Observeday

If you’ve ever wondered how faith, science, and personal resilience connect when it comes to mental health, you’ll get real insight in this episode. I sat down with Dr. Oluwole Babatunde, who shares his personal story of loss and growth that shaped his view on depression and becoming a psychiatrist. We dig into why depression is often misunderstood in faith-based communities and what practical ste...

If you want to make better decisions about the information you use every day—whether for your podcast or your personal life—this episode is for you. I’m sitting down with Matt Bailey to chat about media and information literacy in a way that's super practical, honest, and (I hope) empowering. We talk about how digital information has changed from the early days of the internet to the world of AI,...

If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of true accessibility—well beyond compliance checklists—this episode is one you’ll want to hear. I sit down with Jenna Udenberg, accessibility educator, disability activist, and founder of Above and Beyond With U, for a refreshing perspective on community, resilience, and workplace inclusion. You’ll hear Jenna’s story of growing up with juvenile arthr...

If you’re looking for ways to connect science, peace, and creativity or find inspiration as a podcaster or creator, this episode is for you. I chat with Dr. Zafra Lerman, a world-renowned chemist and peace builder, about how bringing people together — even from countries in conflict — is possible when we focus on what unites us. One of the most fascinating parts is hearing how Dr. Lerman uses art,...

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your story or wondered how your everyday struggles could become creative fuel, this episode is for you. I sat down with Lara Luna, author of Trailer Park Angel and host of the Trailer Park Angel Podcast, to talk about turning real-life experiences — even fear, suffering, and strange signs from the universe — into art that heals. You’ll hear how meditation and humor hel...

If you’ve ever wondered how stress, trauma, and emotional wellbeing really tie into chronic health conditions like diabetes, this episode is for you. I’m talking with Magic Barclay, who openly shares her personal journey navigating life after major health diagnoses—and how she went beyond just managing symptoms to find deeper healing. In this conversation, you’ll hear why it’s so important to look...

If you’ve ever wondered how your habits, hormones, and the food you eat affect your long-term wellbeing (even if you don’t have diabetes), this episode is for you. I sit down with Hannah Bethman, a gut and hormone health coach, to explore women’s health from a fresh perspective. You’ll hear Hannah’s personal journey overcoming years of gut and hormonal issues, and what she’s learned about daily ch...

If you’ve ever wondered how to move beyond the surface level of diversity, this episode is for you. I sit down with Dr. Thomas Becker, an organizational psychologist and author, for a conversation about what it really takes to make diversity and inclusion meaningful—every day, not just during campaigns or holidays. You’ll hear Dr. Becker share why true cultural competence goes far beyond checkboxe...

If you’ve ever wondered what it truly means to break free from an unhealthy relationship and rediscover your sense of self, today’s episode is for you. I sat down with Amanda J Scott, author of Finding My Way Back to Me, for National Reading New Book Month. Amanda shares her journey of leaving a 17-year abusive marriage and how that experience transformed her identity—and her willingness to help o...

Looking for ways to spark your creativity, find meaning in your story, and learn from someone who’s blended music, service, and reinvention? In this episode, I sit down with Steven Boehm—army veteran, music producer, educator, and novelist—to explore how military experience can unexpectedly fuel artistic growth and community building. You’ll hear how Steven’s journey through punk rock and service...

Curious about how tolerance goes beyond just “putting up with” differences, and what real inclusion looks like in everyday life and in business? In this episode, I sat down with Michael Bach to talk about why organizations—and even small teams—need to move past symbolic gestures to genuine inclusion that works for everyone. We dig into why treating diversity as a simple checklist just doesn’t work...

Looking to discover what really matters when you’re building a podcast — beyond the downloads and fancy gear? In this episode, I sit down with Rose Davidson, someone who’s spent years helping business owners and survivors share their stories, both on the mic and in their communities. We go deep on how to find your authentic voice—even when you’re worried your story “isn’t big enough.” You’ll hear...

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to support children in foster care, this episode is for you. I chat with Sharon Dunlevy, an educational advocate and trainer for foster parents, who opens up about the overlooked challenges facing foster children — especially when it comes to education and trauma. We talk about why so many foster kids fall through the cracks, the real impacts of trauma...

