immediacy and always-on nature. It’s been a full 23 years since I was a new mom, so a lot has...2020-08-2053 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsConnectedness {Week 2}: Conversation with Cate BaioConnectedness — Welcome to the second half of a Wild and Precious conversation with Cate Baio, Transformational Coach. Our conversation begins with Cate speaking about the importance of community in connectedness and how challenging that is right now. She talks about a Brene Brown book, “Braving the Wilderness”, and how important shared experience is to our sense of community. (Heck Yes!)I make a rallying cry for the fact that humans are going to be human, no matter what. And that, with focus and encouragement on healthy ways to connect, we got this.Cate introd...2020-08-1337 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsConnectedness: Conversation with Cate BaioConnectedness — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Cate Baio, Transformational Coach. Our conversation begins with Cate speaking to the fact that I view her life’s work as being about connection and connectedness. We wind out way through a conversation that goes to ideas put forth in Brene Brown’s book, “Braving the Wilderness” We move from there to the idea of being connected to those around you and seeing yourself though the lens provided by those close to you.We pause for today with the idea t...2020-08-0630 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsGood Life: Conversation with Jeff StrongGood Life — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Jeff Strong, pastor of Nelson Covenant Church. Our conversation begins as we dive in with the idea of a rule of life — Jeff speaks about the most recent time he worked on his, which was during vocational formation to become pastor in the Covenant church.We move from there to the idea of balancing our authentic selves with being together in relationship in the world. Mindfulness, listening to our bodies, expressing our emotions — even the negative ones — and being aware of what those emotions...2020-07-3150 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsGoodness: People Are Good First EpisodeGoodness — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation that’s both about our Goodness and the first episode of my parallel project: People Are Good. The episode begins with a quote from my favorite podcast. I’m a Murderino, a huge fan of “My Favorite Murder” and in episode #185, Karen Kilgarith and Georgia Hardstark nailed it when they said the title of Karen’s next book will be: “Shut Up: You’re the A*****e” — You need to admit, with humility, that you are always an a-hole, and move forward accepting that.The premise today is that you need to...2020-07-2325 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsGood Enough: Conversation about Winnicott, and how to be "Good Enough"Good Enough — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation where I tell a story about a “Good Enough” life and give some ideas for how you can get one of your own. I began by diving into Winnicott and his ideas about the “good enough” care giver. What that means, why we mostly unfortunately didn’t have “good enough” parents and probably weren’t good enough parents ourselves. Also 1000% no shade to parents — first, we’re all in the same boat, trying to follow the latest expert advice rather than our “good enough” inner voice. And second, we know about...2020-07-1723 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsSex: Conversation with Leah CareySex — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Leah Carey of Good Girls Talk About Sex podcast. Our conversation began by acknowledging that “the world is on fire”. From there, we dove head first into talking about sex. I’m taking a bit of a departure today for my show notes, because I really like Leah’s bio and want to use it to introduce what we talked about and why I think Leah was the perfect choice as a guest for this subject:Leah Carey is a sex and intimacy coach who works...2020-07-091h 03
Wild and Precious ConversationsGratitude: Conversation with Matana Poupko JacobsGratitude — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Matana Poupko Jacobs, of Hope to Recharge podcast. Our conversation began by jumping right in to the reality that gratitude is really easy when life is easy. It becomes precious when life throws you a curve ball, when you have to remember to be grateful for your breath. For your ability to sit down. For the roof over your head. For your food that day. We then wander into a discussion of Sabbath, of taking time to connect to your inner self, to God, to...2020-07-0247 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsPeace 2: Conversation with Kimberly WeeksPeace — Welcome to the second half of my Wild and Precious conversation with Kimberly Weeks, Trauma Recovery Coach. Our conversation continues with the reality that you cannot have peace within when your neighbour is in trauma. We really reach deep and talk about the difficult stuff going on in the world right now: the emerging awakening to a world that does not tolerate injustice, that does not tolerate racism. Kimberly shares the 5 steps to recovery from trauma:* Denial* Chaos* Recovery* Reclamation * AdvocacyAnd fr...2020-06-2546 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsPeace: Conversation with Kimberly WeeksPeace — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Kimberly Weeks, Trauma Recovery Coach. Our conversation began with