I’m pleased to introduce today’s guest, Jennifer O’Brien, author of The Hospice Doctor’s Widow: A Journal. Jennifer’s physician husband Bob had for years been part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team that provided end of life care to their patients. And then it was his turn. He was diagnosed with a stage IV, metastatic cancer. Jennifer traces their journey together during the 22 months following his diagnosis until he died, as well as her early widowhood. She’s all about being fully present during even the toughest moments, honoring grief, and going forward after devastating loss.

Becoming Who You Truly Are, with Marlena Fiol, PhD

"Hospice Doctor's Widow" - My Interview with Jennifer O'Brien

I feel honored to introduce today’s guest Dr. LaVera Crawley. In the field of medicine and ethics, LaVera is internationally known for her work on healthcare disparities in palliative and end-of-life care. After a 16+ year career at Stanford as an empirical bioethicist, LaVera Crawley began a new career in spiritual companionship, bringing together her work in medicine, ethics, social justice, teaching, research, and public health with her longstanding interest in spirituality. She is currently the Palliative Care Chaplain at the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and a certified educator for hospital chaplains. She’s also Chair of the Board of Father Richard Rohr’s Center for Action and Contemplation.

"Spiritual Companionship" - My Interview with Dr. LaVera Crawley

I am pleased to introduce Apricot Irving, award winning author of The Gospel of Trees, and one of her teachers Suzette Goff-Geffrard. Apricot grew up as a missionary’s daughter in Haiti – where Suzette was her teacher – during a time of social and political upheaval. Suzette has worked for many years in educational, organizational and development-related programs here in the US as well as in two African countries, Haiti and France.

"Help - Don't Hurt!" - My Interview with Apricot Irving and Suzette Goss-Geffrard

I’m pleased to introduce today’s guest, Gopar Tapkida, from the Mennonite Central Committee, MCC. But while Ann Graber Hershberger, our last guest, was at HQ in the US, Gopar is MCC’s Representative in Zimbabwe, Africa. Gopar has led interfaith dialogues between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, Chad and Ethiopia.

"From Warrior to Peace Builder" - My Interview with Gopar Tapkida

I am privileged and honored to introduce the Executive Director of the Mennonite Central Committee, Dr. Ann Graber Hershberger. The Mennonite Central Committee, referred to as MCC, is a global nonprofit organization, focused on providing relief, development and peace in over 50 countries worldwide. And this year – 2020 – MCC celebrates its 100th anniversary. You’ll love how honestly and vulnerably Ann talks about MCC’s brilliant achievements, but also some of the costly blunders along the way.

"Peace and Justice for All" - My interview with Dr. Ann Graber Hershberger

Today, I'm honored to introduce Shawn Askinosie, coauthor with his daughter, Lawren, of the book, Meaningful Work: A Quest to Do Great Business, Find Your Calling, and Feed Your Soul. Shawn is the founder of Askinosie Chocolate, which was named by Forbes as one of the 25 best small companies in America, and he was named by Oprah as one of 15 guys who are saving the world. Shawn is all about chocolate. I've tasted it, in fact, I have the 72% dark chocolate from Tanzania in front of me right now and it is amazing. And no, he didn't pay me to say that. But he and his chocolate company are also about so much more. Using his company’s revenues, Shawn's chocolate business has provided over a million meals to hungry students in Tanzania and the Philippines. They've delivered thousands of textbooks to schools and they've drilled water wells for villagers.

"Finding Your Calling" - My Interview with Shawn Askinosie

I’m pleased to introduce today’s guest, Kim Colegrove. Kim has been a meditator for over 40 years. But meditation became the focus of her service path when, in 2014, she lost her husband David to suicide, less than three months after he retired from a 30-year law enforcement career. She created The PauseFirst Project, which we’ll talk about, to honor David’s memory, and to help other first responders cope with stress and trauma. As you’ll soon hear, Kim suggests that first responders may sometimes get so focused on service to others, that there’s bit of denial around the care that they themselves need. But this conversation is not just about first responders. Kim says it’s time for us as a society to better balance our external focus by turning our awareness toward also caring for our own internal needs.

