How People Grow: Finding Wisdom in Every Season

Ron Pickell is a retired pastor and chaplain. His most recent position was serving on the University Campus of UC Berkeley, California for 25 years.  In this episode Ron talks with us about how being rooted means knowing what you’re about, where you’re going, and what’s most important. For Ron, that means understanding the presence and power of God among us right now. Ron shares his conversion sto...

What does it mean to be a rooted person in a world that leaves so many of us feeling lost? To be rooted is to be connected — to God, to others, and to the larger story we’re part of. This season, David Achata, author, leadership consultant, coach, and former pastor, takes listeners on a journey of listening, learning, and connecting with mentors and community. In this episode, he draws from the wi...

Andrew Holley was once a pastor and church planter. But then his house burned down. After picking up the pieces, he and his wife tried to keep going the way they always had, but something had changed.  Some time later, at the urging of his friends, he entered a singer/songwriter contest. From there, he kept playing. Today, Andrew has embraced the music life and writes music that's full of soul, bl...

Tommy Rutledge began his career as an Engineer, but later in life felt the call to serve in pastoral work as a Church Planter. Tommy shares how it changed him and helped birth the most unusual kind of work. To learn more about Tommy check out http://somaasheville.com/ and https://www.mountcarmelgoats.com/   To support this podcast go to http://davidachata.substack.com/   To join the Leadership ren...

Daniel Kasambira is the CEO of the United Way in Madison County, Alabama. After a successful career in non-profit work Daniel moved to the for-profit sector. But after being laid off, he faced the question: how do I navigate this season of unknowns? Finding himself delivering pizzas, he got an opportunity that changed everything. Today he shares his story as a way to encourage people to not give u...

Ashi Alison is a Yoga and Breathwork teacher currently living near Chattanooga, Tennessee. In this special interview, she talks with us from a courtyard in Ireland. Ashi describes why she left a successful career at the North Face, selling all her possessions, and moving to a shack in Costa Rica for 10 years.  Ashi walks us through what she learned during a season by the Ocean and encourages us to...

Brooke Lark is the founder of Lark & Co. She is the world's most downloaded food photographer and one of the world's most interesting women.  After leaving the Mormon faith, she embarked on a journey she could never have predicted. To listen to her first interview on this show, click here .  What happens after you leave your faith and your marriage? For Brooke, a call with a U.S. Senator chang...

Tim Ross is a lifelong pastor, missionary and teacher. He's also a Native Cherokee related to Chief John Ross. In this episode Tim shares his story, his life with the Maasai People for ten years and most recently, his work with NAIITS, the North American Indigenous Institute for Theological Studies.  Tim walks us through what it means to step into your ancestry and take the simple steps the Creato...

Transitions are marked by endings, then a murky middle zone, and then a new beginning. In this episode David Achata discusses why we're focusing on transtions for season 4.  To learn about David's work see http://achatacoaching.com To support this podcast go to the new Substack page at: https://substack.com/@davidachata  

Join us as Amy Achata recounts her deeply personal story of overcoming chronic illness and migraines. Amy shares how she discovered the surprising reason for a lifetime of pain lay hidden in her own story. From there, she was able to explore the untapped intelligence of her body. Amy delves into the specific embodiment practices that enabled her to finally understand and respond to her body's need...

Ever wonder where those "gut feelings" really come from? In this episode, David shares a personal story about stalking a deer that led him to a surprising understanding of the gut's influence on what we think. He and Dr. Tyler McCurry, D.O., unpack the fascinating gut-brain connection and how optimizing your gut health can unlock clearer emotional and intuitive guidance. Plus, get actionable advic...

Discover the powerful connection between your mind, body, and spirit with us. David shares his personal journey of overcoming a decade of chest pain by understanding the link between his emotions, breathing, and physical health. Dr. McCurry explores how spiritual practices like prayer and meditation can support your overall wellness and revisits the idea of your body as a sacred temple deserving o...

Join David Achata and Dr. Tyler McCurry as they discuss the vital role movement plays in both our physical and emotional well-being. Explore the benefits of mindful practices to connect with your body and release tension. Dr. McCurry explains how regular exercise helps calm the nervous system and reduce stress. Discover the surprising connection between movement and spiritual practices like prayer...