what peace is. My young, immature self thought peace was easy. My slightly more mature self knows it’s not. Getting there, getting to a place of peace, of wholeness, is where the struggle lies. We talk about what peace is and how to get there. What the struggle feels like when you don’t have peace on the inside but crave peace in your outer world, in your community. Hint: it isn’t going...2020-06-1841 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsCreativity: Conversation with Jae HermannCreativity — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Jae Hermann, Badassery Advocate. Our conversation began with my curiosity around Jae’s stint as a Military Police Officer. As soon as I saw that in her bio, I knew I had to ask for more on that story. Our conversation flowed into recommitting to your platform, recommitting to what you stand for on a daily basis, and being willing to change as needed. To reinvent what you do, how you show up.We talk about wanting to ensure that this moment in history, wher...2020-06-1254 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsThriving: Conversation with Dr. Nancia LeathDr. Nancia Leath gave me the honor of a conversation where she spoke eloquently and authentically on how to thrive NOW in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. I normally would have joined in the podcast blackout but feel that Nancia’s voice adds to the conversation and at such a deep level that it would be wrong to silence. And her voice is important this week.Learn from her rage. Learn from her compassion. Learn from her joy, celebrating her daughters’ successes this week (I feel compelled to mention that her son is c...2020-06-0352 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsCompassion: Conversation with Dr. Stacee ReicherzerCompassion — Welcome to a Wild and Precious conversation with Dr. Stacee Reicherzer. Our conversation started with the compassionate action Dr. Stacee took after the killing of Ahmed Aubrey and flowed from there into ways to work out your compassion muscle including making space for self compassion. One of my favourite parts begins around the 25 minute mark where Dr. Stacee talks about the opposite of compassion — resentment — and how important it is to listen when we feel resentment. Dr. Stacee Reicherzer is a writer, educator, and speaker whose focus includes “helping people find the...2020-05-2845 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsBecoming: Conversation with John de GraafBecoming — The Underbelly Project Podcast has a new name “Wild and Precious” I spoke with filmmaker and Vice Presidential candidate John de Graaf. Our conversation went from why run for Vice President “Why not?” to how can we all slow down, smell the roses (the party he is representing is called the Bread and Roses party), and balance our lives so that we have just enough for a good life.John de Graaf has spent the last 43 years documenting people and organizations which strive to make society livable — from women who spend years creating trails, to cities th...2020-05-2241 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsAuthenticity: Conversation With Brandi BeckGood afternoon!Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on UnsplashTwelfth episode of Conversations from the Underbelly Project podcast. Authenticity. For today’s episode, I spoke with clinical psychologist Brandi Beck. One of her core focuses is Authenticity so it makes sense to hear her speak her wisdom about this subject. But Brandi is also one of my oldest friends and I couldn’t think of a better person to speak with and learn from this week. Our conversation centered around what makes an authentic life and how to make choices that favor authenticity. We touched on p...2020-05-1538 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsResilience: Conversation with Cylvia HayesGood afternoon!Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on UnsplashEleventh episode of Conversations from the Underbelly Project podcast. Resilience. For today’s episode, I spoke with Empowerment Coach, International Speaker, Author, Spiritual Teacher and New Economy leader— Cylvia Hayes. Her book, When Life Blows Up: A Guide to Peace, Power and Reinvention is a deep look at how you can transform your life from surviving to thriving. Our conversation went from taking the opportunity to proactively reinvent the economy to the highly personal story of how Cylvia took the opportunity given to her to begin to th...2020-05-0745 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsPurpose: Conversation with Holly WoodsGood Evening!Photo by Ian Schneider on UnsplashTenth episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Purpose. For today’s episode, I spoke with purpose expert, author, and coach — Holly Woods. Her book, The Golden Thread: Where to Find Purpose in the Stages of Your Life is a cool dive into living life on purpose. Our conversation covered stuff from excavating our purpose to being rooted in purpose to some really lovely personal stories — including the idea that living on this earth is really challenging but it is worth it. What w...2020-05-0142 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsTrust: Start Here, NowGood Morning!Photo by Fred Kearney on UnsplashNinth episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Trust. For today’s episode, I spoke with registered clinical counselor and sexual health educator, Deirdre Mclaughlin. The conversation itself was a practice in trust:What we talked