Off The Comma

In this episode, we talk to Stuart Preston. He describes himself as a person who wants people to see hope. Stuart lives in the United States.  Stuart tells us about sitting on a comma with the loss of his son to suicide. He describes having lived a life of low self esteem that caused him to hold himself back. When the loss of his son traumatically blew his life apart, he was faced with a journey o...

In this episode, we talk to Sean Bridges. He is a writer who is driven and determined. Sean lives in the United States.  Sean tells us about sitting on a comma with leaving a relationship. After years of noticing his own needs being ignored, Sean faced a decision to choose the unknown over his current reality. After weighing the decision, he chose to pursue the solo path and rediscover what he had...

In this episode, we talk to Gitte Madelaire. She describes herself as trustful, happy and an intuitive visionary. Gitte lives in  Denmark.  Gitte tells us about sitting on two commas in her life that both centered around loss and listening to her soul messages to navigate the path forward. When experiencing the loss of her parents’ marriage early in life, followed by the loss of a job later in lif...

In this episode, we talk to Lee Crompton. He is a survivor, writer and connects people with mental health experiences. Lee lives in the United Kingdom.  Lee tells us about getting off a comma with a rare form of thyroid cancer. After being diagnosed suddenly during the pandemic, Lee made a quick decision to pursue a surgery that may have saved his life. While going through treatment he was not exp...

In this episode, we talk to Carrie Graham. She is a quiet and talented listener who likes to uplift others. Carrie lives in the United States.  Carrie tells us about sitting on a comma and taking stock “yet again”. As she tells her story of learning from her commas, Carrie describes coming to a place of peace in her relationship with her commas. Through understanding herself and past experiences w...

In this episode, we talk to Mark Wigginton. He is grateful, evolving and generous. Mark lives in the United States.  Mark tells us about sitting on a series of commas with three phases of his life. After spending years of his life serving the needs of those in recovery, Mark found himself falling into the same choices and behaviors that his clients were trying to escape. Living a double life, he w...

In this episode, we talk to Terry Tucker. He describes himself as a connector who seeks to understand people and experience purpose. Terry lives in the United States.  Terry tells us about sitting on a comma with choosing work as a young adult. When he wanted to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps in law enforcement, Terry’s family moved him to a different path. Later in life, he found the freed...

In this episode, we talk to Angela Tipton. She is curious, courageous and kind. Angela lives in the United States.  Angela tells us about sitting on a comma with overwhelming debt. When she graduated from college, Angela expected to enter a career that would allow her to pay off her student loans. When faced with the reality of her circumstances, she experienced shame and embarrassment that ultima...

In this episode, we talk to Xavier Meza. He describes himself as disciplined, humble and values respect. Xavier lives in the United States.  Xavier tells us about sitting on a comma with respect. When the pandemic forced everyone to school from home, it changed the dynamic for Xavier and his peers. When returning to the in-person classroom, he noticed that something had changed in how he was seen...

In this episode, we talk to Richard Blank. He is empathetic, confident and has “old school grit”. Richard lives in Costa Rica.  Richard tells us about getting off the comma created by familial and societal expectations. Growing up in a world where he was expected to follow a prescribed path, Richard describes feeling like he didn’t fit in and appearing as a failure to those around him. Allowing hi...

In this episode, we talk to Lynn Mull. She is an organizer, seeker and a leader. Lynn lives in the United States.  Lynn tells us about sitting on a comma with a fast-paced career and lifestyle that she no longer identified with. Life interrupted Lynn’s story when she had to become a caregiver for her mother, when a beloved boss/mentor was murdered and when her vision for herself was challenged in...

In this episode, we talk to Lilia Bogoeva. She is an “inner demon crusher” with courage and resilience. Lilia lives in the United States.  Lilia tells us about getting off the comma with self reflection and making her own decisions. When trying to decide how to express her experience and expertise, Lilia chose her own path and wrote a comic book about crushing inner demons. Having experienced a li...

In this episode, we talk to Anna Schmidt & Donald Osborn. They are brother and sister who are resilient writers and storytellers. Anna & Donald live in the United States.  Anna & Donald tell us about how they write about sitting on commas. These siblings describe how a series of tragic deaths in their family brought them together and revealed their shared love of storytelling and writi...

