All The Wiser

She was being kidnapped. It took a while for that reality to set in. As an aid worker in Somalia, Jessica Buchanan was not supposed to be a target, but there was a lot of clan fighting in the southern part of the country, resources were scarce, and ransom demands could be sky high. What does it take to survive being held hostage under the worst imaginable conditions for weeks that turn into months...

Happy New Year! Brand new episodes of All the Wiser are coming...starting Wednesday! Follow us now on your favorite podcast app to be automatically notified as soon as our first episode drops. You don't want to miss it! We're thrilled to be back with you for Season 3 to share more jaw-dropping stories and wisdom from our incredible guests that will take your breath away. Are you following...

We’ve wrapped on Season 2! But before we take a short break, host Kimi Culp brings you her favorite pieces of wisdom from this season - perfect for sharing around the dinner table to spark a meaningful conversation with friends and family.  We wish you and yours only the best this holiday season. And if you are one of the many, many, many of us who struggle during this time of year - know that you...

REBROADCAST - Previously aired on 5/13/2020 Amy Purdy chose to be here. After losing both her legs below the knee at 19 to a form of bacterial meningitis, doctors gave her a 2% chance of survival. A year later she finished third in a snowboarding competition on Mammoth mountain. Amy went on to become one of the top Paralympic snowboarders in the world, competing on Dancing with the Stars, touring...

In this Thanksgiving episode, Kimi and Christy discuss the ways in which curiosity can lead to deeper connections and less family tension during the holidays. They discuss the importance of sharing generational stories, and how to make large family gatherings less stressful and more meaningful by simply asking questions and listening. They also agree that it is a wise idea to lower expectations fo...

Adam Campbell is a record-holding life-long mountain adventure athlete, but no amount of experience could have prepared him for the day he accidentally triggered a massive avalanche that took the life of his beloved wife Laura. In this raw and tender episode, we talk about when things fall apart, emotional coping mechanisms, identity, the non-linear nature of grief, healing from grief, the power o...

In this episode, Kimi and Christy talk about Kimi's interview with Sue Klebold. Sue is the mother of Dylan Klebold, one of the two shooters at the Columbine Massacre. She shares her experience of being plucked from a journalism class at CU Boulder to work with reporters on the frontlines of this historical and heartbreaking story. Additionally, they discuss their biggest takeaways and lessons...

It’s been more than 20 years since Dylan Klebold walked into Columbine High School and killed and injured dozens of people before taking his own life. Since the loss of her son, Sue Klebold committed the next decades of her life to the research of brain health, violence, and suicide prevention. In this episode, Sue not only shares about the moment she learned of her son's death and his final a...

Christy and Kimi discuss belonging and why it matters. They touch on loneliness, connectedness, and what we can do to feel like we belong. In a heartbreaking and relatable text message, Christy reads a message her daughter sent that described feeling alone while eating lunch surrounded by people. They discuss how COVID has contributed to social isolation and loneliness, and how we can do our best...

Angalia Bianca has been arrested more times than she can count. By the age of 17 she was a full-blown heroin addict. She had five kids while in and out of prison for 12 years. Those were the headlines over decades of Bianca’s life. But at the age of 50, Bianca changed the narrative, when a chance encounter would lead her to a new career as a violence interrupter working with at-risk youth. She is...

Dr. Edith Eger is one of Kimi and Christy's new heroes, and they talk about their favorite "write it down on a post-it" moments. As a result of Dr. Edie's unimaginable story and circumstances, they explore the idea of comparative suffering and why it is so harmful. Christy explains why people measure and minimize their pain by comparing it to that of others.  They talk about Dr. Ed...

With so many losing so much during the pandemic, how should we think about the nature of suffering? Holocaust survivor and psychologist Dr. Edith Eger has some powerful words to offer us. Her message? Concentrate not on what you lost, but what you still have. In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Edie reveals her greatest lessons on loss, rejection, the power of choice, finding strength in suffering...