about:* First, Trust and Love. They go together like… * Second, Trust lets us say an emphatic “YES” to the stuff our soul really cries out for us to embrace. * Third, Trust starts with trusting yourself…which starts with mindfulness and self care...2020-04-2346 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsAcceptanceGood afternoon!Photo by Toa Heftiba on UnsplashEighth episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Acceptance. For today’s episode, I spoke with my yoga instructor, Justine Kaufmann. For some reason, I thought acceptance would be easy. I’m pretty laid back, aren’t I? Well, this was quite a challenge. Fun, but a challenge!:What we talked about:* First, self-acceptance is your birthright! * Second, it may not ever be easy to move into acceptance, but with practice it becomes more natural. * Third, acceptance becomes “home” for you. Where...2020-04-1636 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsGriefGood afternoon!Photo by Anastasia Dulgier on UnsplashSeventh episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Grief. I had the great good fortune to speak about grief with Elizabeth Wilder, licensed clinical counselor and clinical supervisor. We went there and then some. A couple quick notes:* First, I am aware that we are sheltering in place, we are safe at home and we are social distancing right now. It’s a time of collective grieving for all of us. Each of us, in our own way, is grieving loss.* Second, Not everyone is...2020-04-0940 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsKindnessGood morning — er, afternoon!Photo by Andrea Tummons on UnsplashSixth episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Kindness. Serendipity showed its hand this week and Kristene Perron, science fiction author and notably kind person agreed to speak with me about kindness. A couple quick notes:* First, I learned a lot about sound editing this week! Please, if you feel like you need to give me feedback on sound quality, be kind 2020-04-0336 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsSolitudeGood morning — er, afternoon!Photo by Nils Rasmusson on UnsplashFifth episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Solitude. With the huge gift of Deryn Collier, mystery writer (that is, writer of mysteries), and friend. So much more fun to do this solitude thing with someone (see what I did there?) What I learned:* First, we need each other. Even introverts, even now (especially now).* Second, solitude needs an “enriched environment” Make time to be playful.* Third, we need to learn how to focus on the healthy stuff and limit the un...2020-03-2637 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsJoyGood morning!Photo by Zac Durant on UnsplashFourth episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Let’s just all be okay with Thursday morning each week. It’s official now. Joy this week — wow. Joy. * First, it’s vital. Not frivolous, not an extra, not childish.* Second, it requires present moment awareness. Joy lives in the present. Only.* Third, joy without vulnerability becomes terrifying. We can use aversion therapy to up our tolerance for joy. (I’ll tell you how.) I share stories about Homeboy Industries...2020-03-1919 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsCommitmentGood morning!Photo by Aaron Jean on UnsplashWe’re at the third episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Still dropping Thursday morning…maybe that’s just where this is going to land. Talking about Commitment this week brought up a lot for me.What I realized is that much of what I know about commitment I have learned over the years by mentors and teachers of various kinds.So this week, I ended up sharing a couple personal stories. I hope they bring you up and are helpful.Third episode finished. My next g...2020-03-1218 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsUncertaintyGood morning!Photo by Aziz Acharki on UnsplashWow! Welcome to the second episode of the Underbelly Project podcast. Easing slowly into the Wednesday morning slot :) — almost there! The theme this week was Uncertainty and man alive was that easier to do in a highly controlled written format.This week, after many, many, many iterations, I just hit record, entered the arena and started talking. See what you think: I start with a small 2-minute rant, then move into a lovely way to frame both unhelpful and helpful responses to uncertainty and finish with a st...2020-03-0523 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsIntentionsGood morning!Photo by Kathleen Macgregor on UnsplashWelcome to the first podcast episode for the Underbelly Project. Since the theme this week was Intentions, this week I chose two stories that I think highlight what can happen when we courageously take small actions that match our intentions.Spoiler alert: Good stuff happens!I then decided to acknowledge two kinds of “false intentions” 2020-03-0118 min
Wild and Precious ConversationsThe Underbelly TrailerHello and welcome to the underbelly podcast. Come along and explore the vulnerable underside to story and learn that, in the real world, there are no heroes -- there are no bad guys -- it’s complicated. I’m Wendy, and I have been paid to tell people’s stories for decades. Along the way, what I have learned is that stories are powerful -- they can heal, but they can also kill. When they are used well, they’re medicine. In the wrong hands, they’re dangerous poison. Over the next episodes, we’re going to vivi...2019-11-0611 min