Sharing the Heart of the Matter

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Dr. Vicki Atkinson and we are talking about tweaking LinkedIn to reflect our identities as authors. Dr. Atkinson has so much good advice on how to build a presence that reflects our many facets. Her professional experience as a career counselor, therapist, and educator comes shining through in this episode. We learn some great how-to’s in this episode....

In this episode, Wynne Leon and Vicki Atkinson are with author, blogger and fantastic story-teller, Cheryl Oreglia. Cheryl takes us along on the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa which is familiarly known as RAGBRAI. Seven hot days of riding, camping, and communing with 20,000 other riders. Sounds fun, right? But what Cheryl does so consistently is bring the magic. She rides in tandem...

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon are with blogger, parent, FASD advocate and amazing human, Ab from the My Life with T blog. Ab tells us of the moment both his advocacy and blogging started. When a program supporting kids like his young son was canceled, it lit both fires. The writing practice is part of Ab’s self-care. It helps him process the events that need to be noted, held onto...

Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon are with wellness educator, meditation teacher, yoga teacher, and massage therapist, Deirdre Wilcox. As Wynne's teacher and friend for nearly 30 years, Deirdre has shared so much grounded wisdom. Of her many gifts, one that we love that is highlighted in this conversation, is her ability to help frame what we are experiencing in biological terms. So she walks us t...

In this episode, Wynne Leon and Vicki Atkinson dive into the need to nest. As September begins, we feel the summer's intensity wane in the Northern Hemisphere. While I cherish summer, there's a point where the expectations for endless outdoor fun with my family become overwhelming. Vicki and I discuss transitioning from the carefree days of summer to the structured school year. Whether you...

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon are with author, graphic designer, and blogger, Dave Williams. We love reading something that gets our creative juices going. But even better in the community of podcasting and blogging is catching a ride on everyone else’s enthusiasm! In this episode, Dave Williams, tells us about the inspiration he gleaned from reading Felicia Day’s book, “ Embrace...

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon are with blogger and retirement specialist, Michelle Oram. We all love Michelle for her grounded approach to decluttering and the accountability example she provides. She shares some of that and more in this episode featuring her clutter tales. Michelle provides a great approach with what to do as we declutter and uncover the wonderful memories that a...

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon are with blogger and author, Mark Petruska. Mark tells us a great story about how he willed a campsite into existence. Even better, it was for his wife’s birthday! And it was in one of my favorite places – Mt. Rainier National Park! We love Mark’s incredible mix of optimism, focus, and passion. So Vicki and I get him to elaborate how he harnesses the...

In this episode Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon are with retired elementary teacher, blogger, and author, Pete Springer. Pete tells us a hilarious story about a volunteer job that devolved into the giggles. And we talk about how laughter is such a great unifier and connector. Sure, there are some things in life that need to be taken seriously. But is it okay to laugh even as we are trying to do a go...

In this episode my hosts Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon talk with esteemed psychologist, Dr. Gerald Stein. Dr. Stein has become a great friend of the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast so it was so fitting that he came on to share revealing and delightful stories about friendship. He tells of the three categories of friendship according to Aristotle. And we talk about the investment that it ta...

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and I are with Wynne's almost nine-year-old daughter, Miss O. Miss O recently sang an acapella solo at the church that Wynne's dad used to lead. Listening to her pure, soprano voice while sitting in a sanctuary where I often feel the presence of him (and Him) surrounding me, brought me to tears. So she generously sings a bit of what she sang and tells us how...

In this week's podcast, Wynne and Vicki talked with dear friend, marketing man, and creative guru, Eric Knudson about riding the bus. Eric is a dear friend of Wynne's and a master story-teller. She's known Eric for ten years and through the years, he’s regaled her with many stories. She can’t tease out exactly the formula but it’s some combination of his use of humor, timing, and detai...