In this mini-episode, Kimi and Christy discuss core values—what they are, what they are not, and why it’s worth knowing what matters most to you.  Christy shares an example from her own life where returning to her core values helped her to lean into a new project with more courage and resilience. Kimi and Christy also share several simple strategies and a questionnaire to help you to identify your...

At a ranch for the kids of Scientology’s most powerful members, you don’t get to see your parents for more than a few hours a week. In the military-style dormitories, children spend their days pulling weeds, hauling rocks, and evenings in Scientology studies. As the niece of Scientology’s most powerful leader, David Miscavige, Jenna didn’t know things like birthday parties or family vacations. She...

Kimi and Christy discuss the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves and the impact this has on our lives.  Christy shares the healing practice of expressive writing — putting pen to paper (or recording on your phone) to make sense of your darker thoughts and feelings.  This 20-minute exercise helps you put difficult life experiences into perspective and leads to a long list of benefits, includi...

You know him best as simply Dave, the baker and brand-visionary behind Dave’s Killer Bread. But Dave Dahl has had many identities in his life: inmate, art dealer, philanthropist, addict, entrepreneur, and criminal. He grew up in a strict Seventh-Day Adventist community, itching to break free, and later found drugs, crime and years of prison time; until one day Dave decided he’d had enough and aske...

In our first A Little Wiser Season 2 Episode, Kimi, and co-host Christy Peterson, dive into the science of FORGIVENESS, including the unexpected health benefits, learning to go easy on ourselves, and accepting that forgiveness is a process requiring a long term commitment. Christy breaks down the nitty-gritty of forgiving and why this often difficult act is worth putting into practice.  If you’d l...

Scarlett Lewis is the mother of 6 year old Jesse Lewis, one of the children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in the deadliest mass shooting at an elementary school in U.S. history. In the years since her son’s tragic murder, Scarlett has dedicated her life to the prevention of school shootings, and her work has reached people all over the world with its insightful, compassionate, and practical mess...

In this mini episode, Kimi introduces you to her new A Little Wiser co-host, dear friend, and partner in their new course (All The) Happier: an online course rooted in science & human story. (All The) Happier takes the lessons and wisdom from All The Wiser and teaches you how to turn inspiration into action with real tools to find more connection, meaning & joy in your life. Be the first t...

Jackee Taylor was put into the Federal Witness Protection program as a 7-year-old girl after her father, Clarence Crouch, a convicted killer and infamous member of the Hells Angels, turned and became a government informant. Jackee and her family have now been in Witness protection for nearly 40 years, but after a life full of hardship and struggle, she had enough and went public with her story - e...

We're back! Brand new episodes of All the Wiser are coming...starting next Wednesday! Follow us now on your favorite podcast app to be automatically notified as soon as our first episode drops. You don't want to miss it! We're thrilled to be back with you for Season 2 sharing more stories of the growth that comes on the other side of hard things. Plus! This season, we have some new fun...

We did it! We set out to tell 50 incredible stories and donate $100,000 to charity and we have achieved that goal. On our season finale, Kimi and Erica will share some personal reflections on the past 2 1/2 years of bringing these stories to life on this podcast. Plus! Kimi will also share her top 3 moments of the show, reveal what's next for All The Wiser, and share the winner of our Pay it F...

From the outside looking in, he was living the dream. Private jets, exclusive parties, money, models and celebrities. But on the inside, Scott Harrison was rotting away. After a decade of heavy drugs, booze and blackouts he came to a realization: his life was morally and spiritually bankrupt. Hungry for drastic change, he packed up and shipped out to volunteer aboard a military hospital vessel off...

What are some way we can overcome despair and feel more hopeful? Kimi and Erica discuss our latest episode with Chris Norton and provide some strategies for minimizing negative emotions and increasing positive feelings. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Chris Norton was living his best college football player life when a split second decision during a kick-off tackle left him paralyzed from the neck down. He was given a 3% chance of ever being able to move again. But those odds didn’t really work for Chris. Fueled with determination, he set a goal for himself that he would walk at his college graduation (and later down the aisle to now wife Emily...