Pebbles of Light

Text or voice message the show What happens when we choose to truly see someone—not for their past, but for their potential? In this episode of Pebbles of Light , Anne sits down with Norma Jaeger, Executive Director of Recovery Idaho, to explore the intersection of justice and mercy, the realities of addiction and incarceration, and the quiet power of dignity. Drawing from decades of experience in...

Text or voice message the show What if the hardest moments in life are actually invitations to grow? In this episode of Pebbles of Light, Anne Maxson sits down with Michele Kehrer, author of Brave Shift . Michele shares how unexpected challenges—including four cancer diagnoses—became catalysts for powerful personal transformation. Through stories of resilience, mindset shifts, and the courage to e...

Text or voice message the show What if happiness isn’t something we choose—but something we cultivate? In this episode of Pebbles of Light, Anne Maxson sits down with Australian author and philosopher Adam Brownlie to explore the deeper science and psychology behind happiness. Adam shares insights from his book Happypedia , where he outlines six essential pillars of happiness: Food Sleep Movement...

Text or voice message the show Ep 41: Emerging From Hiding and Living a Life that Matters || Calvin Bagley What are you hiding? In this powerful episode of Pebbles of Light, Anne Maxson sits down with entrepreneur and author Calvin Bagley, whose early life was shaped by isolation, lack of formal education, and deep personal struggle. As a child, Calvin literally hid from the school bus because his...

Text or voice message the show Ep 40: It’s Always Too Soon to Quit || Jay Setchell What happens when life knocks you down — not once, but over and over again? In this powerful episode of Pebbles of Light, Jay Setchell shares his extraordinary story of resilience. Jay’s life is a testimony to faith, perseverance, and personal responsibility. His mantra — “If it is to be, it is up to me” — became th...

Text or voice message the show Ep 39: Celebrating Those Who Show Up || Liz Watt In this inspiring episode of Pebbles of Light , Anne Maxson sits down with Liz Watt, author, speaker, and co-founder of Be Healthy Utah, one of the largest natural health conferences in the western United States. Liz shares her deeply personal journey through chronic inflammation, burnout, emotional healing, and what s...

Text or voice message the show Ep 38: Finding Both Success and Fulfillment || Alan Lazaros In this episode of Pebbles of Light, Anne sits down with Alan Lazaros, founder and CEO of Next Level University, to explore what it truly means to win the “game of life.” After surviving a near-fatal car accident at 26 — echoing the loss of his father at age two — Alan shifted from climbing the corporate lad...

Text or voice message the show Ep 37: The Power of Intentional Influence || Phil Ransom What if legacy isn’t about what you accumulate — but what you multiply? In this episode of Pebbles of Light, Anne sits down with author Phil Ransom to explore the shift from transactional living to transformational living. Through stories of teachers, mentors, caregiving, scarcity versus abundance, and the powe...

Text or voice message the show Ep 36: Letting God Shape Your Journey || Mason Orr In this heartfelt episode of Pebbles of Light , Anne sits down with Mason to explore how serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reshaped his faith, confidence, and understanding of Christ’s enabling power. From learning Japanese culture to discovering the daily influence of scripture st...

Text or voice message the show Ep 35: When Success Changes Shape: Pivots, Purpose, & the Work Within || Ryan T. Reichert In this episode of Pebbles of Light , Anne Maxson sits down with Ryan T. Reichert — Army veteran, executive coach, author, recovery advocate, and father — for a deeply reflective conversation about redefining success. Ryan shares: How military leadership shaped — and inflate...

Text or voice message the show Ep 34: Small Miracles, Quiet Alignment, & the Courage to Pause || Robin H. Clare In this episode of Pebbles of Light, Anne Maxson sits down with author Robin H. Clare for a reflective conversation about harmony, grace, and finding meaning in the smallest moments of daily life. Robin shares insights from her personal journey through recovery, spiritual alignment,...

Text or voice message the show Ep 33: Better Is Better: How Trials Shape Purpose-Driven Leadership || Holly Porter In this episode of *Pebbles of Light*, Anne Maxson sits down with founder and purpose-driven leader Holly Porter to explore how life-altering trials can become invitations to deeper purpose. After surviving a 70-day hospitalization with COVID—including a near-death experience—Holly wa...

Text or voice message the show Ep 32: The Art of Connection: Understanding Emotional Safety in Relationships || Diane McDowell Episode Summary: In this episode of *Pebbles of Light*, Anne Maxson is joined by therapist and coach Diane McDowell to explore how emotional safety shapes our ability to connect, love, and communicate—especially within our families and closest relationships. Diane shares w...