If you’ve ever felt that men are expected to keep their emotions bottled up or that conversations around masculinity are missing something deeper, this episode is for you. I’m sitting down with transformation coach Andrew Wilson for a refreshingly honest chat about what strength and vulnerability can really mean for men today—especially around International Men’s Day. We dig into the hidden strugg...

If you’ve ever wondered what your dog is really trying to say or how to spot early signs your pet may need some TLC, this episode is for you! September is National Guide Dog Month, and I sit down with Dr. Jeff Feinman — a veterinarian and holistic educator — to talk about deepening the human-dog bond and tuning into the subtle signals our pets share every day. We dig into “the beam method,” Dr. Fe...

When you listen to this episode, you’ll discover how storytelling can actually help us through tough moments — especially when life feels overwhelming. My conversation with Jeffrey Barnes, a two-time brain tumor survivor known for teaching the very first accredited college course on Disneyland, is about finding hope, even when you don’t see a way forward. Jeffrey shares how Walt Disney’s struggles...

If you’re curious about how AI can make work more human, this episode is for you. I sit down with Yaakov Sash, founder of Kasu AI, to unpack what it means to create truly intelligent automation—not just faster processes, but systems that are reliable and aligned with real people. We talk about how “vibecrafting” can help teams turn ideas into clear requirements before a single line of code is writ...

If you or someone you care about is navigating the challenges of brain injury recovery, you’ll find real insight and support in this episode. I sat down with Kelly Tuttle, an award-winning ortho healthcare advocate and traumatic brain surgery survivor, to talk about the unexpected turns on the journey to healing. You’ll hear Kelly open up about moving from nurse to patient overnight, the invisible...

If you’re curious about what truly makes diverse workplaces thrive, this episode is for you. I sit down with Julia Rock to unpack the real meaning of diversity — beyond just buzzwords and frameworks — and talk about how leadership shapes our work environments. You’ll hear why burnout isn’t just about doing too much work, but about inclusion, feeling valued, and being understood. Julia shares simpl...

If you’ve ever wondered how books can help us heal, especially after loss, this episode is for you. I sat down with Angela Clement, a certified grief coach and author, as part of National Reading New Book Month, to talk about why reading and writing can be gentle lifelines during hard times. You’ll hear about Angela’s journey through grief after losing her husband and how her book, Awakening Throu...

Are you a caregiver, or do you know someone who is supporting aging parents or loved ones? In this episode, I sat down with Ingrid Hanson-Popp to talk about the deeply personal journey of caregiving — and why it matters to approach it with love, humility, and presence. If you sometimes feel like you’re just surviving, you’ll want to hear Ingrid’s honest advice for finding ways to truly thrive, eve...

If you’ve ever felt like “self-improvement” is just another word for chasing perfection, this episode is for you. I sat down with Jane McGuiness, author of On Always Hungry , to dig into the real meaning of change, healing, and self-acceptance. Jane’s story isn’t just about weight loss, but about everything underneath — how society treats us based on appearance, how to spot emotional eating, and w...

On this episode of Observeday, we’re diving into Global Diversity Awareness Month with community engagement consultant Matthias Lemos Castillo. If you’re looking to understand how real inclusivity goes far beyond just ticking boxes, this conversation will spark ideas for your own team, podcast, or creative projects. You’ll hear why celebrating what makes us different AND what makes us similar matt...

If you’ve ever felt stuck in old patterns or wondered if real change is still possible for you, this conversation is for you. In today’s episode, I talk with Hilary Momberger-Powers, whose story takes us from childhood Hollywood fame, through addiction and darkness, to decades of recovery and mentoring others. We explore why self-improvement is less about “fixing” yourself and more about re-discov...

If you’re looking for inspiration on finding healing through creativity, this episode is for you. As we celebrate National Reading New Book Month, I sit down with Australian poet and academic Nadine Ellis to talk about her new poetry collection, “The Gray Between.” Nadine shares how poetry helped her process some of life’s most difficult moments—everything from trauma and motherhood to growing old...