The Morning Glory Project

Carmen Martines, having survived sexual abuse traumas in childhood, re-storied her body using tattoos, transforming the pain and abuse into a narrative of power and reclamation, transformation, strength and joy. Carmen is also a psychotherapist, practicing in San Francisco and a lifelong writer, poet, and storyteller.

Dr. Adiel Uzabakiriho was in the U.S. in 1994 attending college when civil war and an ensuing genocide broke out in his home country of Rwanda. He would eventually learn that many in his own family and many more in his community had been murdered and his dreams of returning home were dashed. His dreams of becoming a doctor were also thwarted because, despite seven surgeries, he lost his sight. Ref...

Nina G grew up thinking she was dumb because of both her stutter and learning disabilities. But she claimed her experience and turned it into stand-up comedy and becoming—perhaps ironically—a much in-demand conference and keynote speaker, a TEDx talker, and Huffington Post contributor. Her memoir, Stutterer Interrupted The Comedian Who Almost Didn’t Happen tells of her determined journey to find,...

Be brave. Be Kind. Fight fires. That’s the motto of firefighters like Hersch Wilson who spend their lives walking toward, rather than away from danger and suffering. In his new memoir, Firefighter Zen, Hersch shares the Zen-like techniques that allow people like him to stay grounded while navigating danger, comforting others, and coping with their personal responses to whatever unexpected, unwelco...

Magalí Morales is a mother, writer, spiritual counselor and bridge builder. She brings her Mexican and Guatemalan history, heritage, and experience to bear in her eco-activism. She believes that there is nothing more important than restoring health to our planet and that this healing will require ancient knowledge, modern technologies, and spiritual healing. Listen in for this dynamic, no-holds-ba...

Lonnie and Sandy Phillips are the parents of Jessica Ghawi who was murdered in the massacre at the midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” in the Summer of 2012 in Aurora, Colorado. Their grief and rage could not be measured and the loss of their beloved daughter was unimaginable. They made two life-changing decisions in the midst of their grief: they’d cling to one another, keeping their marr...

After surviving cancer and suicide loss, Marianne Ingheim rebuilds her life by learning to banish both her inner and outer voices of criticism. In her book, Out of Love: Finding Your Way Back to Self-Compassion, she describes how the practice of self-compassion changed her life in ways big and small--inspiring readers to unlearn self-critical patterns in their own lives and live a happier, more co...

In her memoir, Heart of This Family: Lessons in Down Syndrome and Love, Linda Morrow chronicle’s her son’s remarkable 49 years, sharing the innocent wisdom that he had to share. In Steve’s unbreakable spirit, Linda Morrow found her own.

Molly-Ann Leikin came to California from Canada with her baritone ukulele to become a songwriter in Hollywood at a time when women were rare in the field. She was told that nobody listens to lyrics. She was told she wasn’t beautiful, so no one would want her. But she refused to leave. Her determination led her to life as an award-winning songwriter for pop and country music stars, TV, and film. He...

E.B. Wexler has been a clinical social worker for nearly 30 years. She has recently started sharing publicly about living with Complex PTSD, from her early childhood. Her mission and purpose in going public is to use both her own story and her professional experience to help shape a new conversation about trauma in our society, where it carries a great stigma.

When Jo Ivester and her husband learned that one of their four beloved children identified as trans, they knew they needed to use that love to and to expand their understanding of what their son would face. Jeremy Ivester kept a video journal for much of his transition. Those recordings became the basis for the book his mother wrote: Once a Girl, Always a Boy.

Coming from the business and nonprofit world, Donna Cameron found herself awed by kindness and its power to transform. In her book award-winning memoir, A Year of Living Kindly, she chronicles her experience of that transformation and shares the discoveries she made—lessons in patience, understanding, and humor.

Michael Lazarin never set out to be an advocate and activist. But when he became an “erased” alienated father of his beloved daughter, Audrie Pott, when she was seven years old, he had no choice but to fight for his child, and later in her memory. How has he found joy and happiness alongside this fight? That’s the story he shares with us.