In this episode, Wynne Leon and Vicki Atkinson are with blogger and retired pre-K teacher, Beth Kennedy. Beth tells us the story of an instant perspective moment. In a chance encounter with an extremely friendly man, she is both buoyed and leveled. It’s a funny and thoughtful story that is so true to Beth’s writing. In her beautifully concise presentation, she allows the sparkle of the realization...

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon talk with Melanie McGauran. Melanie is a former newspaper reporter and has a beautiful blog, Leavingthedooropen.com. Melanie tells the story of her friend, doctor and educator, Lissa McKinley. As Lissa goes through her own journey of cancer, it informs her abilities as a doctor, teacher, and humanist. Melanie tells us of her long friendship with Lissa...

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon are with writer, blogger, and planner Brian Hannon. Brian tells us about how he plans family trips. He comes up with solid options and then his fellow travelers enthusiastically respond. Well, that’s the idea at least. So we talk about what it actually looks like to be a planner who is coaxing everyone along. Brian brings forward the beautiful sense o...

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon talk about identity in the unemployment office. One of the fascinating positions that Vicki has held is as a career counselor at the unemployment office. She gives us a glimpse into how the jobs we do become our identity by telling us the stories of some of the people who she coached. We talk about how being a helper or a boss manifests even when some...

In this episode, Wynne Leon and Vicki Atkinson are talking about receiving unexpected feedback to our stories. We know we’re not alone in being surprised sometimes by how a story is received. We tell about an experience to a person or persons and then are shocked at how it lands. We thought it was funny and they thought it stupid. We thought it was deep and they only appreciate the surface. Whatev...

In this episode, Wynne Leon and Vicki Atkinson are talking about the surprising ways we can receive help and inspiration. Vicki tells us a tale of self-discovery. In response to a pesky interpersonal situation, she goes to sleep wondering if she did the right thing. She’s facing a growth moment and needs a little grace for life’s crossroads. And she gets a gift from her dearly departed dad. She te...

In this episode, Wynne Leon is co-host Vicki Atkinson and we are talking about questions. It starts with a question that Wynne's eight-year-old daughter, Miss O, asked about what my dad thought about her divorce. As Wynne gives her the answer, she finally connect the dots to asking questions to her dad about his life. Many of the answers Wynne has about family and foundation came because she h...

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon are with blogger, author, retired elementary school teacher and great storyteller, Pete Springer. Pete’s storytelling is fantastic. And the fun twist with this particular story is that the story I told about trying to rescue Buttercup the bunny in episode 66 is what prompted Pete to volunteer to tell us about the great adventures of class pets. That’s...

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host, blogger and author, Vicki Atkinson. Vicki and Wynne are big believers in the power of story – to connect us, to create intergenerational healing, and to make meaning out of the events of our lives. Whether the story is funny or serious, we see others able to pick up the thread and run with it. Often it starts with, “That reminds me of…” So in this episo...

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host, blogger and author, Vicki Atkinson. We are changing our format starting with this episode. Vicki and Wynne are big believers in the power of story – to connect us, to create intergenerational healing, and to make meaning out of the events of our lives. To set the stage, we will be starting with someone telling a story in each episode. In this case, Wynn...

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and I are talk with one of our favorite repeat guests, blogger and author, Mark Petruska, about how to be the new guy. Mark tells us the fascinating story of his new job. We talk about Mark’s great willingness to lean in to change. We learn from Mark about living life to the fullest. As always, he keeps us laughing as he tells us about the excellent timing that occu...

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with co-host, Vicki Atkinson, and we are talking about the latest book from author David Brooks, How to Know a Person . We talk about his great encouragement to be vulnerable enough to be seen and his image of each of us as a creative artist who has a unique way of seeing the world. And we dive into the methods that help us listen well. We have a great conversation a...

In this episode, Wynne Leon is with dear friend and co-host, Vicki Atkinson, and we are talking about the keys to success as collaborators. We talk about how openness and authenticity are necessary to be good partners. I bring my years of experience as a consultant for collaboration software to the table talking about the right mix of structure and openness to provide room for individual expressio...