Observeday

If you’ve ever wondered how to find light during the toughest seasons—and how your personal story can help others—this episode is for you. In my conversation with Teresa Blaes, we dive into the heart of Spiritual Literacy Month and get real about how faith weaves into everyday life, even when things are messy or painful. You’ll hear Teresa’s honest journey from skepticism and hardship to resilienc...

If you’ve ever thought about how much your voice shapes how you connect, work, and belong, you’ll want to hear today’s episode. I’m joined by Eileen Meehan, a former choir singer and teacher whose world was turned upside down by voice disabilities. Together, we explore how to redefine yourself when you lose what you always thought was an essential part of your identity. You’ll hear Eileen’s honest...

If you’ve ever felt like you’re behind in your career or stuck comparing yourself to others, this episode is for you. In my conversation with Willie Blake — a coach, speaker, and host of the Light Beyond Limits podcast — we dive into what it really means to embrace progress over perfection and trade self-doubt for small, steady wins. You’ll pick up practical frameworks like the GPS method and the...

If you’ve ever wondered how negative self-talk shapes your experience or you’re curious about what really lies at the root of depression, this episode is for you. I talk with Karen Dwyer-Tesoriero, an experienced psychotherapist, about the patterns we pick up as kids that end up shaping our self-worth—and what we can do to break free from them. Karen also shares eye-opening insights on the differe...

If you’re curious about what it really takes to heal from painful life experiences, you’ll want to listen to this episode. I sit down with author and trauma integration facilitator Michael Stone, someone who has lived through deep loss but found a way to turn it into service and hope. We discuss how trauma isn’t just something to fix or avoid, but can actually become a source of wisdom if you appr...

If you’ve ever wondered why cities keep getting hotter, or what each of us can do to help make our urban spaces a little greener, this episode is for you. I talk with Joshua Harrison, co-founder of Leaf Island, who shares some practical and creative ways cities—and individuals—can cool down our environments, using plants, water, and even recycled Styrofoam. You’ll find out how city design can actu...

If you’ve ever wondered what World Menopause Month can mean for you — whether you’re in midlife, care about someone who is, or just curious about how we mark life’s transitions — this episode is worth a listen. In my chat with Keri Mangis, TEDx speaker and wholeness advocate, we look at menopause not as a medical event or an ending, but as a sacred rite of passage, a time to pause and reflect on w...

When you listen to today’s episode, you’ll get fresh, honest insight into how storytelling connects families and opens up real conversations about disability, empathy, and identity. I’m talking with Mila Maxwell, an Atlantic Canadian author whose debut novel is inspired by growing up with her sister, Sarah, who has cerebral palsy. You’ll hear how she transformed personal experience and family trut...

Curious about what really happens during menopause, and how to support the women in your life—or yourself—through it? This episode is for you. Dr. Christine Boev joins me to share her personal journey as both a scientist and a woman navigating menopause. You’ll hear how small, evidence-based changes to daily movement, nutrition, and mindset can make a huge difference during this transition. Listen...

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...