At age twenty-six, Anne Reeder Heck was brutally raped by a stranger. Years later, still seeking to heal from this trauma, Anne stands alone in her living room and claims her desired belief aloud: “This is my year of strength.” Her clear intention results in a phone call notifying her that her rapist has been identified—fourteen years after the crime. Anne’s gripping and uplifting story is one tha...

As a literary agent, Elizabeth Kracht creates a bridge between art and commerce for her authors and the lessons she’s learned apply not only to writers, but to anyone pursuing their passions. She strives to bring her spiritual self to all of her relationships, including her business associations and has learned an important lesson about rejection: Don’t take it personally. Liz is the author of The...

Gail Warner is the dreamer and founder of Pine Manor, a unique retreat center in the mountains above Lake Elsinore, CA. Gail’s vision along with her invitational and collaborative style has allowed people from all walks of life to deepen their connection with self and others in this sacred space. Gail has created a welcoming space for the inner journey of self-awareness as well as walking the same...

How does a guy go from being a kid who made money for sex to being a sought-after teacher of writing and a successful author? That’s the story David Henry Sterry is here to tell on The Morning Glory Project. He is the author of 16 books, including his memoir, Chicken: Self-Portrait of a Man for Rent, along with Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, & Rent Boys, and The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Pub...

Francine Falk-Allen survived polio and six months of hospitalization at age three, emerging with a lifetime-paralyzed leg she has learned to love for its seemingly indomitable will to support her active life. She is also a breast cancer survivor and had many “childhood” illnesses which are now preventable by vaccines. Francine’s memoir, Not a Poster Child: Living Well with a Disability—A Memoir ha...

Martha Alderson is known among writers as The Plot Whisperer for her multiple books on the craft. But along the way she discovered that the writers and other creative people (and perhaps especially women) must face their own inner obstacles to creating their art and each must travel their own hero’s journey to create her art. Having undertaken the journey herself to write her historical novel, Par...

Angela Washington, co-producer and social media wizard for The Morning Glory Project, has an elderly mom who struggles with dementia in a nursing care facility and a son on the front lines as a nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like so many others during this surreal time, she has moments of heartache and horror as well as moments of joy, hope, and inspiration that renew her spirit. This episode...

Having experienced gun violence in her own family, Hollye Dexter is a dedicated activist for gun reform, using her voice and her writing to advocate for change. With Women Against Gun Violence, she has lobbied for stronger gun laws both locally and in DC, meeting with members of Congress, speaking at City Hall as well as at rallies, in schools, churches and temples. Her work as an activist has bee...

Happily retired from he 35-year career in the dynamic and fascinating world of organ transplantation, Amy believed her retirement years would be devoted to family life and writing the next books in her murder mystery series. In an unexpected turn, called by the crucial issues of the country, the planet, and her community she found herself running for, and winning a seat on her local City Council....

Amy Ferris is an author, screenwriter, and playwright and co-founder of Women of Our Words. Amy has become a widely-regarded maven of what she calls “Gracebook”, with her Post Coffee/Pre Wine posts in which she can as easily excoriate politicians for acts of despicable cruelty as she can wax adoringly about one or another fellow human for an act of kindness and generosity. She is the author of a m...

Grant Faulkner is a champion for writers of all ages and all things storytelling. He is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the co-founder of 100 Word Story. He has published two books on writing, Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo, and Brave the Page, a teen writing guide, in addition to a collection of 100-word stories, F...

In her spellbinding, bestselling memoir, Not By Accident: Reconstructing a Careless Life, Samantha Dunn tells of her horrific injury when her horse inadvertently trampled her, nearly cutting off her leg, severing bones, vital muscles, and veins. Her physical recovery was not the only healing she required. The accident illuminated that Sam had long been leading a life full of risk-taking and injury...