*Updated - Note: The previous version of this episode was partial. This new version contains the entire interview. Join David Achata and Dr. Tyler McCurry as they explore how past hurts and ongoing stress can get trapped in the body, affecting us physically and emotionally. Dr. McCurry explains how our nervous system reacts to stress and trauma and how it can get out of balance. In this episode, y...

Join David Achata and Dr. Tyler McCurry as they explore how our bodies communicate. Dr. McCurry shares his story of the damage done to his body as a football player and how that was the first step that led him toward osteopathic medicine. In this episode, we'll look at the core principles of the body's self-healing capacity and how symptoms can be vital messages. We'll also touch on practical tips...

Join hosts David Achata & Dr. Tyler McCurry as we launch "The Wisdom of the Body," exploring the powerful mind-body connection, and learning the shift from "doing" to "being." In this season introduction, David shares how our stories are embodied, influencing our feelings and actions, drawing on insights from Bessel van der Kolk (trauma's impact) and Stephen Porges (nervous system). Learn to l...

Life is chaotic, but you don't have to be. In this special bonus episode, David interviews Kyle & Brigitte, two leaders who participated in the Leadership Renewal Collective to gain stability in their lives and in their leadership.   Kyle & Brigitte are both people leaders who wanted to invest in themselves. In this interview, they talk about why they needed three months to learn four valu...

Lisa Sharon Harper is an author, activist, and professor. She's written multiple books including The Very Good Gospel and Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World and How to Repair it all. In this episode, Lisa shares how she didn't set out to write the book, Fortune, but to learn who she was. In the process she uncovered the complex twists and turns of the development race laws in the Unit...

Justin Uhler is a former Army Ranger & Iraq War combat veteran. In this interview, Justin describes overcoming PTSD and finding purpose after the military. Today he works as a business consultant, is married, and a father of four living in Tacoma, Washington. Learn more about Justin's work at https://www.refineandgrow.com/ Support this podcast at https://www.patreon.com/c/HowPeopleGrow

Amy Buckingham describes her upbringing on the Round Valley Indian Reservation, surviving attempted murder, single parenthood, learning how to live life in broader society, and the unlikely path she walked that landed her as a healthcare executive. She embodies the resilience principle of learning to live and lead from a place of vulnerability. Don't miss this amazing conversation. Support this co...

Captain Vince Chamberlain describes his rocky journey after The United States Coast Guard, how he overcame a hard divorce, navigated finding a new career (from driving tugboats to private yachts), and became a barber. Vince describes finding purpose in his new endeavor, "The FOB" project (Forward Operating Base) - a new non-profit for transitioning veterans. Support the FOB project at https://www....

Brooke Lark runs Larke & Co, a creative agency. But before that, she was a devout Mormon. Hear her story of leaving Mormonism, divorcing, finding herself in an abusive marriage and how she escaped on a backpacking trip and started over. Brooke embodies the principle of "pushing all the buttons until the candy comes out," in other words, try many things to become the healthiest and most expansi...

In this powerful episode, David Achata and Mike Cinelli discuss Mike's recovery from Heroin. Mike takes us on his personal journey through trauma and substance abuse, while emphasizing the importance of community, addressing emotional pain, and daily practices like meditation for recovery. Connect with Mike at https://mikecinelli.com/ Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/HowPeopleGrow

Life is chaotic, but you don't have to be. Season 2 of the How People Grow Podcast is all about resilience-- the ability to not just survive, but thrive amidst life's inevitable chaos. This episode outlines three key investments for building it: strengthening support systems, cultivating a resilient mindset, and prioritizing physical and emotional well-being. Last, David previews upcoming guests a...

In this special bonus episode, David Achata talks with Pastor Tommy Rutledge about the impacts of Hurricane Helene. They discuss how suffering changes people and ways to get involved in helping their efforts in the city. With so much flooding and damage, knowing where to turn to help is hard. We're thankful Tommy took time on short notice to share what he is up to.   To help Soma Asheville's effor...