Text or voice message the show Ep 31: Exploring the Intersection of Creativity and Technology || Oliver MacDonald  Curiosity, creativity, and failure are not detours—they’re teachers. In this episode of Pebbles of Light , Anne Maxson sits down with engineer, artist, educator, and startup founder Oliver MacDonald to explore how curiosity across disciplines—art, engineering, language, and culture—sh...

Text or voice message the show Ep 30: Giving Yourself Permission to Fail || Anne Maxson In this solo episode of Pebbles of Light, Anne Maxson shares her personal journey of giving herself permission to fail—in business, in her PhD pursuit, and in life. She reflects on spiritual impressions, unexpected detours, and the way God uses “failures” as course corrections toward something better. Through h...

Text or voice message the show Ep 29: The Joy of Sam and the Story of His Down Syndrome Diagnosis || Natalie Hobbs Natalie Hobbs shares her story of learning that her new baby, Sam, had been diagnosed with Down Syndrome. She talks about how she personally worked through the diagnosis and what it would mean for their family and their new son as well as the joy and happiness that Sam has brought to...

Text or voice message the show Ep 28: "Casting" Aside Your Nets to Follow Him || Beverly Holloway Casting director Beverly Holloway shares insights about what the faith-based film industry is like, the guidance and faith that led her to her vocation, and some behind-the-scenes tidbits about the hit streaming series “The Chosen.”THIS EPISODE’S PEBBLE: Reflect on Proverbs 3:5-6 which state...

Text or voice message the show Ep 27: 20 Years of an Olympic Friendship || Drake Self & Lars Peterson Aside from my husband and my dad, Lars Peterson and Drake Self have been some of the most influential men in my life. I’m so grateful for the chance to talk with them a bit about how they met while at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. PEBBLE OF THE WEEK: Get in touch - whether in person, a pho...

Text or voice message the show Ep 26:  Helping Others Recognize Their Divine Identity, Worth, & Potential || Darla Trendler Have you ever wondered how to help your kids, or other youth in your life, recognize how amazing they are? Anne talks with Darla Trendler from the Spiritually Minded Women podcast about how to help others, especially youth, recognize their divine potential. The PEBBLE for...

Text or voice message the show Ep 25: Finding Faith in Finishing Strong || Deb & Kambree Austin Deb & Kambree Austin talk about Kambree’s ability to overcome obstacles she has faced. With hemiplegic cerebral palsy, not many physical things come easy for Kambree but her grit and determination help her to move forward and have faith in the effort. Be sure to see the full show notes for refer...

Text or voice message the show Ep 24: The Importance of True Friends || Jessa Sebastian & Erin Gurney (ENCORE) In this episode, Anne talks to her friends, Erin Gurney and Jessa Sebastian, about how to find the friends you need as well as the importance of effort and vulnerability in friendship. Be sure to check the full show notes for resources from the episode and links to find this week&apos...

Text or voice message the show Ep 23: How to Harness Your Tragedies to Empower Others || Myrna Peterson (ENCORE) Myrna Peterson is a quadriplegic living in rural Northern Minnesota who is a proactive advocate for differently abled persons. She has done a TEDx Talk, broke a Guinness World Record and is a recipient of the very prestigious Andrus Award for Community Service. She says that she only ha...

Text or voice message the show Ep 22: Taking a Step Into the Dark: How to Find Your Path & Have the Courage to Follow It || Tessa & Jamis Buck (ENCORE) Tessa and Jamis Buck share their story of doing their best to follow an inspired path even when it took them in an unexpected direction. PEBBLE FOR THIS WEEK: Be a first responder sometime this week. When you feel inspired to do something –...

Text or voice message the show Ep 21: Finding Inspired Balance in Parenting || Emily Jones Emily Jones shares how the program that she developed with her husband David has blessed their lives through the development of an internal filter for their family’s use of technology. We also discuss this amazing generation of kids and the importance of inspiration in knowing how to parent and guide them.2...

Text or voice message the show Ep 20: Being an LGBTQ Ally: A Mother's Story || Kristen Coltrin As a licensed clinical social worker, Kristen Coltrin had experiences working with and learning from the LGBTQ community. This helped to prepare her for when her professional life and her personal life would intersect. Check the full show notes for references, resources and ways to support the podca...