In this episode, we talk to Jack Glennon. He describes himself as authentic, adventurous and pushing boundaries. Jack lives in Australia.  Jack tells us about sitting on a comma with having strokes in his thirties. As a young man who pushes boundaries, Jack climbed mountains and dived oceans. He never planned on strokes and TIAs that would challenge his boundaries and his purpose. As he navigated...

In this episode, we talk to Rhonda Parker Taylor. She is resilient, compassionate and driven. Rhonda lives in the United States.  Rhonda tells us about what it’s like for her to experience commas and then choose the path forward. As a resilient person, Rhonda tells us about how she’s learned from the commas in her life and after each one, she allows herself to explore what path forward she can cho...

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Jaime Raygoza. He is ambitious, audacious and bubbly. Jaime lives in the United States.  Jaime tells us about sitting on a comma in his twenties when fulfilling expectations for those around him stretched him to his limits. After working, studying, volunteering and operating on little sleep each day, Jaime found himself in a life-altering car accident that profoundl...

In this episode, we talk to Amy Ayres. She is someone who is aware, honest and “cuts the crap”. Amy lives in the United States.  Amy shares about her commas collectively and the types of themes that arise from sitting on them. When sitting on commas in her life, she describes big changes and shifts that she often tries to avoid…up to a point. Whether in grief, relationships, geography, career or m...

In this episode, we talk to Jaymes Buckman. He describes himself as weird, queer, neurodivergent and a sparkly poet. Jaymes lives in Canada.  Jaymes tells us about sitting on a comma with his mind/body connection. Jaymes describes living with autism and being unable to interpret his body’s signals. This led to overusing his strengths and pushing himself past his body’s natural boundaries. While le...

In this episode, our guest shares about his experience with suicide. If this is a sensitive topic for you, please consider this before listening.  In this episode, we talk to Sheridan Taylor. He describes himself as caring, honest and a man who tries to help. Sheridan lives in Canada.  Sheridan tells us about sitting on a comma with a lifetime of experienced and inherited traumas. He describes car...

In this episode, we talk to Doug Noll. He is a lawyer-turned-peacemaker who lives to serve humanity. Doug lives in the United States.  Doug tells us about sitting on a comma with a profound career shift. As a practicing lawyer with a reputation for ferocity, Doug began feeling that he wasn’t being of service to others. During a pivotal moment, he had an epiphany that changed his trajectory and bro...

In this episode, we talk to Pete Alexander. He is humorous, dependable and finds light in the situation at hand. Pete lives in the United States.  Pete tells us about sitting on a comma after leaving his dysfunctional childhood home. As the traumatic experiences of youth eroded his sense of self, Pete found community in a support group with shared history. Being seen and understood based on his “w...

In this episode, we talk to Kate Galli. She is passionate, focused and open-hearted. Kate lives in Australia.  Kate tells us about sitting on a comma with championing a cause. Having chosen a vegan lifestyle out of compassion for animals, Kate found herself struggling between cycles of self-censorship and activism. While her position and choice were steadfast, she struggled with how to express her...

In this episode, we talk to Myles Youngblood. He is influential, inspiring and passionate. Myles lives in the United States.  Myles tells us about sitting on a few commas with entrepreneurship and direction. While graduating from college during the pandemic, Myles found many of the expected doors to opportunity to be closed. With fewer options while feeling stuck, he began experimenting with diffe...

In this episode, we talk to Paula Ahlberg. She is a mother and teacher who tries new things and adventures. Paula lives in the United Kingdom.  Paula tells us about sitting on a comma with chronic pain after a surgery. While facing ongoing physical limitations and struggle, she came face to face with her own beliefs and self-imposed limitations in the past. Paula’s reflections on her relationship...

In this episode, we talk to Michela Giordano Castro. She is empathetic, enthusiastic and curious. Michela lives in the United States.  Michela tells us about sitting on two commas: leaving religion and finding spirituality. Growing up in a deeply established worldview shaped by religion, Michela experienced a sense of connection to God that was shaken by the introduction of a question. This openin...