"From Grief to Action" - My Interview with Kim Colegrove

I’m pleased to introduce Dr. Dawna Markova. Dawna is an internationally renowned thought leader and personal growth expert. She has lived many incarnations in the past seven decades as an author, teacher, psychotherapist, researcher and executive advisor. One of the creators of the best-selling Random Acts of Kindness series, Dawna is the author of many other inspirational books. Today, we’ll be talking about her latest book, Living a Loved Life: Awakening Wisdom through Stories of Inspiration, Challenge and Possibility, which invites us to do whatever is necessary to create a life we can love and to love the life we have.

"Living a Loved Life" - My Interview with Dr. Dawna Markova

I feel privileged and honored to kick off this season by introducing today’s guest, a leader in the service arena, Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International and author of Our Better Angels: Seven Simple Virtues that Will Change Your Life. Habitat for Humanity began in the 1970s as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Habitat has helped more than 29 million people gain access to new or improved housing.

"A Life that Matters" - My Interview with Jonathan Reckford of Habitat for Humanity

Becoming Who You Truly Are Season 3 Teaser

I am truly honored to bring you the thinking of today's guest, Arno Michaelis, a former leader of the white power movement and a founding member of what became the largest racist skinhead organization in the world. Today, Arno is a public speaker, author and activist for peace and justice. Arno and I will be discussing a range of topics, such as the basis of violence in the world, what forgiveness and reconciliation mean in the face of racial wounds, and what each of us can do to make this a more compassionate and just world.

“We Find What We Look for in Life -- So Be Mindful of What You Seek” – My Interview with Arno Michaelis

I am honored to introduce today's guest, Thomas DeWolf. Tom serves as executive director for Coming to the Table, which is a nonprofit that provides resources for all who wish to acknowledge and heal the wounds of racism. We will be discussing a range of topics, such as linkages between individual and collective healing, the differences between restorative and retributive justice, and the meaning of reconciliation in the context of healing wounds of racism.

“We’re Living Either in Love or in Fear” – My Interview with Tom DeWolf

I am pleased to bring you the thinking of today's guest, Thordis Elva. Thordis is an Icelandic author, speaker, playwright, and activist for gender equality. Thordis collaborated on this book with her perpetrator, Tom Stranger, making her the first rape survivor in the world to publicly do this. We will be discussing a range of topics, such as the meaning of forgiveness and atonement, the importance of anger and vengeance as steppingstones toward forgiveness, and the need to change misconceptions and myths about sexual abuse.

“My Path to Healing May Not be Yours” – My Interview with Thordis Elva

I am pleased to bring you the thinking of today's guest, Harriet Brown. She is a writer, magazine editor and professor of magazine journalism at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Harriet writes, researches and teaches about eating disorders and body image as well as other issues, including family estrangement. We will be discussing a range of topics, such as the different forms of family estrangement, how to avoid fake forgiveness, what parents and children owe each other, and the distinction between estrangement and family members simply drifting apart.

“What Do Parents and Children Owe One Another?” – My Interview with Harriet Brown

I am pleased to bring you the thinking of today's guest, Elizabeth Scott. Liz is a psychologist in private practice in Portland, and she is the author of This Never Happened, a memoir about her childhood journey with narcissistic parents and her relentless search for the truth for belonging and for a deeper understanding of her own life. We will be discussing a range of topics, such as the meaning of forgiveness, the deep human need for belonging, and the important work of rewriting our childhood scripts.

“Making Peace with Questions that May Never Be Answered” – My Interview with Liz Scott

Becoming Who You Truly Are is a show that reveals the inspirational stories of people who have faced horrific adversities, and in the process, they have uncovered who they truly are and what's possible for them. We are committed to exploring the unvarnished truth about their remarkable journeys.

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Becoming Who You Truly Are, with Marlena Fiol, PhD

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